Pegasus Scout Hover Tank

This article is about the hovercraft. For other uses, see Pegasus.

Pegasus Scout Hover Tank
Production information
Manufacturer	Exeter Organization Red Devil Industries Hellespont Industries Scarborough Manufacturers Valiant Systems
Production Year	2791
Mission	Reconnaissance
Type	Hovercraft
Cost	835,125 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	35 tons
Armor	ProtecTech 6
Engine	GM 105 ICE
Speed	129.6 km/h
Crew	3
Communications System	Salamander Systems CommPhase Unit
Targeting Tracking System	Exeter LongScan w/ReconLock
Heat Sinks	3 single
Armament	2x SRM-6 1x medium laser
BV (1.0)	419
BV (2.0)	640

Description

The Pegasus is a popular recon unit due to its good speed, decent armor, and respectable firepower coupled with a reputation for sturdiness and reliability. The Pegasus Scout Hovertank was developed by the Exeter Organization based on Keystone in the Free Worlds League and was introduced during the early years of the First Succession War as unit reconnaissance platform mounting offensive weaponry and sufficient armor to sustain significant damage. It can be found in nearly every major military organization due to a licensing deal between the Exeter Organization and Red Devil Industries of Pandora who, along with a significant amount of money, traded a license to produce the reliable Defiance B3M Medium Laser. Illegal copies of the Pegasus are produced by Hellespont Industries of Sian. Exeter has unsuccessfully attempted to serve cease-and-desist orders against Hellespont Industries on multiple occasions and has refused to license the production of its sophisticated electronics suite to Scarborough Manufacturing of Al Na'ir in protest over their avoidance of Free World League import taxes.

Weapons and Equipment

The Pegasus is an unusual reconnaissance vehicle in that it mounts sufficient armor and offensive weaponry to survive engagements with other armored units. The key to the Pegasus' durability is its robust chassis design consisting of interlocking hexagonal plates individually set into a hollow framework and welded in place giving it the structural flexibility needed in a fast hovertank while sturdy enough to absorb multiple hits. Exeter design staff claim the chassis' stress and strain thresholds exceed that of any other hovercraft by over 64.3%. Mounting 6.5 tons of ProtecTech 6 armor, it can survive more than one large laser hits to any location, although crews are trained to avoid enemy contact as much as possible.

The Pegasus mounts considerable weaponry for its size, consisting of a pair of turret-mounted StarStreak Heavy SRM-6s with one ton of reloads and a single forward-facing medium laser mounted on the front glacis. Craft produced by the Exeter Organization and Red Devil Industries mount a Defiance B3M medium laser whereas illegal copies produced by Hellespont Industries utilize a Diverse Optics Type 2 medium laser. The medium laser, although considered inefficient for its weight due to the heat sinks and power amplifiers necessary on an internal combustion-powered vehicle, allows Pegasus crews to continue to operate long after running out of SRM reloads.

The Pegasus mounts the Exeter LongScan w/ReconLock, a powerful communications system capable of conducting scans with a range up to 30 kilometers utilizing a series of "scanning induction webs" able to identify units by silhouette, speed, and both seismic and electronic noise. The comms system is integrated with the Salamander Systems CommPhase Unit to identify the best possible targets to hit within range and automatically fire upon them unless overridden by the gunner. This system is the closest thing to artificial intelligence that has been allowed since the Amaris Civil War. Units produced by Scarborough Manufacturing in the Draconis Combine lack these sophisticated electronics.

Unlike most recon vehicles, the Pegasus lacks the organic capability for long-range and orbital communications, which can be ameliorated with the separate purchase and installation of Exeter's TransBoost, a secure, tight-beam microwave communications system. Due to customer complaints, Exeter began offering pre-installed TransBoost units in 3027.

The crew compartment is remarkably comfortable, though an average person cannot stand up straight inside, and even has a small food preparation area towards the rear.

Variants

As a recon vehicle, known variants of the Pegasus include removing weapons altogether or conversely removing the sensors and adding more SRM ammo.

