BattleMech Technical Readout

Type/Model:    Meerkat UM-M60
Tech:          Inner Sphere / 3060
Config:        Biped BattleMech
Rules:         Level 2, Standard design

Mass:          30 tons
Chassis:       Republic-R Endo Steel
Power Plant:   180 Leenex XL Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets:     6 Pitban 6000 Standard Jump Jets
Jump Capacity: 180 meters
Armor Type:    Durallex Medium Standard
Armament:      
  1 ER PPC
  2 Medium Lasers
  1 Beagle Active Probe
Manufacturer:  Orguss Industries
  Location:    (Unknown)
Communications System:  Dalban Interact
Targeting & Tracking System:  Dalban Urban

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==Overview:==
Although the Urbanmech is a venerable design in wide usage across the Inner
Sphere and even Clan space, its exceedingly limited firepower and speed have
caused it to be left behind, both figuratively and literally.

In an attempt to make the unit more relevant to the modern battlefield, a
debate broke out among engineers tasked to work on the project. By the time
everything was said and done, the Urbanmech had departed and the Meerkat
arrived in its stead. 

The debate started out over the nature of the main weapon. Although the AC/10
has damage potential enough to where it can still threaten most units, its
dependence on ammo was regarded as a serious liability due to the mech's
speed; if it left the confines of a defensive area, the mech would likely not
return in time to reload. After much debate, which included the use of a RAC
and adding a ton of ammo, the decision was made to simply go with an ER PPC,
both for range and it not requiring ammo at all. 

Double heat sinks were chosen in order to help vent the heat from this weapon,
only for a new problem to instead emerge: the tiny mech had limited room in
its frame for such heat sinks. Instead, this resulted in the controversial
decision to switch to an XL engine and *triple* the mech's ground speed, with
its jump jet capacity increased to match; this resulted in the engine housing
all but three of the mech's heat sinks. 

Rather than a single small laser as a back-up weapon, debate came in as to how
to upgrade everything. Ultimately, the decision was made to replace the lone
small laser with twin medium lasers. Further controversy was engendered when
the decision was made to give the mech a proper left arm instead of the simple
weapon barrel; although it would keep the weapon from rotating around to the
rear, it would give the mech a hand it could use. 

Finally, the decision was made to give the mech an Active Probe so as to help
it locate and identify enemy units. Given the nature of where the Urbanmech
was supposed to be fighting, such a device would be a godsend. 

During this debate, one of the designers stepped back and looked at the
overall picture. Rather than a stout, slow ogre of a mech, they had instead
created a lanky, relatively fast and ferocious sentry who could hold its
ground in a fight. Given this, the decision was made to rename it the
"Meerkat," after a species of Terran mammals who would routinely post sentries
about the perimeters of their colonies. 

Time will tell if the mech can live up to such a name. 

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Type/Model:    Meerkat UM-M60
Mass:          30 tons

Equipment:                                 Crits    Mass
Int. Struct.:  51 pts Endo Steel            14      1.50
 (Endo Steel Loc: 4 LA, 4 RA, 3 LT, 3 RT)
Engine:        180 XL Fusion                12      3.50
   Walking MP:   6
   Running MP:   9
   Jumping MP:   6
Heat Sinks:     10 Double [20]               9       .00
 (Heat Sink Loc: 1 RA, 1 LT, 1 RT)
Gyro:                                        4      2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors:                5      3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA+LA+H    R: Sh+UA        14       .00
Armor Factor:  104 pts Standard              0      6.50

                          Internal    Armor
                          Structure   Value
   Head:                      3          9      
   Center Torso:             10         14      
   Center Torso (Rear):                  5      
   L/R Side Torso:            7      10/10      
   L/R Side Torso (Rear):              4/4      
   L/R Arm:                   5      10/10      
   L/R Leg:                   7      14/14      

Weapons and Equipment    Loc  Heat  Ammo   Crits    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 ER PPC                 RA     15           3      7.00
1 Medium Laser           LA      3           1      1.00
1 Beagle Active Probe    CT      0           2      1.50
1 Medium Laser           HD      3           1      1.00
6 Standard Jump Jets:                        6      3.00
 (Jump Jet Loc: 1 LT, 1 RT, 2 LL, 2 RL)
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                         21          71     30.00
Crits & Tons Left:                           7       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        4,432,870 C-Bills
Battle Value:      976
Cost per BV:       4,541.88
Weapon Value:      585 / 585 (Ratio = .60 / .60)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 16;  MRDmg = 8;  LRDmg = 4
BattleForce2:      MP: 6J,  Armor/Structure: 3/1
                   Damage PB/M/L: 2/2/1,  Overheat: 1
                   Class: ML;  Point Value: 10
                   Specials: prb