BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Blade BLD-XL
Designer: Catalyst Game Labs
Source(s): Record Sheets: Dark Age
Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged, The Cutting Edge
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 35
Role: Striker
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Dark Age / 3087
Rules (Current): Standard
Rules (Era): Standard
Rules (Year): Standard
Total Cost: 6,134,018 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,314
Chassis: Hessen Light MK I Endo Steel
Power Plant: GM 245 XL
Walking Speed: 75.6 kph
Maximum Speed: 118.8 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: StarGuard Light Ferro-Fibrous with CASE
Armament:
1 Mydron Tornado Rotary AC/5
2 Diverse Optics ER Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: New Hessen WorkMechs
Primary Factory: New Hessen
Communications: Neil 6000
Targeting & Tracking: Octagon Tartrac System C
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Overview:
The Blade was commissioned as part of the military standardization protocols enacted by
former Republic Commanding General Victor Steiner-Davion. The end of the Jihad found the
Coalition-turned-Republic army a hodgepodge of technology ranging from primitive Age of War
designs through century-old survivors and to the latest, cutting-edge, new production
models. The standardization program called for culling material that would be difficult to
maintain, outside the RAF?s mission role, or too few ? and too ineffectual ? to warrant
continued use.
The other aspect of the Commanding General?s program was to ensure reliable access to key
mission role technologies. With recruits and equipment from every corner of the Sphere,
large portions of the proto-RAF?s TO&E consisted of equipment from well outside the forming
Republic?s borders. New Hessen WorkMechs ? manufacturer of the workhorse Rook ? eventually
won the contract for a light strike ?Mech with their Blade BattleMech, despite being just
outside the Republic.
Capabilities:
As much as possible, durability and ease of maintenance drove the development of the Blade,
which at first would call into question why a GM extra-light engine was chosen. However, the
Blade survives on the maxim of ?speed is life.? Its ability to achieve speeds of over one
hundred kilometers an hour grants it this durability of speed. Reusing many of the Rook?s
battlefield-tested components answered both the call for easy maintenance and durability,
from the pared-down Rook chassis to the electronics and even the same cockpit assembly of
the heavier ?Mech. The flat plate armor mounting gives the light cavalry design an
IndustrialMech feel, at the benefit of reducing armor replacement times by up to fifty
percent. While the Blade will not win any visual design awards, it is a tough chassis
capable of swiftly closing to deliver its firepower.
The firepower consists of a highly reliable Mydron rotary autocannon and two of Diverse
Optics? well-tested extended-range medium lasers. A full three tons of ammunition feed the
rotary cannon, allowing it respectable battlefield endurance even when using high rates of
fire. All three weapons are mounted in the right arm, which critics of the design are quick
to point out as a risk. However, the New Hessen designers acknowledged and dismissed the
issue at the same time.
The Blade?s weapon arm is an attempt to achieve an Omni-level ease of maintenance on a
standard chassis. Borrowing on Clan modularization technology, the entire right arm is a
self contained system with only the shoulder actuator and the armored weapon and power feed
connecting it to the main chassis. The benefits of this is if any component of the arm is
damaged, all technicians need do is disconnect the ammo feed mechanism and detach the arm
from the shoulder joint to completely remove the arm. A replacement can then be put in
place, while the damaged arm is worked on at ground level.
Finally, with rotary autocannons prone to jamming and the internal space of the chassis very
tight, New Hessen WorkMechs? designers spent considerable time on the ammunition feed
system. Internally the ammunition bay uses a single feed system, reducing the chance for
internal jamming when changing bins. All ammunition is then fed out through an armored feed
system that avoids routing through the shoulder assembly. Despite the appearance of
fragility, field trials of the Blade have shown it to be ten percent less likely to suffer a
jam then the Legionnaire.
Deployment:
The first three years of production are promised to the Republic Armed Forces, with the
Federated Suns having an option to purchase up to 50% of all future production runs. So far
New Avalon has not expressed any firm interest in the design, focusing on the heavier
Legionnaire and just-released Cuirass.
