Combat Vehicle Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Beetle 35 BTL-35A
Designer:           Captain_Frosty
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  D
Tonnage:            25
Role:               Striker
Configuration:      Combat Vehicle
Era/Year:           Succession Wars / 3035
Rules (Current):    Introductory
Rules (Era):        Introductory
Rules (Year):       Introductory
Total Cost:         529,687 C-Bills
Battle Value:       577

Movement Type:        Wheeled
Power Plant:          Fuse-Tec '30 155 
Cruising Speed:       75.6 kph  
Maximum Speed:        118.8 kph 
Armor:                BSM Combat plating
Armament:             
    1 Saria Inc. Model 1c 'Flash' Large Laser
Manufacturer:         Blackshield State Manufacturing
    Primary Factory:  Tertiaron, Ducon, Primucon
Communications:       SamCo 'Callmaster' 3030
Targeting & Tracking: Saria Inc. 'Snipershot' v2

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Overview:
    One of the oldest designs still in active use, the humble BTL-35A 'Beetle' has proven time
    and again its usefulness as a cheap, fast, hard hitting fodder unit that can quickly
    overwhelm enemies with a combination of numbers, decent armor and the ever-respectable punch
    of a large laser mounted upon its turret.
    
    Originally designed as little more than a scout vehicle, the idea of the Large laser that
    set it apart came from an anonymous recommendation claiming to be part of the motorized
    scout corps and lamenting their inability to effectively ambush enemy units and soften them
    up before reporting back to the main force. This complaint saw itself travel across every
    desk and through every inbox until finally arriving at the home address mailbox of the
    project's lead due to various mistakes, mix-ups and a prank.
    
    The result was a wheeled tank that has since been hailed as the absolute peak of simple
    efficiency. Loved by its users and creators alike, the fittingly rounded silhouette of a
    distant BTL-35A is enough to make a frontliner smile; the implication of half a dozen large
    lasers soon zooming into the battlefield on their side being one that is often proven
    accurate.

Capabilities:
    The BTL-35A 'Beetle' has one major strength above all; simplicity. It is beyond cheap, quite
    fast and has one reliably strong weapon that can engage any target to a competent degree.
    There is not much else that can be said without simply repeating these points as this
    intentionally simple design is the vehicle's entire point.

Deployment:
    With a C-Bill and BV cost that puts even the Capellan 'Po 1' tank to shame, the BTL-35A
    'Beetle' is the purest essence of a striker platform. Best fielded in groups of any size
    above two, the combination of speed, decent armor and firepower allows for incredible fire
    support as concentrated large laser fire can bring down even some of the heavier targets one
    may encounter on the battlefield.
    
    On a more strategic level, the BTL-35A makes for a perfect fodder unit that can comfortably
    punch above its own weight without any form of logistic strain for ammunition or complicated
    components. This means that one can simply throw a group of Beetles at a problem and solve
    it without much need for complex tactics. Even if the problem is too big, the BTL-35A can
    always soften it up.

Variants:
    The BTL-35 'Beetle' has two variants.
    
    The first, the BTL-35A, is the one discussed above.
    
    The second, the BTL-35T, is a troop transport variant that sacrifices the large laser to
    mount a medium laser, two flamers, a one ton infantry compartment and one ton of cargo
    storage.

Notable MechWarriors:
    None; even if a vehicle crew did attain fame, it would only be in the territories of the
    Blackshield Company and thus of no significance to the major powers.

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Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                          Standard                  2.50                     
Engine:                                     155 Fusion                 8.50                     
    Cruising MP:                                7                                               
    Flanking MP:                                11                                              
Heat Sinks (Single):                            10                     0.00                     
Control Equipment:                                                     1.50                     
Lift Equipment:                                                        0.00                     
Power Amplifier:                                                       0.00                     
Turret:                                                                0.50                     
Armor Factor:                                  112                     7.00                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                              Armor                                             
                                              Value                                             
    Front:                                      23                                              
    R/L Side:                                   22                                              
    Rear:                                       22                                              
    Turret:                                     23                                              

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Weapons and Ammo                                            Location              Tonnage       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Large Laser                                                  Turret                5.00         

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Alpha Strike Statistics                                                    
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Point Value (PV): 22
TP: CV,  SZ: 1,  TMM: 3,  MV: 14"w
Damage: (S) 1 / (M) 1 / (L) 0
Armor (A): 4,  Structure (S): 2
Specials: ENE, SRCH, TUR(1/1/-)