Cicada
Sarna News
| |
| Cicada | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | HartfordCo Industries, Gibson Federated BattleMechs - (Free Worlds Defense Industries) |
| Production Year | 2740[1] |
| Model | CDA-2A |
| Class | Medium |
| Cost | 3,705,217 C-bills |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 40 tons |
| Chassis | Hartford 300 |
| Armor | 3/Star Slab |
| Engine | Pitban 320 |
| Communications System | Datacom 50 |
| Speed | 129.6 km/h |
| Armament | |
| BV (1.0) | 567 |
| BV (2.0) | 659 |
Contents
Description
The Cicada was introduced in 2740 by HartfordCo Industries in an attempt to capitalize on the growing need for BattleMechs. HartfordCo built the Cicada to compete directly against the Locust. The 'Mech was designed around a similar doctrine of speed and has a top speed of 129.6 km/h. The Cicada design did eventually encounter some unforeseen problems that sullied the reputation of the 'Mech. Primary among these was a critical flaw in the design of the heat sinks used that could cause severe heat management concerns and could even lead to an inadvertent shutdown in a combat situation.[1]
Armament
The Cicada is armed with two Magna Medium Lasers and a single Magna Small Laser. These weapons give the Cicada independence from logistical support lines when necessary, in exchange for a weapons loadout that has a higher than average amount of excess heat.
Variants
- CDA-2B - The -2B variant of the Cicada is a simple upgrade that exchanges the Small Laser for a Flamer. This modification makes the Cicada effective against infantry. BV (1.0) = 523, BV (2.0) = 626 [1]
- CDA-3C - The -3C Cicada is an attempt to allow the 'Mech to have a much greater reach with devastating results. To do this, the maximum speed has been reduced to 118.8 kph and the Medium Lasers have been replaced with two Machine Guns and the Small Laser has been replaced with a PPC. BV (1.0) = 656, BV (2.0) = 771 [1]
- CDA-3F - The -3F Cicada is one of the most advanced versions of this 'Mech and was designed following the Clan Invasion. The chassis has been constructed using Endo Steel construction techniques and the 'Mech is protected with six and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor. The -3F is powered by an extralight engine, can jump up to two hundred and forty meters, and carries a weapons loadout that appears to be a cross between the -2A and -3C models. The primary weapon is an ER PPC, which is backed up by two Medium Lasers. BV (1.0) = 1,202, BV (2.0) = 1,329 [2]
- CDA-3G - Based off of the same chassis as the 3F, the 3G trades in the PPC for an ER Large Laser, a Beagle Active Probe, and additional armor. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 1,270 [2]
- CDA-3M - The -3M upgrade of this older BattleMech uses some of the newest technology available in 3050. The engine has been upgraded to an extralight engine and the extra space has been used to upgrade the Small Laser to a Small Pulse Laser and also to add an Ultra Autocannon/5, as well as CASE to protect the 'Mech in the case of an ammunition explosion. BV (1.0) = 664, BV (2.0) = 812 [2]
- CDA-3MA - This variation of the 3M swaps the autocannon for a Snub-Nose PPC and additional armor. This version helps to introduce new technology to cadets. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 1,158 [2]
- CDA-3P - An upgrade of the 3M, the 3P lowers the 'Mech's top speed to 119 km/h to upgrade the autocannon to a Heavy PPC. The lasers are replaced with four ER Medium Lasers. Additional armor is added, though not as much as with the 3MA. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 1,502 [2]
Apocryphal Variants
- CDA-X5 - The X-5 is a prototype for an advanced Cicada. Outfitted with Ferro-Fibros Armor, Double Heat Sinks, an XL engine, and Endo Steel skeleton, it still manages to outpace almost all light mechs, at at top speed of 133.7KPH. Its armament is optimized for short range, with 4 medium lasers and a pair of SRM2s fed by an experimental ammo system, giving it a light armament by medium mech standards, but still much better than the older 2A, 2B, and 3C variants. Though the design was highly successful in testing, a combination of the extreme price of production, the relative fragility of the mech, and the difficulty of piloting the mech due to its extreme speed prevented the X-5 from ever entering production. The few to obtain prototype models after testing concluded proved them to be a deadly force on the battlefield. Lessons learned with this model, most notably that jump jets were needed to prevent the mech from constantly crashing into things, were applied to the 3F variant, though at the cost of missile capability. (This is an apocryphal 'Mech, designed for MechWarrior Online)
Related OmniMechs
- Strider - Luthien Armor Works used the design of the Cicada as the basis for their Strider OmniMech.[3]
Notes
Though most of the artwork shows that the medium lasers are mounted in the Cicada's arms, according to the official record sheets and TRO: 3039 they are installed in the side torsos. It is unclear if this is intentional or an error that never was fixed.[1]
Gallery
A CDA-2A Cicada in action
CDA-3M Cicada
CDA-2A Cicada in combat
CDA-3M Cicada in battle
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 118 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "TRO3039" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "TRO3039" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 36 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "TRO3050u" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "TRO3050u" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "TRO3050u" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "TRO3050u" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Technical Readout: 3058, p. 84