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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Ashigaru ASH-02-MB1C
Designer:           Wildonion
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  E
Tonnage:            60
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Jihad / 3071
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         6,768,960 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,459

Chassis:              Standard
Power Plant:          240 Fusion
Walking Speed:        43.2 kph  
Maximum Speed:        64.8 kph  [86.4 kph]
Jump Jets:            Standard
    Jump Capacity:    120 meters
Armor:                Ferro-Fibrous with CASE
Armament:             
    1 Snub-Nose PPC
    1 MML 7
    1 Light AC/5
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown

================================================================================================
Overview:
    The Ashigaru started out as the brainchild of Hoshi Nakano, an engineer who had been lucky
    enough to land a position at Luthien Armor Works shortly after his graduation. Hoshi
    envisioned a BattleMech that would serve the Dragon as an affordable mainline trooper in
    vein of the Wolverine and the Shadow Hawk. Given that those designs had existed for
    centuries, the young engineer was certain that he could craft a replacement with the wonders
    of modern technology.  The youthful engineer had dreams of a frontline BattlMech and named
    his design for the foot soldiers of ancient Japan. Filled with determination and an
    eagerness that had carried him through his original interviews with LAW, Hoshi managed to
    earn an audience with executives within the company and show off his design. He extolled the
    virtues of versatility in armament and the benefit to the DCMS' supply chains when they
    could replace multiple medium weight chassis with a single heavy, which certainly rang true,
    but Hoshi's design failed to make use of the cutting edge equipment that the DCMS was used
    to. Putting a MechWarrior in a machine like the Ashigaru would certainly be seen as a
    disgrace!
    
    The design was shelved, though Hoshi did receive praise for his zeal and found himself
    working on special projects like the new MRM-equipped Quickdraw. He continued working with
    LAW over the next few years, having lost some of his passion with his design having been
    passed over. Then the Jihad struck the Combine. The chaos of these times and the savagery of
    the Word of Blake has left the forces of the DCMS scrambling to put together combat-ready
    units. The situation has become as dire as it was when the Clans first invaded the Inner
    Sphere. In this time of uncertain supply lines and the sheer need for whatever 'Mechs are
    readily available, Hoshi has put his design back up for consideration with several
    adjustments for the modern era. Perhaps it is the time for this unassuming 'Mech to shine.

Capabilities:
    The ASH-02 is a jack-of-all-trades BattleMech in the style of the classic Medium 'Mechs
    which served pilots across the Combine during the Succession Wars. Something shared by the
    Shadow Hawk and Wolverine is a combination of all the major types of armament, which the
    Ashigaru replicates. A snub-nosed PPC is the primary weapon of the Ashigaru, which
    encourages the pilot to get close in order to bring out the full potential of the weapon. In
    support of this main gun is a light autocannon, sourced more by chance than anything else
    thanks to a friend that Hoshi made at a conference several years ago. While not the most
    damaging weapon, the ability to make use of whatever ammunition is on hand cannot be
    overlooked. Finally, an MML 7 rounds out the armament, salvaged from Word machines and
    further exemplifying the ability to use whatever is at hand.
    
    In order to save on costs, the Ashigaru makes use of a smaller, standard fusion engine and
    supplements its mobility with both jump jets and MASC. To compensate for the slower ground
    speed and the need to close with the enemy to get the best effect out of the chosen weapons,
    the Ashigaru is covered over ten tons of ferro fibrous armor. There is some concern for all
    of the ammunition being stored in the Ashigaru's left torso, but the CASE system in the
    right torso was difficult to install with the unfamiliar autocannon and large MASC systems.
    Hoshi has made a point of advertising that the 'Mech is designed to take hits on the right
    side and that proper use means that a MechWarrior can retreat and keep the ammo available
    for his unit should he suffer major damage. While clearly a cover for the engineering
    troubles, the PR department has played this angle up at every opportunity.

Variants:
    The ASH-02 is not the first version of the Ashigaru that Hoshi designed. The original would
    have made use of weaponry available in the 3060's, using a similar blend of weapons systems
    that the production model made use of. The ASH-01 would have relied on an ER Large Laser as
    the primary gun, with support provided by an class 5 ultra autocannon and four-pack streak
    missile system. Further, the design would have made use of slightly less armor, as the plans
    call for the missing CASE in the right torso. There are talks of putting the ASH-01 into
    production, should the ASH-02 serve well enough, as a 'Mech to bolster garrisons and far
    border planets, so that more powerful 'Mechs can be called up to service.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                          Standard                  6.00                     
Engine:                                     240 Fusion                11.50                     
    Walking MP:                                 4                                               
    Running MP:                               6 [8]                                             
    Jumping MP:                                 4                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         10 [20]                   0.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  188                    10.50                     
    Type:                                 Ferro-Fibrous                                         

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      20             29       
    Center Torso (rear):                               8       
    R/L Torso:                         14             20       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  8       
    R/L Arm:                           10             19       
    R/L Leg:                           14             24       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Light AC/5                                                RT                2          5.00             
MASC                                                      RT                3          3.00             
CASE                                                      LT                1          0.50             
Light AC/5 (Ammo 20)                                      LT                1          1.00             
MML 7                                                     LT                4          4.50             
MML 7 (Ammo 14) [SRM]                                     LT                1          1.00             
MML 7 (Ammo 17) [LRM]                                     LT                1          1.00             
Snub-Nose PPC                                             RA                2          6.00             
2 Jump Jets                                               RL                2          2.00             
2 Jump Jets                                               LL                2          2.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 34
TP: BM,  SZ: 3,  TMM: 2,  MV: 10"/8"j
Damage: (S) 3 / (M) 2 / (L) 0*,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 6,  Structure (S): 5
Specials: CASE, IF0*, JMPW1
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:52:21-04:00)