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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Taranis
Designer:           09-Tyba
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Clan
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            85
Role:               Brawler
Configuration:      Quad BattleMech
Era/Year:           Succession Wars / 3004
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         21,397,408 C-Bills
Battle Value:       2,503

Chassis:              Type QMA Standard (Quad) 
Power Plant:          General Systems 340 XL
Walking Speed:        43.2 kph  
Maximum Speed:        64.8 kph  
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                Forging HH32
Armament:             
    1 Type DDS "Kingston" ER PPC
    1 KB-285 KOV Pattern LB 20-X AC
    2 Type XV "Crossbow" LRM 15 w/ Artemis IV FCS
    1 M-801 Flamer
Manufacturer:         Niles Industriplex Alpha
    Primary Factory:  Niles
Communications:       CH3V Series Integrated
Targeting & Tracking: Version Kappa-III TTS

================================================================================================
Overview:
    Imported from XTRO: Project Zhukov by Steven Cross.
    
    The deployment of the Kodiak in 3001 made Clan Hell?s Horses
    look at their own Totem Mech design, the Thunder Stallion once
    more. Whilst the Bear?s proudly boasted of having one of the most
    formidable assault Mech?s in service and one dedicated to their
    Totem, the Hell?s Horses, not wanting to let their hated rivals be
    superior to them wanted a Totem of their own and one to be proud
    of.
    The Thunder Stallion was a somewhat curious design, and its
    internal layout and how the ammunition was run just below the
    Mech?s cockpit was seen as lethally dangerous for the Pilot. The
    mismatched weapons were also less effective than hoped and the
    Mech was slow for its 85-ton size. With orders to match the Bear?s
    design for effectiveness but use the same base design as the
    Thunder Stallion, the Hell?s Horses Scientists began a project that
    would take the better part of 3 years to come to fruition.

Capabilities:
    Massing the same as the Thunder Stallion at 85-tons, the Mech
    now featured a General Systems 340 rated XL Fusion engine
    allowing it to hit 64 kph. The armament was also re-worked to be
    more varied. A pair of Type XV ?Crossbow? LRM-15 launchers and a
    Kingston DDS Mod3 Extended Range PPC formed the Mech?s
    long-range punch, whilst at short-range a KB-285 LB pattern Assault
    autocannon gave the mech a huge punch at short range. Finally, a
    flamer was installed for anti-infantry defence.
    Instead of running the ammunition beneath the cockpit section
    and over the engine, the LRM and autocannons would be fed from
    ammunition hoppers in upper sections the Mech?s rear legs. Whilst a
    breach of the legs armour could be catastrophic, it was felt to be a
    small risk as they were fairly small and very heavily armoured targets.
    Fourteen double-strength heatsinks are also installed but the Mech
    can run hot and a full Alpha Strike is not advised.
    Whilst the payload was somewhat familiar to the original Thunder
    Stallion, it had more endurance and a more direct punch at long
    range. It now also had the speed to use the big autocannon rather
    than have it serve as a deterrent.

Deployment:
    But the choice and layout of the weapons and associated
    systems wasn?t the biggest cause for the delay with the Mech. It was
    its appearance and getting the right look for the Mech. It turned out
    that making a Mech look something like a Horse resulted in it either
    looking over stylized and somewhat silly or too plain and quite
    unremarkable and finding the right balance between these two
    extremes took time.
    The end result was a somewhat stylized quadruped Mech with
    somewhat stylized traits on the legs and around the forward mounted
    cockpit, but its weapons are on display and it is still as tall and solid
    as the original Thunder Stallion. Approved for low-level production,
    the Taranis performed well in its first battles but its production
    numbers remain very low and prior to Operation REVIVAL there
    were no more than 25 of the Mechs in service in the entire Hell?s
    Horses Touman. Much like the Wolves Orion IIC, a Taranis was only
    ever issued as a gift of either the Khan or SaKhan of Clan Hell?s
    Horses, and no one ever turned down the offer. It was seen as a
    high Honour, and high risk to control such a distinctive Mech, and
    although rare, the Taranis was always piloted by those generally
    viewed as the best of the best. Warriors who knew how to get the
    very best out of the Mechs diverse weapons complement. Despite
    their look and battlefield role though, the Taranis wasn?t a command
    Mech. Although built to the highest standards, the sensors and
    communications suite were common in Hell?s Horses Mechs.
    Because of this, the Taranis was poorly suited as a Command unit
    and were not used in this role.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                          Standard                  8.50                     
Engine:                                       340 XL                  13.50                     
    Walking MP:                                 4                                               
    Running MP:                                 6                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         14 [28]                   4.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  4.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  279                    17.50                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      27             34       
    Center Torso (rear):                              20       
    R/L Torso:                         18             20       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                 16       
    R/L Front Leg:                     18             36       
    R/L Rear Leg:                      18             36       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flamer                                                    H                 1          0.50             
ER PPC                                                    CT                2          6.00             
LB 20-X AC                                                RT                9         12.00             
LB 20-X AC (Ammo 5)                                       RT                1          1.00             
2 LRM 15 w/ Artemis IV FCS                                LT                4          7.00             
LRM 15 (Ammo 32) [Artemis IV]                             LT                4          4.00             
LB 20-X AC (Ammo 5)                                      RRL                1          1.00             
LB 20-X AC (Ammo 5) [Cluster]                            LRL                1          1.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 51
TP: BM,  SZ: 4,  TMM: 1,  MV: 8"
Damage: (S) 5 / (M) 5 / (L) 4,  OV: 1
Armor (A): 9,  Structure (S): 5
Specials: CASE, FLK1/1/-, IF2
 
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Code Release 2.24.12 (2024-04-24T21:08:37-04:00)