Pinion

Pinion
Production information
Manufacturer	Olivetti Weapons
Class	Medium
Cost	4,289,390 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	45 tons
Chassis	Olivetti Stage 3
Armor	Raydient Series 2
Engine	Fusion 225 Standard
Speed	86 km/h
Jump Jets	Clan Standard Type A1
Armament	Primary Configuration 1 x Heavy Large Laser 2 x Medium Pulse Lasers 4 x Micro Pulse Lasers
BV (1.0)	1,490

Description

The Pinion is part test-bed, part leftovers. Developed by Clan Jade Falcon and introduced into service in 3065, the Pinion BattleMech is the second Clan 'Mech to be produced by Olivetti Weapons on Sudeten. The second-line BattleMech was designed as a patrol/guard duty 'Mech, so it has modest speed coupled with good maneuverability.

The experiment is in the heavy laser mounted on the design. Early reports from Clan Star Adder indicated that the weapons were unreliable and possibly damaging to the MechWarrior. In order to properly judge the effect of this new weapon, the Falcons decided to use their garrison MechWarriors as guinea pigs. Their vitals were carefully tracked and they underwent medical evaluations every week.

The leftovers in the 'Mech are its Micro Pulse Lasers. These weapons were developed to be incorporated into ProtoMechs, but when Khan Marthe Pryde killed the program in 3064, the Falcons were left with an overabundance of the weapons that were developed for them. The Pinion utilizes these weapons in order to use them up, so as not to be wasteful. When the supplies are used up, they will be replaced on the Pinion with heavier weapons that the Falcons will continue to produce.

Armament

The largest gun on the Pinion is its Witherer Heavy Large Laser. Though it is somewhat difficult to hit with, it packs a strong punch into a relatively small package. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the four Raid Micro Pulse Lasers that mounted in the Pinion's torso. These weapons are only useful at pointblank range, but the pulse technology makes it easier to hit with them. These make the Pinion devastating against conventional infantry. The Series 14a Medium Pulse Laser has a decent range and is also easy to hit with. This all-energy weapon configuration allows the 'Mech to range far and wide without having to worry about resupply or ammunition explosions in combat. Fourteen double heat sinks keeps the 'Mech fairly cool, though an alpha strike will seriously overheat it.

Variants

• Pinion 2 - This variant replaces the four Micro Pulse Lasers with a pair of Small Pulse Lasers. These lasers deal the same amount of damage as each other, but the smalls have a better range and are still effective against infantry.

• Pinion 3 - This variant replaces the four Micro Pulse Lasers with an additional Medium Pulse Laser. This turns the 'Mech away from an anti-infantry role, and towards harder targets.

References

• Record Sheets: 3067
• Technical Readout: 3067