Álfar

Álfar
Production information
Manufacturer	Coventry Metal Works
Production Year	2573
Model	AL-A1
Class	Medium
Cost	N/A
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass	55 tons
Chassis	Coventry AL Endo Steel
Armor	Coventry Industries Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	Core Tek 275
Communications System	Field Ranger Wanderer
Targeting Tracking System	Martial Ranger Series 6
Heat Sinks	15 single
Speed	86 km/h
Jump Jets	Luxor Load Lifters
Armament	1x PPC 3x medium lasers 1x SRM 6
BV (2.0)	1,477

Description

The Álfar, named for the elves of Germanic legend, was developed on Coventry during the reign of Archon Tracial Steiner to improve the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces performance in mobile BattleMech warfare, and to provide a homegrown competitor to widespread standard designs like the Griffin and Shadow Hawk. It entered service in 2573 and served almost exclusively in the LCAF. Its first and only major combat action was during Operation Mailed Fist with the Tamar Tigers and the few dozen Álfars deployed by the Star League Defense Force. Thanks to its good speed, a jumping distance of 90 meters, 10 tons of then-cutting-edge ferro-fibrous armor, and some serious firepower, the design was popular with its pilots. It was, however, liked much less by the technical crews.

Ironically, Coventry Metal Works' desire to outdo their competition proved the Álfar's downfall. The design used so many nonstandard parts that repairs and logistics quickly became a big problem. Of all the Star League Defense Force Álfars lost in the war, a full third were scrapped solely because repairing them was deemed too difficult. The design was given more respect in the LCAF but with the Star League pushing for standardization and given the relative peace of the following century, the high-maintenance Álfars were gradually replaced with those same designs it had been trying to best. The last two remaining, privately-owned 'Mechs are believed to have been destroyed in the First Succession War.

Weapons and Equipment

The Álfar fielded an impressive amount of firepower for its size. A Magna Hellstar PPC mounted on its right arm was the main weapon. Three Magna Mark II medium lasers, two on the left arm and one in the head, plus a Shannon Six-Shooter missile rack with 1 ton of ammo, all in the left shoulder, provided ample backup and close-range punch. Fifteen heat sinks provided good battlefield endurance.

Variants

• AL-D1 "Dökkálfar" (Dark Elf) 

  Nicknamed "baby Warhammer", this less common variant replaced all lasers and the SRM with a second PPC to provide a cheap fire support option at the cost of short-range capability and heat endurance. (BV 2.0 = ???).

Design Quirks

The Álfar has the following Design Quirk:

• Non-Standard Parts

Bibliography

• BattleMech Manual
• Era Digest: Age of War
• Historical: Reunification War
• Master Unit List