BattleMech Technical Readout

Type/Model:    Cerberus MR-7M
Tech:          Inner Sphere / 3060
Config:        Biped BattleMech
Rules:         Level 2, Custom design

Mass:          95 tons
Chassis:       Albat-50 Endo Steel
Power Plant:   285 GM Fusion
Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets:     3 Lexington Lifters Standard Jump Jets
Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor Type:    Aldis Heavy Standard
Armament:      
  1 Defiance 1001 ER PPC
  4 Diverse Optics Type ER Medium Lasers
  1 Grizzard Model 200 Gauss Rifle
  4 Blankenburg Medium Pulse Lasers
  1 Diverse Optics Type 10 Small Laser
  1 McArthur II Anti-Missile System
Manufacturer:  LexaTech Industries
  Location:    Hun Ho
Communications System:  O/P 3000 OSJ
Targeting & Tracking System:  O/P PulseTrack III

==Overview:==
     Similar in shape to the Star League King Crab, the Cerberus is the product
of more than a year's worth of engineering efforts by LexaTech's designers.
Flattened thin, its profile makes it difficult to target compared to other 
assault 'Mechs. The Cerberus's legs and lower torso resemble those of a 
Vulture, providing a strong and steady firing platform. Its firepower has made
it a formidable opponent against both Clan and Inner Sphere foes.

==Capabilities:==
      Firepower was to be the key to the success of the Cerberus as a front-line BattleMech.
For long- and medium-range attacks, it is equipped with two Grizzard Gauss rifles. Though
these costly components are in limited supply in the Free Worlds League, they carry a
significant wallop in a firefight. With several well-placed long-range shots, a Cerberus can 
all but cripple a Clan or Inner Sphere opponent before taking any significant damage, at 
least in theory.
     The combination of light armor and a vulnerable Extra Light Fusion Engine creates a 
unit with a very low ability to absorb damage in combat. When this is coupled with cluttered 
terrain and a veteran opponent this handicap proves devastating. In these situations the 
Cerberus is not able to weaken an opponent as they close. This effectively neutralizing any 
advantage and allows experienced warriors to pick apart a potentially grand assault mech. 
Because of this designers at LexaTech scrambled to correct these oversights, brutally 
learned on the field of combat.
     There first task was to replace the vulnerable Extra Light Fusion Engine with a less 
powerful less vulnerable Conventional Fusion Engine and then adjusting for the increased 
weight and decreased engine output. The decision was to make the internal structure out of 
Endo-Steel instead of conventional metals dropping the structures mass by 50% and recovering 
all mass lost by the engine switch. They next compensated the loss of engine output by 
including jump jets mounted on the rear underside. Thou there addition decreased available 
mass for weapons it returned to the unit the maneuverability lost in the engine exchange.
     In addition to these changes LexaTech dropped the Ferro-Fibrous Armor for more 
conventional protection while increasing overall protection ratings by upping total armor to 
theoretical maximums. Lastly in attempts to maximize unit survival LexaTech included CASE in 
both torsos. This Allows for the critical failure of ammo bins without the loss of the unit 
a feature lacking in the first models. All these modifications thou expensive have allowed 
for a more survivable unit. With a plus of increasing overall weapons load in the end.
     Two variants exist of this redesigned Cerberus each with a different weapon load out. 
The first has a weapons load out similar to the 5M with the pairing of a Gauss and ERPPC as 
primary weapons. This variant also retains the paired chest mounted pulse lasers, yet it 
replaces the arm mounted pulse laser for a pair of ER Medium Lasers. Also the rear mounted 
Machine Guns are switched out for ER Medium Lasers and an additional small laser is mounted 
centerline. The design retains its head mounted AMS and moves the ammo bin from the Center 
Torso to the CASE protected Right Torso and triples the amount of ammunition. The only back 
draw it seems with this layout is the sharp increase in high output energy weapons which 
will quickly tax the slightly reduced heat venting system.
     The second variant resembles the V2 variant of the Cerberus. Mounting twin Gauss Rifles 
as the primary weapons. Still a deadly combination, but this time backed by endurance. The 
thickened armor and conventional engine will improve the odds of pilots running out of 
reloads, instead of dieing with rounds in the guns. To further improve on the deficiencies 
of the Gauss, LexaTech decided on four torsos mounted ER Medium Lasers over Medium Pulse 
Lasers. Figuring the increased range should decrease the likely hood of in fighting. Again 
the AMS was retained and its ammo moved, but unlike the first version the ammo load remains 
the same. One problem incurred was where to place the Right Arm Gauss' ammo. Do to space 
limitations the bins were placed in the adjoining torso and a moderately complex ammo feed 
was routed thru the shoulder.
     It will not be surprising to find original Cerberus's phased out in favor of this 
re-engineered version.

==Deployment==
     The first run of Cerberuses has already been distributed throughout the
Inner Sphere, and more are on the way. This powerful new redesign will again
easily become a front-line favorite.

--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Cerberus MR-7M
Mass:          95 tons

Equipment:                                 Crits    Mass
Int. Struct.:  145 pts Endo Steel           14      5.00
 (Endo Steel Loc: 2 RA, 4 LT, 4 RT, 2 LL, 2 RL)
Engine:        285                           6     16.50
   Walking MP:   3
   Running MP:   5
   Jumping MP:   3
Heat Sinks:     12 Double [24]               3      2.00
 (Heat Sink Loc: 1 LT)
Gyro:                                        4      3.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors:                5      3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA+LA    R: Sh+UA+LA       14       .00
Armor Factor:  293 pts Standard              0     18.50

                          Internal    Armor
                          Structure   Value
   Head:                      3          9      
   Center Torso:             30         45      
   Center Torso (Rear):                 15      
   L/R Side Torso:           20      30/30      
   L/R Side Torso (Rear):            10/10      
   L/R Arm:                  16      32/32      
   L/R Leg:                  20      40/40      

Weapons and Equipment    Loc  Heat  Ammo   Crits    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 ER PPC                 RA     15           3      7.00
2 ER Medium Lasers       RA     10           2      2.00
1 Gauss Rifle            LA      1   16      9     17.00
  (Ammo Locations: 2 LA)
1 ER Medium Laser        RT(R)   5           1      1.00
2 Medium Pulse Lasers    RT      8           2      4.00
1 ER Medium Laser        LT(R)   5           1      1.00
2 Medium Pulse Lasers    LT      8           2      4.00
1 Small Laser            CT      1           1       .50
1 Anti-Missile System    HD      1   36      4      3.50
  (Ammo Locations: 3 RT)
CASE Equipment:          LT     RT           2      1.00
3 Standard Jump Jets:                        3      6.00
 (Jump Jet Loc: 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 CT)
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                         54          76     95.00
Crits & Tons Left:                           2       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        10,583,138 C-Bills
Battle Value:      2,064
Cost per BV:       5,127.49
Weapon Value:      2,074 / 2,074 (Ratio = 1.00 / 1.00)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 31;  MRDmg = 19;  LRDmg = 11
BattleForce2:      MP: 3J,  Armor/Structure: 7/7
                   Damage PB/M/L: 5/3/1,  Overheat: 3
                   Class: MA;  Point Value: 21