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BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Vulcan (Nils Naginata) VL-2T
Designer: IronRaven Special Projects Group
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: D
Tonnage: 40
Role: Scout
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Succession Wars / 2976
Rules (Current): Introductory
Rules (Era): Introductory
Rules (Year): Introductory
Total Cost: 2,971,967 C-Bills
Battle Value: 940
Chassis: Mather Tech 500
Power Plant: Pitban 200
Walking Speed: 54 kph
Maximum Speed: 86.4 kph
Jump Jets: Pitban Model 9
Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: StarGuard II
Armament:
1 Lord's Light PPC
1 Martell Medium Laser
1 Firestorm Flamer
2 Sperry Browning Machine Guns
Manufacturer: Coventry Metal Works
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: Hartford 200S
Targeting & Tracking: Hartford TA10
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Overview:
This month's This Old Mech was sent to us by a reader. While many consider the Vulcan a bad,
or at least mediocre, mech best tasked with supporting or hunting infantry, this Scarecrow
improves on classic -2T configuration.
Currently dubbed Nils Naginata, this battlemech and it's pilot are from the Rasalhauge
District of the Draconis Combine. It has been in this region of the Sphere since the end of
the Star League, and has been used in the traditional roles of counterinsurgency, recon and
urban pacification. It has been wounded many times, and forty years ago suffered heavy
damage. It was sidelined and even partially stripped until an LCAF raid crippled another
Vulcan. At that time, it was decided to combine the two into one complete mech.
As both machines lacked engines and gyros, the search for a replacement drivetrain was the
first thing that had to be sourced. A Nissan 200 was taken from a devastated Hunchback,
requiring a slight adjustment to the torso of the Vulcan, but with fragments of the donor
mech and a second Vulcan there was material to machine out spacers. In the end, the Nissan
was mounted sideways in the chassis. This necessitated removing one of the two jump jets
mounted under the engine in the center torso. An additional heatsink could, however, be
mounted between the remaining jump jet and the fusion engine and creates a functional brace
to support the engine. While a reduction in speed by 15% is normally considered a negative,
in the role Vulcans are normally assigned it is still acceptable.
Due to a lack of parts and availability of mass, the primary weapon was changed. The class 2
Armstrong autocannon is not the most common component. It is also one of the most common
criticism of the Scarecrow (and any other mech or tank equipped with one). The answer came
in the form of spare parts for one of the Draconis trademark machines- a Lord's Light PPC.
While bulkier than the AC/2, the housing is a fairly simple thing to build from armour plate
and to integrate into the mech's chassis. It has already proven itself, as pilots who see a
Vulture assume it's just armed with a popgun and get quite a surprise. Able to cripple most
mechs in it's weight class and lower with a single shot, this makes the Naginata into a
superior scout and vehicle hunter much on par with a Panther. Just faster.
A second Sperry-Browning is mounted in the left arm parallel to the first, while the right
arm's Firestorm is unchanged. The Randell medium laser was replaced with a much more common
Martell, simplifying logistics. Another ton of armour improves the protection on this
machine to a much more respectable level. The addition of three more heatsinks allows the
efficient use of the new weapons suite. Unlike most Vulcans, this specimen's legs have been
thickened to accommodate two of the coolers, so it can get to water the heat distribution is
further enhanced.
The changes leaves this Scarecrow stronger in it's intended roles and less dependent on
ammunition. With the non-standard changes, there have been some net oddities. There have
been isolated incidents of the PPC interfering with the magnetic containment system on the
fusion engine, most likely caused by the two now being only centimeters away. When this
happens, it causes the heat output to spike ten percent higher than expected. An alternative
explanation is that the center mounted heat sink may be faulting momentarily. The pilot and
crew chief both describe it as "documented but highly unusual", observed three times in
seven hundred firings. While normally we would be leery of such numbers, the document sent
to us does bear the chop of the DCMS censors, so in this case if the Draconis Combine is
willing to admit to this we're willing to take it at face value. If such a conversion is put
into factory production, the engine and heat sink will almost certainly be mounted in the
"normal" configuration in a redesigned chassis, which will undoubtedly resolve the issue.
