BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Panther II PNT-II-1K
Designer: Techpriest
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 40
Role: Skirmisher
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Clan Invasion / 3061
Rules (Current): Standard
Rules (Era): Standard
Rules (Year): Standard
Total Cost: 7,183,680 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,185
Chassis: Alshain 560-Carrier Endo Steel
Power Plant: Hermes 240 XL
Walking Speed: 64.8 kph
Maximum Speed: 97.2 kph
Jump Jets: Lexington Lifters
Jump Capacity: 180 meters
Armor: Maximillian 42 with CASE
Armament:
1 Lord's Light 2 ER PPC
1 Guided Technologies 2nd Gen Streak SRM 6
Manufacturer: Luthien Armor Works, Wakazashi Enterprises
Primary Factory: New Samarkand (LAW), New Samarkand (WE)
Communications: Sipher CommSys 4
Targeting & Tracking: Cat's Eyes 5
================================================================================================
Overview:
While the Panther PNT-10K was proving to be a solid light mech design, mechhengineers at
Luthien Armor Works New Samarkand facilities had stumbled on an interesting fact. In 3056,
Due to demand, some production assembly of the new Panther had been added to their frame
assembly line to speed up delivery. An accident in assembly and a quick repair job created a
result that was only discovered when the frame was stress tested - the Wakizashi Enterprises
Alshain 560-Carrier endosteel internal skeleton design was capable of supporting more weight
than even the very optimistic expected. Meeting with their counterparts over at the
Wakizashi facility, they shared what they had found out. Within two weeks, an agreement had
been reached to utilize this new discovery for mutual benefit. Both companies small design
teams of engineers on New Samarkand jointly began development 'Panther II' PNT-II-1K model,
intended to utilize the best technology the Draconis Combine had to offer. With the frame
mostly spaced for Panther equipment, the internal skeleton was rearranged slightly to fit an
XL engine, and testing began in earnest by 3058. A trio of modified skeletons were produced,
with the intention of building a better Panther to either submit to the DCMS for testing, or
export sales if permission was granted.
Capabilities:
Compared to the PNT-10K, this 'Panther II' design, PNT-II-1K was almost four times as
expensive. This vast cost increase came from the addition of a Hermes 240 rated XL engine,
and resulted in a 50% speed increase over the base Panther Model. Six jump jets were
mounted, granting an 180 meter jumping range. 8 tons of armor was a good amount of
protection for any 40 ton mech and an improvement over the classic Panther. Ditching the
Artemis IV fire control system, the design instead used the freed up space to fit in a new,
Guided Technologies Streak SRM6 launcher into the center torso, a rather ambitious choice.
The switch to double heat sinks allowed for a reduction in the total number utilized in the
original Panther PNT-9R or the upgraded PNT-10K, eleven double heat sinks instead of
thirteen singles. The reliable and available Lords Light 2 ERPPC was fixed onto the right
arm, the new model double heat sinks allowing for the design to jump and fire the weapon
without building heat up to dangerous levels. With both Luthien Armor Works and Wakizashi
Enterprises looking to sell this design to the DCMS, the decision was made to add a C3 Slave
system as well, placing it alongside the standard computing systems located in the head next
to the cockpit.
Surprisingly enough, the Alshan 560-Carrier frame's modifications were very slim, consisting
mostly of minor reinforcement to fit what was required for a 40-ton mech.
Deployment:
Despite the significant performance upgrade the PNT-II-1K offered over the current Panther
models in DCMS service, the design was never mass produced. The Chimera project instead
received the primary focus and attention - a new symbol of the Combine's willingness to put
aside differences to defeat the invading Clans. Additionally, Wakizashi Enterprises had
difficulties in finding investors for the facility expansions that would be required for
mass production. By 3061 and the final development and testing of the Panther II, enough
changes had been made to the frame and armor scheme to make simply reutilizing the existing
PNR-10K manufacturing equipment no longer possible outside of a few structural components,
targeting and communications systems, and the cockpit itself. Luthien Armor Works had also
shuttered the production lines for the Wolf Trap WFT-1, and was downsizing its operations to
focus instead on Assault weight mech production for its New Samarkand facilities. This ended
the joint development program and any prospect splitting of the manufacturing cost between
LAW and Wakizashi Enterprises. Without LAW's involvement, the chance of DCMS procurement in
any numbers became zero.
In desperate need of a large scale foreign procurement deal to make manufacturing viable,
Wakizashi Enterprises attempted to market the design to the Free Rasalhague Republic,
ComStar, and several major mercenary units, namely the Wolfs Dragoons, along with the Second
Star League Defense Force. Despite interest from the FRR, the Kungsarmee instead preferred
to continue their current upgrade program, purchasing more PNT-10K and PNT-C's to replace
their aging PNT-9R stocks. The ComGuards rejected the design despite finding the performance
acceptable - they had no need for it, when the Raijin fit a similar niche despite being more
expensive. An attempt to replace the Phoenix Hawk in Star League Defense Force service with
the PNT-II-1K hit export restrictions forbidding sale of C3 technologies to the Capellan
Confederation. After finding no buyers, Wakizashi Enterprises ended the program in January
3062. Of the three PNT-II-1K prototypes produced and tested, none known examples remain
intact as of 3152. Two were scrapped in 3078, and the third was set up as a gate guard for
the Wakizashi Enterprises complex on New Samarkand after engine removal and weapon
decommissioning in 3080. An interesting footnote in the company's history, the Panther II
project is often considered as a 'what might have been' by mech historians and fans of
Draconis Combine battlemechs - competitive both in performance and cost with the Chimera and
ready for service several years earlier, circumstances proved its downfall.
The most important result of the program however, would be in its impact on future designs
in the Panther mech family. Wakizashi designers who'd worked on the project went on to
develop the Panther PNT-12A, PNT-12K2, and PNT-13K. The Luthien Armor Works mech-engineers
who developed the Wight drew extensively from experience with the Alshan 560-Carrier frame
they'd gained while working on the PNT-II-1K program, and were essential in convincing
Wakizashi Enterprises to allow LAW to purchase the Panther frames for their new project. In
many ways, the Wight is the child of the Panther II, similarly using a heavier fusion engine
and new technologies to provide performance improvements over the original Panther.
================================================================================================
Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Endo Steel 2.00
Engine: 240 XL 6.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 6
Heat Sinks (Double): 11 [22] 1.00
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 128 8.00
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 12 16
Center Torso (rear): 7
R/L Torso: 10 15
R/L Torso (rear): 5
R/L Arm: 6 12
R/L Leg: 10 16
================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C3 Slave H 1 1.00
Streak SRM 6 CT 2 4.50
Jump Jet RT 1 0.50
CASE LT 1 0.50
Jump Jet LT 1 0.50
Streak SRM 6 (Ammo 15) LT 1 1.00
ER PPC RA 3 7.00
2 Jump Jets RL 2 1.00
2 Jump Jets LL 2 1.00
================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 31
TP: BM, SZ: 2, TMM: 2, MV: 12"j
Damage: (S) 3 / (M) 3 / (L) 1, OV: 0
Armor (A): 4, Structure (S): 2
Specials: C3S, CASE, MHQ1
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