Truly, this design is a true mainstay of Operation Revival and has a myth about it that is only equalled by very few designs. It was a photo of this �Mech that was the Inner Sphere�s public�s first glimpse of the Clan menace (as published on the front page of excellent news magazine BattleTechnology). All MechWarrior simulations since Operation Revival featured it in some sort of exposed role [being an intro-film design of MW2-GBL, MW3 and MW4, featuring a victim, a hero and a tragic hero respectively]. Possibly, its menacing visual features are in part responsible for this larger-than-life perception. But realistically, the tale of the Mad Dog is one of being an extremely widely spread OmniMech � as such, it was likely present in each and every forceful conquest that Operation Revival brought to the Inner Sphere. It richly deserves its bilingual code name!
Possibly the most successful OmniMech of 3rd generation, the design was created by Clan Smoke Jaguar as a calculated double insult at Clan Wolf � in name and in shape (blatantly stealing from the infamous Timber Wolf). The Smoke Jaguars did not share the reluctance to spread their design � the proliferation of the Mad Dog must have been fantastic. Clan Ghost Bear gave up their own 2nd generation Omni (that was in turn developed by Clan Blood Spirit to result in the Stooping Hawk) when acquiring the Mad Dog and to this day are one of the most frequent users, the Inner Sphere Bergan plant now even manufacturing it with new moulds [the resulting look being that of MW4/AOD]. Clan Hell�s Horses also uses this machine explicitly, illustrating that the Mad Dog was truly spread to all sides of conflicts. Every Clan will have a fair portion of these, to the point of TRO: 3050 Upgrade not being able to name a single primary manufacturer!
A reason for its huge popularity and widespread use may be its size. At 60 tons, it occupies one of the most popular � if not necessarily efficient � weight slots out there. Indeed, the author of the original Mad Dog MotW article stated that �The Mad Dog weighs in at 60 tons, which some would say is one strike against it right from the start. The 60 ton weight class has relatively few 'mechs overall [edit: not when looking the pre-unseen 3025] and the ones that it does have are rarely remarkable in any positive way.� But to accede to that statement would be to disqualify the 60 tonners on a whole. And while the Inner Sphere can present �Mechs of that weight in dozens (not all of which are unremarkable), the Mad Dog is, in fact, the only 60-ton OmniMechs that can be fielded by the Clans.
Like all other heavy Omnis of its era, the Mad Dog moves at a speed of 5/8. Weighing in at the bottom of the heavy weight class, this speed is probably considered minimum for its size, anyway. The 300-rated engine allows for two additional heat sinks to be fixed on the Omni chassis. This fills the engine and only results in 2 tons of pod space to be possibly wasted � little enough, even for the people who love to retain maximum freedom in their designs (though the Mad Dog does actually feature two configurations that are effectively oversinked).
The armour of the Mad Dog has always been considered its weak point. Indeed, in one of my first discussions on the net, a good 10 years ago on the weakness of the Hellbringer, someone mentioned it as �everyone�s other favourite dissection job�! It carries 8.5 tons of Clan Ferro Fibrous armour, 163 points, or the equivalent of slightly more than 10 tons of standard armour. Many would agree that this is not sufficient for a �Mech its size. But for once, I would like to go back in time a little bit (usually I will not � a design should have timeless merits). There were 5-6 standard �Mechs around in 3025 (depending on whether or not you would include the Champion).
Question: Which one carried the heaviest armour? Answer: the Dragon
Follow-up question: how much armour did it have? Answer: 10 tons
As such, the Mad Dog arrived in the Inner Sphere being at least as fast as its contemporaries while roughly carrying the armament of two of its opposite numbers (not including the fact that the weapons, of course, were much superior).
In today�s context, the Mad Dog ranks somewhat towards the bottom of acceptable. It is not a second Hellbringer. It mounts a ton less than the heavier Ebon Jaguar and Summoner OmniMechs � which, while not renowned for great toughness, are definitely not considered gravely under-armoured.
The distribution is quite smart: the Mad Dog observes certain thresholds quite well, and actually retains an aesthetic symmetry that has few equals!
So we have a Clan OmniMech moderate weight featuring unremarkable, yet adequate speed, heat dissipation capacity and armour protection. Yet this package allows a MechWarrior to bring an incredible 28 tons of weaponry to the battlefield. Only 3 other OmniMechs in 3050 mounted more (and the Hellbringer should be discounted amongst that, for only mounting a half ton more yet truly failing at protecting its pilot). The basic set up of the chassis points towards a support role, something that it was only surpassed at by the later 4/6-moving Omnis. (And, in terms of pod-space, the Ebon Jaguar. Which is strange, because that �Mech was an invention of the same Clan. But then, most of that �Mech�s configurations are not exactly geared at *support*.)