And while a reduction in speed this significant would be a cause for concern, But partnered
with mechs that are as fast or slower. And even if it wasn't, it still has more firepower
than most recon mechs, meaning what it can't keep up with it can just shoot in the back.
This heavy recon lance is part of the 20th Rasalhague Regulars on Trondheim, and is
currently tasked with counter insurgency and urban pacification.
Your author should not longer be surprised by the changes made to mechs. But seeing a Vulcan
turned into something that can threaten mechs fifty percent heavier and dominate almost
anything smaller is impressed. Even just a simple switch from the AC/2 to a large laser and
a couple of heat sinks could give new life to this much maligned machine.
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Equipment Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 4.00
Engine: 200 Fusion 8.50
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 5
Heat Sinks (Single): 13 3.00
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 96 6.00
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 12 11
Center Torso (rear): 6
R/L Torso: 10 9
R/L Torso (rear): 4
R/L Arm: 6 10
R/L Leg: 10 12
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jump Jet CT 1 0.50
2 Jump Jets RT 2 1.00
PPC RT 3 7.00
2 Jump Jets LT 2 1.00
Machine Gun (Ammo 200) LT 1 1.00
Medium Laser LT 1 1.00
Flamer RA 1 1.00
2 Machine Guns LA 2 1.00
================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 23
TP: BM, SZ: 2, TMM: 2, MV: 10"j
Damage: (S) 2 / (M) 2 / (L) 1, OV: 0
Armor (A): 3, Structure (S): 3
Specials:
Distribution
Name/Model: Vulcan (Nils Naginata) VL-2T
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 40
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
======================================================================================
Left ArmHeadRight Arm
1. Shoulder 1. Life Support 1. Shoulder
2. Upper Arm Actuator 2. Sensors 2. Upper Arm Actuator
3. Lower Arm Actuator 3. Cockpit 3. Lower Arm Actuator
4. Machine Gun 4. Roll Again 4. Flamer
5. Machine Gun 5. Sensors 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Life Support 6. Roll Again
1. Roll Again 1. Roll Again
2. Roll Again 2. Roll Again
3. Roll Again 3. Roll Again
4. Roll Again 4. Roll Again
5. Roll Again 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again
Left TorsoCenter TorsoRight Torso
1. Jump Jet 1. Fusion Engine 1. Jump Jet
2. Jump Jet 2. Fusion Engine 2. Jump Jet
3. Heat Sink 3. Fusion Engine 3. Heat Sink
4. Medium Laser 4. Gyro 4.PPC
5. Machine Gun (Ammo 200) 5. Gyro 5.PPC
6. Roll Again 6. Gyro 6.PPC
1. Roll Again 1. Gyro 1. Roll Again
2. Roll Again 2. Fusion Engine 2. Roll Again
3. Roll Again 3. Fusion Engine 3. Roll Again
4. Roll Again 4. Fusion Engine 4. Roll Again
5. Roll Again 5. Jump Jet 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Heat Sink 6. Roll Again
Left LegRight Leg
1. Hip 1. Hip
2. Upper Leg Actuator 2. Upper Leg Actuator
3. Lower Leg Actuator 3. Lower Leg Actuator
4. Foot Actuator 4. Foot Actuator
5. Heat Sink 5. Heat Sink
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again
PPC
5. Machine Gun (Ammo 200) 5. Gyro 5.
PPC
6. Roll Again 6. Gyro 6.
PPC
1. Roll Again 1. Gyro 1. Roll Again
2. Roll Again 2. Fusion Engine 2. Roll Again
3. Roll Again 3. Fusion Engine 3. Roll Again
4. Roll Again 4. Fusion Engine 4. Roll Again
5. Roll Again 5. Jump Jet 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Heat Sink 6. Roll Again
Left Leg Right Leg
1. Hip 1. Hip
2. Upper Leg Actuator 2. Upper Leg Actuator
3. Lower Leg Actuator 3. Lower Leg Actuator
4. Foot Actuator 4. Foot Actuator
5. Heat Sink 5. Heat Sink
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again
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