Heavy and Assault 'Mechs
ANV-3M Anvil: This 'Mech is intended to serve in conjunction with another new Free Worlds League design, the Hammer. Fitted with a standard 300-rated engine, 12 double heat sinks, 3 jump jets, 9.5 tons of armor, two large pulse lasers, two medium lasers, and a Guardian ECM suite, it is ideally suited to rush in and finish off opponents that the Hammer has softened up. But, it does have some serious shortcomings, especially the armor level. My modification upgrades the power plant to an XL model, adds two more jump jets, four more double heat sinks, and 3.5 tons more armor, as well as replacing the large pulse lasers with ER PPC's and upgrading the medium lasers to IS ER models.
BHKU-O Black Hawk-KU: This is an IS attempt to make a direct copy of a Clan OmniMech. This 'Mech is more heavily armored than it's Clan counterpart, mainly because it is 10 tons heavier than its Clan progenitor. It is equipped with a 300 XL engine, 5 jump jets, 14 fixed double heat sinks, 12.5 tons of armor, and a vareity of weapons fits. The Primary Configuration has 6 standard medium lasers, 4 medium pulse lasers, 2 small lasers, and two pod-mounted double heat sinks. This configuration is an attempt to match the original Clan 'Mech's Primary Configuration, but it does not quite match up. Configuration A has two ER PPC's and two AMS units. Configuration B has one large pulse laser and one AC/5 Ultra. Configuration C has a Gauss Rifle and a single medium laser. Configuration D has an LRM-20 rack and an ER large laser. All of these variants suffer from using IS weaponry, which generally do less damage and have shorter ranges than their Clan cousins, although these 'Mechs can be fitted with captured Clan weaponry.
CHP-1N Champion: This 'Mech was intended to serve as a heavy recon and strike unit, but it also served the SLDF as a general-purpose 'Mech. Equipped with a standard 300-rated power plant, 10 standard heat sinks, 8 tons of armor, an LB 10-X AC, an SRM-6 rack (mated to an Artemis IV FCS), two medium lasers, and two small lasers, it served the SLDF fairly well in all roles it was used in. Its main problems is that it is under-armored for use in heavy combat, as well as being a serious heat-hog in those same heavy combat situations, where it relied on whatever speed it had to get clear of situations that it's relatively weak armor could not handle. My variant drops in an XL engine, upgrades the heat sinks to double heat sinks, adds 3.5 tons of armor, replaces the LB 10-X AC with an AC/10 Ultra (and increases the ammo load to three tons from 2 tons), upgrades the SRM rack to a Streak model, drops the Artemis IV FCS, removes 1 small laser, upgrades the remaining lasers to IS ER models, and adds a Guardian ECM suite, a Beagle Probe, and a C3 computer slave unit. This version is much better equipped to serve in the heavy recon role, as well as being a much more capable general combat 'Mech.
DRG-5K Grand Dragon: This version of the venerable Combine Dragon has some major improvements over the 3025-era model, namely the 360 XL engine, the 13 double heat sinks, CASE in the LRM ammo bay, the ER PPC (replacing the AC), and a third medium laser, but it still does not correct the Dragon's most glaring shortcoming: a serious lack of armor. My model downgrades the power plant to a 300 XL model, adds 4 more double heat sinks (for a total of 17) and 3 tons of armor, moves the two rear-firing medium lasers to fire towards the front, and upgardes all three medium lasers to IS ER models. This model can fire all of it's weapons at once, as long as it remains stationary (not likely, considering the typical Combine 'Mechwarrior engaged in combat :)).
LNC25-01 Lancelot: This 'Mech certainly met the original design specifications set forth by the Star League: limited dependance on ammo, sufficient speed for mobile operations, and adequate firepower to be a viable combat'Mech. With a 360 XL engine, 13 double heat sinks, 9.5 tons of standard armor, a PPC, two large lasers, and a medium laser, it is definitely capable of keeping up with most assaults, while not needing constant runs back for ammo and being able to do significant damage to an opponent. It is, however, *seriously* short on armor and heat sinks, which can hamper the Lancelot during long operations where repairs might be few and far between, or where the Lancelot is required to keep up a steady barrage of heavy fire. My version downgrades the power plant to a 300 XL model, adds 5 more double heat sinks and two tons more armor (and the armor is switched to ferro-fibrous), all the existing energy weapons are upgraded to ER models, and a second IS ER medium laser is added as well.
