Xanthos (BattleMech)

Xanthos
Production information
Manufacturer	Hollis Industries Norse-Storm Technologies Incorporated
Production Year	2579
Model	XNT-3O
Class	Assault
Cost	9,458,500 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass	100 tons
Chassis	Hollis XNT Mark V
Armor	Durallex Heavy
Engine	Vlar 300
Communications System	HartfordCo Com 2500
Targeting Tracking System	HartfordCo XKX 2
Heat Sinks	23
Speed	54 km/h
Armament	1x Autocannon/20 1x PPC 1x SRM-6 3x Medium Lasers 1x Small Laser
BV (2.0)	1,948

Description

The Xanthos was first introduced by the Capellan Confederation in 2564, designed by a young engineer named Dr. David Harrison. Working for Hollis Inc., he pioneered the technology to create four-legged BattleMechs. This technological advancement that later allowed the research into the Scorpion and Goliath enabled the Xanthos to get on the field. It was presented to the Terran Hegemony for review after the cancellation of the Catapult. Hollis pushed to have this 'Mech presented against Dr. Harrison's wishes in a bid to maintain financial solvency. Clumsy and stiff, the 'Mech failed to win the contract from the Star League purchasing committee.

Weapons and Equipment

A GE 508 Autocannon/20 with three tons of ammunition provides substantial close hitting power. It is backed up with three Martell Medium Lasers, a six-tube Holly Short Range Missile Pack, and a rear-firing Diverse Optics Type 10 small laser. A Donal PPC rounds out this design's weaponry, giving it some range.

Deployment

When originally sold, most of XNT-3Os were purchased by House Liao. While it performed fairly well on the field, shipment delays canceled its initial procurement. The design became extinct by the time of the Second Succession War. In 2761, the SLDF's 81st Mechanized Infantry Division had gained such goodwill with the Capellan government and military, that, in what was a highly unusual move, the CCAF donated a full battalion of Xanthos assault 'Mechs to the Division, where they were used with pride.

In the 3070s, the XNT-30 design reemerged after the discovery of the Hegemony Memory Core. Elite Capellan, Lyran, as well as some mercenary units have acquired modern variants of this 'Mech.

Variants

• XNT-2O 

  An early, primitive prototype introduced in 2564, the 2O used Age of War technology. In particular, the engine, cockpit and armor were all primitive technology. It could reach a top speed of 54 km/h and was protected by fifteen tons of primitive armor. Eighteen single heat sinks dissipated the heat produced by an Autocannon/10, SRM-4, Large Laser, and two medium and Small Lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,300

• XNT-4O 

  The 4O is a Jihad-era variant, introduced in 3068, equipped with a compact engine and Heavy-Duty Gyro. The 'Mech has a Heavy PPC and two Light PPCs. The lasers were upgraded with extended range technology. All of the other weapons were removed. The chassis is now covered with a full complement of Stealth Armor. It also contains enough jump jets to vault up to ninety meters at a time. BV (2.0) = 2,548

• XNT-5O 

  The proposed variant for Xanthos, which was on the drawing board as of 3075. To save weight it utilizes an Endo Steel frame and Light Ferro-Fibrous armor, though a Compact Gyro is used to make a little extra room. Improved Jump Jets enable it to leap up to one hundred fifty meters in a single bound. It is armed with one ER PPC, five Medium Pulse Lasers, and a rear-mounted ER Small Laser. BV (2.0) = 2,146

• XNT-6O 

  This Dark Age era variant carries two PPCs, two Small Pulse Lasers, four ER Medium Lasers, and a single LRM-10. It is protected by Stealth Armor and uses a Guardian ECM Suite. Fifteen double heat sinks are augmented by a single Coolant Pod. BV (2.0) = 2,300

• XNT-7O 

  Another Dark Age model, this version uses a 400XL fusion engine to reach a top speed of 64 km/h. It is protected by standard armor and CASE II in case the two Clan-spec Gauss Rifles explode. The Gauss Rifles are supported by four Clan-built ER Medium Lasers. BV (2.0) = 2,620

Design Quirks

The XNS-2O Xanthos is subject to the following Design Quirks:

• Bad Reputation
• Obsolete (2565)
• Poor Performance
• Protected Actuators
• Prototype
• Unbalanced

Notable pilots

• General Bernard Nordhoff of Lyran Commonwealth was a notable Xanthos Pilot during the Dark Age.

Notes

The Xanthos was first created by WizKids' MechWarrior: Dark Age collectible miniatures game as a piece in its Age of Destruction expansion set. The figure was later used exclusively for an elite MechWarrior that was designated as a "Gunslinger". The 'Mech would later be adapted by Catalyst Game Labs and redefined in the tabletop game once the company advanced the franchise's timeline to the Jihad Era. Many of its renditions would be translated over the years after being introduced in Technical Readout: 3075, which include one of the earliest BattleMechs in the Age of War era to new variants used by House Liao during the late Dark Age era.

Gallery

• 

  Original Xanthos from TRO:3075

• 

  Experimental XNT-20 Xanthos from XTRO:Primitives IV

• 

  Physical MWDA-model of XNS-01-A Xanthos

Bibliography

• Era Digest: Age of War
• Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 4
• Field Manual: SLDF
• MechWarrior: Dark Age
• Record Sheets: 3075
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War
• Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3075