Rifleman

Rifleman
Rifleman
Production information
Manufacturer Colonial Tractors,[1]
Kallon Industries,
Red Devil Industries,
Trellshire Heavy Industries
Production Year 2770[2][3]
Model RFL-3N[3]
Class Heavy[3][[Category:Heavy[3] BattleMechs]]
Cost 4,860,000 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 60[3] tons[[Category:60[3] ton BattleMechs]]
Chassis Kallon Type IV[3]
Armor Kallon Royalstar[3]
Engine Pitban 240[3]
Communications System Garret T11-A[3]
Targeting Tracking System Garret D2j[3]
Speed 64[3] km/h
Armament
BV (1.0) 797[4]
BV (2.0) 1,039[3][5]


Description

The definitive anti-aircraft 'Mech, the Rifleman was first fielded in 2505, making it among the first 'Mechs ever built. Its combination of long-ranged weaponry, including rapid-fire autocannons, and its excellent Garret D2j targeting and tracking system ensured it would remain a viable battlefield unit through half a millennium of combat. When pressed into combat against ground units, the Rifleman is merely adequate, suffering from light armor protection, poor heat management, and limited ammunition supply. It is particularly noted for its thin rear armor, a weakness for which its ability to reverse its arms only partly compensates. The Rifleman is far more successful when used as a fire-support 'Mech, and five centuries of combat have provided many triumphant examples of its employment in this role.

Weapons and Equipment

The Rifleman's focus on anti-aircraft work dictated a heavy load of long-range weapons to the exclusion of everything else. It carries a particularly heavy battery of two Magna Mk. III Large Lasers paired with two Imperator-A medium autocannons, one of each mounted in each arm. Two Magna Mk. II Medium Lasers are mounted in the torso to provide backup. One ton of autocannon ammunition is carried in the center torso. The 'Mech's ten heat sinks are grossly inadequate for constant fire, but in an anti-aircraft role, the Rifleman is expected to have time to dissipate heat while the target aircraft turns for its next pass.[6]

Variants

  • RFL-1N 
    The first production version of the Rifleman weighed fifty tons and used primitive technology. Each arm carried a single Large Laser and Medium Laser. It was protected by eleven and a half tons of Primitive Armor. It used a Primitive Engine to reach a top speed of 64km/h. This version of the Rifleman was usually used by militia and second line forces. It served through the Reunification War.[7] BV (2.0) = 931[8]
  • RFL-2N 
    Introduced fifty years after the Rifleman-1N, this version replaced the primitive components with standard armor and engine. The freed space and weight allowed engineers to fit in sixteen heat sinks. The Large Lasers were removed from the arms and replaced by PPCs. The arm-mounted Medium Lasers were supplemented with two more Medium Lasers, one in each side torso. Production continued until the Rifleman-3N was introduced.[9] BV (2.0) = 1,093[10]
  • RFL-3Cr 
    This field refit was introduced during the FedCom Civil War. It carries the Autocannon/10s of the RFL-3C, but uses an XL Gyro to provide room for a pair of Medium Lasers. Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor increases the amount of protection. BV (2.0) = 1,129[14]
  • RFL-4D 
    The 4D is commonly known as the second "Hanse variant." It replaces the Autocannon/5s with PPCs and removes the Medium Lasers. The extra weight is used to mount five extra heat sinks.[17] BV (1.0) = 869,[12] BV (2.0) = 1,173[18]
  • RFL-5D 
    A recovered-technology version of the RFL-4D, the 5D replaces the PPCs with ER PPC models and restores the original model's Medium Lasers. An XL engine is used to free up weight, which is used to mount seventeen double heat sinks and increase armor protection to nine tons.[19] BV (1.0) = 1,115,[12] BV (2.0) = 1,395[20]
  • RFL-5M 
    The 5M is another product of the Gray Death Memory Core technology boon. The standard autocannons are replaced by Ultra models, but the ammunition load remains a single ton. CASE is now mounted to protect this ammunition, double heat sinks are mounted and two more are added, and another ton of armor is carried. The free weight for all these changes is created by the use of an XL Engine. [21] BV (1.0) = 1,062,[4] BV (2.0) = 1,227[22]
  • RFL-6D 
    This variant of the 6X replaces the Small Lasers with a head-mounted C3 Slave to aid it in targeting. It leaves everything else except for the autocannon intact. They are replaced with a pair of Mydron Snakekiller Light Autocannon/5s in each arm. Each arm is fed by three-ton ammunition bins, each of which are protected by CASE. The large ammunition bins allow a variety of ammunition types to used.[23][24][25] BV (2.0) = 1,274[26]
  • RFL-6X 
    The 6X is one of three "Project Phoenix" variants, designed as a fast-response anti-aircraft 'Mech. Its top speed has increased to 87 km/h through the use of a larger XL Engine. Its chassis has been removed in favor of an Endo Steel model. It carries dual LB 10-X Autocannons with four tons of ammunition, paired with ER Medium, and ER Small Lasers.[27] BV (1.0) = 1,275,[12] BV (2.0) = 1,464[28]
  • RFL-7X 
    This variant was produced during the Jihad as a field refit kit. Using an Endo Steel chassis, XL Gyro, and XL Engine allowed designers to increase the top speed to 97 km/h and include six jump jets. Light Ferro-Fibrous armor protects the 'Mech, while each arm mounts a Light PPC and Snub-Nose PPC. BV (2.0) = 1,645[32]
  • RFL-8D 
    The definitive "Project Phoenix" model, the 8D is intended as more of a line unit. It mounts two Mydron Model RC Rotary Autocannon/5s with six tons of ammunition, a pair of Bright-Blossom ER Medium Lasers, and the heaviest armor of any known Rifleman variant. Until the arrival of the -7X, this was the only known Rifleman variant to mount jump jets.[33][34][32] BV (1.0) = 1,664,[12] BV (2.0) = 1,777[35]

