Bandit

This article is about the hovertank. For the individual 'Mech, see Bandit (Hero 'Mech).
Bandit hovertank.jpg
Bandit
Production information
Manufacturer Blackwell Corporation[1]
Production Year 3008[2]
Mission varies by configuration
Type hover
Technical specifications
Mass 50 tons
Armor ProTech 5
Engine VOX 215 Fusion
Speed 151 km/h
Crew 4
Communications System Dalban StarLink II
Targeting Tracking System Garret E5a
Heat Sinks 10 single
Armament

Primary Configuration

BV (1.0) 389
BV (2.0) 929[3]


Description[edit]

The Bandit is a 50-ton combat hovercraft, first seen in use by Wolf's Dragoons. Originally it was an old Clan design brought to the Inner Sphere by the Dragoons, who approached the Blackwell Corporation in January of 3007 to produce three vehicles for their exclusive use; along with the Bandit, the other vehicles were the Kestrel VTOL transport and the Badger APC.[4]

At the time, Blackwell was only a minor manufacturer of actuator parts and other BattleMech components, which required significant technical assistance to produce these advanced designs. In addition to providing the plans for the three vehicles, the Dragoons gave notable production advice, and helped to greatly expand and upgrade Blackwell's operations. The first Bandit floated off the assembly line in March of 3008, only a little more than a year after the order was placed. The Bandit and Badger were the first two OmniVehicle designs in the Inner Sphere. For years, the Dragoons took great care to conceal the Bandit's true nature, wary of letting Omni-technology fall into the hands of the Successor States.[5]

The OmniVehicle capability makes the Bandit very adaptable to a wide range of combat situations, from infantry transport to fire support, and short to long-range. It's often rumored that the Dragoons reconfigure their Bandits after initial contact with enemy recon patrols in hopes of confusing attempts to estimate the actual quantity of their forces.[5]

Deployment[edit]

Through most of its service life in the Inner Sphere, the Bandit served solely with Wolf's Dragoons. In fact, nearly half of the unit's APCs are Bandits. Most served in the Dragoons' Support Command and Home Guard, though some were still assigned to frontline combat units in 3070.[5]

Eventually, the sales restriction came to be lifted, and the vehicle can now be found in service with other mercenary units of the Allied Mercenary Command. A number of military historians suggested the Dragoons sold Bandits to the revived Star League before that body's collapse.[5]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The primary Bandit configuration carries three Blackwell Opal medium lasers in its turret, along with two front-mounted Blackwell Pilum SRM-2 launchers and a Machine Gun. Ammunition includes two tons of SRM-2 reloads, along with one-half ton for the Machine Gun. Most configurations provide four tons of carrying capacity in the infantry bay, though the H configuration provides a whopping eight tons of infantry space. BV (1.0) and BV (2.0) = 566.[6]

Alternate Configurations[edit]

  • Alternate Configuration A 
    In this guise, the Bandit can soften up enemy fortifications, or threaten enemy vehicles and BattleMechs from afar with its single turret-mounted PPC. BV (1.0) = 539,[6] BV (2.0) = 902.[7]
  • Alternate Configuration B 
    This short-range configuration carries two turret-mounted SRM-4s drawing from a single ton of ammunition. In addition, the B has a single front-mounted SRM-2 supplied with one ton of reloads. BV (1.0) = 389,[8] BV (2.0) = 753[9]
  • Alternate Configuration C 
    Another short range configuration, the C is armed with two turret-mounted SRM-6 launchers, drawing from one ton of ammunition. BV (1.0) = 428,[8] BV (2.0) = 792[10]
  • Alternate Configuration D 
    Designed for long-range bombardment, this version includes three turret-mounted LRM-5s with a single ton of ammunition split between them. BV (1.0) = 463,[11] BV (2.0) = 827[12]
  • Alternate Configuration E 
    The E is equipped with a single turret-mounted LRM-10, drawing from a single ton of ammunition. This version also carries a single front-mounted medium laser for closer fighting. BV (1.0) = 476,[11] BV (2.0) = 839[13]
  • Alternate Configuration F 
    Equipped solely with Energy Weapons, this version sports a single turret-mounted Large Laser and a single front-mounted medium laser. BV (1.0) = 526,[14] BV (2.0) = 887[15]
  • Alternate Configuration G 
    Another design that wields only Energy Weapons, this version can provide serious short-range punch with its two turret-mounted medium laser and six front-mounted Small Lasers. BV (1.0) = 474,[14] BV (2.0) = 837[16]
  • Alternate Configuration H 
    This version provides eight tons of infantry space, while still providing short-range fire support with a single SRM 2 launcher and a single ER medium laser mounted in the turret. The SRM launcher is provided with one ton of ammunition. BV (1.0) = 366,[17] BV (2.0) = 708[18]
  • Alternate Configuration I 
    This configuration has a four ton infantry bay and carries a forward-firing Light Machine Gun and a pair of Light PPCs in the turret. BV (2.0) = 914[19]

