Vulcan (BattleMech)
Vulcan | |
---|---|
Production information | |
Manufacturer | MatherTechno Incorporated, Nimakachi Fusion Products Limited, Coventry Metal Works |
Model | VL-2T |
Class | Medium |
Cost | 3,462,900 C-bills |
Technical specifications | |
Mass | 40 tons |
Chassis | MatherTech 500 |
Armor | StarGuard I |
Engine | Pitban 240 |
Speed | 97.2 km/h |
Jump Jets | Model 9 Pitban |
Armament |
|
BV (1.0) | 523 |
BV (2.0) | 642[1] |
Contents
Description
The Vulcan was designed as an anti-infantry 'Mech. During the liberation of Terra the Vulcan was pressed into service as an urban fighter. Working in the Vulcan's favor in this mission profile is its Machine Gun and Flamer, which are both highly effective against infantry. The 'Mech suffers though because of the fact that the Vulcan's primary weapon is a long ranged weapon that is unwieldy in a city environment. During the First Succession War, the Free Worlds League captured the specifications for the Vulcan and awarded them to Nimakachi Fusion Products Limited.
Armament
The primary weapon on the Vulcan is an Armstrong Autocannon/2. This weapon gives the Vulcan a long reach, but in an urban battlefield it can be a hindrance. The secondary weapon on the 'Mech is a Randell Medium Laser, which is useful in close combat against both hard and soft targets. For anti-infantry use, the Vulcan carries a Sperry Browning Machine Gun and a Firestorm Flamer.
Variants
- VL-5T - The 5T Vulcan removes the Autocannon/2 and replaces it with three more Medium Lasers. This variant removes the problems of using the long range Autocannon in close combat and makes the Vulcan more effective in an urban environment- at the cost of losing long range combat capability. BV (1.0) = 744, BV (2.0) = 942[2]
- VT-5M - The 5M Vulcan is an upgrade of the 2T version that makes the 'Mech far more effective in close range combat. The 'Mech uses a Crucis-II Delux Endo Steel chassis and upgrades the autocannon to a Tronel PPL-20 Large Pulse Laser and also upgrades the Medium Laser to a Tronel XII Medium Pulse Laser. Double heat sinks were also incorporated. This version of the Vulcan began production in 3052 and ceased only with the destruction of Nimakachi's Tematagi plant in 3069. BV (1.0) = 761, BV (2.0) = 811[3]
- VT-5S - The 5S Vulcan replaces the standard fusion engine with an extralight engine and also upgrades the armor to Lexington Ltd. High Grade Ferro-Fibrous with CASE to protect itself from ammunition explosions. The inclusion of MASC enables the 5S to move up to 129 km/h in short bursts. Additionally, the Autocannon/2 has been replaced with an Imperator Ultra Autocannon/5. BV (1.0) = 681, BV (2.0) = 833[4]
- VT-5Sr - This Vulcan carries two extra heat sinks , a Plasma Rifle and kepps the ML, MG also the Flamer. Outfitted with MASC the mech could escape with a short speed boost dangerous situation. [5] BV (2.0) = 1,210[6]
- VT-6C - The 6C was produced by the Word of Blake starting in 3070 so that their Vulcans could be integrated in a C3 network. These upgraded version of the 5M swapped out the lasers for an ER Large Laser and ER Medium Laser, respectively. The weight saved was used to install a C3i Computer. The removal of a heat sink allowed for the replacement of the machine gun with three Light Machine Guns linked to a Machine Gun Array. BV (2.0) = 959[7]
- VT-6M - Another upgrade of the 5M, this variant was produced by Nimakachi before their plant was destroyed, though only around thirty of these 'Mechs were produced. The addition of an XL Engine allowed engineers to swap out the lasers for an ER Medium and a Light Gauss Rifle with a generous two-ton ammunition bin. More armor was added, in addition to the upgrade to StarSlab 1/d Light Ferro-Fibrous. BV = 959[7]
Related Battlemechs
The Stag, a 'Mech once produced by Clan Wolverine, was an extensive redesign of the Vulcan.
Gallery
References
Bibliography
- Master Unit List: Battle Values
- Record Sheets: 3039
- Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere)
- Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New
- Technical Readout: 3025
- Technical Readout: 3025 Revised
- Technical Readout: 3039
- Technical Readout: 3050
- Technical Readout: 3050 Revised
- Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
- Technical Readout: 3085