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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Gae Bolg ((Perrin42's Mech)) GBL-1SW
Designer:           The Grand Poobah
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  E
Tonnage:            60
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Civil War / 3067
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         8,611,200 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,320

Chassis:              Royalstar ATE Endo Steel
Power Plant:          VOX-LE 240 Light Fusion
Walking Speed:        43.2 kph  
Maximum Speed:        64.8 kph  
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                ArcShield Maxi with CASE
Armament:             
    1 Lord's Light 2 ER PPC
    1 Mydron Excel 5SG LB 5-X AC
    5 Delta Dart LRM 5s
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       CeresCom Model 21-Rs
Targeting & Tracking: FireScan with IndirecTrack

================================================================================================
Overview:
    Flushed with the success of their Dragonfire design, JB BattleMechs of Storfors branched out
    into supplying other heavy 'Mechs to the Lyran Alliance and Draconis Combine. Whereas the
    Dragonfire had been based on the Marauder chassis, JB chose to base their new designs on a
    Clan second-line design captured in some numbers during Operation Bulldog - the Corvis. They
    regarded the design more than the Clanners who had built it, or even those who had fought in
    it. The resulting design - the Gae Bolg, named after the harpoon of Cuchulainn, a legendary
    Celtic warrior - was submitted to both the LAAF & DCMS as a mobile fire-support 'Mech.

Capabilities:
    The JB team comprehensively analyzed the Corvis examples they had obtained, and identified
    several key features: digitigrade legs for stability and terrain-crossing ability, a wide
    slung torso providing ample room for equipment, and easy maintenance, and a
    forward-positioned cockpit for improved visibility. They improved on the Corvis layout by
    bringing the cockpit up to the top of the chassis, providing superior range of vision for
    the pilot. The roomy torso also allowed easy integration with the endo-steel chassis.
    Finally, JB were lucky enough to obtain permission to use the newly-developed Light Fusion
    Engine, with a 240-rated LFE giving a top speed of around 60 kph. 9 tons of Arcshield Maxi I
    armor provides median levels of protection for a 'Mech of this weight.
    
    Three main long-range weapons were selected for the Gae Bolg - an extended-range PPC, long
    range missiles and an LB-5X autocannon. All of the weapons tracked out over 600m, and
    provided a mix of direct and indirect fire, and also of concentrated or dispersed damage.
    Deployment of the ER PPC and LB-5X in alternate torsos proved quite conventional. The
    configuration of LRM launchers did not.
    
    Rather than fitting a single large launcher, JB's engineers distributed five smaller
    launchers across the 'Mech - two in each arm, and one in the center torso. Four tons of
    ammunition - two in each arm - provided each launcher with an average of almost 20 shots
    each. This allows the launchers to survive battle damage better, as a lucky shot is less
    likely to take out as large a portion of its armament. It also allows it better conservation
    of ammo by giving the pilot more options to fire smaller salvos. Between this, and the large
    amount of ammunition carried for both the LRMs and for the LB-5X autocannon (40 rounds), the
    Gae Bolg is capable of maintaining its effectiveness in prolonged actions, even with
    ammunition-dependent systems - and the ER PPC ensures that the Gae Bolg will never be
    totally inoffensive, even when its ammunition runs dry.

Deployment:
    Significant numbers of Gae Bolgs have been deployed along the Lyran - Jade Falcon border.
    Usually, Gae Bolgs are not concentrated into fire lances. Instead, they are deployed in ones
    or twos per company - providing long-range firepower for either a conventional heavy lance
    such as a command lance, or as backup for specialized short-range brawlers such as
    Hunchbacks. The LB-5X autocannon can also be used to fire anti-aircraft flak rounds;
    however, vertical traverse is somewhat limited by the placement of the weapon in the 'Mechs'
    torso. Despite this, the FireScan tracking system has proven its worth against VTOLs on
    numerous occasions.
    
    Two main criticisms are levelled at the design - it is not fast, and it is not heavily
    armored. The second of these is more of a problem, given usual Lyran preferences. However,
    the Gae Bolg's defenders have but to point out that it is not meant to engage in common
    brawling - its job is fire support. The design's speed, and lack of jump-jets, would be more
    of a liability outside the LAAF - but as yet, no units have been seen outside LAAF line
    regiments.

Variants:
    JB BattleMechs is rumored to be working on additional variants based on the same chassis -
    one a heavily-armed and -armored brawler version, and one intended for export. More details
    will be released as they come to hand.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                         Endo Steel                 3.00                     
Engine:                                  240 Light Fusion              9.00                     
    Walking MP:                                 4                                               
    Running MP:                                 6                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         11 [22]                   1.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  144                     9.00                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      20             19       
    Center Torso (rear):                               8       
    R/L Torso:                         14             14       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  6       
    R/L Arm:                           10             14       
    R/L Leg:                           14             20       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM 5                                                     CT                1          2.00             
CASE                                                      RT                1          0.50             
ER PPC                                                    RT                3          7.00             
LRM 5                                                     RT                1          2.00             
LRM 5 (Ammo 96)                                           RT                4          4.00             
CASE                                                      LT                1          0.50             
LB 5-X AC                                                 LT                5          8.00             
LB 5-X AC (Ammo 40)                                       LT                2          2.00             
LRM 5                                                     LT                1          2.00             
LRM 5                                                     RA                1          2.00             
LRM 5                                                     LA                1          2.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 29
TP: BM,  SZ: 3,  TMM: 1,  MV: 8"
Damage: (S) 2 / (M) 3 / (L) 3,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 5,  Structure (S): 3
Specials: CASE, FLK0*/0*/0*, IF1, LRM1/1/1
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:46:23-04:00)