the shape of things to come

Today’s vehicular-scale missile launchers are a broadly varied
weapon class used to deliver clusters of self-propelled—and usually
self-guided—munitions to a target. Not to be confused with capitalscale
missile launchers (or the Arrow IV artillery missile that will be
discussed in a later text), the missiles mounted on many BattleMechs
and Combat Vehicles are much smaller in size and power, adapted to
the electronic noise, limited sensor acuity and eff ective armor in the
tactical battlefi eld.
Currently, between the Clans and the Inner Sphere, eight types of
missile launchers or launcher variants are in widespread use. Their
specifi cs are outlined below.
[A ninth launcher type, the multi-missile launcher, was under development
when Blakist-backed mercenaries assaulted Outreach. Ironically,
the Robes’ capture of that weapon system allowed it to survive that terrible
holocaust and reach wider production in the years since. –EB]
ADVANCED TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEM (ATM)
Introduced: 3054 (Clan Coyote)
A semi-flexible weapon system presently available only to the
Clans, the ATM (Advanced Tactical Missile) launcher features three
selectable ammunition types specialized for specifi c battlefi eld needs,
and an integrated Artemis IV-style fi re control system that enhances
the accuracy of each cluster fi red. Because of the enhanced electronics
package and specialized feed mechanisms, the ATM system cannot
make use of other munitions beyond its own three types, which
include standard armor-defeating missiles (balancing range over warhead
yield), high-explosive warheads (sacrifi cing propellants for larger
and more powerful warheads), and extended-range munitions (which
place proportionately more propellant in each missile, for a reduced
explosive yield but greater reach). ATMs are typically mounted in rack
multiples of three tubes each.
Rather than attempt to match the sophistication of the ATM
system itself, Inner Sphere engineers have instead focused more
on the specialized munitions, preferring to mate the abilities of the
warheads with the far more populous and logistically supported LRM
and SRM designs already available. These variant missile rounds will
be described in detail below.
LONG-RANGE MISSILES (LRM)
Introduced: 2400 (Terran Hegemony)
Developed for reach, rather than punch, long-range missile racks
are capable of indirect fire and a more concentrated dispersal of
warheads. LRMs are typically mounted and launched in five-tube
groups, with up to 20 tubes in a single rack, though Clan ProtoMechs
may pack smaller sets. Standard LRM launchers are quite versatile, and
can be easily upgraded with Artemis IV systems and even make use of
a variety of special munitions. Inner Sphere launchers, which derive
their impressive range from a ballistic launch angle, are notoriously
less accurate close-in, especially when compared to their smaller and
more compact Clan rivals. Nevertheless, their fl exibility and solid reliability
at long distances has kept LRM models like Delta Dart, Holly,
Shigunga and Valiant in production for centuries.
MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILES (MRMS)
Introduced: 3058 (Draconis Combine)
DCMS engineers at Luthien Armor Works’ Shigunga Missiles Division
unveiled their medium-range missile (MRM) launcher system in 3058.
Basing their eff orts on prototype “dead-fi re” missiles under development
at the time, MRMs were intended to deliver a less expensive,
homegrown weapon aimed at saturation fi re in the mid-range bracket.
Eschewing targeting and guidance systems for smaller, unguided
projectiles, the MRM system was essentially a giant step backward in
terms of missile technology. But while the loss of accuracy and eff ective
range are signifi cant, especially when coupled with the launchers’
incompatibility with enhancements like Artemis or specialized muni-
MISSILE LAUNCHERS
tions, MRM racks and their ammunition are lighter and more compact
than LRMs of equivalent volley sizes. This means that despite their light
warhead yields per missile, the MRM makes up in volume what it lacks
in accuracy—and it can do so for far longer than a comparable LRM.
Initially spurned by many in the DCMS as a weapon designed for
green cadets, MRMs caught on over the years, and have since appeared
in regular and mercenary commands across the Inner Sphere. The Clans,
however, have shown no interest in duplicating this technology.
MULTI-MISSILE LAUNCHERS (MMLS)
[Introduced: 3067 (Battle Magic [mercenary command])
The Battle Magic mercenary command was developing the multimissile
launcher (MML) system on Outreach near the close of 3067
when Wayne Waco and his followers launched their sneak attack
on Harlech. Intended to maximize the usefulness of standard and
specialty LRM and SRM munitions, while simultaneously simplifying
the logistical needs of the cashed-strapped merc outfi t, the MML was
deployed in 3-, 5-, 7- and 9-tube sizes. It also featured compatibility
with Artemis fi re-control systems and LRM/SRM special munitions,
such as Narc and Swarm missiles. This eff ectively produced a weapon
that mimicked the Clan ATM system.
Several prototypes of these weapons were pressed into hasty service
to fend off the renegade mercenary attack on Harlech, but sadly
failed to save Battle Magic from utter destruction. Ironically, it was the
Blakist zealots who brought the MML into full-scale production after
their subsequent invasion of Outreach in 3068, apparently fi nding the
Magic’s innovation useful. Fortunately, the technology did not remain
proprietary for long, as virtually all the other factions engaged against
the Robes have fi elded their own versions of the MML by the time of
this writing. –EB]
ROCKET LAUNCHERS
Introduced: 3064 (Marian Hegemony)
As weapon technologies go, the rocket launcher system was hardly
new even when the Marian Hegemony introduced it a few years ago. In
fact, these weapons essentially amount to a multi-tube variation on the
standard infantryman’s light anti-tank weapon (LAW)—a self-contained,
one-shot, unguided launch system. Why, then, did it take so long to for
someone to develop it into a mainstream vehicular weapon? It’s hard
to say, though a guess might be a long-standing presumption that the
only viable weapons on today’s ‘Mech-heavy battlefi eld are high-tech
systems that can battle ambient ECM, home in on a target and still
deliver powerful damage meant to defeat multi-layer combat armor.
Installed in racks of 10, 15 and 20 tubes, rocket launchers are cheap,
simple and compact enough to install multiple racks at a fraction of
the weight cost of a more reusable LRM. With hitting power roughly
equal to a comparable-sized LRM volley, the rockets’ damage potential
is respectable, making them an excellent choice for the fairly low-tech
armies of the Periphery. However, the Inner Sphere’s larger militaries
have been slow to introduce the rocket launcher system, largely
because it’s a one-shot weapon that loses eff ective range in the larger
rack sizes (the latter largely attributed to the cluttering fl ight paths of
so many unguided munitions fi red in unison).
SHORT-RANGE MISSILES (SRM)
Introduced: 2370 (Terran Hegemony)
Less sophisticated than LRMs, the direct-fired short-range missile
(SRM) system makes up for its limited reach with the heavier punch of
its high-explosive warheads. Mounted in racks of two, four or six tubes—
though, again, ProtoMechs have been known to boast irregular tube
counts—SRMs are particularly eff ective against vehicles and infantry, and
are often a favored weapon for smaller battlefi eld units. Their popularity
has been proven by the longevity of brand names like Harvester, Holly,
Hovertec and Telos, and even the Clans have managed to maintain their
own models—albeit more compact and lightweight by comparison.
INTRODUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
BASICS
BATTLEMECH
CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRIALMECH
CONSTRUCTION
PROTOMECH
CONSTRUCTION
COMBAT VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION
SUPPORT VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION
CONV. INFANTRY
CONSTRUCTION
BATTLE ARMOR
CONSTRUCTION
AEROSPACE UNIT
CONSTRUCTION
WEAPONS AND
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
INFANTRY WEAPONS
AND EQUIPMENT
COSTS AND
AVAILABILITY
BATTLE VALUE
INDEX
RECORD SHEETS
229