RAF deployment of the Blade is primarily planned for the Principes Guard and for key defense
of vital worlds, where a rapid and durable response to threats is needed.
Variants:
The semi-modular nature of the weapon arm has made it possible to offer two simple
modifications of the BLD-XL. The first is an attempt to even further simplify maintenance in
addition to increasing the design?s overall durability. The XS uses a Mydron Model B medium
autocannon and standard-model Diverse Optics lasers in place of the extended-range models.
Much easier to maintain and support logistically, this model?s chief failing is its critical
lack of ammunition. With only ten reloads, it is forced to stay close to supply lines and
any thought of using specialty ammunitions is effectively squashed. The XX model is intended
to increase the Blade?s anti-aircraft power with the use of a Mydron Excel LB 10-X
autocannon. Two tons of ammunition force it to choose its load out carefully, which is made
even worse by the ammunition system. Designers were unable to adapt the single track feed
system to handle multiple ammunition types, forcing the XX to carry either standard or
cluster ammunition in battle.
Understandably, the rotary variant is expected to be the most common of the three models
produced and all current RAF orders are for the XL model.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Endo Steel 2.00
Engine: 245 XL 6.00
Walking MP: 7
Running MP: 11
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks (Double): 10 [20] 0.00
Gyro: XL 1.50
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 118 7.00
Type: Light Ferro-Fibrous
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 11 16
Center Torso (rear): 5
R/L Torso: 8 12
R/L Torso (rear): 4
R/L Arm: 6 12
R/L Leg: 8 16
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
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CASE RT 1 0.50
Rotary AC/5 (Ammo 60) RT 3 3.00
2 ER Medium Lasers RA 2 2.00
Rotary AC/5 RA 6 10.00
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Alpha Strike Statistics
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Point Value (PV): 35
TP: BM, SZ: 1, TMM: 3, MV: 14"
Damage: (S) 3 / (M) 3 / (L) 0, OV: 0
Armor (A): 4, Structure (S): 2
Specials: CASE
Distribution
Name/Model: Blade BLD-XL
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 35
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
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Left ArmHeadRight Arm
1. Shoulder 1. Life Support 1. Shoulder
2. Upper Arm Actuator 2. Sensors 2. Upper Arm Actuator
3. Lower Arm Actuator 3. Cockpit 3.Rotary AC/5
4. Hand Actuator 4. Endo Steel 4.Rotary AC/5
5. Light Ferro-Fibrous 5. Sensors 5.Rotary AC/5
6. Light Ferro-Fibrous 6. Life Support 6.Rotary AC/5
1. Light Ferro-Fibrous 1.Rotary AC/5
2. Light Ferro-Fibrous 2.Rotary AC/5
3. Light Ferro-Fibrous 3. ER Medium Laser
4. Light Ferro-Fibrous 4. ER Medium Laser
5. Light Ferro-Fibrous 5. Endo Steel
6. Roll Again 6. Endo Steel
Left TorsoCenter TorsoRight Torso
1. XL Engine 1. XL Engine 1. XL Engine
2. XL Engine 2. XL Engine 2. XL Engine
3. XL Engine 3. XL Engine 3. XL Engine
4. Endo Steel 4. XL Gyro 4.Double Heat Sink
5. Endo Steel 5. XL Gyro 5.Double Heat Sink
6. Endo Steel 6. XL Gyro 6.Double Heat Sink
1. Endo Steel 1. XL Gyro 1. Rotary AC/5 (Ammo 20)
2. Endo Steel 2. XL Engine 2. Rotary AC/5 (Ammo 20)
3. Endo Steel 3. XL Engine 3. Rotary AC/5 (Ammo 20)
4. Endo Steel 4. XL Engine 4. CASE
5. Endo Steel 5. XL Gyro 5. Endo Steel
6. Endo Steel 6. XL Gyro 6. Endo Steel
Left LegRight Leg
1. Hip 1. Hip
2. Upper Leg Actuator 2. Upper Leg Actuator
3. Lower Leg Actuator 3. Lower Leg Actuator
4. Foot Actuator 4. Foot Actuator
5. Roll Again 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again