BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Gae Bolg ((Perrin42's Mech)) GBL-1SW
Designer: The Grand Poobah
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 60
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Civil War / 3067
Rules (Current): Tournament Legal
Rules (Era): Tournament Legal
Rules (Year): Tournament Legal
Total Cost: 8,611,200 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,320
Chassis: Royalstar ATE Endo Steel
Power Plant: VOX-LE 240 Light Fusion
Walking Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: ArcShield Maxi with CASE
Armament:
1 Lord's Light 2 ER PPC
1 Mydron Excel 5SG LB 5-X AC
5 Delta Dart LRM 5s
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: CeresCom Model 21-Rs
Targeting & Tracking: FireScan with IndirecTrack
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Overview:
Flushed with the success of their Dragonfire design, JB BattleMechs of Storfors branched out
into supplying other heavy 'Mechs to the Lyran Alliance and Draconis Combine. Whereas the
Dragonfire had been based on the Marauder chassis, JB chose to base their new designs on a
Clan second-line design captured in some numbers during Operation Bulldog - the Corvis. They
regarded the design more than the Clanners who had built it, or even those who had fought in
it. The resulting design - the Gae Bolg, named after the harpoon of Cuchulainn, a legendary
Celtic warrior - was submitted to both the LAAF & DCMS as a mobile fire-support 'Mech.
Capabilities:
The JB team comprehensively analyzed the Corvis examples they had obtained, and identified
several key features: digitigrade legs for stability and terrain-crossing ability, a wide
slung torso providing ample room for equipment, and easy maintenance, and a
forward-positioned cockpit for improved visibility. They improved on the Corvis layout by
bringing the cockpit up to the top of the chassis, providing superior range of vision for
the pilot. The roomy torso also allowed easy integration with the endo-steel chassis.
Finally, JB were lucky enough to obtain permission to use the newly-developed Light Fusion
Engine, with a 240-rated LFE giving a top speed of around 60 kph. 9 tons of Arcshield Maxi I
armor provides median levels of protection for a 'Mech of this weight.
Three main long-range weapons were selected for the Gae Bolg - an extended-range PPC, long
range missiles and an LB-5X autocannon. All of the weapons tracked out over 600m, and
provided a mix of direct and indirect fire, and also of concentrated or dispersed damage.
Deployment of the ER PPC and LB-5X in alternate torsos proved quite conventional. The
configuration of LRM launchers did not.
Rather than fitting a single large launcher, JB's engineers distributed five smaller
launchers across the 'Mech - two in each arm, and one in the center torso. Four tons of
ammunition - two in each arm - provided each launcher with an average of almost 20 shots
each. This allows the launchers to survive battle damage better, as a lucky shot is less
likely to take out as large a portion of its armament. It also allows it better conservation
of ammo by giving the pilot more options to fire smaller salvos. Between this, and the large
amount of ammunition carried for both the LRMs and for the LB-5X autocannon (40 rounds), the
Gae Bolg is capable of maintaining its effectiveness in prolonged actions, even with
ammunition-dependent systems - and the ER PPC ensures that the Gae Bolg will never be
totally inoffensive, even when its ammunition runs dry.
Deployment:
Significant numbers of Gae Bolgs have been deployed along the Lyran - Jade Falcon border.
Usually, Gae Bolgs are not concentrated into fire lances. Instead, they are deployed in ones
or twos per company - providing long-range firepower for either a conventional heavy lance
such as a command lance, or as backup for specialized short-range brawlers such as
Hunchbacks. The LB-5X autocannon can also be used to fire anti-aircraft flak rounds;
however, vertical traverse is somewhat limited by the placement of the weapon in the 'Mechs'
torso. Despite this, the FireScan tracking system has proven its worth against VTOLs on
numerous occasions.
Two main criticisms are levelled at the design - it is not fast, and it is not heavily
armored. The second of these is more of a problem, given usual Lyran preferences. However,
the Gae Bolg's defenders have but to point out that it is not meant to engage in common
brawling - its job is fire support. The design's speed, and lack of jump-jets, would be more
of a liability outside the LAAF - but as yet, no units have been seen outside LAAF line
regiments.
Variants:
JB BattleMechs is rumored to be working on additional variants based on the same chassis -
one a heavily-armed and -armored brawler version, and one intended for export. More details
will be released as they come to hand.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Endo Steel 3.00
Engine: 240 Light Fusion 9.00
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks (Double): 11 [22] 1.00
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 144 9.00
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 20 19
Center Torso (rear): 8
R/L Torso: 14 14
R/L Torso (rear): 6
R/L Arm: 10 14
R/L Leg: 14 20
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
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LRM 5 CT 1 2.00
CASE RT 1 0.50
ER PPC RT 3 7.00
LRM 5 RT 1 2.00
LRM 5 (Ammo 96) RT 4 4.00
CASE LT 1 0.50
LB 5-X AC LT 5 8.00
LB 5-X AC (Ammo 40) LT 2 2.00
LRM 5 LT 1 2.00
LRM 5 RA 1 2.00
LRM 5 LA 1 2.00
================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics
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Point Value (PV): 30
TP: BM, SZ: 3, TMM: 1, MV: 8"
Damage: (S) 2 / (M) 3 / (L) 3, OV: 0
Armor (A): 5, Structure (S): 3
Specials: CASE, FLK0*/0*/0*, IF2, LRM1/1/2
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