Valkyrie

Valkyrie
Valkyrie
Production information
Manufacturer Corean Enterprises[1]

Defiance Industries

Vicore Industries[1]

Production Year 2787[2]
Model VLK-QA[2]
Class Light
Cost 2,205,320 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 30 tons
Chassis Corean Model 1AA
Armor Riese-470
Engine Omni 150
Communications System Lynx-shur
Targeting Tracking System Sync Tracker (39-42071)
Heat Sinks 11 single
Speed 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets Norse Industries 3S
Armament
BV (1.0) 640
BV (2.0) 723[3][4]


Description[edit]

The Valkyrie was originally planned for use by the Star League Defense Force, but production of the BattleMech did not begin until 2787, after the fall of the Star League and the start of the First Succession War. This was mainly due to legal entanglement with Harvard Company, Inc. who claimed the VLK-QA was a "nearly wholesale" copy of the WSP-100A Wasp LAM.[5] Because of this odd twist of fate, and because the only factory to produce the Valkyrie was located on New Avalon, the only nation to possess a large number of Valkyries was the Federated Suns. During the Succession Wars the Valkyrie became the standard light 'Mech of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns, often replacing the lighter Wasp and Stinger 'Mechs in many units and given to experienced MechWarriors to pilot. While not as fast as either design, the Valkyrie has an almost comparable jumping distance, heavier armor, and longer-range weaponry. Capable of maintaining a high rate-of-fire while jumping as often as it liked, the Valkyrie gained a reputation for tenacity, and once on the attack "it stays with you until either you drop or it does."[2][6]

Corean Enterprises was able to maintain a steady production rate of 130 Valkyries per year during the Succession Wars, reaching almost 200 per year during the desperation of the First Succession War. With its location in the heart of the Davion realm, that rate was rarely under threat, although the possibility of the automated factories breaking down for good remained a growing concern during the technological decline of the Third Succession War. Every regiment, and nearly every battalion, had at least one Valkyrie 'Mech under its command, with some recon companies equipped with entire lances of Valkyries. The Davions were also willing to sell the 'Mech to mercenary outfits contracted to serve them, while relatively few found their way into the hands of the other realms through battlefield salvage.[2][3]Valkyrie production made a major expansion around this time, as Katrina Steiner helped Defiance Industries strike a licensing deal with Corean, a deal which would persist at least until the end of the Jihad.[7] One major setback in Valkyrie production did occur during the Fourth Succession War, when the Draconis Combine captured Marduk, site of Norse BattleMech Works and producers of the 'Mech's Norse Industries 3S jump jets. Production fell behind for the next few years as Corean tried several other jump jet models without success, until finally settling on HildCo Interplanetary's HildCo Model 12 line of jump jets.[6][8]

Following the formation of the Federated Commonwealth, its nascent military force was faced with the problem of combining two entirely separate militaries into one unified whole. Part of the solution was commonality of equipment, and the Valkyrie was chosen to be a standard light 'Mech of the AFFC. Following the discovery of the Helm Memory Core, the New Avalon Institute of Science was able to restore the Valkyrie industrial complex to its full Star League era production rate, while Corean was able to utilize lostech components to construct the new VLK-QD model starting in 3049.[3][8]

The FedCom Civil War took a particularly heavy toll on light 'Mechs, and the Commonwealth was in desperate need of replacements; unfortunately Valkyrie production had halted when the St. Ives Compact was conquered by the Capellan Confederation, and HildCo was no longer willing to supply Corean with jump jets. At the time the company was in negotiations with Vicore Industries about reviving the Valkyrie design with two new variants, the VLK-QD1 and VLK-QD3, and Vicore just happened to have the solution to their problems. The company had secretly negotiated to build HildCo jump jets under the Vicore name, and was willing to sell these components to Corean in exchange for the right to build both variants. Corean agreed, and Valkyrie production restarted on New Avalon and Demeter, with new units reaching Davion forces by July 3067.[9]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The Valkyrie has as its primary armament a Devastator Series-07 LRM-10 launcher with one ton of reloads mounted in the left torso. While an unusual weapon on a light 'Mech, and carrying only enough missiles for two minutes of continuous fire, it gives the Valkyrie a long reach and respectable damage, especially against other light 'Mech hunters. As a backup weapon the Valkyrie carries a Sutel IX medium laser in its right arm. This mix of long and short-range weapons allows the Valkyrie to soften up other 'Mechs from long range then move in for a kill.[2][3][6]

