Technical readout 2866 Rise of the Scavengers

CLN-1C Chameleon
History:
In 2510, the Terran Hegemony commissioned Defiance
Industries of Hesperus II to construct a BattleMech
specifically designed to train new MechWarriors. This
commission resulted in the production of the 50-ton
TRC-4B Chameleon, also known as the CHM-3
Chameleon Training Scout.
Never intended for combat, the Chameleon is built to
help teach students the arts of piloting, jumping, heat
management, and volley fire. Incorporating a Vlar 300
fusion engine, the Chameleon has a cruising speed of
64.8 kph and a top speed of almost 100 kph, making it,
interestingly enough, the fastest ‘Mech in its weight
class.
Equipped with six McCloud Special jump jets, the same
model used on the Enforcer, it has a jump capacity of
180 meters, again the best in its class. For armament, it
carries a Cyclops Eye large laser, two Intek medium
lasers, four Defiance B3S small lasers, and two
ScatterGun machine guns.
Carrying only the standard ten heat sinks, this
configuration of weapons makes the Chameleon
incredibly easy to overheat. If it were to fire all of its
weapons and jump a full 180 meters, there is good
chance the ‘Mech will simply shutdown from the excess
heat, a common mistake made by many rookie pilots and
an excellent “teaching moment.”
Instead, the weapons were chosen to demonstrate the
importance of heat management and volley fire.
Configured into three groupings, there is an optimal set
of weapons to use based on the distance from the target.
Firing only the heavy laser at long range, the two
mediums at medium range, and the full complement of
four light lasers and two machine guns at short range,
the heat can be managed effectively.
Given this ‘Mech was never designed to engage in
combat, it carries only six tons of SimplePlate Type M
armor. Enough to protect the machine from falls and
simulated combat, the armor is quite inexpensive but it
does not have the same barrier armor rating as standard
BattleMech armor.
In addition, the Chameleon features special software that
constantly monitors the ‘Mech’s heat level, automatically
shutting off weapons that might raise the temperature
above a critical level. This was done largely in response
to a number of incidents early in the ‘Mech’s career
where cadets inadvertently cause the machine gun
ammunition to explode from excessive amounts of heat.
Capabilities:
Inevitably, the TRC-4B has been forced into true combat
situations, often to defend the very MechWarrior
Academies where it serves. In addition, as fully
functional BattleMechs become more and more scarce
and the demand for them continues to rise, the value of
the Chameleon has grown considerably, leading many
Academy’s to replace or augment their Chameleons with
the lighter and considerably less expensive STG-3R
Stinger.
In response to this, Defiance Industries developed a
combat ready version of the venerable training ‘Mech
made available as a refit kit. Officially carrying the CLN-
1C designation, the refit exchanges six tons of
SimplePlate armor in favor of eight tons of Durallex Light.
To accommodate the additional armor, two light lasers,
one of the machine guns and a half-ton of ammunition
have been removed. The machine gun and ammunition
have also been moved to the left arm, while the medium
lasers are shifted to the torso.
The electronics are fully upgraded as well, bringing them
into line with standard military specifications. The
communications are handled by a Neil 6000 system,
while targeting and tracking duties are now handled by
an Octagon Tartrac.
The result is a surprisingly effective scout ‘Mech, one
that is on par with the well regarded Phoenix Hawk.
Highly mobile, respectably armed and armored, the CLN-
1C is likely to catch an opponent off guard by expecting
the machine to be piloted by a rookie and carry paper
thin armor.
Variants:
There is only extremely rare variant of the Chameleon
seen occasionally and only as the most prestigious
MechWarrior academies. The TRC-4B-DC varies from
the standard model by removing two small lasers in favor
of installing a dual cockpit.
This arrangement allows an instructor to accompany a
student inside the ‘Mech during training runs. It also
gives them the ability subsume control over the
BattleMech if needed. As a training tool, the TRC-4B-DC
is unparalleled allowing for direct in-cockpit observation
of the student.
Unfortunately, installing a second cockpit in a BattleMech
is an extremely complicated process, requiring extensive
modifications to the control system. While dual cockpits,
and even command consoles, were well within the ability
of the Star League to manufacture, they are no longer
within the reach of the Successor States. As such, the
only ones that exist are highly prized and almost never
seen on the battlefield.
Current Manufacturers:
Defiance Industries
Hesperus II – Lyran Commonwealth
Model Cost BV PV
TRC-4B 4,624,500 999 21
CLN-1C 4,613,250 1076 ???
Alpha Strike Statistics
TP: BM SZ: 2 TMM: +2
MV: 12j” Role: Scout
Damage S: 2 M: 2 L: 0
OV: 1
Armor: O O O O
Sructure: O O O O
Special:
55