Shadow Cat II

Shadow Cat II
Production information
Manufacturer	Olivetti Weaponry
Production Year	3076
Model	Standard
Class	Heavy
Cost	14,447,680 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Clan BattleMech
Mass	60 tons
Chassis	Type 79-60 Endo Steel
Armor	Compound H17 Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	Type 79 360 XL
Communications System	JNE Integrated
Targeting Tracking System	Build 3Z Cat TTS
Heat Sinks	10 double
Speed	97 km/h
Jump Jets	Clan Standard Type A1
Armament	1x HAG 20 2x LRM-10 1x ER medium laser
BV (2.0)	2,064

Description

Based on the lighter Shadow Cat OmniMech, the Shadow Cat II is a heavy Clan Jade Falcon fire-support BattleMech.

When the Clan Jade Falcon touman clamored for a new heavy 'Mech design in the waning years of the Jihad, rather than waste time on an all-new design, Merchant Daniel of Olivetti Weaponry responded by completing an unfinished Clan Homeworld BattleMech prototype that added fifteen tons to the medium weight OmniMech in the manner of the Ryoken II and Mad Cat II designs. While the original prototype, never produced, was to mount a Gauss rifle like its lighter antecedent, after the Falcons won the rights to the hyper-assault Gauss rifle technology, the Shadow Cat II became their production testbed for the HAG technology.

Built using the same expensive weight saving technology as its lighter parent, the Shadow Cat II is able to match the performance of the Shadow Cat without any significant loss of firepower, but only a half-ton increase of armor over the 45 ton design. Ten double heat sinks can easily cope with the 'Mech's heavily ammo dependent weapons array.

Weapons and Equipment

A right-arm mounted Type 0 Hyper-Assault Gauss rifle 20, supported by a Type X "Short Bow" LRM-10 launcher in each torso allowed the Shadow Cat II to unleash a hail of fire capable of stripping off two full tons of armor. While most fire-support designs focus on punching through armor, the Shadow Cat II's shotgun-like payload made it more effective in tearing apart already damaged enemies. A Series 7Ja ER medium laser was mounted almost as an afterthought in the 'Mech's right torso. Carrying two tons each of LRM and HAG reloads, while the laser provided a degree of ammo-free firepower, its inclusion was considered wasteful by many observers who suggested an extra ton of reloads for the ammo-hungry HAG may have been a better use for the weight.

Variants

• Shadow Cat II 2 

  An Experimental Technology variant fielded in 3077, the Shadow Cat II 2 replaces the HAG with an ER large and ER medium pulse laser, both fitted with laser insulator shields. As with many Jihad-era Falcon experiments, the weight freed up by the removal of the HAG and its ammo was used to allow the Shadow Cat II 2 to mount a 'Mech scale partial wing to enhance its jump distance. The Shadow Cat II 2 variant retains the LRM-10 launchers and ER medium laser of the first variant. BV (2.0) = 2,106

• Shadow Cat II 3 

  This variant developed in 3089 carries four Streak SRM-6 launchers, supplemented by a single ER large laser and ER medium laser. This version is more intended for close in fighting rather than the long range fire support of the original. BV (2.0) = 2,387

• Shadow Cat II 4 

  This Dark Age configuration introduced in 3092 carries two LRM-10 launchers and a Gauss rifle. It removes a single jump jet, which means it can only cover 150 meters per jump. BV (2.0) = 1,986

Design Quirks

The Shadow Cat II has the following Design Quirks:

• Easy to Maintain
• Narrow/Low Profile

Related 'Mechs

• Shadow Cat: The Shadow Cat II is a heavier, non-Omni variant of the Shadow Cat

Notable Pilots

See Category:Notable Shadow Cat II Pilots

Gallery

• 

  Shadow Cat II from TRO 3085

• 

  Original Shadow Cat II from MWDA FFE dossiers

Bibliography

• Master Unit List
• Record Sheets: 3085 Print Edition
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge
• Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3085