BattleMech Technical Readout

Type/Model:    Apollo APL-1J
Tech:          Inner Sphere / 3025
Config:        Biped BattleMech
Rules:         Level 3, Standard design

Mass:          15 tons
Chassis:       Irian Chassis Class 15 Standard
Power Plant:   90 DAV Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets:     None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type:    Riese-230 Standard
Armament:      
  2 Irian Weapons Works Medium Lasers
  1 Voelkers 200 Machine Gun
Manufacturer:  Irian BattleMechs Unlimited
  Location:    Irian
Communications System:  Irian Longtalker II
Targeting & Tracking System:  Wasat Aggressor

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==Overview:==
 The Unification War of the late 26th century only served to prove how
expensive modern combat could be. Individual combat vehicles such as
BattleMechs and AeroSpace Fighters cost millions of H-Bills each (the C-Bill
had not yet been established as the universal unit of currency), and paying
the costs to field a single regiment or wing became an arduous undertaking
indeed.
        Each House responded to the problems in slightly different ways; some
built fewer but larger and more expensive units, others built greater numbers
of cheaper ones. One of House Marik's solutions was to cut the cost of select
weapons of war by designing and constructing less expensive, but roughly
comparable, versions. Decreasing the size, protection, and firepower only
slightly could have a substantial impact on the overall unit price, especially
when multiplied over several hundreds or thousands of units.
        In a controversial and highly-publicized action of the 2590s, Lord
Marik chose ultralight BattleMechs as replacements for the Recon Lances of
several front-line 'Mech regiments. Declaring the smaller ‘Mechs would save
millions, the League's leader gained almost instant support from an overtaxed
general public tired of financing the Unification War. At the time, the
military was outraged by the blatant cost-cutting measures, which they claimed
would lead to unnecessary MechWarrior fatalities.
        To comply with Lord Marik's proclamation and 'Mech specifications,
Irian BattleMechs Unlimited was given the go-ahead and manufacturing began.
        During the First and Second Succession Wars, many thousands of Apollos
were destroyed and probably less than 2000 still exist. Despite its losses,
the charges that this design was too thinly shielded and lightly armed have
not been proven to everyone's satisfaction. It remains in service among many
rear-area House units and mercenaries; some have been sighted as far away as
the Federated Suns and Draconis Combine.

==Capabilities:==
Despite the initial grumblings of Marik military leaders and MechWarriors, the
APL is an excellent model, exceeding all design specifications. The Apollo is
the lightest BattleMech chassis Irian ever fabricated, but has been a sturdy
frame on which to build one of the more successful ultralight 'Mechs. The DAV
90, among the most reliable fusion engines ever built, lives up to its
reputation.
        The Irian Longtalker II, though hardly as powerful as the E.A.R.
communications system, is a fine unit with very good range and clarity.
However, the controls are more complicated than on most other sets, and green
MechWarriors occasionally activate the wrong circuit, leading to a breakdown
in battlefield communication and control.
        Two other weaknesses exist: the Voelkers machine gun, and the lack of
jump jets. The Voelkers has been used on other ‘Mechs with success (perhaps
most notably on the Thunderbolt), but the feed mechanism in this installation
is more delicate than it should be, and the weapon has a habit of jamming
after a sharp blow to the center torso.
        The absence of jump jets, omitted to save tonnage (and money), is a
major annoyance for many Recon Lance MechWarriors. Accustomed to having more
maneuverability, piloting an Apollo forces them to plan their movement more
carefully, consuming precious pre-battle seconds. This is a complaint often
heard but rarely acted on, although a few Apollos are believed to have been
modified and now carry at least a couple of jets.
        In fact, except for the jump jets, this BattleMech's performance is
often compared favorably with the STG-3R Stinger. The 'Mechs have almost
identical engine performance, the same quantity of armor similarly
distributed, and armament that is roughly equivalent; the Apollo is actually
the better-armed of the two. Upon realizing the Apollo cost about 30 percent
less to produce than the Slinger, Lord Marik’s decision to economize may not
have been such a difficult one, after all.


==Deployment==
 When the First Succession War began, most every Lord pessimistically assumed
every Lord's hand was against him. There were alliances, to be sure, but
lingering doubts remained in the minds of many.
        One deadly battle, on the mountainous outskirts of Solomonville,
involved a company of Steiner Commandos and medium tanks, opposed by a lance
of Apollos and a two-company combined-arms team of light tanks and mechanized
infantry. Aware of the other's presence but unsure of the enemy's size and
exact composition, Marik garrison commander Kenneth Stoddard chose to use his
Apollos as a mobile reserve. (The Steiner Commandos had not yet been
dispatched from the DropShip.) After pinpointing the attackers' location, both
conventional forces slammed into each other with the defending Marik garrison
holding a slim advantage.
        Noticing the absence of any attacking 'Mechs, a reassured Stoddard
sent his own lance out to improve the odds. Unluckily, Steiner Colonel Erwin
Robard selected the moment to commit the Commando company. Ejecting from the
orbiting DropShip to make a high-altitude atmospheric entry, the Lyran
Commonwealth's BattleMechs opened fire almost as they hit the ground. Though
the stunned Marik Apollo pilots gave a good account of themselves, the odds
and tactical situation were now irreversibly against them. No prisoners were
taken.
        The defenders lost all units, including the lance of Apollos. In turn,
the attackers, lost two Commandos from failed drops, two Commandos from Apollo
attacks, and approximately two platoons of tanks. As other battles took place
elsewhere on the planet, the Free Worlds League was finally forced to retreat.
The Lyran Commonwealth took control of the system and held it for a number of
years.


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Type/Model:    Apollo APL-1J
Mass:          15 tons

Equipment:                                 Crits    Mass
Int. Struct.:  26 pts Standard               0      1.50
Engine:        90 Fusion                     6      3.00
   Walking MP:   6
   Running MP:   9
   Jumping MP:   0
Heat Sinks:     10 Single                    7       .00
 (Heat Sink Loc: 1 HD, 1 LT, 1 RT, 2 LL, 2 RL)
Gyro:                                        4      1.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors:                5      3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA    R: Sh+UA             12       .00
Armor Factor:   48 pts Standard              0      3.00

                          Internal    Armor
                          Structure   Value
   Head:                      3          6      
   Center Torso:              5          8      
   Center Torso (Rear):                  2      
   L/R Side Torso:            4        5/5      
   L/R Side Torso (Rear):              2/2      
   L/R Arm:                   2        4/4      
   L/R Leg:                   3        5/5      

Weapons and Equipment    Loc  Heat  Ammo   Crits    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Medium Laser           RA      3           1      1.00
1 Medium Laser           LA      3           1      1.00
1 Machine Gun            CT      0  200      2      1.50
  (Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
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TOTALS:                          6          38     15.00
Crits & Tons Left:                          40       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        960,825 C-Bills
Battle Value:      316
Cost per BV:       3,040.59
Weapon Value:      127 / 127 (Ratio = .40 / .40)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 8;  MRDmg = 1;  LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2:      MP: 6,  Armor/Structure: 1/1
                   Damage PB/M/L: 2/1/-,  Overheat: 0
                   Class: ML;  Point Value: 3