MLN-1A Merlin: The Merlin was certainly a well-recieved 'Mech when it was first produced in 3010, and, given the technology of the times, it was certainly capable of holding its own against the opposition of it's day. With a standard 240-rated engine, 18 standard heat sinks, 10.5 tons of armor, a PPC, two medium lasers, an LRM-5 rack, an MG, a flamer, and 4 jump jets, it certainly could serve in a multitude of roles in the Sucession Wars. This made it very attractive to mercenaries, as they could not afford to over-specialize, given that one contract, a merc unit could be on garrison duty along the FWL-LC border, the next contract they could be pulling manufacturing plant security duty near the Periphery, and then on the next contract they could be involved in raiding duty along the Davion-Kurita border. My version replaces the 18 standard heat sinks with 13 double heat sinks, adds 1.5 tons more armor, upgareds the PPC and medium lasers to IS ER models, upgrades the LRM-5 rack to an LRM-10 rack, replaces the flamer with an IS ER small laser, and adds CASE to both torso ammo bays. This model is certainly more attractive to current merc buyers, as well as state buyers purchasing 'Mechs for units stationed along the Chaos March region.
OSR-2D Ostroc: This version of the old Ostroc is little more than a field-refit package, which replaces the 15 standard heat sinks with double heat sinks, and the standard large lasers with ER models. My version makes some more changes, which enables the Ostroc better able to survive in combat. As well as the changes made to create the basic 3050 model, my version gets a 300 XL engine, two more double heat sinks, 4 tons more armor, an SRM-4 Streak rack replaces the old standard SRM-4 rack, and the two medium lasers are replaced by 4 IS ER models, as well as CASE being added to the ammo bay.
OTL-5M Ostsol: This model is a cross between a field-refit kit 'Mech and a factory upgrade, as the orignal producer is no longer capable of producing complete 'Mechs, but they are capable of producing parts and performing factory-level repairs. This version has a 300 XL engine, 16 double heat sinks, 9 tons of armor, 2 large pulse lasers, 4 medium pulse lasers, and an AMS. While this model is a major improvement on the 3025 Ostsol, it still has room for improvement. My version adds 4 tons more armor, replaces the pulse lasers with IS ER models, moves the rear-firing lasers to fire forwards, and adds a Beagle Probe, Guardian ECM suite, and a C3 computer slave unit.
QKD-5M Quickdraw: This is an attempt, somewhat sucessful, to improve the old Quickdraw using new technology. It has 13 double heat sinks, 8 tons of ferro-fibrous armor, an LRM-10 rack, 4 medium lasers, and CASE in the ammo bay, but one change that the FWL's techs made that caused a storm of controversy among some 'Mechwarriors was the replacement of the orignal SRM-4 rack with a detachable *one-shot* SRM-4 rack. My version installs a 300 XL engine and 3.5 tons more armor, replaces the one-shot SRM rack with an SRM-4 Streak rack and a ton of ammo reloads for it, upgrades the medium lasers to IS ER models (while moving the rear-firing lasers to fire forwards), and installs a Beagle Probe and a C3 computer slave unit.
RFL-5M Rifleman: The Rifleman is, admittedly, one of the most difficult 'Mechs in the entire IS to try amd make a sucessful upgrade of, but the FWL did it's best. This 'Mech has a 240 XL engine, 12 double heat sinks, 8.5 tons of armor, two large lasers, two AC/5 Ultra AC's, two medium lasers, and CASE in the ammo bay. While not entirely sucessful, this 'Mech is an improvement in nearly all categories over the old 3025-tech RFL. My version loses two double heat sinks, has 13 tons of armor, downgrades the autocannons to standard AC/5's, loses the CASE, and upgrades the medium lasers to IS ER models. I do wish that the original designers hadn't tried to put so heavy of a weapons load on a design that should have been, by all rights, 10 tons heavier than it is.
AXM-1N Axman: This 'Mech is the ultimate expression of Team Banzai's fascination with the hatchet-armed 'Mech. Equipped with a 260 XL engine, 4 jump jets, 10 double heat sinks, 10 tons of ferro-fibrous armor, an AC/20, 3 medium lasers, a large pulse laser, and the hatchet, as well as having CASE in the ammo bay, this 'Mech is one of the nastiest close-quarters 'Mechs ever produced. My version downgrades the large pulse laser to an ER large laser, upgrades the medium lasers to IS ER models, and adds two more tons of ferro-fibrous armor, enabling it to survive for a bit longer than it originally could.
