Mad Dog (Vulture)

Mad Dog
Production information
Manufacturer	Unknown
Model	Vulture
Class	Heavy
Technical specifications
Mass	60 tons
Chassis	Standard
Armor	Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	300 XL
Speed	86.4 km/h
Armament	Primary Configuration 2x LRM-20s 2x Medium Pulse Lasers 2x Large Pulse Lasers
BV (1.0)	1,823

Description

The Mad Dog is a heavy Clan OmniMech used for long-range indirect fire support. With hunched shoulders, a protruding head, and reverse-jointed legs, the design resembles a vulture, and it was so codenamed the Vulture by the Inner Sphere forces which first encountered it (namely the Draconis Combine and Free Rasalhague Republic). With it's ample firepower and decent speed of 86.4 km/h, it makes a highly mobile fire platform, and as such has spread to near ubiquity among the forces deployed by the Clans, although the design is favored more by Clan Ghost Bear MechWarriors. The Mad Dog carries eight and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor for decent protection, although it will not be able to stand up to heavy fire.

Armament

For it's fire support purposes, the Mad Dog is armed with twin shoulder-mounted LRM-20 missile racks, which allow the 'Mech to inflict heavy damage on any opponent it may target. The Mad Dog is also more than capable of offenses, also mounts dual large and medium-sized pulse lasers, one on each arm. Mad Dog pilots have been known for showering missiles on opponents before swooping down with a finishing blow from the lasers, like a vulture swooping down for carrion.

In the case that the Mad Dog must retreat or face down heavier opponents, it can adequately do such as well-- the pulse lasers it mounts are much more accurate than standard lasers, allowing it to move and fire at the same time. This can allow it to stall opponents and slowly back up to a more defendable position, although overheating may become an issue.

Variants

Alt. Config. A - The Mad Dog A can bring devastating fire on targets at any range, mounting an ER PPC and a LB 5-X AC, with which it can already cripple enemies from long range. Should it get close enough, it's six SRM-6 racks ensure the demise of nearly any foe. BV (1.0)=1,462

Alt. Config. B - A more general purpose configuration, the Mad Dog B mounts more laser weaponry, with two ER Large Lasers in the left arm, and three Medium Pulse Lasers in the other. For additional close-range firepower, the Mad Dog B mounts only one LRM-20, replacing the other with two Streak SRM-6 launchers. BV (1.0)=1,855

Alt. Config. C - The Mad Dog C greatly differs from the other configurations, completely lacking any missiles whatsoever. Instead, it carries two massive Gauss Rifles for a powerful long-range punch. BV (1.0)=1,659

Alt. Config. H - Built with new Heavy Laser technology, the Mad Dog H downgrades the LRM-20 launchers to LRM-15s, so it can mount it's arsenal of a Heavy Large Laser and three Heavy Medium Lasers, making it much more capable at close range. BV (1.0)=1,686

References

• Technical Readout: 3050 Revised