BattleTechnology #11 & #17
David Broussard
Mass: 100 tons
Chassis: Unknown
Power Plant: Vlar 300
Cruising Speed: 32 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: StarSlab
Armament:
2 PPCs
1 SRM 6
4 SRM 4s
6 Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: NAIS Mech Fabrication
Communications System: Tek BattleCom
Targeting and Tracking System: Wasat IBM
Type: TI-1D Titan
Mass: 100 tons
Chassis: NAIS-B
Power Plant: General Motors 300 XL
Cruising Speed: 32 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: Rawlings 550
Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor: Durallex Super Heavy II
Armament:
2 Defiance 1001 ER PPCs
6 Holly SRM 4s
7 Sutel Precision Line Medium Pulse Lasers
Manufacturer: NAIS Mech Fabrication
Communications System: Tek BattleCom
Targeting and Tracking System: Wasat IBM with Beagle Probe
Record Sheets: TI-1A Titan
TI-1B Titan II
TI-1J Titan
TI-1SS Titan "Suicide Special"
TI-1AD Titan
TI-1D Titan
TI-2D Titan
TI-1AG Titan
TI-1AJ Titan
The Titan 'Mech was found in the Star League depot on Galtor III. Because it was a new 'Mech design it was hushed up and sent to New Avalon where scientists spent four years testing and studying the design.
Apparently in the final months before the Star League collapsed, General Kerensky became dissatisfied with the Atlas. Once it was out of ammo, the Atlas had no more weaponry than a light 'Mech. To remedy this problem, Kerensky told his engineers to make an assault 'Mech with long and short range energy weapons. Several teams of engineers competed to design this 'Mech, which had been given the working name of 'Titan'. One team's answer was this, the TI-1A Titan. Other �Mechs by this name are known to exist, though manufacturers and serial numbers vary.
Their program had another month to go before the Titan would be fully operational, when the water used for drinking and cooling on the planetary construction site was poisoned, rumor has it by agents of House Kurita. The seven hundred deaths resulting killed all but one of the engineering team.
That last engineer, not wanting to see his dream go unfinished, downloaded all the information into a memory core and stored it in the Titan prototype. The several construction facilities now being considered by the NAIS each say that the information is complete enough to build 25-50 Titans per year. So far, 25-30 are known to exist.
Capabilities:
With a cruising speed of 32 kph and a flank speed of 54 kph the Titan is one of the slowest 'Mechs on the battlefield. Although General Kerensky wanted an all-energy assault 'Mech, the engineers went one step further.
First, they put 19 tons of armor on the Titan. This would ensure it could withstand even the heaviest of fire. Next they gave the 'Mech 22 heat sinks. While this permits a constant rate of fire, the pilot cannot fire all the 'Mech's weapons at once, or it will immediately shut down.
Second, they gave the Titan two PPCs, which gave it a greater potential damage curve than the Atlas, without requiring ammunition.
Third, the engineers gave it three medium lasers in each arm. These were intended to be fired at medium ranges along with the SRMs. The arm mountings ensure the lasers a broad field of fire.
Finally, for the coup de grace, they installed two SRM four-packs on the right and left torso, and an SRM six-pack in the center torso. This arrangement permitted firing all the SRM systems while engaging in hand to hand combat.
When General Kerensky was shown the designs, he was skeptical about the SRMs. The engineers were quick to point out that if the Titan did run out of ammunition, it still had two PPC's and six medium lasers. This armament outclassed even that of the famous BattleMaster. They also pointed out that the Titan's potential damage curve raises as the 'Mech gets closer to its target. This encourages the pilot to get into hand to hand combat as soon as possible.
Battle History:
Although the Titan is a newcomer to the battlefield, it has already made a name for itself.
On the Galtor raid, Major LeBrun of the 4th Crucis Lancers was given the important task of taking the Titan and three quick 'Mechs from his own company to make a run for the waiting DropShip. The only problem was that he had to go through one hundred plus kilometers of hills and swamp.
Major Le Brun chose a Phoenix Hawk, an Ostscout, and a modified Jenner without the SRM launcher, but with three more tons of armor.
During the journey to the DropShip, he stumbled upon a heavy company of the 8th Sword of Light who were trying to circle around and ambush his own battalion. Outnumbered, but with surprise and mobility on his side, he attacked.
Major LeBrun took the Titan in close for hand to hand combat where he killed an Awesome, a Marauder, and a pair of Riflemen. The Phoenix Hawk and the Jenner go two kills each. All four Lancers 'Mechs retired fully operational.
