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Combat Vehicle Technical Readout
Name/Model: Beatie Hovertank BTE-38
Designer: gwaedin
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: D
Tonnage: 50
Role: Striker
Configuration: Combat Vehicle
Era/Year: Succession Wars / 3026
Rules (Current): Introductory
Rules (Era): Introductory
Rules (Year): Introductory
Total Cost: 2,656,667 C-Bills
Battle Value: 758
Movement Type: Hover
Power Plant: VOX 265 265
Cruising Speed: 108 kph
Maximum Speed: 162 kph
Armor: Three Ply Durotech Plastisteel
Armament:
2 NADl-36 Short Range Missile Six-Packs SRM 6s
1 Diverse Optics Type 20 Medium Laser Medium Laser
Manufacturer: New Avalon Defense Industries
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: Garret T19B
Targeting & Tracking: Chichester ASR-26
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Overview:
Overview 3027 [from BattleTechnology #9]
The Beatie was designed with a number of criteria in mind. Its function entailed the varied
and diverse roles of armed fighting vehicles in the Battle Mech environment specializing
in reÂconaissance and screening duties. Its high speed and heavy armor ensure that it can
stand up to most punishment until support can arrive, or until the Beatie can safely
withdraw.
The BTE-3B has passed all of its field testing and is now being assigned to front line Armor
units within the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns. Security at the Beatie's production
faÂcilities on New Avalon and three other planets within the Davion borders is extremely
tight, so production totals are unavailable. A source within the FederÂated Suns Military
Procurement Office speculated that as many as 1000 BeaÂtie Hovertanks could be produced
within the next ten years. Word has also been received that an initial shipment of 50
Beaties were delivered to officials of the armed forces of the Lyran ComÂmonwealth
recently, as part of the miliÂtary trade and exchange agreement between House Davion and
House Steiner.
Only limited testing under actual battlefield conditions has been carried out on the Beatie
design; initial appraisal of the vehicle seems to show that it should be a welcome addition
to the armored forces of both House Davion and House Steiner. With presÂsures along the
borders of the SuccesÂsor States heating up to a great degree of late, this should come as
good news to those individuals inhabiting Davion or Steiner space.
Capabilities:
The BTE-3B Beatie Hovertank was designed for the specific mission of intelligence gathering
and the screening of larger forces from the scouting missions of an enemy. BeÂcause of
this, the design has sacrificed some armament features for the double advantage of speed and
proÂtection. It is not meant for use as a main battle tank or other assault function,
although military necessity may force its use in these roles.
The Beatie's VOX 265 fusion enÂgine has been newly designed from old Star League circuit
specifications and data. It is the first original design in the field of fusion engineering
that the New Avalon Institute of Science has atÂtempted since its inception. The Beatie is
the VOX 265's first operational testÂing and so far reports have been posiÂtive on its
power output and dependaÂbility. Shielding and the lift machinery for the Beatie are of
standard design, as are the cockpit layout and the instruÂmentation for the vehicle's
two-man crew.
One of the main advantages in the Beatie design is its ample armor coverÂage. Triple bonded
Duroteck Plastisteel covers the entire outer shell of the vehicle including the lift skirts.
Tests to Destruction on the Cameron Proving Grounds of New Avalon Defense InÂdustries have
shown that the Beatie can withstand as much punishment as many of the older well known
tracked armored vehicles of far greater tonÂnage.
The other great advantage to the Beatie design is her speed. With a cruising speed of over
one hundred kilometers per hour and a flank speed of greater than 150, the Beatie can surely
outrun anything that she cannot outfight. This advantage will act as well as another patch
of armor on her hull; she can put distance between herself and any possible opponent.
The armament of the Beaties has led to more disagreement within the Davion military
development commuÂnity than any other part of the design. Everyone knows that any war
machine design is a trade-off in very specific categories to make that vehicle as well
rounded as possible, and at the same time to allow it to perform its designed mission
portfolio up to specification. The Beatie design was able to accomÂplish this, but at the
sacrifice of much heavy armament seen on other veÂhicles of similar tonnage.
The Beatie's main armament is in the form of a Diverse Optics Type 20 Medium Laser housed in
a port sponÂson-mounted turret on the fore part of the hull. On the other quadrants of the
hull, mounted in free-rotating turrets of thier own, are two NADl-36 Short Range Missile
Six-Packs. The NADl-36 is another new weapons system deÂsigned by New Avalon Defense
IndusÂtries, mounted in two triple launchers for each SRM-6. The original design called for
independent tracking and targeting for each of the triple launchÂers so that up to four
targets could be engaged at one time by the short range missile mounts alone. The sensor
gear development has fallen extensively behind schedule so standard ChichÂester ASR-26
units with no independent tracking ability have had to be installed in their place. Most of
the designers feel that this should not effect the Beatie's usefulness in any way as most of
the time the vehicle will withdraw if confronted with four or more targets.
Deployment:
To date, there has been only one recorded engagement in which the Beatie Class Hovertank has
taken part. During the on-going border clashes between House Davion and House Kurita forces
in what was termed Operation Galahad last year (3026, the first "peacetime wargame"
Operation Galahad), elements of the Second Sword of Light Regiment raided the garrison
planet of Breed in reprisal for a similar attack by Davion forces on the Kurita border
planet called Sheat V. Breed was one of the testing sites for the Beatie; a company of
twelve vehicles along with spare prototypes had been stationed there some months before the
attack.
The Kurita forces had dropped in battalion strength; they seemed to have orders to conduct
merely a search and destroy mission on any Davion facility encountered, then to withdraw
offplanet. Davion defense forces were at reinforced regimental strength, but were scattered
about the planet, leaving the 30-odd 'Mech force of the Draconis Combine superiority on the
local level.
Colonel Brent Richardson, commanding the 101st TestÂing and Training company, was ordered
to set up a screening line across the intended line of approach of the Kurita 'Mechs toward
their next target, a hydrogen fuel refining plant. They achieved first contact with a recon
lance of the enemy and began to fall back on waiting Davion 'Mechs near the Kurita
objective. The Draconis 'Mechs were unable to bring the Beaties to engagement because of
their slower speed, but neither were the Beaties able to offer any appreciable fire at the
advancing enemy. Finally, Davion 'Mechs were able to come into support range and the Beaties
began to outflank the attacking Kurita force by performing tactics which they had practiced
over the last few months to obtain rear shots and then withdraw before they could be brought
to battle. After several hours of steady defense by the Davion 'Mech forces and harrassing
fire from the company of Beatie tanks, the Kurita commander decided to withdraw back to his
waiting DropShips. The Beaties continued to pick at the force as it fell back, but the AFFS
had achieved its objective: the raid caused minimal damage and only one Beatie was lost in
the fight.
Variants:
Since the Beatie design is new, no variants have been approved or projected. However, there
has been some disÂcussion about removing three tons of armor for the addition of one LRM-5
rack and its missile load.
Toward the end of the War some thirty-odd Beaties were fitted with new sensor gear developed
in cooperation with Doctor Banzai and the NAIS. During the last days of the War this company
served with distinction in the Capellan March theater.
Notable MechWarriors:
Brigadier Brent Richardson
Promoted and transferred from the 101st Testing and Training Company, Brigadier Richardson
was placed in charge of the Beatie Hovertank disbursement program to get all assembly
line-comÂpleted vehicles to their assigned units in the least possible time. In addition to
these duties, he is in command of the New Avalon Guards Armor Cadre which has recently been
equipped with Beatie Hover tanks. His personal Beatie, 'Lil Beastie II', takes him to long
distance inspection tours and maneuvers, freeing an Aerospace Transport Carrier for the
front line.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 5.00
Engine: 265 Fusion 21.00
Cruising MP: 10
Flanking MP: 15
Heat Sinks (Single): 10 0.00
Control Equipment: 2.50
Lift Equipment: 5.00
Power Amplifier: 0.00
Turret: 1.00
Armor Factor: 104 6.50
Type: Standard
Armor
Value
Front: 30
R/L Side: 19
Rear: 12
Turret: 24
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Weapons and Ammo Location Tonnage
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Medium Laser Turret 1.00
2 SRM 6s Turret 6.00
SRM 6 (Ammo 30) Body 2.00
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Alpha Strike Statistics
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Point Value (PV): 37
TP: CV, SZ: 2, TMM: 4, MV: 20"h
Damage: (S) 3 / (M) 3 / (L) 0
Armor (A): 3, Structure (S): 3
Specials: SRCH, SRM2/2, TUR(3/3/-, SRM2/2)
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