Vulcan (BattleMech)

Vulcan (BattleMech)
Vulcan
Production information
Manufacturer MatherTechno Incorporated, Nimakachi Fusion Products Limited, Coventry Metal Works
Production Year 2777[1]
Model VL-2T
Class Medium
Cost 3,462,900 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 40 tons
Chassis MatherTech 500
Armor StarGuard I
Engine Pitban 240
Communications System Hartford 200S
Targeting Tracking System Hartford TA10
Heat Sinks 10
Speed 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets Model 9 Pitban
Armament
BV (1.0) 523
BV (2.0) 642[2]


Description

The Vulcan was designed as an anti-infantry 'Mech in the closing years of the Amaris Civil War. As the SLDF battled Republican troops in the streets and thoroughfares of the Terran Hegemony, many 'Mechs were destroyed by dug-in infantry during these urban battles. In response MatherTechno Inc. designed the Vulcan to solve this problem. Packing weaponry capable of taking out large numbers of enemy troops the Vulcan was only lightly armored with five tons, although this was more than sufficient against smaller weapons. The six jump jets mounted in the rear of the Vulcan's torso not only gave it unparalleled mobility in an urban environment but were specially vented to reduce heat build-up in the rear. Not intended to engage in all-out battles with larger 'Mechs, it's narrow profile did make it harder to target and gave rise to it's nickname "Scarecrow." It's one true deficiency was the lack of manipulative hands, limiting it's ability to engage in close combat fighting with other 'Mechs.[3][4][5]

Production of the Vulcan began as soon as MatherTechno's factory on Northwind was liberated by the SLDF, with Aleksandr Kerensky himself specifically ordering their production lines converted to produce the Vulcan. The design's baptism of fire came during Operation Liberation, the final battle of the civil war to liberate Terra from Stefan Amaris, where it served as part of the Volunteer Regiments and earned it's reputation as a tough city fighter. Each of the Great Houses had a sizable number of Vulcans at the start of the First Succession War, when, after only a matter of months, MatherTechno's factory on Northwind destroyed. Only the Lyran Commonwealth and Free Worlds League managed to acquire the design specifications for the Vulcan and keep it in limited production throughout the rest of the Succession Wars, with the League awarding the schematics to Nimakachi Fusion Products Limited and the Commonwealth giving theirs to Coventry Metal Works. Of the other Great Houses the Capellan Confederation had the fewest number of Vulcans as a result of the loss of Sappho, where the majority of their Vulcans were stationed, to House Marik during the Second Succession War. The Federated Suns kept their Vulcans going thanks to several spare part supply dumps located in their territory, and used the 'Mech extensively during the reconquest of Kentares IV. The majority of the Draconis Combine's Vulcan inventory was used during a raid on Dobson in 3020 where they decimated several key Davion aerospace fighter bases.[3][4][5]

Following the recovery of several lostech components Nimakachi was able to create a new variant, the VT-5M, and begin limited production in 3052, eventually increasing their lines to produce twenty a month. Coventry Metal Works produced their own upgraded variant around the same time, the VT-5L, which played a pivotal role during the FedCom Civil War as part of the Allied forces. The Word of Blake purchased a number of Vulcans in preparation for their seizure of Terra in 3058, codenamed Operation Odysseus. The Blakists would go on to seize more Vulcans after the start of the Jihad following their sacking of Nimakachi's Tematagi plant in 3069, with many transferred to the Protectorate Militia for policing duties.[3][4][5]

Weapons and Equipment

The Vulcan's primary weapons are a Firestorm Flamer mounted in the right arm and a SperryBrowning Machine Gun in the left arm, fed by one ton of ammunition stored in the left torso. To give it some anti-'Mech firepower the Vulcan was given a reliable Armstrong Autocannon/2 with one ton of ammo, both mounted in the right torso, however it performed poorly in this regard and was most often employed as an anti-building weapon. A Randell Medium Laser in the left torso served as a back-up weapon for the autocannon, while ten heat sinks are used to keep the 'Mech cool.[3][4][5]

Variants

  • VL-5T 
    One of the most common of the Vulcan's early variants, the 5T was introduced a year after the original model debuted. It removes the Autocannon/2 and replaces it with three Maxum medium lasers, using the mass saved to add two additional tons of armor. The majority of the Federated Suns' Vulcans were 5T models.[3][4] BV (1.0) = 744, BV (2.0) = 942[6]
  • VT-5M 
    The 5M Vulcan is an upgrade of the 2T version used by House Marik that makes the 'Mech far more effective in close range combat. The 'Mech uses a Crucis-II Delux Endo Steel chassis and removes the autocannon for a Tronel PPL-20 Large Pulse Laser and also upgrades the Medium Laser to a Tronel XII Medium Pulse Laser. Eleven double heat sinks were also incorporated. This version of the Vulcan began production in 3052 and ceased only with the destruction of Nimakachi's Tematagi plant in 3069. BV (1.0) = 761, BV (2.0) = 811[5]
  • VT-5S 
    The 5S Vulcan is an upgrade of the 2T version used by House Steiner which replaces the standard fusion engine with an extralight engine and also upgrades the armor to Lexington Ltd. High Grade Ferro-Fibrous with CASE to protect itself from ammunition explosions. The inclusion of MASC enables the 5S to move up to 129 km/h in short bursts. Additionally, the Autocannon/2 has been replaced with an Imperator Ultra Autocannon/5.[5] BV (1.0) = 681, BV (2.0) = 833[7]
  • VT-5Sr 
    This Jihad-era field refit Vulcan carries two extra heat sinks and a Plasma Rifle while retaining the medium laser, machine gun and flamer. Outfitted with MASC, the 'Mech could escape with a short speed boost from a dangerous situation. [8] BV (2.0) = 1,210[9]
  • VT-6M 
    Another upgrade of the 5M, this variant was produced by Nimakachi before their plant was destroyed, though only around thirty of these 'Mechs were produced and most were captured by the Blakists. The addition of an 240 XL Engine allowed engineers to swap out the lasers for an ER Medium and a Light Gauss Rifle with a generous two-ton ammunition bin. It's five tons of armor was upgraded to StarSlab 1/d Light Ferro-Fibrous to improve protection, especially around the arms.[5] BV = 959[10]

Related Battlemechs

  • Stag - Clan Wolverine extensively redesigned the Vulcan, resulting in the Stag and Stag II.

Gallery

References

  1. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 47
  2. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 105
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 42-43
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 124-125
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 42-43
  6. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 106
  7. Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 164
  8. Technical Readout: 3085, p. 190
  9. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New, p. 69
  10. 10.0 10.1 Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 165

Bibliography