11 single heat sinks allow the Valkyrie to fire its weapons and use its five jump jets, two each in the legs and the fifth in the rear torso, to jump up to 150 meters at a time without worrying about heat buildup. It also carries six tons of armor to absorb a decent amount of punishment. While only boasting a cruising speed of 54 km/h, it is capable of outmaneuvering and, when working as a team, taking down heavier opponents.[2][3][6]

Variants[edit]

  • VLK-QD2 
    In the Blakist sieges of New Avalon during the Jihad, following the NAIS refit of the Longbow, Corean Enterprises retooled their QD1 production lines in 3072 to produce this version, stripping out the LRM-15, its attendant Artemis IV and missiles to fit a pair of Mydron Snipehunter LAC/2s. Two ammo bins allow Davion MechWarriors to utilize any kind of ammo on hand, while the Defiance XII ER medium laser and targeting computer of the QD1 were retained, making this model a highly-accurate 'Mech able to provide direct fire-support or quickly shred enemy light 'Mechs.[12] BV (2.0) = 638[13]
  • VLK-QD3 
    The QD3 is an upgrade of the QD variant introduced in 3069 as part of the Vicore deal. While it retains most aspects of the QD1, the QD3 is instead powered by a GM 210 engine for a top speed of 119 km/h, sports ferro-fibrous armor, and carries two ER medium lasers and a Holly LRM-5 launcher.[1] BV (1.0) = 853; BV (2.0) = 882[14]
  • VLK-QD5 
    This failed 3101 variant, based on the QD4, replaced the improved jump jets with standard jump jets and added an ATM-3 launcher. Limited mobility and survivability, combined with an exclusive ATM ammunition logistics contract with Clan Diamond Shark that left customers without ammunition, led to the abandonment of the project. BV (2.0) = 690[17]
  • VLK-QD6 
    This variant keeps the 85 km/h top speed of the traditional Valkyrie, using an XL engine and XL gyro to free weight. The right arm mounts an ER medium laser, and a single ELRM-10 with two tons of ammunition provides long range firepower. The 'Mech is protected by ferro-fibrous armor and the ammunition is protected by CASE. BV (2.0) = 827[18]
  • VLK-QF 
    The QF model of the Valkyrie was the only common variant of the 'Mech during the Succession Wars. First fielded in 2967, it trades in the medium laser for a flamer, which allows the 'Mech to work in an incendiary role and also acts as an excellent deterrent to infantry attacks. BV (1.0) = 563; BV (2.0) =653[21]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Valkyrie and Valkyrie C has the following Design Quirks:[25][26]

Notable Pilots[edit]

See Category:Notable Valkyrie Pilots

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, pp. 100–101: "VLK-QD1"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Technical Readout: 3025, p. 22
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 284
  4. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 449
  5. ↑ Technical Readout: 3085, p. 296: "WSP-100 Wasp MAM Mk I"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 First Succession War, pp. 158–159: "Rules Annex - Technical Readout: - VLK-QA Valkyrie"
  7. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 42
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Technical Readout: 3050, p. 76
  9. ↑ Technical Readout: Project Phoenix, p. 20
  10. ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 32
  11. ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 33
  12. ↑ BattleCorps: "News from the Front Lines" - "Valkyrie (Valkyrie VLK-QD2)"[dead link]
  13. ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 34
  14. ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 35
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Technical Readout: 3085, p. 233
  16. ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 36
  17. ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Caveat Emptor, p. 10
  18. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 9, p. 15
  19. ↑ Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades, p. 92
  20. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 9, p. 5
  21. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 450
  22. ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 37
  23. ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix, p. 39
  24. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 9, p. 17
  25. ↑ BattleMech Manual, Fourth Printing, p. 93: "BattleMech Quirk Table"
  26. ↑ BattleMech Manual Errata (Version 6.01), p. 9: "BattleMech Quirk Table"

Bibliography[edit]

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