FM: Homebrew LAC-AMS (TAAMS)

LAC-AMS (TAAMS)

Field Manual: Homebrew

Introduction

Low Caliber Light AutoCannons retooled to work as an extended range AMS unit capable of providing zones of coverage. Ideal to protect expensive hitech mechs from in coming salvos.

By: Mike Miller

Lore

After excitedly hitting upon the idea of an AC/5 or AC/2 someone would use in this era of ultra-tech weaponry and developing the LAC/2 and LAC/5, the researchers at NAIS were disappointed to see their creations sit untouched, unused, unwanted, on warehouse shelves. It was as if field commanders thought the light autocannons weren't worth the metal they were made from.

With proposals for next year's budget coming due, the researchers didn't want to lose their funding so they hurriedly slapped together a new use for the LAC's: the TAAMS, or Tactical Area Anti-Missile System. Rather than burdening individual mechs with a low-capacity or high-heat AMS, the TAAMS would allow a unit to designate a single mech as an anti-missile platform.

Though the prospect of dedicating a single mech or vehicle to a reactive, defensive role seemed questionable, the 3060s were an era when medium mechs frequently cost more than assault mechs 3 decades earlier. What was the expense of a dedicated anti-missile platform against that?

The TAAMS evolved quickly out of a hybrid of a LAC/5 and a streamlined Beagle Active Probe dedicated to tracking missiles. The resulting combination predictably grew in weight and size, and the BAP made it expensive. Range fell further as the ammunition was optimized for destroying flights of missiles with large, proximity-fused warheads. Despite a trade off of propellent for explosive, the shells grew until the TAAMS received half as many shots per ton as its LAC/5 ancestor.

This did have the benefit of making the TAAMS a vicious anti-infantry weapon, though the lightweight shrapnel was useless against battlearmor and heavier opponents.

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Credits

Rules

TAAMS (Tactical Area Anti-Missile System)
Weight: 6 tons
Heat: 1
Criticals: 3
Range:
Short: 3
Medium: 6
Long: 9
Ammo: 10 shots/ton
Cost: 400,000 cbills

Notes:
Inflicts 2d6x2 damage against missile swarms targeted at the mounting unit, 3d6 vs missile swarms fired at targets within its short range, 2d6 vs swarms in medium range, and 1d6 vs swarms in long range. It can be used against infantry at extreme range but not missiles. Each salvo only uses 1 shot of the 10 per ton - the big, bursting shells are much more effective against missiles than small standard AMS bullets.

Can only engage missiles from 1 attacker per turn - beware of multiple attackers using missiles. Can only engage missiles swarms in the arc it faces, favoring mounting in arms and turrets.