BMB-12D Bombardier: This 'Mech was orignally intended to serve as the primarty fire-support 'Mech for the SLDF, and it served the SLDF extremely well in this role, due to the specialized munitions that were purpose-designed for the Bombardiers used by the SLDF. Equipped with a 325 XL engine, 10 double heat sinks, 12.5 tons of armor, two LRM-20 racks (firing either Swarm or Thunder warheads), an SRM-4 rack, and an AMS, these 'Mechs eventually became victims of the First Sucession War, when their specialized missiles began running out, due to the destruction of so many of the manufacturers of the missiles. With the rediscovery of advanced Star League technology, this 'Mech is once again beginning to see service as a fire-support 'Mech, but it's main drawback is the orignal drawback: it tends to go thru it's ammo load *extremely* fast in any battle, which requires it to have resupply trucks convieniently nearby. My version loses the CASE and the AMS, upgrades the SRM rack to a Streak model, and adds a ton of armor.
CPLT-C3 Catapult: This is a Capellan attempt to provide some *very* long-range fire support to it's 'Mech units, and it is a fairly sucessful attempt at that (especially when used in conjunction with the Raven and it's TAG unit). The major change was the removal of the orignal LRM-15 racks of the orignal Catapult, and the installation of an Arrow IV misssile artillery system. This system has 5-6 times the range of any standard LRM system, which enables the Catapult's driver to stay safely out of most of the combat and still provide much-needed fire support to his unit. If someone does get close, he still has the four medium lasers of the orignal model to deal with any rude strangers. My model gets an XL engine, upgrades the heat sinks to double heat sinks, adds 3.5 tons of armor and three tons of Arrow IV ammo, and upgrades the lasers to IS ER models. I also have a model that is much closer to the original CPLT-C1 Catapult, which replaces the Arrow IV system and it's ammo with two LRM-15 racks (with an Artemis IV FCS and two tons of ammo for each missile rack) and a C3 computer slave unit.
CTS-6Y Cestus: This 'Mech served the SLDF as a fire-support 'Mech, a role it served quite well. Equipped with a 260 XL engine, 12 double heat sinks, 13.5 tons of armor, a Gauss Rifle (with three tons of ammo), two medium lasers, and two large lasers, it is quite an effective fire-support 'Mech as it is. My version drops one ton of Gauss ammo, upgrades the lasers to ER models, and adds one more double heat sink.
CRD-5M Crusader: This is a version of the CRD that would have shocked anyone in the 4th Succession War, had it appeared then. Equipped with a 260 XL engine, 4 jump jets, 13 double heat sinks, 12 tons of armor, two LRM-15 racks, tow leg-mounted SRM-2 Streak racks, two medium lasers, two MG's, an AMS, and CASE in the torso ammo bays, this 'Mech was used to great effect during the Clan invasion (one of the more noted users of this 'Mech was Galen Cox of the AFFC). My version drops three double heat sinks, adds 1.5 tons more armor, drops the machine guns and the AMS, upgrades the medium lasers to IS ER models, and upgrades the SRM-2 Streak racks to SRM-4 Streak racks.
EXT-4D Exterminator: This 'Mech was purpose-designed for one of the most dangerous missions of all: headhunting enemy unit commanders. Equipped with a 390 XL engine, 6 jump jets, 10 double heat sinks, 10.5 tons of armor, an LRM-10 rack, 4 medium lasers, a small laser, and an AMS, as well as some *very* unusual equipment that allowed them to avoid detection, this 'Mech served the SLDF fairly well in it's intended role, but during the 1st Succession War, the Great Houses organized and trained special units whose sole purpose was the tracking down and destruction of Exterminators. Very few of these 'Mechs survived the 1st Succession War as a result. My version replaces the LRM-10 rack with an SRM-6 rack, adds 3 tons of armor, drops the small laser and the AMS, and adds a C3 computer slave unit, as well as upgrading the medium lasers to IS ER models.
JM6-DD JagerMech: Why *anyone* would use a JagerMech for anything other than anti-aircraft duties is beyond me, but that is another story :). This version is an attempt to improve the old JunkerMech (er... excuse me, JagerMech) tahat at leats is somewhat successful at improving on a 'Mech that, by all rights, should never have been built at at, at least in the weight category it ended up in. Equipped with a 260 XL engine, 10 standard heat sinks, 6.5 tons of ferro-fibrous armor, two AC/5 Ultra AC's, two AC/2's, two medium pulse lasers, and CASE in the ammo bays, it at least corrects *some* of the most glaring oversights of the original JM6-S, but it still doesn't correct them completely. My version upgrades the heat sinks to double heat sinks, adds 5 tons of armor, downgrades the AC/5 Ultra's to standard AC/5's, while upgrading the AC/2's to AC/2 Ultra's, replaces the medium pulse lasers with IS ER models,, and drops the CASE. This is another 'Mech that, like the Rifleman, is difficult to modify due to the chosen weapons package.