Of the Sword of Light 'Mechs, only two Catapults and a Thunderbolt survived. Major LeBrun was promoted to the rank of Colonel for his actions on Galtor III. He has been assigned to the Titan project now going on on New Avalon.
Variants:
There seem to be three variants of the Titan which are currently being studied. The first and probably the best moves one medium laser from each arm and relocates them to the right and left torso. This increases the firepower even more when the Titan engages in hand to hand combat. This variant known as the Titan II will probably be the one most used in the Federated Suns.
Another variant adds Rawlings 550 jump jets at the expense of the two SRM four-packs and two heat sinks. While it reduces firepower, it does add greater mobility.
The last variant downgrades the SRM six-pack to an SRM four-pack, splits the ammo for the SRM four-pack to 12 instead of 25 reloads, and adds an SRM two-pack inferno plus five tons of ammo. Opponents of this variant refer to it as a suicide special.
Notable MechWarriors:
Colonel David LeBrun
Because of his actions on Galtor III he received the first Titan II made by the NAIS team. A MechWarrior of over fifteen years standing, he has 46 confirmed kills and scores of assists. Rumor has it that his training time with the Titan II is completed, and that he will be back with his regiment in another month. Judging by the way he handled the 8th Sword of Light, he will be a force to be reckoned with.
That's right! It's back, and meaner than ever. With just a brief 6-month closure of the NAIS 'Mech Fabrication plant on New Avalon, the TI-1AD is being churned out in record numbers. While security is tight, one of our agents has reported that the plant produced at least 6 'Mechs last year, with a large portion going to the Federated Commonwealth regiments.
The major upgrades of the Titan are the twin Defiance 100T Particle Projection Cannons replacing the older Magna Hellstar PPCs. Also the Martel Medium Lasers were upgraded to Sutel Precision Line Medium Pulse Lasers, and to protect the pilot of the Titan further, it now carries the reliable CASE in both the left and right torsos.
To upgrade its weaponry the Titan drops seven heat sinks. However, it employs the technology of double sinks to improve its heat dissipation and to compensate for the additional heat buildup of the new weapons.
Battle History:
The Titan has had an illustrious career despite being only 20 years old. Its ferocity and raw firepower are unequalled on the battlefield.
One example was the battle for Quentin in 3039. An assault lance of Titans were en route to the battlefront when a Kurita Company surprised them and opened fire. One Titan burst into a ball of flame as the rear armor was breached and the SRM ammo detonated.
Realizing her situation, Lt. Deneice Wages radioed to headquarters for reinforcements and engaged the invaders. The battle lasted five minutes. When reinforcement arrived all that remained was Lt. Wages' Titan. Out of ammo and missing its left arm, it was fighting a Panther and the Kuritan Commander's BattleMaster.
With a dual blast of PPC fire from the Titan, the Panther exploded as the engine went supernova. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, the BattleMaster pilot gave a salute and retreated from the field.
For her actions, Lt. Wages was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann. She retired at that rank three years later. This battle did not affect the outcome of the war for the planet: Kuritan forces pushed the Federated Commonwealth off the planet two weeks later. What the battle did prove beyond a doubt was the Titan's durability. That three Titans going head to head with a Kurita company lasted for half an hour, with one surviving, is nothing short of a miracle.
Of the 400 plus Titans which have been produced, slightly more than 100 are the new Titan-1Ds. The Titan is mostly concentrated in the Federated Commonwealth regiments. They are used as command "Mechs. In most regiments they are assembled in assault lances, the average frequency being one such assault lance per battalion. The other Titans are scattered between the Lyran Guard and the Crucis Lancers.
Variants:
The only variant of the new Titan is the substitution of a Guardian ECM for the Beagle Probe. Due to the modular nature of these systems, the substitution takes eight hours.
The older TI-1A Titans have in some cases been upgraded with Star League technology. Dropping six heat sinks and the SRM6, one model adds Rawlings 550 Jump Jets, a medium laser, CASE in both torsos, an SRM4, and a upgrade of the PPCs to Extended Range PPCs. The other model drops the same weapons but adds an SRM4, CASE, and a third PPC. Both of these models replace the remaining heat sinks with freezer type double heat sinks.
Notable MechWarriors:
Hauptmann Dean Martin
Assigned to the 3rd Crucis Lancers, he was one of the first to receive Titan-1D. While he mourned the loss of his Victor, he realizes that the Titan is clearly superior. Using this superiority, he was the first to perform a Death From Above attack with the Titan. The facts that the opponent was a Kuritan Sho-sa, and that the attack was captured on camera, made the kill all the more spectacular.
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