Combat Vehicle Technical Readout
Name/Model: Marksman MBT M1J
Designer: Anonymous ONI agent
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 95
Role: Juggernaut
Configuration: Combat Vehicle
Era/Year: Dark Age / 3128
Rules (Current): Standard
Rules (Era): Standard
Rules (Year): Standard
Total Cost: 16,706,625 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,702
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: 285 XL
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Armor: Protec 12 Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
1 Lord's Thunder Gauss Rifle
2 MRM 20s
2 Ayukawa “Slapper” SRM 6s
2 Guided Technologies 2nd Gen Streak SRM 4s
3 Bulldog Minigun Machine Guns
1 Bulldog Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Pandora ’Mech Works
Primary Factory: Terra
Communications: COMTEC 400E
Targeting & Tracking: GroundTracker EE-4
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Overview:
All information transcribed from Technical Readout 3085 Supplemental.
The Winston Combat Vehicle has been an instant success, meeting with strong praise from all
units that have so far seen deployment. Despite the high marks it has received, its
seventy-ton mass and lack of large main gun was deemed insufficient to go against
contemporary assault-grade main battle tanks such as the Challenger and Alacorn. When the
RAF Quartermaster office informed Pandora that the Winston would not be the RAF light MBT of
choice, with the Kinnol earning that distinction, Pandora responded quickly. Before an open
bid for an assault class MBT design could be formally put out, Pandora had submitted their
M-series assault tank for consideration. While a full review of all manufactures’
proposals was performed, Pandora’s design – designated by the RAF as the Marksman –
was chosen in no small part because they had already begun internal trials on an operational
design.
Capabilities:
The Marksman M1A Main Battle Tank shares a name with the First Star League’s artillery
tank, but that is where any similarities end. The designation was chosen in part as a nod to
the accuracy of the tank’s main gun, but it was also consciously noted that the use of the
name could cause confusion in opposing military forces and intelligence groups that would
equate “Marksman” with the older model artillery tank.
Built on a ninety-five ton chassis, a light fusion engine powers the tank at fifty-four
kilometers an hour at flank speed. While not leaving as much tonnage free as the Alacorn’s
Pitban XL, the cost savings make the Marksman a less-expensive base chassis. Defensive
protection mirrors the Winston with fifteen and a half tons of AmberStar Weave heavy
ferro-fibrous armor backed up by a chassis-mounted CASE system. The armor load is heavier
than on nearly any other assault grade tank and has the unfortunate side effect of stressing
the suspension and putting increased wear on the tread systems.
While Pandora’s Marksman concept was always built around the reliable M-7 Gauss Rifle, the
original design mounted three different missile racks and no energy weapons. When it was
selected to be the new RAF main battle tank, the Quartermaster requested that Pandora
standardize the missile launchers and examine taking advantage of the fusion engine to
ensure that the tank would have weapons in even the longest of engagements. Pandora
responded by mounting Four Krieger C1 series medium lasers in the gimble arms over the
turret. The new compact model of Krieger laser is modeled on the Cyclops Eye laser used by
the venerable Drillson Hover Tank, the barrelless design giving them a high degree of
durability in rough combat. The varied missile racks were replaced with two nine-tube
multi-missile launchers. Able to support the M-7 at range, the MMLs provide a massive
increase in short-range firepower. With a dual brace of Mainfire Miniguns for point-blank
defense, opponents of the Marksman face the undesirable choices of staying at range and
facing the Gauss rifle, or closing and being sandblasted by the lasers and short-range
missiles from the MML racks.
Deployment:
The Marksman’s first field trials were conducted this spring at the X-5 Test Ranges in the
Outback of the Australian continent. In lightly broken terrain, two Marksman M1A tanks were
supported by two Giggins APCs carrying jump infantry. Various other vehicles were included
to represent actual battlefield combat situations. A mixed unit of four medium BattleMechs
and a reinforced lance of cavalry vehicles made up the opposing force. The Marksman tanks
made an early showing with well-placed gauss rifle shots that destroyed one BattleMech and a
Maxim II. The OpFor used the broken terrain to close in relative protection, coming out
right on top of one of the Marksmans, though was unprepared for the brutal short-range
response. The computer simulation left two of the OpFor’s ’Mechs and half of their
vehicles destroyed at the cost of just one immobilized M1A.
Trials are still underway as suspension issues continue to plague the design, but full
deployment is expected early in 3088, with a goal of at least one lance of Marksmans on each
Protectorate world by 3095.
Variants:
Pandora has been approved to release their original model to the general public. The M1 will
lack the M1A’s laser arsenal and replace the multi-missile launchers with three
independent missile systems. Dual six and streak-four short-range missile launchers lend the
M1 a powerful short-range punch. The use of MRM racks on the M1 was deemed contrary to the
RAF’s needs for a main battle tank, but the low cost of the system and ammunition loads is
expected to appeal to many planetary militias. The M1 further reduces costs through the use
of a standard engine and ferro-fibrous armor. Even the CASE was removed, as the severely
limited missile stores of this tank will likely be depleted long before its armor is
breached. The M1 is expected to first ship in late 3088.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 9.50
Engine: 285 XL 13.00
Cruising MP: 3
Flanking MP: 5
Heat Sinks (Single): 10 0.00
Control Equipment: 5.00
Lift Equipment: 0.00
Power Amplifier: 0.00
Turret: 4.50
Armor Factor: 241 13.50
Type: Ferro-Fibrous
Armor
Value
Front: 65
R/L Side: 50
Rear: 35
Turret: 41
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Weapons and Ammo Location Tonnage
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Gauss Rifle Turret 15.00
2 MRM 20s Turret 14.00
4 Machine Guns Turret 2.00
2 SRM 6s Turret 6.00
2 Streak SRM 4s Turret 6.00
Gauss Rifle (Ammo 16) Body 2.00
MRM 20 (Ammo 24) Body 2.00
Machine Gun (Ammo 100) Body 0.50
SRM 6 (Ammo 15) Body 1.00
Streak SRM 4 (Ammo 25) Body 1.00
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Alpha Strike Statistics
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Point Value (PV): 46
TP: CV, SZ: 4, TMM: 1, MV: 6"t
Damage: (S) 8 / (M) 7 / (L) 2
Armor (A): 8, Structure (S): 5
Specials: SRCH, SRM1/1, TUR(8/7/2, SRM1/1)
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