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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Vanguard VNG-4D-MB1C
Designer:           DF Jay
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  E
Tonnage:            45
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Jihad / 3071
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Experimental
Rules (Year):       Experimental
Total Cost:         8,223,820 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,565

Chassis:              Endo-Composite
Power Plant:          270 Light Fusion
Walking Speed:        64.8 kph  
Maximum Speed:        97.2 kph  [118.8 kph]
Jump Jets:            Standard
    Jump Capacity:    180 meters
Armor:                Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:             
    1 ER PPC
    2 Medium X-Pulse Lasers
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown

================================================================================================
Overview:
    As one of her first acts after assuming the Captain-Generalcy in August of 3069, Corinne
    Marik, seeing the success of the Capellan Vindicator VND-5L, asked Earthwerks-FWL Inc. to
    develop and produce a similar design for the Free Worlds League Military.  By early 3070
    Earthwerks made the decision to split its Keystone Phoenix Hawk production line to create
    the new 'Mech. Incorporating elements of both its Vindicator and Phoenix Hawk allowed for
    rapid development of the new design.  The result was the 3071 debut of Earthwerks' new
    medium 'Mech, the Vanguard VNG-4D.

Capabilities:
    After field testing a captured Capellan VND-5L which was provided by the FWLM, Earthwerks
    test pilots complained about the propensity of the Vindicator to overheat.  While a certain
    level of heat is required to activate the triple-strength myomer, an alpha strike at max
    movement doubles the Mech's heat dissipation capacity leading to catastrophic shut down.  As
    a result, the recommendation from the test pilots was to reduce the weapons load out and
    utilize the freed up tonnage for a larger power plant providing greater maneuverability.
    Like the Vindicator VND-5L, the Vanguard VNG-4D is equipped with an extended range particle
    projection cannon for long range engagement and two extended range medium X-Pulse lasers for
    mid-range fighting.  The centerpiece of the design; however, is the marriage of
    triple-strength myomer and a sword for close combat.
    The Vanguard maintains near maximum armor coverage for a 'Mech of its weight class; carrying
    nine tons of StarSlab/1d Light Ferro-Fibrous Armor. Based on the feedback from the test
    pilots, the Vanguard drops the two medium pulse lasers, small pulse laser, and small laser
    from the VND-5L greatly reducing the heat burden of the Squire freeing up 5.5 tons for the
    engineers to reallocate.
    The Vanguard upgrades the 180 GM Fusion power plant of the VND-5L to a Plasmastar 270 Light
    Fusion Engine increasing the max ground speed by nearly 66% when running cold.  Once the
    triple-strength myomer kicks in, the max speed of the Vanguard increases to nearly 120kph. 6
    Northrup 12000 jump jets provide even greater maneuverability allowing the Squire to engage
    and disengage from enemy 'Mechs nearly at will.
    One concern 'Mech pilots had when they heard the Vanguard was cutting the combat load out
    was the impact this would have against medium range targets.  The installation of the medium
    X-Pulse lasers helps ensure that while fewer weapons might be available to fire, the number
    of hits per shot taken should be dramatically increased.

Deployment:
    The FWLM immediately distributed their new Vanguards to their forces along the Capellan
    border.  It didn't take long for Vanguard pilots to test their new 'Mech's capabilities in
    earnest.  The results almost always favored the Vanguard.  In early 3081, the First Free
    Worlds Guards Vanguards were engaged by Republic Armed Forces on Augustine, including
    numerous Vindicators, during OPERATION GOLDEN DAWN.  Able to utilize their greater speed and
    maneuverability, unburdened by maintaining an unwieldy heat curve, and equipped with a more
    advanced targeting system, the Marik Vanguards, along with the rest of the First Guards,
    were able to successfully maul both the RAF Third Legionnaires and Stirling's Fusiliers
    before escaping Augustine.

Variants:
    The Vanguard VNG-5D replaces the Magna FireStar Extended Range Particle Projection Cannon
    with two additional Martell-X Medium X-Pulse Lasers and Garret Mole Target Acquisition Gear
    to direct friendly indirect fire. VNG-5D gives up its long range ability to focus solely on
    close combat capability and is a lethal point-blank brawler.
    Released in 3095, the Vanguard VNG-6D mimics the stealth capabilities of the VND-6L by using
    a Star League era Chameleon Light Polarization Suite uncovered in the Irian Technologies
    Washburn plant computer archives after the Word of Blake failed to completely wipe the
    memory banks clean. Engineers were unable to incorporate an ECM suite into the design
    without compromising offensive capabilities.  To that end, the VNG-6D is equipped with three
    ER Medium Lasers, an LRM-5 w/ Artemis IV FCS, a Streak SRM-2 system, and, of course, the
    Vanguard's signature Sword.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                       Endo-Composite               3.50                     
Engine:                                  270 Light Fusion             11.00                     
    Walking MP:                                 6                                               
    Running MP:                               9 [11]                                            
    Jumping MP:                                 6                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         10 [20]                   0.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  143                     8.00                     
    Type:                                 Ferro-Fibrous                                         

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      14             20       
    Center Torso (rear):                               4       
    R/L Torso:                         11             18       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  4       
    R/L Arm:                            7             14       
    R/L Leg:                           11             19       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Jump Jets                                               CT                2          1.00             
2 Jump Jets                                               RT                2          1.00             
Medium X-Pulse Laser                                      RT                1          2.00             
2 Jump Jets                                               LT                2          1.00             
Medium X-Pulse Laser                                      LT                1          2.00             
ER PPC                                                    RA                3          7.00             
Sword                                                     LA                3          2.50             
Triple-Strength Myomer                                    --                6          0.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 29
TP: BM,  SZ: 2,  TMM: 2,  MV: 12"j
Damage: (S) 2 / (M) 2 / (L) 1,  OV: 1
Armor (A): 5,  Structure (S): 2
Specials: ENE, MEL, TSM
 
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Code Release 2.24.13 (2024-05-02T16:46:03-04:00)