• Pegasus (Unarmed) 

  This 2873 version of the Pegasus removes all the weaponry. It has twelve tons of cargo space available. BV (2.0) = 317

• Pegasus (Missile) 

  This 2854 Pegasus variant replaces the medium laser with an extra SRM-6 and an additional ton of ammunition. BV (2.0) = 678

• Pegasus (Sensor) 

  This 2798 version replaces the SRM-6 racks with a pair of SRM-4 launchers. The freed space is occupied by a remote sensor dispenser. BV (2.0) = 571

• 3058 Upgrade 

  After the Truce of Tukayyid, the DCMS began an upgrade of the Pegasus hovertank. The newer model, produced by Scarborough Manufacturers of Al Na'ir, replaces the internal combustion engine with a 140-rated fusion engine and the weapons array with twin Valiant Pilum SRM-6 racks and a Victory Heartbeat medium pulse laser. It also adds a new communications system, the Scarborough Talky 3 with Guardian ECM, a TAG system, and a Beagle active probe. This gives the new Pegasus a faster speed of 151.2 km/h, increases its firepower, and adds electronic warfare capabilities. BV (1.0) = 515; BV (2.0) = 706

• Pegasus C3 

  This version mounts more armor than the typical 3058 upgrade version and carries a pair of medium pulse lasers and Streak SRM-4 launchers in the turret. Room for all this weaponry comes at the expense of the electronics equipment mounted in the typical 3058 Pegasus. This version does, however, include a C3 slave in the tank's hull which allows it to share targeting data with friendly units. BV (1.0) = 569; BV (2.0) = 785

• Pegasus MRM 

  This 3063 version carries a turret-mounted MRM-20 launcher and an ER medium laser. It also carries a Guardian ECM suite and a C3 slave. BV (1.0) = 571; BV (2.0) = 781

• Pegasus (Sealed) 

  This version is environmentally sealed and uses heavy ferro-fibrous armor to provide protection. The electronic equipment (TAG, Guardian, Beagle) give this variant further protection. It also uses a light engine and replaces the standard weapons with twin MML-3 launchers and as reserve a medium pulse laser is installed. BV (2.0) = 618

• Pegasus (X-Pulse) 

  This is the production name of the Pegasus X described below. The only difference in the tank is the name. Performance, protection, and weapons are all identical. BV (2.0) = 1,119

• Pegasus (MML) 

  This 3091 variant further upgrades the classic design. A medium X-pulse laser is mounted in the traditional front mount, replacing the classic medium laser. The SRMs have been replaced by a quartet of MML-3s. These launchers provide the same short-range punch as the original, while also providing some, if light, long-range firepower. An active probe provides this variant with the scouting abilities the tank is famous for. A larger engine and a supercharger give a flank speed of over 140 km/h and a top speed of over 180 km/h. Heavy ferro-fibrous armor increases protection. BV (2.0) = 906

Custom Variants

• Pegasus X 

  This was an experimental variant produced by Scarborough Manufacturing Annex, designer Robert McMichaelson of Algedi in the 3070s. Designed to use experimental weaponry and equipment, it was intended to become the next generation of the Pegasus in recon and harassment actions. The vehicle was fitted with a 210 XL fusion engine with a supercharger. This allowed the vehicle to achieve flank speed of 170 km/h and 220 km/h when the supercharger was successfully engaged. Mounted in the turret, the vehicle had twin Diverse Optics Type 25PX medium X-pulse lasers co-axially mounted with a Guided Technologies 2nd Generation Streak SRM-6 launcher. To enhance its spotting abilities, the vehicle has a C3 slave unit fitted. The hull is protected by 4.5 tons of ProtecTec 19 heavy ferro-fibrous armor. BV 2.0 = 1,119

Design Quirks

The Pegasus (X-Pulse) variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:

• Hard to Pilot
• Improved Communications

Notable Crewmembers

See: Category:Notable Pegasus (Scout Hover Tank) Crewmembers

Notes

• It was confirmed on the official Ask the Writers forum that the names of the communications system on the standard Pegasus - "Exeter LongScan w/ ReconLock" - and the targeting system - "Salamander Systems CommPhase Unit" - were accidentally reversed in Technical Readout: 3026 and subsequent editions.

Gallery

• 

  Silhouette of the original Pegasus from MW:The BattleTech RPG

• 

  Pegasus from TRO:3026

• 

  Decolorized reprint of Pegasus from German HWH:3031

• 

  Pegasus from TRO:3026 Revised

• 

  Pegasus from TRO:3039

• 

  Upgraded Pegasus from TRO:3058

• 

  Pegasus (X-Pulse) from TRO:Prototypes

• 

  Pegasus from Shrapnel #10

• 

  Pegasus in colors of Galedon Regulars from Camo Specs

• 

  Pegasus from MWDA CA dossiers

Bibliography

• Combat Operations
• Experimental Technical Readout: Kurita
• Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged
• Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere)
• Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New
• Technical Readout: 3026
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3058
• Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: 3085
• Technical Readout: Prototypes