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Original BD Flea from Battletechnology Mag
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Karagin
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PostPosted: 30-Apr-2002 23:30    Post subject: Original BD Flea from Battletechnology Mag Reply to topic Reply with quote

Type/Model: Flea FLE-14
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 3, Custom design

Mass: 15 tons
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 135 Magna Fusion
Walking Speed: 97.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 151.2 km/h
Jump Jets: 3 Standard Jump Jets
Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
1 Medium Laser
Manufacturer: (Unknown)
Location: (Unknown)
Communications System: (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System: (Unknown)

==Overview:==
The FLE-14 Flea Type Light BattleMech was the prototype vehicle that eventually became the FLE-15 in its final design. First produced in 2519 AD, the FLE-14 Flea was produced in a limited 5000 unit run to test its abilities. These field tests showed that as an upgrade for the replacement of the TRP-10 Trooper crowd control/scouting 'Mech, it was a poor improvement. Redesign led to the FLE-15 Flea which proved far more successful. Old Star League records show that over 20,000 of the FLE-15 'Mechs were constructed before the rise of the Successor States. The best estimates calculate that somewhere over 2000 of the FLE-15 are still in operation today, while those remaining from the FLE-14 class number less than 200. Currently, all Flea Classes are out of production, having been superceded by newer or heavier scout 'Mechs. The type is still a favorite of some MechWarriors, however, and no less than five popular versions can still be seen on battlefields throughout the Known Sphere.
The main mission of the FLE-14 was crowd control and fast scouting. With its nearly nonexistent armor and light weapon it must rely on its great speed and jumping ability to avoid situations in which it could be easily destroyed. The Flea is also used as an infantry buster, being able to screen heavier 'Mechs from pesky foot soldiers and their armored vehicles.


==Capabilities:==
The FLE-14 Flea Type light BattleMech was extremely fast and maneuverable and had the largest jumping capacity then attempted by Star League designers. Its jumping ability gave it its name, although its more successful cousin the FLE-15 lost all jump capability in favor of heavier weapons and armor protection. It is ironic that the name and general design were retained in the FLE-15. At longer range the FLE-15 and its jumping cousin cannot be differentiated.
In open terrain the FLE-14 is one of the fastest 'Mechs yet created. These movement abilities help it avoid heavier 'Mechs that it could not hope to engage. Its armament is designed for medium ranges only, so care must be taken to avoid long ranged fire that could not be replied to. The Flea's main anti-'Mech armament is its single Diverse Optics Type 15 medium laser. Although the FLE-15 and its variations carry a diversified array of smaller weapons, this did not occur on the FLE-14 (although many local commanders added twin machine guns for infantry suppression). Fleas were never designed to fight other 'Mechs. Only against infantry and their lighter armored vehicles can the Flea ever act offensively with much of a chance for success.


==Deployment==
During the First and Second Succession Wars, both the FLE-14 and FLE-15s were used extensively as scouts and infantry screens in almost every engagement of the conflict. Their losses were tremendous, however. In the Battle of Pohlan in 2794, fully 80% of the 300+ Fleas that were used by the forces of House Kurita and Davion were destroyed in the two month campaign. More cautious tactics have prevailed in the centuries since those conflicts, and no other MechWarrior pilot has learned to be more cautious than those that operate Fleas.
More recently, during a bandit raid on the planet New Riga in 3005 AD by Hendrik III of Oberon VI, a recon lance of pirate Fleas was able to lead the defending 'Mechs away from their defense point and into an ambush. The Fleas were easily able to outdistance their lumbering opponents until Hendrik's heavy 'Mechs were able to get behind the defenders, overwhelming them.
FLE-14s very rarely saw 'Mech combat after the Second Succession War since their lives on the 'Mech Battlefield were usually measured in seconds. The added advantage of rapid jump capability never was able to outweigh the simple fact that the FLE-14 was totally outclassed. They did serve as useful crowd control vehicles, and were used extensively in rear areas protecting supply and repair bases from partisan activity.


--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Flea FLE-14
Mass: 15 tons

Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 26 pts Standard 0 1.50
Engine: 135 6 4.50
Walking MP: 9
Running MP: 14
Jumping MP: 3
Heat Sinks: 10 Single 5 .00
(Heat Sink Loc: 3 LT, 2 RT)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA R: Sh+UA 12 .00
Armor Factor: 24 pts Standard 0 1.50

Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 2
Center Torso: 5 3
Center Torso (Rear): 1
L/R Side Torso: 4 2/2
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 1/1
L/R Arm: 2 3/3
L/R Leg: 3 3/3

Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Medium Laser RT 3 1 1.00
3 Standard Jump Jets: 3 1.50
(Jump Jet Loc: 1 LL, 2 RL)
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 3 36 15.00
Crits & Tons Left: 42 .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 1,318,475 C-Bills
Battle Value: 261
Cost per BV: 5,051.63
Weapon Value: 41 / 41 (Ratio = .16 / .16)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 4; MRDmg = 1; LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 9, Armor/Structure: 1/1
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: ML; Point Value: 3


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Karagin
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ICER
Clan Hell's Horses
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PostPosted: 30-Apr-2002 23:59    Post subject: Original BD Flea from Battletechnology Mag Reply to topic Reply with quote

WHOA!! A 15 ton battlemech? I thought all mechs had to be at least 20 tons.

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Karagin
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PostPosted: 01-May-2002 00:37    Post subject: Original BD Flea from Battletechnology Mag Reply to topic Reply with quote

That was Nystul thing if IIRC. The rules have said in the older books 10 tons UP to 100 tons...

And FASA put out a 15 tonner Clan mech in an Update flyer for 1993...and then tried to state or actually Peter Smith tried to state for them, it didn't exist since no record sheet was done up, but hey if has the FASA logo on it, one would think it was offical...

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Karagin
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Karagin
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PostPosted: 13-Apr-2007 12:15    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Someone wanted to see this one again...
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Karagin
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Sleeping Dragon
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PostPosted: 13-Apr-2007 13:45    Post subject: Re: Original BD Flea from Battletechnology Mag Reply to topic Reply with quote

ICER wrote:
WHOA!! A 15 ton battlemech? I thought all mechs had to be at least 20 tons.


If you look in to the BMR then on the page before the index is the explanation. People used low-tonnage units to make really fast units.
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Rudel Gurken
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PostPosted: 14-Apr-2007 01:37    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

You are aware of ICER posted his comment 5 years ago?? Wink
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PostPosted: 14-Apr-2007 05:00    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Delayed, but it's still an answer. If someone is looking for it, it's there.
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