The support parameter is fully explored: the Mad Dog comes in two basic lay outs that both cause much more damage than the 'Mech could take itself. Either it mounts large missile racks in cavernous torso bays and supports them with lasers in turret-like arms, or it drops the torso bays completely to mount huge gauss cannons. Let us look at the world of hurt which the configurations could provide in turn:
Primary Configuration � 2 LRM20 (12), 2 LPL, 2 MPL. This platform is the primary configuration for a good reason: it offers very heavy firepower and surprising flexibility. The LRMs may be underfed with ammunition, but the back-up laser complement is very impressive in its own right. When first being introduced to Clan OmniMechs, my sibkin and I agreed: �This is better than a Timber Wolf. It has the same missiles and better lasers!� Never mind the discrepancies in armour and heat dissipation. Every single one of its weapons is a good one, despite the fact that all are limited either by short endurance or high heat.
The way this machine works out allows one to draw a *very* strange parallel to a �Mech that, at first glance, has nothing in common apart from the weight. This, in a way, is the Rifleman -3N of the Clan Omnis. Bear with me and put them both into their correct, corresponding time/space frames. In comparison to their contemporaries, they both mount armour on the low(er) border of acceptable. And both mount huge weapon packages that completely overtax their heat sinks. But the parallel goes on: both mount 6 systems, 2 large ammunition-based weapons (the primary long-range weapons) with severely limited endurance, 2 large lasers, 2 medium lasers. And through that parallel we learn: both can fire their ammunition weapons and 1 large laser without building up heat. In a strange way, the endurance and heat problems cancel out each other: as soon as the limited ammunition is gone, overheating with the laser complement will at least not cause any explosions and is as such a more viable tactic.
Of course, the reason for the Mad Dog never being a pariah such as the Rifleman is obvious in its profile differences. Unlike the ancient design, it retains a very acceptable speed in line with its contemporaries and the lasers are both more advanced and more liberally useable due to the vital utilisation of double heat sink technology.
[I now promise not to ramble on as unashamedly for any of the following configurations.]
Configuration A � ERPPC, LB5X (40), 6 SRM6 (60). I cannot judge this configuration very well, for a single reason: this is not only easily my favourite Mad Dog configuration; it is also one of my top-5 Clan rides of all time. It becomes a close combat monster, yet not exclusively so: the ERPPC and medium LB-X AC provide respectable firepower at very long ranges. Due to the clearly defined ranges of the different weapon groups � as well as the fact that the 6 SRM launchers generate exactly as much heat as the Mad Dog A can sink � it is the most pure-bred bracket-firer the Clans can field. And while I could wax poetic about the elegance of such a set-up, the resulting drop in bidding value speaks for itself: in BV1 it was cheaper than any other configuration by several hundred points; even in the more realistic BV2 environment, this is still the cheapest missile carrying Mad Dog (beaten only by the C configuration).
Configuration B � LRM20/artIV (6), 2 SSRM6 (15), 2 ERLL, 3 MPL. In stark contrast to the first two configurations, I am not very fond of this one, a direct combination of both. At first I was introduced to this Mad Dog as a good ride for beginners, being able to cover all eventualities with its balanced weaponry. Yet the more I started to appreciate the first two designs, the less I like this one. For one, its rationale is flawed: to combine the long-range capabilities of the Prime with the short-range power of the A. That does not work: the Prime is just as flexible. Though it will expend its ammunition earlier, its laser weaponry remains effective. And the B configuration really has more problems finding easy fire patterns than the first two. In short, I feel this one is more than any other variant a jack of all and master of none.
Configuration C � 2 Gauss (32). This configuration simply had to happen. In a time when the Inner Sphere was only starting out in their quest to create the be-all-end-all dual gauss assault �Mech (which resulted in about, oh, a dozen or so similar designs in the following TROs), a low-end heavy had long fielded them. Of course, the novelty factor is part of the reason for the C�s existence � realistically, 3 PPCs could have been fitted, increasing the firepower by 1.5. It is a full turn for the notoriously hot Mad Dog: this design clearly wastes the chassis� two added integral heat sinks. Though 2 tons may be forgiven.
In terms of pure style, the C configuration rules supreme. And it served as a precedent for a new direction that was to be followed in TRO: 3050 Upgrades.
