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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Banshee II
Designer:           master arminas
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  E
Tonnage:            95
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Star League / 2750
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Experimental
Total Cost:         11,190,790 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,834

Chassis:              Endo Steel
Power Plant:          380 Fusion
Walking Speed:        43.2 kph  
Maximum Speed:        64.8 kph  
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                Ferro-Fibrous with CASE
Armament:             
    1 ER PPC
    1 Ultra AC/5
    1 SRM 6 w/ Artemis IV FCS
    4 Medium Lasers
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown

================================================================================================
Overview:
    The Banshee II first walked off the Krupp production line on Terra on May 23, 2754.  The
    SLDF had selected the much-disliked white elephant to serve as an example of what the new
    technologies could do in the refits and upgrades of existing 'Mechs.  Impressing the SLDF
    examiners, they quickly placed an order for just under 500 of these 'Mechs--the first of
    what would become known as the 'Royal BattleMechs' of the Star League Defense Forces.

Capabilities:
    Lacking any signifigant firepower, the original Banshee was very much a failed 'Mech.  This
    new Banshee II sought to change that.  Endo-steel internal structure replaced the original
    'Mech skeleton, freeing 4.5 much needed tons for use on weapons.  Likewise, 14.5 tons of
    Ferro-Fibrous armor was used in place of the 15 tons of standard armor, giving both more
    protection to the design and saving another 0.5 tons.  The 14 single heat sinks were
    removed, and replaced with 10 of the brand new double-strength units, increased cooling
    capacity by over 50%, and saving yet another 4 tons.
    Turning to the weapons systems, the engineers did some of their best work.  First, they
    decided to install an Extended-Range PPC in the right torso--this new weapon increased the
    range by 28%, and did not feature a minimum range.  Next, the original AC-5 in the left
    torso was replaced with one of new Ultra AC-5s and two tons of ammunition.  The Ultra was a
    low-heat weapon that did the same amount of damage as the original, but could fire at the
    twice the rate.  Plus, range increased by over 11%.  CASE was provided in the left torso to
    protect the 'Mech from ammunition explosions.
    Using some of the available tonnage, the engineers next added a six-tube SRM launcher to the
    center torso, along with a ton of ammo (in the left torso, protected by CASE there) and an
    Artemis IV Fire-Control System mounted in the head.  Finally, almost as an afterthought,
    they added four medium lasers in two pairs to the arms of this mighty 'Mech.  The lasers did
    not require the removal of either hand actuator, allowing this Assault to keep the use of
    both hands.
    While many still considered the new Banshee II as undergunned compared to designs like the
    Atlas, for its speed and weight it was almost without parallel to anything before it.  In
    addition, this new upgrade cost just 11,331,191, a mere 1,799,363 over that of the original.

Deployment:
    Over 500 Banshee IIs had been produced by the time of the Coup in December of 2766.  These
    machines were assigned to the main line of battle of the SLDF, in conjunction with
    BattleMasters, Cyclops, Victors, Goliaths, and heavy 'Mechs, where they, along with the
    Cyclops II served as command machines.  Due to the new technologies, the Banshee II was
    assigned only to Royal Regiments, Brigades, and Divisions of the SLDF.  Because of that--and
    due to the fact that most of the surviving 'Mechs of this design left on the Exodus with
    General Kerensky--few people outside the SLDF ever even knew that such an advanced Banshee
    model had ever existed.
    Still, in hundreds of battles across scores of planets during the Liberation, the Banshee II
    proved itself time and again as much more than a white elephant.

Variants:
    With the Fall of the Star League and the Exodus, the Banshee II fell into the dustbins of
    history.  Or so it was thought.  ComStar retained the Krupp factories, and had restored them
    to working condition.  Along with the machinery to produce these 'Mechs were the schematics
    to program the automated systems.  While they decided not to place the 'Mech in production,
    Terra itself remains capable of doing so.

Notable MechWarriors:
    Colonel Gavin McLeod, commander of 472nd Royal Battle Regiment led the way for the 328th
    Royal BattleMech Division (the 'Golden Lions') during the ten-year long campaign to defeat
    the Usurper and liberate Terra.  Piloting his Banshee II ('Annabelle Lee') the entire time,
    he alone accounted for nearly one hundred Rim Worlds 'Mechs during the campaign.  When
    Kerensky departed on the Exodus, Colonel McLeod remained behind, along with his wife and
    children.  Years later, during Operation Silver Shield, Colonel McLeod died fighting against
    what was to become ComStar, feeling that they had betrayed the ideals of the Star League and
    the SLDF.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                         Endo Steel                 5.00                     
Engine:                                     380 Fusion                41.00                     
    Walking MP:                                 4                                               
    Running MP:                                 6                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         10 [20]                   0.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  4.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  260                    14.50                     
    Type:                                 Ferro-Fibrous                                         

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      30             38       
    Center Torso (rear):                               9       
    R/L Torso:                         20             28       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  8       
    R/L Arm:                           16             28       
    R/L Leg:                           20             38       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRM 6 w/ Artemis IV FCS                                   CT                2          3.00             
ER PPC                                                    RT                3          7.00             
CASE                                                      LT                1          0.50             
SRM 6 (Ammo 15)                                           LT                1          1.00             
Ultra AC/5                                                LT                5          9.00             
Ultra AC/5 (Ammo 40)                                      LT                2          2.00             
2 Medium Lasers                                           RA                2          2.00             
2 Medium Lasers                                           LA                2          2.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 46
TP: BM,  SZ: 4,  TMM: 1,  MV: 8"
Damage: (S) 3 / (M) 4 / (L) 2,  OV: 1
Armor (A): 9,  Structure (S): 8
Specials: CASE
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:46:23-04:00)