Difference between revisions of "Mech Mortar"

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==Description==
 
==Description==
Based on the weapon used by infantry for centuries, the '''Mech Mortar''' fires a small shell in a high arc that falls onto the target. Though the Mech Mortar was created by the [[Terran Hegemony]], by the time of the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]] it had been relegated to history. Like Long Range Missile launchers, the Mech Mortar could fire on a target directly<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 324: The Mech Mortar gets a +3 to hit modifier when fired directly.</ref> or indirectly<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 324: Fired indirectly without a spotter it gets a +2 modifier.</ref>, but LRMs proved to be more reliable, easier to aim, and could fire more projectiles at once.
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Based on the weapon used by [[infantry]] for centuries, the '''Mech Mortar''' fires a small shell in a high arc that falls onto the target. Though the Mech Mortar was created by the [[Terran Hegemony]], by the time of the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]] it had been relegated to history. Like Long Range Missile launchers, the Mech Mortar could fire on a target directly<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 324: The Mech Mortar gets a +3 to hit modifier when fired directly.</ref> or indirectly<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 324: Fired indirectly without a spotter it gets a +2 modifier.</ref>, but LRMs proved to be more reliable, easier to aim, and could fire more projectiles at once.
  
 
With the reintroduction of the [[Anti-Missile System]] engineers revived the Mech Mortar concept. The munitions used by the mortars, though often possessing limited guidance packages, weren't destroyed by AMS systems in tests. Mortar shells also proved very adaptable, accepting several types of payloads including Anti-Personnel, Armor-Piercing, Flare, Smoke, and Semi-Guided. In addition the sheer number of mortars in use made them very cheap to produce and resupply.<ref>See individual weapon for costs.</ref> These benefits do not overcome the fact that the largest Mech Mortar weighs as much as an [[LRM-20]] and takes up the same amount of space while offering less than half the salvo size and only two-thirds of the ammunition capability.<ref>''Tactical Operations'', pp. 408-409</ref>
 
With the reintroduction of the [[Anti-Missile System]] engineers revived the Mech Mortar concept. The munitions used by the mortars, though often possessing limited guidance packages, weren't destroyed by AMS systems in tests. Mortar shells also proved very adaptable, accepting several types of payloads including Anti-Personnel, Armor-Piercing, Flare, Smoke, and Semi-Guided. In addition the sheer number of mortars in use made them very cheap to produce and resupply.<ref>See individual weapon for costs.</ref> These benefits do not overcome the fact that the largest Mech Mortar weighs as much as an [[LRM-20]] and takes up the same amount of space while offering less than half the salvo size and only two-thirds of the ammunition capability.<ref>''Tactical Operations'', pp. 408-409</ref>

Revision as of 14:03, 29 June 2016

Description

Based on the weapon used by infantry for centuries, the Mech Mortar fires a small shell in a high arc that falls onto the target. Though the Mech Mortar was created by the Terran Hegemony, by the time of the Succession Wars it had been relegated to history. Like Long Range Missile launchers, the Mech Mortar could fire on a target directly[1] or indirectly[2], but LRMs proved to be more reliable, easier to aim, and could fire more projectiles at once.

With the reintroduction of the Anti-Missile System engineers revived the Mech Mortar concept. The munitions used by the mortars, though often possessing limited guidance packages, weren't destroyed by AMS systems in tests. Mortar shells also proved very adaptable, accepting several types of payloads including Anti-Personnel, Armor-Piercing, Flare, Smoke, and Semi-Guided. In addition the sheer number of mortars in use made them very cheap to produce and resupply.[3] These benefits do not overcome the fact that the largest Mech Mortar weighs as much as an LRM-20 and takes up the same amount of space while offering less than half the salvo size and only two-thirds of the ammunition capability.[4]

Availability

Both the Clans and Inner Sphere armies have produced Mech Mortars in several sizes:

Manufacturers

  • Capellan Confederation
Hellespont Industries - Sian
Ceres Metals - Indicass
  • ComGuards:
ComStar manufacturing bases - Terra
  • Draconis Combine:
Maltex Corporation - Errai
  • Federated Suns
Achernar BattleMechs - New Avalon
Valiant Systems - Robinson
  • Lyran Alliance
Cyclops Inc. - Skye
  • Free Worlds League
Irian BattleMechs Unlimited - Irian
Irian BattleMechs Unlimited - Shiro III


References

  1. Tactical Operations, p. 324: The Mech Mortar gets a +3 to hit modifier when fired directly.
  2. Tactical Operations, p. 324: Fired indirectly without a spotter it gets a +2 modifier.
  3. See individual weapon for costs.
  4. Tactical Operations, pp. 408-409

Bibliography