Bandit (C)[edit]

The Bandit has several Clan-tech variants. Most are essentially identical to the Inner Sphere-tech duplicate, with some major exceptions — they mount ferro-fibrous armor but do not appear to be OmniVehicles. These variants are all equipped with a five-ton infantry bay. The first two variants have only appeared in limited numbers within the Dragoons although the rest have been seen infrequently in service on the Clan homeworlds.

  • Primary Configuration 
    The first variant is similar to the standard “C” model by mounting two Streak SRM 6 launchers in the turret. BV (1.0) = 73,[17] BV (2.0) = 1,054[20]
  • Alternate Configuration A 
    The second variant mounts an ER Large Laser and a standard SRM-2 rack in the turret, with a second SRM-2 launcher fixed forward. BV (1.0) = 839, BV (2.0) = 1,145[21]
  • Alternate Configuration B 
    This configuration provides long range fire support via a turret-mounted LRM-20. BV (2.0) = 1,162[22]
  • Alternate Configuration C 
    This variant is equipped with three Medium Pulse Lasers in the turret. BV (2.0) = 1,231[23]
  • Alternate Configuration D 
    This variant carries an ER medium laser and LB 2-X AC in the turret and mounts an ER medium laser in the front. BV (2.0) = 1,093[24]
  • Alternate Configuration E 
    This version uses an ATM-9 with a ton of each ammunition type to support its infantry cargo. BV (2.0) = 1,063[25]
  • Alternate Configuration F 
    Apparently intended to destroy enemy infantry forces, this Bandit configuration uses a Plasma Cannon and two AP Gauss Rifles in the turret. A Streak SRM-2 covers the front arc. BV (2.0) = 1,119[26]
  • Alternate Configuration G 
    This configuration mounts an active probe and ECM suite. Offensively, it carries four heavy machine guns mounted in a machine gun array firing forward. The turret carries four light machine guns in a machine gun array, as well as a single ER medium laser. Each machine gun type has a half-ton of ammunition. This configuration is apparently designed for anti-infantry work in cities and other crowded areas. BV (2.0) = 915[27]

Custom Variants[edit]

  • Bandit Mk. II 
    Based on the Bandit "Warthog", this version was created by Arc-Royal MechWorks under license for export. It replaces the XL engine of the Warthog with a standard fusion engine and removes the infantry bay. This is replaced by nine tons of Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor. A pair of turret-mounted Machine Guns and a Medium Variable Speed Pulse Laser are the Mk. II's only weapons. The Mk. II retains the Armored Motive System and adds CASE for increased protection. BV (2.0) = 770[30]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Bandit Mk. II variant is subject of the following Design Quirks:[30]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Technical Readout 3058 Upgrade, p. 88
  2. ↑ MUL online date for the Bandit
  3. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 91
  4. ↑ Wolf's Dragoons, p. 113
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, pp. 88–89: "Bandit Profile"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 100
  7. ↑ Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 19
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 101
  9. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 93
  10. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 94
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 102
  12. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 95
  13. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 96
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 103
  15. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 97
  16. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 98
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 104
  18. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 99
  19. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 100
  20. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 101
  21. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 102
  22. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 103
  23. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 104
  24. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 105
  25. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 106
  26. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 107
  27. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 108
  28. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 109
  29. ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Gladiators, p. 9
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Technical Readout: Prototypes, p. 47

Bibliography[edit]

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