BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Bullfrog BLF-4G
Designer: Archilochus
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 35
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Star League / 2750
Rules (Current): Standard
Rules (Era): Standard
Rules (Year): Standard
Total Cost: 2,552,535 C-Bills
Battle Value: 780
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 140 Fusion
Walking Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Jump Jets: Standard
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: Standard
Armament:
1 SRM 6
3 Medium Pulse Lasers
1 Flamer
2 Machine Guns
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown
================================================================================================
Overview:
When one examines the Star League Quartermaster Corps archives, one is struck by how
different battlemech development and production was 300 years ago. The Successor States now
rush any design that they can into production. But during the golden age of the Star
League, the selection process was nothing short of darwinian. Numerous examples of designs
that later Successor Lords would have traded their own eyes to have were discarded in the
competition for contracts. Notable examples include the Kurgan which was defeated by the
Highlander or the Jackhammer which lost to the Thug. While most of these designs were
relegated to the dustbin, Corean Enterprise's Bullfrog got the rare chance to redeem itself
Capabilities:
An urban combat mech, the Bullfrog was passed over in favor of the Maltex Corporation's
Wyvern in 2660. There were a myriad of reasons why the SLDF favored Maltex's Mech. If the
Wyvern, with its mix of sleek lines, tested weaponry and anti-mech capabilities was a
product of SLDF thinking, the Bullfrog was its antithesis.
When advanced engineering had produced sleek designs as the Mercury and the Lancelot, the
Bullfrog has the distinction of being one of the ugliest mechs ever created. But it was
not engineered with aesthetics in mind. Rigel Thompson's, its chief designer, father had
fought in the brutal combat of the Reunification Wars. His father had been severly wounded
when his unit, the Third Terran Corps, had been decimated in the Taurian Concordat. Hence,
the Bullfrog was designed for maximum efficiency The stooped and hunchbacked frame gave it
lower profile, allowing it to easily take cover where other 'mechs could not.
Its mix of weaponry was chosen for a city setting. Thompson's team was ahead of their time
when they incorporated the Rakell-V Medium Pulse Lasers into the Bullfrog. Despite their
accuracy and firepower, SLDF planners had serious reservations about pulse based laser
systems, citing their shorter ranges, higher heat and higher weight. When the Rakell-Vs
melted their own casing during early tests of the 2A model, its critics considered
themselves to be vindicated. Although a switch to double-strength heat sinks solved this
issue, the SLDF had already made up their mind. While its detractors couldn't complain
much about the efficient Arrowlite SRM 6 system, they came close to openly mocking its
battery of "outmoded" Sperry Browing machine guns and its "antiquated" Zippo flamer. In
hindsight, the Review Board missed the forest for the trees. The machine guns, flamer,
missiles, and lasers made the Bullfrog a ferocious city figher, capable of handily defending
against or attacking mechs, infantry and vehicles.
Deployment:
Ultimately, the SLDF passed over the Bullfrog in favor of the Wyvern. Unlike less fortunate
designs, the Bullfrog was saved by a twist of fate. The First lord of the Federated Suns of
the time, Zane Davion, had made large private investments in Corean Enterprises. When he
passed away in 2659, his daughter, Sarah, decided to make the best of his questionable
investments. She authorized her generals to quietly purchase limited runs of the 'mechs to
shore up her house army. The Star League could not complain, after all, if she chose to arm
her warriors with a substandard mech.
The Bullfrog served with modest distinction in the century or so of service with the AFFS.
It wasn't until the Amaris Coup, however, that the 'mech redeemed itself in history.
Amongst the volunteers which rallied to Kerensky's cause was one crack urban combat unit,
which consisted of former AFFS 'mechwarriors. "The Leapin" Frogs were equipped with
Bullfrogs. History is mum whether they were truly volunteers or clandestinely sent by John
Davion to aid his old friend Kerensky. The "Leapin Frogs" proved their worth in battle
after battle, proving the detractors wrong, able to fight mechs, infantry and vehicles
equally well. In an irony that would not have been lost on Thompson and his team, Bullfrogs
out-performed Wyverns when they fought together.
[ Editor: Unfortuntately the campaign to win Terra back would prove the Bullfrogs last
hurrah. The Corean Enterprise Bullfrog assembly line was bombed into oblivion during the
early campaigns of the First Succession War.]
Variants:
Few major variants were ever produced. Some removed the machine guns or flamer in favor of
more armor. Records tell us that prior to it's destruction in the Succession Wars, that
designers had considered incorporating CASE technology. It is difficult to tell whether any
such CASE mechs were produced.
Notable MechWarriors:
1st Lieutant Jeremiah Connor
The Frogger
Jeremiah was the leader of the all volunteer "Leapin' Frogs." A former AFFS officer, he
"retired" to join Kerensky's forces. He and his men fought alongside Gen. De Chevilier's
men in Task Force: Sun. He and mech, Frogger, quickly proved their worth to the SLDF
regulars. He and his men were vital to the liberation of Moscow.
