One of the most destructive weapons on the battlefield is the strafing or bombing AeroSpace Fighter. To counteract these attacks, many companies produce some type of antiaircraft system. Two of the most popular are the Rifleman and JagerMech BattleMechs produced by Kallon Industries. These two 'Mechs are powerful AA systems because they can each deliver such a large volume of accurate fire.
         Although Kallon no longer has the facilities to produce as many 'Mechs as formerly, they hoped to meet the demand for anti-aircraft systems to replace the damaged or destroyed AA 'Mechs already in use. They filled the gap with the development of the Partisan Heavy Tank.
         The Partisan uses four long-range autocannon of the same design found on both the Rifleman and the Jager-Mech. Providing good firepower with long range is what makes these guns so effective against aircraft.

         The Partisan's anti-aircraft weapons consist of four medium autocannon mounted on a quad turret. Though no different than other guns of the same size, these weapons do fire shells unlike those of other combat weapons. Most similar guns use regular-impact explosives, while the Partisan's guns fire proximity-fused rounds. This type of ammunition explodes when it gets within five to ten meters of an airborne target, which gives the whole system better accuracy than a normal gun shooting at aircraft.
         Another difference between the Partisan and other gun carriers is the AntiAir Flak Systems-1 tracking and targeting equipment. This system can track up to 200 targets at once, determine the range to each, and then fire at the optimum target. The gunner is equipped with a Target Identification Screen (TIS) that read out a list of targets, starting with the closest and ending with the farthest. Using a simple light-pen system, the gunner can override the computer's fire orders with his own. (The gunner can also remove the TIS from the Partisan and use it up to 20 meters away from the vehicle.)
         The two MiniGuns are also hooked into the antiaircraft equipment. Although small and not suitable for anti-aircraft work, these two guns can provide useful extra defensive fire against ground targets. The driver of the Partisan controls the two MiniGuns, but the gunner has the option of overriding the driver's fire order if he needs the extra firepower.
         The Partisan's targeting equipment also has an optional fire switch that allows it to fire at ground targets. When engaged with battlefield targets, the gunner always chooses this option, and the computer will not switch back to anti-aircraft. As the computer does not have an identification system for ground targets as it does for flying targets, the gunner must use the system's sights to engage those targets. When the Partisan is firing at ground targets, the shells of the four guns are automatically disarmed of their proximity fuses, which makes them normal-impact rounds.
         Another feature built into the fire-control system is a data-link that allows several Partisans to act as one large antiaircraft unit. All the computers hook into one large net that picks the best possible targets shown on all the radar screens. The computer then fires at either the most threatening target or the most dangerous group of targets. Needless to say, this antiaircraft defense line can be death to any fighter attack.

         A famous Davion battle involving a line of Partisans using datalink occurred on Galtor when a flight of Kurita Shilone fighters attacked a group of storehouses. The fighters had been sent as part of a raiding force that was harassing several nearby planets. The Davion units on the other planets were attempting to fight off what looked like major assaults. These attacks were only decoys, however, sent out to lure Davion 'Mechs away from the Galtor storehouses.
         The Kurita fighters were not trying to destroy the storehouse; rather, they were trying to disable the defending units so that infantry could move in and take the warehouse by storm. The only weapons the fighters could use without danger of hitting the warehouse were their long-and short-range missiles.
         The only defensive units guarding the storehouses were ten Partisan antiaircraft vehicles. These vehicles had set up in prepared emplacements that left only their turrets and MiniGuns showing. When the Shilones attacked, the Partisans were ready.
         The first attack wave came and went quickly, scoring only rare hits on the Partisans. The next attack wave came moments later, but now the fighters were more cautious They did score several minor hits against the Partisan line, but the ground guns destroyed two of the fighters.
         Though the Kurita commander could not afford to lose any more fighters, his orders were to destroy the defending units, no matter what the cost. He knew that taking out those antiaircraft guns would require that his fighters hold back none of their own weapons. He therefore ordered his fighters to attack full force.
         On the next attack run, the Partisan unit destroyed over a dozen fighters, while the fighters destroyed only two antiaircraft guns. The proximity-fused shells of the Partisan's guns continually destroyed the missiles fired by the Shilones, and the heavy emplacements stopped their lasers.
         After two more unsuccessful runs, the Shilone commander retreated what was left of his flight. No reinforcements were called for, and no other attacks were made.

         There are two popular variants on the Partisan. The first replaces the AC/5s with AC/2s, thus extending the vehicle's range by 180 meters. A second variant replaces the AC/5s with long-range missile racks. The latter modification is not always as effective because its targeting and tracking system has trouble coordinating each missile's trajectory.

Larry Vigilante
         Antiaircraft gunman Vigilante was the defender of the storehouses on Galtor. Because the Partisans were hooked together by datalink and set on automatic, AAG Vigilante had little else to do but watch and wait. The only exceptions were the few times that a fighter got too close, when Larry had to take over one of the two of the Partisans.

Richard Hall
         Gunner Hall used his Partisan's guns as a most effective antivehicle system in the Battle for Halstead Station. His tank accounted for over five kills of enemy 'Mechs.