Technical readout 2866 Rise of the Scavengers

LNC 25-02B Lancelot
History:
Shortly after the Ian Cameron and the five Great House
Lords signed the Star League Accords in 2571, a
nascent Star League Defense Force put out a request for
proposals for a new medium class BattleMech. The
document put forth three requirements for the new
design. First, that it should require minimal logistical
support. Second, that it be maneuverable enough to
take part in mobile operations. Third, that it have
sufficient firepower to pose a credible threat to other
units of equal size of greater on the battlefield.
Krupp Stellar Technologies Incorporated, based on Terra
and with production facilities on Mars, was already well
known for their advanced battle computers,
communications gear, and targeting and tracking
systems. However, they had yet to try and enter the
highly profitable BattleMech market. That changed in
2581 when Krupp debuted their 60-ton LNC25-01
Lancelot in response to the SLDF RFP.
At the heart of their design lay a powerful, and incredibly
expensive, Hermes 360 Extralight fusion engine. The
cost of the engine alone was well over 5.5 million C-bills,
with the total per unit cost upwards of 13 million, making
the LNC 25-01 by far the most expensive 60-ton
BattleMech ever made. With a top speed of close to 100
kph, the LNC 25-01 was armed with a Kinslaughter PPC,
two Krupp Model 32 large lasers, often referred to as
“Fur Burners,” and a single Model 2 medium laser.
Protected by 9.5 tons of PanzerSlab Type 5 armor, the
Lancelot is as well protected as most any 55-ton
BattleMech, but by heavy standards its protection is
considered light. In truth, the design was intended to
come in at 55-tons, but the engineers at Krupp were
forced to slightly increase the overall weight to
accommodate its heavy weaponry. Equipped with 13
dual heat sinks and Krupp’s trademark KBC battle
computer, the ‘Mechs trial runs on Soul were so
impressive the SLDF immediately signed a contract for
an initial run of 250 of the fast, powerful BattleMech.
The Krupp KBC Starlight Model 3 deserves special note.
Capable of simultaneously tracking 50 different targets,
over twice the capacity of most other systems, the battle
computer identifies those enemy units that are targeting
the Lancelot and brings them to the pilot’s immediate
attention. This includes conventional as well as
aerospace units, and the KBC is known to be an
excellent anti-aircraft system, able to track extremely fast
moving targets with ease. In fact, indications were the
SLDF intended to use the Lancelot as their primary antianti-aircraft
‘Mech, replacing the aging Rifleman, but
ultimately the high unit cost prevented whole sale
replacement from occurring.
The Lancelot also features an unusually slim profile
making it a deceptively difficult target. The swept back
torso, narrow legs and subtle curves all combine to
present a significantly smaller target than more
traditional designs. Considered all together, the Lancelot
is a highly mobile, dangerous BattleMech, and even with
its relatively light armor and bulky engine, a surpringly
difficult BattleMech to bring down.
It is believed Krupp Stellar Technologies’ facilities on
both Terra and Mars were destroyed during the Amaris
Civil War effectively ending production of the LNC 25-01.
Capabilites:
The LNC-02 Lancelot may have set a record for earning
the worst reputation in the shortest amount of time.
Released just two years ago, it earned the nickname
“The Coffin” in less than twelve months of being
deployed among units of the DCMS.
Already much maligned, the engineers at Luthien Armor
Works quickly returned to drawing room rushing the -02B
into production in an attempt to salvage the design
before even more damage was done. Looking to their
successful and iconic DRG-1N Dragon for guidance,
they improved the speed of the -02B by using the same
Vlar 300 engine that powered the Dragon. They also
improved the armor, once again matching the Dragon
exactly by using 10 tons of Starshield armor.
Next, they removed the Lord’s Light PPC from the right
torso replacing it with a second Victory 23R medium
laser while retaining both of the arm mounted heavy
lasers. The changes returned most of the speed to the
Lancelot while also making it possible for MechWarriors
to effectively manage their heat. Now carrying the same
71
protection as the Dragon, pilots who criticized the new
design risked criticizing the Dragon as well.
Only now are the first -02Bs being delivered to the
DCMS. If it proves successful, it is likely LAW will switch
their production entirely over the -02B, perhaps even
issuing field refits kits for the existing “Coffins.”
Variants:
There is much speculation as to how a full set of design
blueprints for Krupp’s LNC 25-01 Lancelot ended up in
the hands of Luthien Armor Works. In 2864, LAW
resurrected the Lancelot with the LNC 25-02 version.
Without access to the facilities required to manufacture
Extralight fusion engines, and dual heat sinks now
lostech, the 25-02 is a sad, pale, reflection of the original.
Built around a Pitban 240, ironically the same engine
used by the Rifleman which it was intended to replace,
the 25-02 has a top speed of just 64.8 kph, an almost
40% reduction from the original. An additional six heat
sinks were added, bringing it up to total of 19, and the
armor was changed to the common Starshield A
although the amount remained the same. It retains the
original weapons load, though the PPC is now a Lord’s
Light, and the lasers are provided by Victory Industries.
The electronics have also been downgraded to systems
produced on Hachiman by Tanadi Computers.
The result is a slow, lightly armored BattleMech prone to
frequent overheating. However, the DCMS is so
strapped for BattleMechs its virtually guaranteed that
LAW will continue production for the foreseeable future.
Current Manufacturers:
Luthien Armor Works
Luthien – Draconis Combine
Model Cost BV PV
LNC 25-02 4,769,600 1236 30
LNC-25-02B 4,899,200 1297 ???
Alpha Strike Statistics
TP: BM SZ: 3 TMM: +2
MV: 10” Role: Striker
Damage S: 3 M: 3 L: 0
OV: 0
Armor: O O O O O
Sructure: O O O O O
Special: ENE