Part 47: BattleMech Commando
MechCommander Gold: BattleMech Update 1 – Commando
Mech Name: Tons Speed Armor Space Loadout Commando-A 25 27m/s 96 16 Laser, 4 SRMs, Basic Sensor Commando-J 25 27m/s 48 16 Laser, 4 SRMs, Basic Sensor, 83m JumpJets Commando-W 25 27m/s 48 19 2 Lasers, Streak SRM, 2 SRM, Basic Sensor
Historical information is drawn from the Manual and http://www.sarna.net and all TROs are created through the Solaris Skunk Works.
The Commando is a venerable Inner Sphere Mech, dating back over 300 years. It was the lightest Mech sent to Operation Bulldog, a move which I can only presume was because of its cheapness. Do to its speed, and short range weapons, the historical Commando found use with its Lyran producers as a light recon Mech and urban fighter. However, the technology put into the Commando is before the technological rennaisance of the Helm Core and the Clan invasion, which lends itself to ease of repair, and plenty of opprotunity for field upgrades.
Like all Mechs sent to Operation Bird Dog, there are three versions. The -A maximizes the armor protection of the Mech, making it last longer in a straight up battle, while the -J sacrifices armor to include a brace of jumpjets. Finally, the -W comes loaded with more weapons than either previous vaiant, but lacks the mobility of the -J, or the endurance of the -A.
As a starter Mech, this unit is a good choice for the early missions. The deep ammo bins for the Mechs SRM racks give it a decent enough punch, but longer missions mean that it will be reduced to a single piddling Laser when they run dry. This is not a factor on the shorter missions.
The Commando is also quickly outclassed by salvaged Mechs, and should be fully rotated off your roster by the end of the first campaign.
The -A provides for an early game hammer. By making the -A the pointman on your lance, it will take the first hits, allowing the more fragile but higher offensive Mechs behind to get into range of their own weapons. In BattleTech, the frame carries the maximum 5.5t of armor, and plenty of short ranged punch. However, the lack of longer ranged weapons is a cause for concern, and as such, this design should avoid battles with larger enemies, or engage them in urban quarters where where longer ranged weapons are of limited usefullness.
Commando-A
Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-X-D
Production Year: 3059
Cost: 1,781,563 C-Bills
Battle Value: 530
Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 150 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
2 SRM-4s
1 Small Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 43 points 2.50
Engine: Fusion Engine 150 5.50
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 10 0.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 HD, 3 LT
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 88 5.50
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 8 12
Center Torso (rear) 3
L/R Torso 6 9
L/R Torso (rear) 3
L/R Arm 4 8
L/R Leg 6 12
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 SRM-4s LT 6 2 4.00
Small Laser RA 1 1 0.50
@SRM-4 (50) LT - 2 2.00
Free Critical Slots: 38
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 5
6 1 0 0 0 1 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: SRCH, ES, SOA, SRM 1/1/0Commando-J
Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-X-D
Production Year: 3059
Cost: 1,856,563 C-Bills
Battle Value: 458
Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 150 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor
Armament:
2 SRM-4s
1 Small Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 43 points 2.50
Engine: Fusion Engine 150 5.50
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 4 Standard
Jump Jet Locations: 2 CT, 1 LL, 1 RL 2.00
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 10 0.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 HD, 3 LT
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 56 3.50
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 8
Center Torso 8 8
Center Torso (rear) 2
L/R Torso 6 7
L/R Torso (rear) 1
L/R Arm 4 5
L/R Leg 6 6
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 SRM-4s LT 6 2 4.00
Small Laser RA 1 1 0.50
@SRM-4 (50) LT - 2 2.00
Free Critical Slots: 34
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 2 Points: 5
6/3j 1 0 0 0 1 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: SRCH, ES, SOA, SRM 1/1/0Commando-W
Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E
Production Year: 3059
Cost: 1,870,625 C-Bills
Battle Value: 512
Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 150 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor w/ CASE
Armament:
1 Streak SRM-4
1 SRM-4
2 Small Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 43 points 2.50
Engine: Fusion Engine 150 5.50
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 10 0.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 HD, 3 LT
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 56 3.50
CASE Locations: 1 LT 0.50
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 8
Center Torso 8 8
Center Torso (rear) 2
L/R Torso 6 7
L/R Torso (rear) 1
L/R Arm 4 5
L/R Leg 6 6
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRM-4 LT 3 1 2.00
Streak SRM-4 LT 3 1 3.00
2 Small Lasers RA 2 2 1.00
@Streak SRM-4 (25) LT - 1 1.00
@SRM-4 (25) LT - 1 1.00
Free Critical Slots: 36
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 2 Points: 5
6 2 2 0 0 1 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SOA