BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Annhiliator (Armageddon) ANH-AMG-1
Designer: Alisa Wolfstein
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere (Mixed)
Technology Rating: F
Tonnage: 100
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Republic / 3086
Rules (Current): Advanced
Rules (Era): Advanced
Rules (Year): Advanced
Total Cost: 9,582,667 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,627
Structure: Standard
Power Plant: 200 Fusion
Walking Speed: 21.6 kph
Maximum Speed: 32.4 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: Standard
Armament:
2 ER PPCs (C)
2 Gauss Rifles (C)
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown
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Overview:
The Armageddon is one of the first mixed Tech Battlemechs to enter full production, being
produced by the Lyran Alliance under a secret treaty with Clan Diamond Shark; who were happy
to accept the trade deal to provide the Lyran Industry with Clan-Tech ER PPCs, Gauss Rifles,
Targeting Computers and Double Heat Sinks. This was under the condition that the Lyran
Alliance would not attempt to study and reverse engineer the equipment to reproduce it
themselves. Also included in the treaty, were two articles: one which ensured that both
sides would keep to the terms for a minimum of 20 years; and a second which made it
mandatory for the Lyran Alliance to inform Clan Diamond Shark of any new production using
their technology. However, unless the Lyran Alliance caused grievance to Clan Diamond Shark,
they would not share this information with other factions or states.
The Armageddon was designed to be a game-changing factor in the Lyran Military. With their
over-use of assault battlemechs, this 'Mech fits in comfortably with most commanders'
strategies. The designers started off with the chassis of an ANH-1G as a basis for the
design, before adapting the body as the engineers saw fit. The dual gauss rifles are placed
in special structures - protected by CASE II - on the outside of the forearms of the 'Mech,
which were based on those seen on the Thunderbolt. To limit the capability of an enemy to
incapacitate the 'Mech by targeting a specific location, each gauss rifle, the ER PPCs and
the Targeting Computer are all in separate locations. The "nose" of the torso was regarded
as ugly by the chief designers, so they flattened the torso. To accommodate for this change,
however, the design expanded in both girth and height - a fact not helped by the
"double-arms" which house the gauss rifles. The result of these changes was that the
Armageddon appeared nothing like an Annihilator, and as such is only classified as a variant
due to its underlying structure. In all references to this 'Mech, it is known as the
'Armageddon' - a stand-alone design which became one of the greatest triumphs of Lyran
Engineering.
In testing, however, this made a considerable difference to enemy Mechwarriors' ability to
target the 'Mech, so adjustments were made to compensate. Since the Annihilator which the
Armageddon is based on is notoriously slow, they could not easily increase the speed of the
'Mech to make it a more difficult target. Instead, they opted to make the 'Mech better able
to return fire at an assailant - by extending its torso rotation by a factor of 2 in both
directions through clever engineering. To help with its oversized figure the designers
decided to make the 'Mech a fire-support 'Mech able to deliver the crushing damage of the
original Annihilator at great range. What they produced was arguably the most capable
long-range, direct-fire Battlemech wielded by any Inner Sphere Military in existence at the
time of its first deployment and for many years after. This is due to its brand-new and
highly specialized targeting system (which was engineered with the aid of several Clan
Diamond Shark scientists loaned to the Lyran Alliance under the amicable relations between
the two factions following the trade agreement). This advanced system means Armageddon is
more accurate at longer ranges than most Battlemechs are at medium range; but does not gain
any further accuracy from becoming closer to the target (with it losing accuracy compared to
the average 'Mech at close range).
Because of the use of Clan-Tech, which was alien to many technicians in the Lyran Alliance
at the time of the 'Mech's initial production, the engineers put months into refining the
'Mech and making it as easy to repair or replace damaged parts of the 'Mech as possible. The
only aspect of the 'Mech which no-one has been able to solve yet is the ejection system,
which can sometimes be difficult to activate properly even during tests conducted far from
any battlefield. Most blame this on the Small Cockpit used by the design to free up weight
and space. As an afterthought, the designers made the Cockpit an armoured component, to
reduce the risk of harm to the pilot of the 'Mech. As should be obvious to anyone who has
seen the design in person, it is highly unsuitable for any sort of orbital drop, and can
only be deployed from space through the use of a dropship.
Capabilities:
The Armageddon has been manufactured to be highly specialized to aid in its role on the
battlefield. When the optional "Design Quirk Rules" are in use, this 'Mech possesses the
following quirks:
'Easy to Maintain' (-1 to all repair and replacement rolls); 'Extended Torso Twist (the
'Mech can twist its torso 2 hex-sides in either direction rather than the standard 1
hex-side range of rotation)'; 'Improved Targeting (-2 to-hit at Long Range)'; 'Difficult
Ejection (the Mechwarrior must make a piloting skill roll during an ejection to avoid taking
extra damage)'; 'Oversized (-1 to-hit against the Armageddon)'; 'Poor Targeting (+2 to-hit
at Short Range)'; 'Unstreamlined (the 'Mech acts as though it were a jump ship upon entering
an atmosphere from space)'.
