Tortoise II
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| |
| Tortoise II | |
| Production information | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | StarCorps Industries |
| Use | Frontline, City Fighting |
| Chassis Type | Quad |
| Weight Class | Assault |
| Tech Base | Mixed |
| Introduced | 3134[1] |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 2000 kg |
| Top Speed | 21 km/h |
| Armament |
|
| Armor Type | Clan Improved Stealth |
| BV (2.0) | 143 (aSRM), 152 (SRM), 143 (LRM), 119 (C3)[2] |
Description[edit]
The brainchild of Dr. Stephen Vance, Tortoise II Battle Armor was an assault-class quad battle armor developed by the Republic of the Sphere. It was a hybrid of Inner Sphere and Clan technologies utilized by the Republic which was costly for StarCorps Industries of Terra to develop due to the unique design features Dr. Vance incorporated into it. Dr. Vance utilized wheels instead of rear legs to help the design carry its twin weapons modules onto the battlefield. Nicknamed the "Wheelbarrow", the original Tortoise prototype was a money pit. After a redesign and technology purchase from Arc-Royal MechWorks, the new Tortoise II proved to be successful despite its critics.
At its only known public trial demonstration against Republic forces in 3134, it showed it was a durable heavy-weapon platform. This occurred prior to the events leading to Fortress Republic.[2]
Weapons and Equipment[edit]
The primary weapon systems of the Tortoise II are split between a modular turret mount and a detachable weapon mount. Its main weapon is an ER medium pulse laser located in the detachable mount on the main body. A number of weapons can be fitted onto the turret mount: an advanced SRM 3 launcher with eight rounds of ammunition, a Clan SRM-6 launcher with three rounds of ammo, an LRM-4 with seven rounds of ammunition, or a battle armor C3 system and pair of light machine guns with fifty rounds per gun.
Like other assault-weight battle armor suits, the Tortoise II is slow. However, should a pilot need to go beyond the armor's 10 km/h speed, the soldier wearing it can remove the suit's detachable weapons mount to double its speed. The suit is protected by 350 kilograms of Clan stealth armor, allowing the unit to survive direct hits and making it harder to target.[2]
Design Quirks[edit]
The Tortoise II has the following Design Quirks:
Notes[edit]
- As of this writing, the Tortoise II's record sheet is only found in Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 2.
References[edit]
- ↑ MUL Profile for the Tortoise II Battle Armor (aSRM)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 2, p. 17