================================================================================================
Equipment Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 3.50
Engine: 140 Fusion 5.00
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 4
Heat Sinks (Double): 10 [20] 0.00
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 112 7.00
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 11 15
Center Torso (rear): 4
R/L Torso: 8 13
R/L Torso (rear): 3
R/L Arm: 6 12
R/L Leg: 8 14
================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun CT (R) 1 0.50
2 Jump Jets RT 2 1.00
SRM 6 RT 2 3.00
SRM 6 (Ammo 15) RT 1 1.00
2 Jump Jets LT 2 1.00
Machine Gun (Ammo 100) LT 1 0.50
3 Medium Pulse Lasers RA 3 6.00
Flamer LA 1 1.00
Machine Gun LA 1 0.50
================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 24
TP: BM, SZ: 1, TMM: 1, MV: 8"j
Damage: (S) 4 / (M) 3 / (L) 0, OV: 0
Armor (A): 4, Structure (S): 3
Specials: REAR0*/-/-
Distribution
Name/Model: Bullfrog BLF-4G
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 35
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. Hand Actuator 4. Roll Again 4. Hand Actuator
5. Flamer 5. Sensors 5. Medium Pulse Laser
6. Machine Gun 6. Life Support 6. Medium Pulse Laser
1. Roll Again 1. Medium Pulse Laser
2. Roll Again 2. Roll Again
3. Roll Again 3. Roll Again
4. Roll Again 4.Double Heat Sink
5. Roll Again 5.Double Heat Sink
6. Roll Again 6.Double Heat Sink
Left TorsoCenter TorsoRight Torso
1.Double Heat Sink 1. Fusion Engine 1.Double Heat Sink
2.Double Heat Sink 2. Fusion Engine 2.Double Heat Sink
3.Double Heat Sink 3. Fusion Engine 3.Double Heat Sink
4. Machine Gun (Ammo 100) 4. Gyro 4.SRM 6
5. Jump Jet 5. Gyro 5.SRM 6
6. Jump Jet 6. Gyro 6. SRM 6 (Ammo 15)
1.Double Heat Sink 1. Gyro 1. Roll Again
2.Double Heat Sink 2. Fusion Engine 2. Jump Jet
3.Double Heat Sink 3. Fusion Engine 3. Jump Jet
4. Roll Again 4. Fusion Engine 4.Double Heat Sink
5. Roll Again 5. Machine Gun (R) 5.Double Heat Sink
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again 6.Double Heat Sink
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. Roll Again 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
2.00
Comment:
I think this is below-average, and if I were on a Star League procurement board, I'd pass this by as well. Its slow, and even city-fighters need at least one medium to long range weapon it if it slow. I've fought enough urban battles to know that its not all close-combat brawling; 'mechs in a city can easily get involved in fire-fights across open expanses of parkland or up and down long boulevards. Without the speed of a flanker, this 'mech could easily get pinned down in that kind of exchange.
I also don't like the weapon placement. The right fire arc has a lot of firepower, but on the left side, this 'mech only has a machine gun and a flamer to defend itself with. In close quarters a faster opponent could easily keep out of the way of that pulse laser bank, rendering this 'mech's most effective weapon useless.
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Member Review - CO_17thRecon : 23-Jan-2008 12:57
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
4.50
Comment:
My friend, I congratulate you on a fine 'Mech design. I am very impressed with this, and will be adding it to my games. It makes a good companion for other city defenders, like the UrbanMech, Highlander and Wyvern. The low cost components (only a smattering of SL tech is used after all) make the 'Mech attractive to garrison forces. The only complaint I have is the lack of case. Perhaps a jump jet could be removed for it? Or among the more affluent customers, simply add ferro-fibrous to make up the difference.
Also, I applaud the use of the Machine Guns over the Small Pulse Laser in this instance. Rubber bullets combined with tear gas SRMs could make this a very nice riot control machine. It's even got hands for those sticky close combat situations. Bravo.
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Member Review - Sleeping Dragon : 23-Jan-2008 09:36
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
4.50
Comment:
A well crafted machine that will do what it was designed for without any serious problems. The lack of long ranged firepower and low speed prevent the Bullfrog from being able to fight effectively while not in it's chosen environment. I'd avoid putting all the lasers in single location, but there is enough armour to keep the 'Mach safe from lucky hits and the DHS can catch some crits as well. Well done!
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"Either war is obsolete or men are." - R. Buckminster Fuller
Double Heat Sink
5. Roll Again 5.
Double Heat Sink
6. Roll Again 6.
Double Heat Sink
Left Torso Center Torso Right Torso
1.
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