TMP-3M Tempest: This 'Mech would serve well as an operational
partner with the 3050-tech Thunderbolt, as well as serving with the 'Mech
the FWL intends to serve as it's operational partner, the SHD-5M Shadow
Hawk, as the firepower of both the Tempest and the 3050-tech TDR complement
each other fairly well. Equipped with an Endo Steel internal structure,
a 260 XL engine, 4 jump jets, 11 double heat sinks, 12.5 tons of armor,
a Gauss Rifle, a large pulse laser, 3 medium lasers, and an SRM-6 rack,
this 'Mech is a fairly effective general-purpose 'Mech.
my version replaces the large pulse laser with an ER
large laser, adds another double heat sink and a ton of armor, and upgrades
the medium lasers to IS ER models.
TDR-7M Thunderbolt: I like the Thunderbolt, and so I did sorta appreciate the 3050 version of the old Thud :). Equipped with the old standby standard 260-rated engine, 15 double heat sinks, 11.5 tons of ferro-fibrous armor, an ER large laser, an LRM-15 rack, three medium lasers, an SRM-2 Streak rack, two MG's, and CASE in the ammo bays, this version is certainly more effective than the old 3025-tech model, but, in my opinion, did not go far enough :). My version upgrades the engine to an XL model, changes the 11.5 tons of frerro-fibrous armor to 13.5 tons of standard armor, replaces the SRM-2 Streak rack with an SRM-4 Streak rack, upgrades the medium lasers to IS ER models, drops the CASE, and adds a Beagle Probe, a Guardian ECM suite, and a C3 computer slave unit. This model is capable of performing recon and anti-ambush duty for heavy and assault lances, as well as serving as a general-purpose 'Mech, a role the Thud is quite familiar with :).
ARC-4M Archer: *Finally*, an upgrade to the Archer that comes close to perfection :). Equipped with a standard 280-rated engine, Endo Steel skeleton, 10 double heat sinks, a near-max armor load, two LRM-20 racks (with two tons of ammo per rack, and Artemis IV FCS units for each rack), 4 medium lasers, and CASE in tha ammo bay, this version probably made many a Free Worlds League Archer driver positively gleeful when they first got their hands on one. My version reflects more my design philosophy than any real problems I have with it. I drop the CASE and Artemis IV, upgrade the lasers to IS ER models (and move the rear-firing lasers to forward-firing lasers), and add three more double heat sinks. I also have an Archer variant that is somewhat more revised :). I drop in a 280 XL engine, change the number of double heat sinks to 12, max out the armor load, and install a C3 computer master unit in addition to any other changes I made to the ARC-4M). This version is intended to serve as a command 'Mech, a role it would fill quite well, especially in a C3-equipped unit.
AV1-0 Avatar: This is an attempt by Luthien Armor Works to produce a knock-off of the Clan Mad Dog/Vulture OmniMech. Although Luthien Armor Works was not entirely successful, it is a fairly effective heavy OmniMech. All models, regardless of any other weapons installed as pods, carry two hard-wired medium lasers in the center torso (these were installed due to numerous problems with the fire control systems in the origninal prototype models, in an effort to provide the pilots with *something* effective to use in case of total failure of the fire control system. The probelms were solved before actual production began, but the hard-wired medium lasers were retained). The Primary Configuration is the standard straight-up combat model, and is equipped with two medium pulse lasers, an LB 10-X AC, two LRM-10 racks (with Artemis IV FCS units), and two MG's. Configuration A is the urban/close quarters combat model, and is equipped with an ER large laser, an AC/20, two SRM-6 racks, and 4 jump jets. Configuration B is the fire-support variant, and is equipped with two LRM-15 racks, two LRM-10 racks, and Artemis IV FCS units for each LRM rack. Configuration C is the command model, and is equipped with a PPC, an AC/5 Ultra, two LRM-10 racks, and a C3 computer master unit.
CES-3R Caesar: This is the Federated Commonwealth's attempt at producing a near-direct knock-off of the Capellan Confederation's Cataphract, and, like the Cataphract, is as ugly as sin (I believe I put up a post on rec.games.mecha stating that the Caesar/Cataphract make Frankenstien's Monster look good :)). quipped with a 280 XL engine, 16 double heat sinks, 10.5 tons of armor, a Gauss Rifle, an ER PPC, 4 medium pulse lasers, and CASE in the ammo bay, it has some significant improvements over the Cataphract (better heat dissipation, less dependance on projectile weapons), but it also has some glaring defects (massively greater heat burden, less armor protection, no jump capability). My version replaces the medium pulse lasers with IS ER models, adds an ER small laser, and adds 3.5 tons of armor. While it doesn't correct all of the problems with the Caesar, at least it can survive long enough to get out of the area.
This page is still under construction, as are the various Clan 'Mech pages.