The Armageddon has become a favourite choice among several Lyran Generals, due to its great
effectiveness in its designed purpose and relative cheapness. This 'Mech has a maximum
damage output equal to almost half as much damage again as the Fafnir FNR-5X's (arguably the
next-best 'Mech in the Armageddon's class) at range, while also having a superior reach
across the battlefield.
If the pilot of an Armageddon is gifted with a clear shot at an enemy 'Mech, then the
chances are there won't be anything left after a salvo hits. There is no 'Mech which can
withstand a direct hit from a targeted shot unleashed by the Armageddon. Through the use of
its Targeting Computer, a skilled Mechwarrior can deal up to 60 damage to the centre torso
of a 'Mech in one salvo. This is unprecedented in Inner Sphere Military History.
As such, the 'Mech should be used on open terrain when line-of-sight is not easily lost, but
the 'Mech can still be highly effective at defending chokepoints from a distance.
Despite this 'Mech's amazing capability, an Armageddon should not be used "out of its
depth". It is a specialized long-range 'Mech which struggles to defend itself in
close-quarter combat. As such, none have been used in the arenas of Solaris. Sadly for the
'Mech and its pilots, on several occasions, the Armageddon has been sent out into battle by
some of the vast array of inexperienced officials who flood the Lyran Alliance in less than
favourable terrain or against an enemy it is weak too. The limits of this 'Mech should NOT
be over-estimated or ignored in any situation where another option is possible. Once a lance
of enemy light 'Mechs close in on a lone Armageddon, there is nothing the pilot can do - no
matter how experienced he or she is. As such, during deployment against a force which
contains such lances (and even against medium 'Mechs and some of the faster heavies) a
lance of vehicles or lighter 'Mechs should be assigned to escort this invaluable 'Mech; thus
deterring and protecting against the main weakness of this Battlemech, allowing it to
dominate the field and crush the enemies of the Lyran Alliance.
Deployment:
Widespread deployment of the 'Mech began across the Lyran Alliance in mid-to-late 3086 and
increased to a peak level of about 500 active Armageddons at any one time across the Lyran
Commonwealth in the following two decades; during which the destruction of the 'Mech was
equalled by its production.
Some smaller units chose more independent assaults over the Armageddon, but any division or
militia of a decent size was more than happy to acquire an Armageddon for itself as the
'Mech became more widely known to units within the Lyran Alliance.
Due to the great value of the 'mech (and in part due to its tricky ejection system which
meant most pilots stayed in their cockpits longer than they intended to) none of the enemies
of the Lyran Alliance managed to get their hands on an Armageddon; as each and every one
which was defeated in battle was destroyed beyond repair. Still, enemy scientists were able
to pick at the veil of mystery and secrecy which covered the Armageddon by examining the few
partially intact corpses of the 'Mech found scattered across sites of Lyran defeat, which
only led to greater confusion: how exactly had the Lyran Alliance managed to gain access to
Clan Technology; AS WELL AS producing a 'Mech unmatched in its class by any Inner Sphere
'Mech?
Clan Diamond Shark kept its mouth shut about the secret trade agreement and continued to
anonymously supply the parts for the 'Mech for long after the mandatory treaty expired;
especially since one in every 200 'Mechs produced were sent to the Sharks at no cost, to
thank them for them sharing their technology which allowed the creation of this 'Mech in the
first place. However, they were kept as token pieces among the Clan and were never deployed
in combat for them.
When Clans Wolf, Hell's Horses and Jade Falcon simultaneously invaded the Lyran Commonwealth
in the late 3130s, Clan Sea Fox begged the Lyrans not to deploy any Armageddons against the
invading forces lest they uncover the two nations' secret. The Archon grudgingly agreed
during a secret meeting with a representative of the Khan, after the Sea Fox representative
promised to help supply the nation with materials post-invasion to replenish the losses of
industry and military that would occur as a result of the conflict.
Variants:
Due to the use of technology not made by the Lyrans, no production variants exist of this
design. Any 'Mech which is outfitted with non-standard parts is the result of a field refit;
and has only occurred due to the lack of the proper replacement parts.
Notable MechWarriors:
There are several veteran Mechwarriors who pilot the Armageddon to great success, but their
fame is restricted to the Lyran Alliance only. Due to its dependence on support from
friendly units against enemies which manage to close with the 'Mech, the elites of the Lyran
Militaries usually choose a more independent 'Mech to defeat the enemies of the state with.
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Equipment Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 10.00
Engine: 200 Fusion 8.50
Walking MP: 2
Running MP: 3
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks (Double): 17 [34] (C) 7.00
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit (Armored): Small 2.00
Armor Factor: 307 19.50
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 31 45
Center Torso (rear): 17
R/L Torso: 21 30
R/L Torso (rear): 12
R/L Arm: 17 34
R/L Leg: 21 42
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gauss Rifle (Ammo 16) (C) CT 2 2.00
Targeting Computer (C) RT 8 8.00
2 ER PPCs (C) LT 4 12.00
CASE II RA 1 1.00
Gauss Rifle (C) RA 6 12.00
Gauss Rifle (Ammo 8) (C) RA 1 1.00
CASE II LA 1 1.00
Gauss Rifle (C) LA 6 12.00
Gauss Rifle (Ammo 8) (C) LA 1 1.00
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