Flea
Flea | |
---|---|
Production information | |
Manufacturer | Earthwerks Incorporated |
Production Year | 2475[1][2][3] |
Model | FLE-17 |
Class | Light |
Cost | 1,728,000 C-bills |
Technical specifications | |
Mass | 20 tons |
Chassis | Earthwerk Trooper II Endo Steel |
Armor | Livingston Ceramics |
Engine | GM 120 |
Communications System | Neil 2000 |
Speed | 97.2 km/h (129.6 km/h with MASC) |
Armament | |
BV (1.0) | 371[4] |
BV (2.0) | 510[5][6] |
Description
Focused on speed and firepower, the lightly armored Flea was an extremely rare sight until the arrival of the Wolf's Dragoons mercenary unit, with the design experiencing a revival as a inexpensive recon and anti-personnel militia 'Mech.[7][8]
Initially called the TRP-1 Trooper when it was introduced as the Free Worlds League's first light scout BattleMech in 2475, the design was so heavily flawed it took twenty-five years before all the issues were corrected, with a new name selected to escape the bad press. While produced on and off until the early Succession Wars, excessive losses of the lightly armored design led Earthwerks to switch its production line to the manufacture of heavier designs. This changed with the arrival of the Wolf's Dragoons who brought with them a large number of the Flea and reached an exclusive production arrangement with Earthwerks that resulted in the company opening new lines to replenish the Dragoon's losses in the Fourth Succession War. [9] With multiple lines on Asuncion, Bernardo and Victoria, after letting the Dragoons exclusivity clause lapse Earthwerks started selling the easy to manufacture, easy to maintain 'Mech by the DropShip load across the Inner Sphere.[5]
Originally produced exclusively for the Dragoons until the Capellan Confederation acquired the design's blueprints via a Maskirovka raid during the 3040s, the post-Helm Memory Core FLE-17 variant is based on the older FLE-15 model. Retaining the design's maximum speed of 97.2 km/h, the addition of an Endo Steel chassis frees up weight for a MASC system that allows the 'Mechs speed to be pushed up to 129.6 km/h in short bursts. The increase of speed is required to ensure survival on the modern battlefield, as the FLE-17 is only clad in a pitiful three tons of Livingston Ceramics armor plating.[5][8]
Armament
The FLE-17's primary weapons are two Martell Medium Pulse Lasers, replacing the FLE-15's more mundane standard lasers. These are backed up by an Olympian Flamer which works well for anti-personnel use. The Flea also has two rear-mounted Martell Small Lasers for point defense.[5][8]
Variants
- FLE-4 - An original Flea model, the FLE-4 is built on a standard chassis and has a maximum speed of 97.2 km/h. The 'Mech was armed with a Martell Large Laser, allowing it to attempt to keep any heavier 'Mechs at a stand-off range if they attempt to engage. The 'Mech carries two Martell Small Lasers for close in work as well as a Olympian Flamer for anti-infantry purposes. The cost of its relatively heavy weaponry and high speed is its two tons of armor, half that of even the venerable Locust and the reason why the 'Mech was discontinued. BV (1.0) = 360[4], BV (2.0) = 427[9]
- FLE-15 - Another early variant, the FLE-15 features a more common light 'Mech offensive payload with two Martell Medium Lasers as its primary weapons. For close combat and anti-infantry work, it mounts two Martell Small Lasers, two Sperry Browning Machine Guns and a Olympian Flamer. Lighter weapons allows it to carry an extra ton of armor over the FLE-4.[9] BV (1.0) = 352[4], BV (2.0) = 421[10]
- FLE-19 - This dedicated anti-infantry variant is designed for urban defense, and is not for use against other 'Mechs. Each arm has four Light Machine Guns and a Machine Gun Array. It also utilizes a Flamer that can threaten combat vehicles as well as infantry. A single Rocket Launcher 10 provides a one-shot damage potential against armored targets. The 19 has proven popular with Periphery nations and mercenary units.[5] BV (2.0) = 381[11]
- FLE-20 - A Capellan infantry support variant, the 20 strips a half ton of armor to mount two ER Medium Lasers and a Light PPC. The loss of armor is not seen as a risk, since it is replaced with Stealth Armor, along with the required Guardian ECM Suite.[5] BV (2.0) = 791[12]
- Fire Ant - A vicious anti-infantry variant, the Fire Ant's origin is a mystery, though it was first seen sometime after 3058 and disappeared after 3068. Possibly the predecessor to the 19 and 20, the Fire Ant removed a half ton of armor in favor of six Machine Guns and three Flamers.[5] BV (2.0) = 332[13]
Notes
The Fire Ant variant is derived from the 'Mech of the same name found in the video game MechCommander 2. Although the 'Mech in the game is never referred to as a Flea, the in-game art, the specifics, and the reference to the design in Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade and the stats for it in Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere) imply that the Fire Ant is, at least now, canonized as a Flea variant.
In the new MechWarrior Online the Flea is announced as being planned as a playable Mech.
There was a non-canon version appearing in Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries that sported two Machine Gun Arrays, two Small Lasers, and a Flamer.
References
- ↑ Era Digest: Age of War, p. 11
- ↑ Wolf's Dragoons, p. 105, "...the Trooper name was abandoned in favor of the more descriptive Flea."
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 242, "...the FWL renamed [the Trooper] the Flea."
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Combat Operations, p. 130
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 8, "FLE-17 Flea 'Mech Profile"
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 6
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3050, p. 50, "Flea Profile"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Technical Readout: 3050 Revised, pp. 46-47, "Flea 'Mech Profile"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 242, "FLE-4 Flea Profile"
- ↑ MUL online entry for [[PAGENAME}}""
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 7
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 8
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 9