Configuration D � 2 ATM12 (30), 2 MPL, 2 ERML, 2 ERSL, DHS. Introduced in RS: Upgrades, the D leads is one of two new missile support Mad Dogs and clearly the one that most reduces the arm-mounted lasers in favour of accentuating its true strength. Basically, this is a mobile ATM-battery with a solid array of self-defence weapons. It also is the canon Mad Dog to most follow the aesthetics of the �MW4 Vulture� by adding a virtual MPL chin-turret in the centre torso.
An evaluation of this configuration really comes down to personal evaluation of the ATM systems which take up a full 20 tons on this chassis. I know that some of you do not like these modern missiles. I happen to love them, so I obviously like the configuration, but YMMV.
Configuration E � 2 HAG30 ( 8 ). Oh, the chutzpah! I consider myself both a staunch Crusader and an honourable Clansman and hence have full sympathy for the philosophy of �guns over endurance/protection�. But to mount two huge guns and then give them 4 shots each is extreme, quiaff? It is a revival of Configuration C, but led ad absurdum. This configuration has no use whatsoever beyond a trial environment. And even then its value is questionable.
Can someone please hold a trial between this and the Hunchback IIC and post the results? The fight should be over within seconds.
Configuration F � 2 HAG20 (24), 4 ERML. And then, the legacy of the C configuration is led to its logical conclusion. By reducing the size of the Hyper Assault Gauss rifles, endurance was tripled and a strong standard array of medium lasers could be added. This now becomes a different beast that is in a way an interesting amalgamation of the missile and cannon series of the Mad Dog. It does mount big cannons, but relies on them for clustered long-range damage that non-cannon Mad Dogs get from their missiles.
Configuration H � 2 LRM15/artIV (32), HLL, 3 HML, 8 DHS. Harking back to RS: 3060, this quickly struck me as one of the very good �H� configurations. Similar to the early set ups, this variant can safely rely on its missiles much more � by reducing the Prime�s launcher sizes yet adding Artemis IV, it retains similar missile throw-weight while effectively almost tripling its endurance. The heavy lasers are unsupported by a targeting computer, but that does not matter very much, as they are able to sustain a high rate of fire due to a very impressive additional 8 tons of cooling equipment. That means it can actually fire all of its lasers and move without overheating. Cycling 1-2 HML out for the LRMs is an easy choice. This variant is most impressive, a verdict not always easily given out for �H� variants.
So much for the configurations. In terms of force composition, the Mad Dog is best used in a tactical role often also associated with the Summoner: That of a key supporting player. [*jymset cuts little spiel on role similarities, which would go too far off topic*] It has limitations that typically prevent them being the main player in a main battle or assault star. While the Mad Dog will be able to threaten even the largest �Mech in terms of firepower, it cannot compete against true assault �Mechs and hope to survive long. And as such, while this is very much a machine that wants to be included in frontline combat units, it cannot function as an anchor.
Yet its actual combat role is not necessarily defined either by its tactical support role or through its layout type (missile & lasers, in short M&L or gauss weapons, in short BFG). Basically, the Mad Dog gets to be either a support unit in the classic sense of stand-off combat from the 2nd line, or, in its more heat-efficient and flexible configurations, functions as a nimble brawler that should stop short of engaging anything more than 10 tons heavier and ideally bully smaller units � truly a �big dawg in a small pound�, as my predecessor put it. Essentially, I would group the Mad Dog�s configurations as such:
Support: Prime (M&L) = obviously, see comparison to Rifleman; B (M&L) = its heat issues prevent it from really becoming a force to be reckoned with in a moving battle, C (BFG) = this one just should not want to get close.
Brawler: D (M&L) = the ATMs and lasers clearly dictate short range battle, yet it is very flexible and heat efficient, F (BFG) = another design that is heat efficient enough to rely on its ability to move about; H (M&L) = the LRMs on this one do not spell out its role per se.
Special: B (M&L) = short range support. The heat issues, short range of missiles and overall weapons limitations dictate that this configuration should be used in a more precise fashion than mixing it up like above brawlers; E (very BFG) = WTF?! Trials, nothing else!
Ultimately, it is quite difficult to write anything of great relevance on the Mad Dog � I cannot imagine that a lot of people out there who go to the field in Clan colours do not know this Omni�s capabilities off by heart. It is truly ubiquitous � belittled by many, beloved by even more. My predecessor in his MotW considered the design a failure, I love it. The Mad Dog does not qualify as a true �heavy� because of its brittle nature, but its bite is at least as nasty as its namesake�s. In short: You all know it! I tried nothing more than doing it minimal justice. Now it is your turn to share your part of the myth with us.
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