Type: CLB-1R Calibre
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: Standard 4.0
Engine: 200 Standard 8.5
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 5
Heat Sinks: 10 Standard
Gyro: Standard 2.0
Cockpit: Standrad 3.0
Armor Factor: 120 Standard 7.5
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head 4 8
Center Torso 12 18/6
R/L Torso 10 15/5
R/L Arm 6 12
R/L Leg 10 12
Weapons and Ammo Loc Crit
AC/5 RA 6 8.0
Ammo (AC/5) RA 2 2.0
Medium Laser CT 1 1.0
Machine Gun LA 1 0.5
Machine Gun LA 1 0.5
Ammo (MG) 100 LA 1 0.5
Jump Jet RL 1 0.5
Jump Jet LL 1 0.5
Jump Jet RT 1 0.5
Jump Jet LT 1 0.5
Jump Jet CT 1 0.5
Mass: 40 Tons
Chassis: Dorwinian Standard
Power Plant: Nissan 200
Cruising Speed: 54.7 kph
Maximum Speed: 87.1 kph
Jump Jets: McCloud Specials
Jump Capacity: 150 metres
Armor: Valiant Lamellor
Armament:
1 GM Whirlwind Autocannon (Class five)
1 ChrisComp 39 Medium Laser
2 GM MiniGun Machine Guns
Manufacturer: Robinson Standard BattleWorks
Primary Factory; Robinson
Communication System: Archernar Electronics HICS-11
Targeting and Tracking System: Federated Hunter MK II
Overview:
As new and improved mechs swepted the Federated Commonwealth, research continued on various types of ammunition to serve Hanse Davion's favorite weapon, spawning many impressive breakthroughs in weapons technology. Unfortunately, weapons technology had outpaced ammunition in terms of budget and development speed, and, by the time armor piercing, tracking, and other types were perfected for the field, no existing mech of the Federated Commonwealth actually used the weapon for which the new ammunition was designed!
In 3060, one of the two Mech lines on Robinson that produced the Watchman had been shut down for repairs. Finding this the perfect opening, New Avalon engineers laid claim to the line, past grumbling Draconis March loyalists, to tweak production somewhat. The Watchman was chosen due to its ease of conversion, having been formerly armed with an AUtocannon that had been dropped due to technical reasons. It was fairly easy to reformat the line into producing the Calibre, a strikingly similar design that was just different enough to warrant its own designation. Low cost, easy to maintain, and forged almost exclusively from archived parts and decomissioned weapons, the Calibre was designed to be little more than a platform for new types of ammunition.
Capabilities:
In truth, there is little that the Calibre can do that another mech can't do better. The Enforcer is more agressive, the Wolfhound faster, the Valkyrie shoots further, and the Victor is a better city fighter. An altogether average machine, the Calibre's strength lies in it's rugged dependability, ample spare parts, easy to convert nature, and, of course, specialized ammunition. With plenty of internal space open, making personal modifications is a snap, and the extra room makes repair work simple. The controls are simple and familiar to rookie pilots, making the Calibre excel at being a garrison mech and trainer, suitable for green and regular troopers away from the main war fronts.
The primary weapon, and, indeed, the entire reason the mech was built, is the GM Whirlwind class five autocannon. A redesigned casing allows it to be carried like a 'mech rifle', slung over a shoulder when not needed, but fired in both hands during battle. Being detatchable, it leaves the hands free for whatever tasks are deemed neccessary, but the firing method leaves the other weapon systems unable to fire in concert with the main gun. The Whirlwind uses large 'clips' of ammunition, and each Calibre comes with a one-ton spare. Typically, one is standard ammunition, while the other has specialized loads ... Tracing rounds for the Draconis border, where faster mechs are the norm, Armor Piercing during the civil war, when heavy Lyran designs were fought, and flechette against the Capellan border, where infantry is the call of the day. As more ammunition types are developed, the Calibre will continue to becoem more unpredictable.
For secondary weapons, an old ChrisComp 39 medium laser is centrally mounted, giving the mech one weapon that it can rely on, no matter what, secure as it is in the thickest armor of the mech. In addition, a pair of GM MiniGuns sprout from the left forearm, giving ample anti-infantry support, as well as providing a sliver of adidtional, close-range firepower.
Jump Jets were from the Watchman design itself, and were not removed from the Calibre. This allows Federated pilots, who are more accustomed to mobility, stay in a combat style they find familiar, and also aids in urban warfare, which is so common amoung garrison work. The Calibre isn't a flashy mech, but it remains quite serviceable, if uninspiring.
Deployment:
Unlike the Watchman, which was greedily kept in one march, the Calibre was spread across the Federated Suns ... while offered to the what was to become the Lyran Alliance, the offer was rebuked, on the grounds that such an outdated model with a weak main gun would be worthless to them. Calibres saw combat in every theatre, performing basicly as expected, and contuinue to be produced at a rate of two lances a month. Production is being stepped up in the face of economic turmoil, the highly economic design being needed to replace more expensive losses in every region of Federated space, from the Periphery border to the Capellan Frontline. Sales of the Calibre are expected to rival the Watchman, the two 'Brother' designs being so similar in abilty. A curious note is the surprising lack of intrest from periphery powers and other, money-thin regions. Without the specialized ammunition of the Federated Suns, the Calibre just isn't woth the investment.
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