Bellona

Bellona Hover Tank
Production information
Manufacturer	HH Complex Beta
Production Year	3070
Mission	Dragoon/Cavalry
Type	Hover
Cost	1,699,075 C-bills
Technical specifications
Tech Base	Clan
Mass	45 tons
Armor	Forging HTT05
Engine	Fusion Type 170
Speed	150 km/h
Crew	3
Communications System	Series XII ComSys
Targeting Tracking System	Build IX TTS
Heat Sinks	10 single
Armament	1x Ultra autocannon/10 4x light machine gun 2x flamer
BV (2.0)	1,018

Description

In the late 3060s, under Khan James Cobb's command, Clan Hell's Horses began preparation for a renewed presence in the Inner Sphere. The scientist caste saw this as an opportunity to create a new cavalry vehicle, which they called the Bellona. Designed as a striker and flanker, the Bellona carries enough firepower on a nimble enough frame to keep up with even the fastest-advancing lines.

The original specs called for tracks, but test pilots for the vehicle cited that "speed is armor", which led to the Bellona being redesigned as a hovertank. The vehicle has eight tons of armor to protect the hull and motive systems.

Coming off production lines on Tiber in the Kerensky Cluster, a large number were sent through the long chain of JumpShips to front-line Clusters fighting trials against Clan Wolf in the early 3070s.

Weapons and Equipment

The main gun is a Type 9 Ultra-Class 10 Autocannon with two tons of ammunition. It is mounted with two Type 14b Flamers in its turret. To deal with unarmored infantry, the vehicle has a pair of Series HL-II Light Machine Guns in its nose and one for each of its left and right sides.

Variants

• Laser 

  To reduce ammunition dependency, the autocannon and one Flamer are dropped for an Extended Range Large Laser and an LRM-10. Although the LRM is still ammunition hungry, it is primarily for harassment. The variant was still on the drawing board as of 3075. BV (2.0) = 1,262, 1,270

• Bellona XL 

  This variant is based on the Laser model. The tank carries a Targeting Computer and Armored Motive System, while using an XL engine and Streak LRMs.

Gallery

• 

  Original Bellona from MechWarrior: Technology of Destruction

• 

  Bellona of Northwind Highlanders from MWDA dossier

• 

  Bellona from TRO:3075

• 

  Bellona Tank miniature from MechWarrior: Annihilation set

Bibliography

• Master Unit List
• Record Sheets: 3075
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge
• Technical Readout: 3075
• Technical Readout: 3150