IndustrialMech
Sarna News
IndustrialMechs, also known as WorkMechs or UtilityMechs, are walking machines which are used for industrial purposes (hence the name). They are similar in shape to BattleMechs, which they predate, and feature many of the same technologies but are built for noncombat tasks such as construction, farming, and policing. IndustrialMechs reached their heyday during the Star League era, but after the start of the Succession Wars their numbers sharply declined as these machines and the factories that built them were cannibalized to repair and produce BattleMechs. The technological renaissance which occurred during the latter part of the thirty-first century has seen a revival in IndustrialMech numbers as new production lines opened up to meet civilian demand.[1]
Contents
History[edit]
The introduction of myomer in 2350 allowed for the development of WorkMechs shortly thereafter; while primitive compared to later examples, these machines revolutionized commerce and industry. As humanity spread amongst the stars, skilled labor was in short supply on many colonial worlds, with WorkMechs stepping in to provide an invaluable boost to productivity. WorkMechs found use in rear-area support for the Hegemony Armed Forces, but the military was interested in adapting the technology for front-line combat. Their work would eventually lead to the introduction of the first true BattleMech, the Mackie, in 2439.[2]
During the Succession Wars, IndustrialMechs became almost as rare as BattleMechs, and not just because they were broken down for spare parts: in their desperation some groups sent armed IndustrialMechs to fight on the front-lines, with predictably disastrous results. The discovery of the Helm Memory Core helped the IndustrialMech just as much as the BattleMech too. As technology used to restart BattleMech production filtered down to the civilian markets, many small and midsize companies stepped into the void left by the Succession Wars to start producing new IndustrialMechs to meet a growing marketplace.[2]
Republic Era[edit]
The devastation of the Jihad had a similar effect on revitalizing IndustrialMech production as the people of the Inner Sphere attempt to rebuild their lives once again. It also saw an increase role for armed IndustrialMechs as many poor worlds or those wrecked by the conflict attempt to strengthen their defenses.[1][2] The image often associated with the early Dark Age is that of an IndustrialMech clumsily outfitted with a makeshift gun, charging into battle. While this captures the nature of warfare immediately after the Blackout, it doesn’t represent the typical arsenal of most states.
The initial groups to exploit the Blackout weren’t official state forces. Although some had backing from certain states or powerful factions, they operated independently. Republic splinter factions, for example, cobbled together equipment from defecting or stolen RAF supplies, supplemented with whatever other gear they could salvage. These forces consisted of militias, nationalist-separatist groups, and other irregulars, facing the weakened and under-equipped RAF. This period marked the high point of IndustrialMech warfare, as these ad hoc forces scrambled to arm themselves however they could.
Even official state forces resorted to using IndustrialMechs as a temporary solution, to a limited extent. Republic planetary militias, for example, incorporated them to reinforce their ranks. When the Capellans moved in on the weakened Republic, the Maskirovka organized local partisans armed with MODs to bolster their conventional forces where necessary; these partisans would become the Tikonov Guards.[3] Other states also used IndustrialMechs as required, but within just a few years, the era of the MOD was winding down. By 3136, MODs were seen as a “desperate compromise during rearmament,” gradually replaced by 'Mechs and heavier conventional weapons on most planets.[4]
Construction[edit]
IndustrialMechs share many of the same components as their more famous BattleMech brethren, though with obvious differences. The chassis uses many of the same principles of construction, but tend to be bulkier, heavier and cheaper. They also come in a greater variety of shapes than the typical humanoid form. Actuators and myomer bundles are also very similar to those used in BattleMechs. Some make use of a fusion engine as their source of power, but still more make do with fission engines, fuel cells and internal combustion engines, especially as these can be significantly cheaper and make use of local fuel sources. Industrial Armor also differs in that it is primarily designed to protect the machine from common workplace accidents - e.g. falling rocks - rather than weapons fire.[5]
The sensors on an IndustrialMech are both less and more advanced than those found on BattleMechs. While ill-suited for general combat use, they can be far more sophisticated and accurate than their military equivalent when used in their specific role: the Magnetic Anomaly Detector on some MiningMechs for example surpass military-grade equipment in their ability to not just locate mineral veins but determine density, composition and other important information. IndustrialMech cockpits also bear many similarities to those on BattleMechs. However, while all IndustrialMechs are equipped with a Gyro to maintain balance, few if any make use of neurohelmets, with the pilots relying on physical controls only.[5]
SecurityMechs[edit]
A notable subtype are armed IndustrialMechs, known as SecurityMechs. They are governed by the SecurityMech Treaty of 2613 and fall somewhere between civilian WorkMechs and military BattleMechs. The treaty limits their allowed mass and armament.
AgroMechs[edit]
AgroMech is a generic subtype for 'Mechs concerned with agricultural tasks such as harvesting and herding. Like all IndustrialMechs, AgroMechs are not designed for combat but can be refitted to carry military-grade weapons. Some AgroMechs even include light weapons in their original design for the purpose of fending off large hostile fauna.
Known AgroMech designs include:
CargoMechs[edit]
Another notable subtype, CargoMech is a generic term for 'Mechs concerned with tasks such as commercial hauling and battlefield salvage. Like all IndustrialMechs, CargoMechs are not designed for combat but can be refitted to carry military-grade weapons.
Known CargoMech designs include: