Technical readout 2866 Rise of the Scavengers

CRD-3Vx Crusader
History:
In 2649, the Star League Quartermaster’s Office
commissioned a new heavy close assault BattleMech to
serve in Royal Brigades of the massive SLDF. Kallon
Industries responded that same year with their 65-ton
CRD-2R Crusader.
Built on a lightweight Endo-Steel chasis, the -2R was
armed with a two Magna Longbow LRM-15s enhanced
with the Artemis IV fire control system. For close range
combat, the -2R carried four Phoenix Streak SRM-2s
along with a pair of Intek medium lasers. Ten double
heatsinks, a pair of M100 machine guns, and a full
twelve tons of armor completed the potent package.
Both torsos are also built with CASE to protect against
ammunition explosions.
The ‘Mech would go on to prove itself an extremely
versatile platform, capable of handling missions from
long-range fire support to close assault and anti-aircraft
operations. Due to its operational success within the
Royal Divisions of the SLDF, Kallon Industries
manufactured a version without the restricted technology
for sale to the Successor States in 2752. At the same
time, Kallon Industries licensed the new downgraded
design, the CRD-3R, to Brigadier Corporation who began
building an assembly line on Oliver to manufacture the
popular design.
The -3R lacks the Endo-Steel chassis, Artemis IV FCS,
CASE, and Streak missiles system of the original.
Retaining the Magna Longbow LRM-15s, the -3R carries
a pair of Harpoon-6 SRM Launchers in addition to the
two medium lasers and machine guns. The resulting
‘Mechs were snapped up as quickly as they could be
made by hungry Successor Lords eager to increase the
size and potency of their private armies.
Production of the -2R would cease shortly after the fall of
the Star League.
Over the intervening years, the Crusader has shown
itself to be an incredibly reliable and easy to maintain
BattleMech. Combined with its best-in-class armor
protection, many Crusaders have survived decades,
even centuries, on the battlefields of the Inner Sphere.
During the time a number of additional variants have
appeared.
Perhaps the most radical departure, the CRD-3L,
produced out of Nanking in the Capellan Confederation,
was introduced just one year after the -3R. The -3L
downgrades both missiles racks in order to make space
for four GM JetStar jump jets, giving the -3L a jump
capacity of 120 meters.
The -3D version, first seen in 2756, marked the first
attempt to improve the -3R’s ability to handle heat.
Exchanging the Harpoon-6 racks for Federated Four
Shots and removing the machine guns allowed for the
installation of four additional heat sinks.
The -3K version, released in 2765, took it one step
further. Downgrading the Magna Longbows to LRM-10s
as well as removing the machines guns, made space for
six more heat sinks, giving the -3K sixteen heat sinks in
total.
Notable ‘Mech and MechWarriors:
Major Ting Shan
During bitter fighting against the Second Orloff
Grenadiers on Claybrooke, Major Ting Shan’s CRD-3L
was seriously damaged by a Marik BattleMaster. By the
end of the Second Succession War, Major Shan and the
prestigious Red Lancers where forced to surrender the
planet to the Free Worlds League under continued
pressure from the seemingly endless supply of Marik
assault ‘Mechs.
During the rest and refit period following their defeat,
Major Shan had the Capellan engineers make a number
of changes to what remained of his -3L Crusader. As it
turned out, Major Shan’s Crusader had undergone a
previous refit at some point in the past. Much to the
engineers surprise, they discovered the chest portion of
Major Shan’s ‘Mech was built from Endo-Steel, indicating
it had originally been a “Royal” -2R version. The limbs
and head all used standard internal structure.
Having suffered from serious overheating problems
during the failed defense of Claybrooke, Shan had the
machine guns removed in favor of mounting two
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additional heat sinks. And since both legs had to be
rebuilt, he also had the engineers shift the SRM-6 racks
from the hips up into the left and right torso. Both
medium lasers were moved into torso as well, freeing up
both hands for physical attacks.
The most radical request, however, was the inclusion of
a Supercharger into the Magna 260 power plant. This
boosts the ‘Mechs top speed to 86.4 kph, albeit only for
short amounts of time.
These changes transform his Crusader into a formidable
physical brawler, one also capable of either providing
long-range fire support or even covering its own advance
against the enemy. Between the Supercharger and the
jump jets, this ‘Mech can get to exactly where it wants,
regardless of terrain, with frightening speed for such a
heavily armed and armored machine.
Currently stationed on Calseraigne, just across the
border from the Free Worlds League, Major Shan is
anxiously awaiting the opportunity to test his new
Crusader against the forces of the FWLM once more.
Alpha Strike Statistics
TP: BM SZ: 3 TMM: +1
MV: 8j” Role: Missile Boat
Damage S: 3 M: 3 L: 2
OV: 1
Armor: O O O O O O
Sructure: O O O O O
Special: MASC, LRM 1/1/1, SRM 2/2/-