NathanKell
12/04/01 10:28 PM
24.44.238.206
|
All this, err, talk about the Tiger Hawk reminded me just how good a deal LRM-5s are--25% more effective and only slightly hotter than the other LRMs. It also reminded me that, with the removal of the Unseen, there's not too much left I like in 3025.
And so the:
LI-4N Lion
Chassis: Yankee 61A
Power Plant: Ford 280
Cruising Speed: 43
Maximum Speed: 64.5
Jump Jets: none
Jump Capacity: none
Armor: Lexington Limited
Armament:
5 Yankee Maxim Medium Lasers
1 Yankee Springfield Large Laser
5 Yankee Fireworks LRM 5s
Manufacturer: Yankee Weapons Systems
Primary Factory: Terra
Communications System: Hartford J25 A
Targeting and Tracking System: Hartford S2000A
Overview
By 2661 the Thunderbolt, a mainstay heavy assault mech, was being outshone by the newer "Assault" mechs. Recognizing the basic virtues of the design, but also the fact that mech design had progressed in the centuries since its introduction, First Lord Michael Cameron directed the SLDF to produce a new heavy mech based upon the Thunderbolt but incorporating the advances used in current heavy mechs. Named the Lion in honor of the Camerons, the new mech was designed to be as adaptable as its parent but far easier to support and repair. After soliciting design submissions the SLDF chose Proposal 61A of Connecticut Yankee Corporation and designated it the LI-4N. Weighing in at 70 tons, the Lion would be neither the lightest nor heaviest of its class, more evidence of its role as a generalist. Connecticut Yankee had ties to both the communications giant HartfordCo and Whitney Arms, a weapons manufacturer which traced its inception to the tiny 19th century arms company founded by Eli Whitney. All three companies had extensive experience in modular systems, and the Lion debuted an innovative modular architecture to ease logistics and to better meet the mult-role requirement for which the Lion was designed. This technique was later improved, expanded, and standardized for the pioneering Mercury. Shortly before production began, Connecticut Yankee merged with its neighbor Whitney Arms, forming Yankee Weapons Systems.
Capabilities
In order to satisfy the multi-range requirements of the Lion, and to provide maximum firepower for its many roles, Connecticut Yankee Corporation decided to use three distinct weapon types. The LI-4N thus mounts a Yankee Springfield Large Lasers, five Yankee Maxim Medium Lasers, and five Yankee Fireworks five-tube LRM launchers. Looking remarkably human for a machine, the Lion holds a gun-like Large Laser in its right hand, and bolted on to that wrist is an LRM-5 rack with a ton of ammunition. The left arm's wrist sports a trio of medium lasers. Two LRM-5 racks with a ton of shared ammuntion sit in a pod on each shoulder, and the chest and head each carry a medium laser. Relying on energy weapons produces the signature heat associated with them, and the so the Lion also mounts sixteen heat sinks, including eleven in the engine, two each per leg, and one in the chest. Though not nearly enough to dissipate the waste heat generated by firing all the Lion's weapons, these heat sinks--in conjunction with a sophisticated Hartford battle computer which chooses an optimum weapon mix for any range--allows the Lion, in the hands of a skilled pilot, to defeat a more conventional mech.
Deployment
The Lion was deployed chiefly with the Royal divisions due to its status as a signature SLDF mech, though even during the height of the Star League some Lions found their way to the other Houses and various mercenary groups. Shortly before the collapse of the Star League, Yankee found the Lion obsolescing compared to newer mechs using technology developed during the Golden Years, just as its predecessor had a century before, and thus began a program of modernization. When the Usurper struck, many Lions were undergoing refit. Courageous SLDF mechwarriors, living up to their mech's namesake, hurled themselves and their threadbare mechs into battle all the same, and battled, bled, and died as Lions. Prime targets as "Cameron Lions" already, these actions made Lions even more common as first-target mechs in Liberation battles. Needless to say most Lion pilots who survived the Liberation followed General Kerensky into exile. Liberation, exodus, and war have winnowed the Lion's numbers: by the dawn of the 31st century only few score remain. The Eridani Light Horse field a number, as do the Blue Star Irregulars, and each House maintains a few as well.
Variants
A number of Lion variants were constructed during the Star League to capitilize on the modular nature of the mech. The first, the LI-4NB (Bi-Laser) sacrifices three LRM racks and two tons of ammuniton for an additional large laser, medium laser, and heat sink. The heat sink replaces the LRM-5 on the mech's right wrist, and the large and medium laser replace the left torso's LRM mount, bringing the total to two large lasers, six medium lasers, and two LRM-5s, as well as 17 heat sinks. This variant has more trouble with heat, but is also less dependent on supply and is a fearsome infighter, and is thus deployed mainly as a heavy raider.
The LI-4NP replaces the right arm's large laser with a Yankee Sharps PPC, and a heat sink replaces the LRM pod mounted on the wrist. The left torso's pod lacks the second LRM and ton of ammunition, the pair being replaced by a medium laser and additional heat sink, bringing the total to six medium lasers, one PPC, and 3 LRM-5s, as well as 18 heat sinks. This variant gives considerable firepower at range and is less dependent on ammunition, though close range suffers due to the innacuracy of its long range weapons at close quarters.
The LI-4NR sacrifices the large laser and a heat sink mounted in the right leg for more two more LRM racks and an extra ton of ammunition. This variant, though dependent on ammunition and forced to rely solely on its quintet of medium lasers at close, can bring crippling firepower to bear at range, matched only by such specialtly mechs as the Archer.
The final two variants are the most radical, converting the Lion to an ammunition-free mech suited for detached duty. Both are based on the LI-4NP. The E1 replaces the left torso pod with a second PPC and the right torso pod with a medium laser and heat sink. The E2 replaces the left torso pod with a paired large laser and medium laser mount, and the right torso pod with twin medium lasers and a heat sink. The second energy-only configuration is particularly prone to overheating but can bring devastating firepower to bear at close range.
LI-4N Lion
Technology Base: - Inner Sphere - Level 1
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: 7
Engine: 280 16
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 16 6
Gyro: 3
Cockpit: 3
Armor Factor: 208 13
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head 3 9
Center Torso 22 31
Center Torso(rear) 10
R/L Torso 15 21
R/L Torso(rear) 6
R/L Arm 11 22
R/L Leg 15 30
Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
Medium Laser LA 1 1
Medium Laser LA 1 1
Medium Laser LA 1 1
LRM 5 LT 1 2
LRM 5 LT 1 2
LRM 5 Ammo LT 1 1
LRM 5 RT 1 2
LRM 5 RT 1 2
LRM 5 Ammo RT 1 1
LRM 5 RA 1 2
Large Laser RA 2 5
Medium Laser CT 1 1
Medium Laser H 1 1
BV: 1,096
Cost: 5,946,374 (c)
-NathanKell, BT Space Wars
Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.
Thomas Jefferson |
Karagin
12/05/01 07:08 AM
63.173.170.169
|
Very nice! This I have added to my files.
Karagin
Given time and plenty of paper, a philosopher can prove anything.
|
Cray
12/05/01 06:25 PM
12.78.130.161
|
Sweet.
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
Disclaimer: Anything stated in this post is unofficial and non-canon unless directly quoted from a published book. Random internet musings of a BattleTech writer are not canon.
|
Acolyte
12/06/01 02:38 AM
142.179.28.75
|
If you wanna know how good this thing is - just realize the karagin and pyscopompus agreed with each other over this...... 
Light a fire for a man, and you keep him warm for one night,
Light a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
Acolyte
|