Osprey
Sarna News
| |
| Osprey | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Hollis Incorporated Skobel MechWorks Achernar BattleMechs |
| Model | OSP-26 |
| Class | Medium |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 55 tons |
| Chassis | Hollis Mk II Endo Steel |
| Armor | Durallex Heavy with CASE |
| Engine | DAV 220 XL |
| Speed | 64 km/h |
| Jump Jets | Anderson Propulsion 25 |
| Armament |
1 x Gauss Rifle |
| BV (2.0) | 1,541[1] |
Contents
Description
Originally a rare and little known urban combat 'Mech from the Star League era, the Osprey reached new levels of prominence thanks to the Jihad.
Originally designed by Hollis Incorporated to fulfill a Star League Defense Force contract for a mobile, medium-weight fire support unit, when Blue Shot Weapons' Lynx design won the bid the Osprey was relegated to a limited contract for the SLDF's Royal units in a urban defense role. Rendered virtually extinct during the Succession Wars, the Word of Blake commissioned Skobel MechWorks to revive the design to bolster its own militia forces, resulting in massive production runs at Skobel and later Achernar BattleMechs during the Jihad. Impressed by the durability and effectiveness of the design during the brutal fighting to take Achernar and Terra, both the Republic of the Sphere and the Capellan Confederation placed a priority on restating production for their own armed forces after the Jihad.
To allow the Osprey to carry a heavy weapons load-out for its size, the 'Mech was built using a weight saving Endo Steel chassis and DAV 220 XL Fusion Engine. Clad in eleven tons of armor and equipped with ten double heat sinks, the design also carried a Beagle Active Probe to weed out hidden units in the urban environment. To make up for the Ospreys low ground speed, four Anderson Propulsion 25 jump jets were mounted in its torso and legs. [2]
Armaments
The modern Ospreys main ranged weapon was its dorsally mounted M-7 Gauss Rifle supported by Holly Multi-Missile Launcher 7 Rack underneath. At closer ranges the 'Mech carried a pair of Diverse Optics ER Medium Laser and a single ER Small Laser, with the small laser and Beagle probe designed to fit into mountings identical to the medium lasers and giving the impression it mounts two medium lasers in each of its stubby arms. Two tons of ammunition for the Gauss Rifle and the Multi-Missile Launcher, allowing both LRM and SRM missiles to be carried, are carried in CASE protected ammo bays in the Osprey's torsos. [2]
Variants
- OSP-15 - The original SLDF model, the OSP-15 mounted the same M-7 Gauss Rifle as the modern models, but had a LRM 10 Launcher, three Medium Lasers and no special equipment [2]. BV (2.0) = 1,564[3]
- OSP-15E - Functionally identical to Word of Blake's OSP-25 version, the OSP-15E was built by Holis Incorporated for the CCAF using one of its Catapult production lines on Corey. [2]
- OSP-25 - This was original revived version of the Osprey that Word of Blake used prior to the OSP-26. This version updated 'Mech's standard medium lasers for Extended Range versions[2]. BV (2.0) = 1,630[4]
Custom Variant
- OSP-26 Osprey Lawrence - A customized variant created for Lawrence Sawyer of the Lamenkov's Liability, only the MML-7 and Beagle were kept, with the rest of the weaponry replaced with a Heavy PPC, two Medium Pulse Lasers, and a C3 Slave. For improved cross-country handling it also mounted five Improved Jump Jets. BV (2.0) = 1,461[5]
Notes
- Originally conceived by Joel Bancroft-Connors, who was then contributor to Battletechnology Magazine. Many years later Mr. Bancroft-Connor joined Catalyst Game Labs and introduced the Osprey into the canon BattleTech universe with publication of the Technical Readout: 3085.