Custom Variants

  • RFL-X3 Rifleman MUSE WIND 
    The Rifleman MUSE WIND was an experiment to combine Clan and Inner Sphere equipment in a production 'Mech. An Inner Sphere produced chassis, XL Engine, XL Gyro, double heat sinks, and Jump Jets form the core of the 'Mech. The Ferro-Fibrous armor that maximizes protection comes from the Clans, as does the weaponry: Each arm mounts a HAG/20 and the torso-mounted medium lasers are Clan Medium Pulse Lasers. The HAG ammo is protected by an Inner Sphere CASE system. BV (2.0) = 2,012[40]
  • RFL-3N-2 Rifleman II Kataga 
    This Rifleman II was used by Major General Carlos Kataga, the SLDF officer in charge of the New Dallas garrison before the Amaris Civil War.[41] It was broadly similar to the standard Rifleman II, but instead of having an LB-X autocannon and Large Pulse Laser in each arm, it traded these for a pair of Large Pulse Lasers in the left arm and a Gauss Rifle in the right arm. Four Jump Jets allowed it to cover 120 meters in a jump, and it was protected by fifteen tons of armor. BV (2.0) = 1,991[42]

Related BattleMechs

  • Rifleman IIC - One of the 'Mechs the SLDF took with them when they left the Inner Sphere was the Rifleman. The Clan variant is five tons heavier. It mounts four Large Pulse Lasers, Jump Jets, and an Active Probe. BV (2.0) = 2,122
  • Rifleman III - A Rim Worlds Republican design, this was a prototype Assault BattleMech which was equipped with stealth system and Gauss Rifles. Only a single unit was produced, it was forgotten in course of time after the liberation of Terra.[45]

Notable Pilots

Design Quirks

The RFL-1N Rifleman variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:[8]

BattleMech Gallery

References

  1. Field Manual: 3145, p. 189, "Fronc Reaches"
  2. MUL online date for the Rifleman
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 293-294, "RFL-3N Rifleman"
  4. 4.0 4.1 Combat Operations, p. 121
  5. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 473
  6. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 135
  7. Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 4, p. 5
  8. 8.0 8.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 4,Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 4 p. 5, "RFL-1N Rifleman"
  9. Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 4, p. 5
  10. Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 4, p. 22
  11. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 134
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Combat Operations, p. 127
  13. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 472
  14. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 111
  15. The Battle for Twycross, pp. 46 & 48
  16. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 121
  17. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 136
  18. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 474
  19. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 137
  20. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 111
  21. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 138
  22. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 113
  23. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 139
  24. "Rifleman"
  25. 25.0 25.1 Technical Readout: 3085, p. 250
  26. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 114
  27. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 140
  28. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 115
  29. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 141
  30. Combat Operations, p. 130
  31. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 116
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Technical Readout: 3085, p. 251
  33. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 142
  34. Technical Readout: Project Phoenix, p. 27
  35. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 118
  36. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 119
  37. Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades, p. 143
  38. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 120
  39. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 122
  40. Experimental Technical Readout: Davion, p. 5
  41. Historical Turning Points: New Dallas, p. 2
  42. Historical Turning Points: New Dallas, p. 18
  43. Technical Readout: 3075, p. 169
  44. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 30
  45. Experimental Technical Readout: Gunslingers - Basic Info on the Rifleman III.

Bibliography