Daboku

Revision as of 19:43, 4 June 2018 by Vayra (talk | contribs) (cleaning up introduction/production year)
Daboku
Daboku
Production information
Manufacturer Luthien Armor Works
Production Year 3038[1]
Model DCMS-MX90-D
Class Assault
Cost 8,012,300 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 90 tons
Chassis Alshain Class 100-X
Armor Wakazashi Standard Plate w/ CASE
Engine Hermes 270
Communications System Sipher Security II
Targeting Tracking System Matabushi Sentinel-4
Heat Sinks 12
Speed 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets None
Armament
BV (1.0) 1037
BV (2.0) 1290[2]


Description

The result of a Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery think tank tasked with gleaning information from the Helm Memory Core, the Daboku was unveiled in 3038 to little fanfare. A near-instant failure with flaws in almost every major system, the 'Mech was nonetheless hurried to the front lines for the War of 3039 where it became both a laughing stock and a virtual death sentence for Kuritan pilots. Problems with the CASE system protecting the ammunition bins resulted in the auto-eject triggering when the torso armor was struck in a certain manner. DCMS MechWarriors found themselves rocketing above the battlefield, often at the most inopportune moments, and ultimately took to disabling the auto-eject. Other problems included lasers that were prone to overheat, over-taxing the already burdened heat sinks, and routine jamming of the autocannon ammunition feeds, the result of an improperly designed chest cavity.

Combined, these problems persuaded the DCMS to shelve the design after the conflict. It was revisited in the 3040's and thanks to a further understanding of Star League technology ultimately became the successful MAL-1R Mauler.

Apocryphal Content Starts

The information after this notice comes from apocryphal sources; the canonicity of such information is uncertain.
Please view the reference page for information regarding their canonicity.

According to information from sources of dubious canonicity (BattleTech: Die Welt des 31. Jahrhunderts and Life Support #4, the magazine of the MechForce Germany), the Daboku is in turn based on the Linesman, a yet older design which was originally developed by the Capellan Confederation but proved too expensive to build; the blueprints and a prototype were then sold to the Draconis Combine shortly before the outbreak of the Fourth Succession War. There the design became known as Nainokami (which is the official designation for the Mauler in the German edition of BattleTech).

Apocryphal Content Ends

Weapons and Equipment

The Daboku is armed with two Tronel VI-X Large Lasers, two Holly LRM-10s, and four Imperator Smoothie-2 Autocannon/2s, a layout that was intended to allow the pilot to snipe at enemies from well beyond conventional ranges. Unfortunately, the housing for the Large Lasers prevents proper cooling and as a result they often overheat and short circuit the Daboku's targeting circuits. The ammunition feed for the Imperator autocannons also tends to jam, depriving the 'Mech of its longest range weaponry. Only the Holly LRMs seem to work properly but are only equipped with a ton of ammunition each, limiting their usefulness in a drawn out fight.

Variants

No variants of the Daboku itself were ever manufactured. When the design had finally been refined into a worthwhile BattleMech it was re-introduced as the Mauler, adopting the FedCom codename for the new design to leave the stigma behind that was associated with the Daboku.

Notes

The Daboku is a nod to BattleTech: The Animated Series and the 1st Somerset Strikers (sourcebook), where the production history of the Mauler was significantly changed from what had originally been published in the Technical Readout: 3050. To reconcile the divergent information, this earlier "version" of the Mauler was written in to have existed by the War of 3039 already.

The faulty ejection system is an in-joke referring to the toyline that was produced for the animated TV series. The 'Mechs in the toyline had a panel, located in the lower torso, that ejected the pilot when hit.

References

  1. MUL online date for the Daboku
  2. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 186

Bibliography