Tunnel Rat

Tunnel Rat.jpg
Tunnel Rat Mining Exoskeleton
Production information
Manufacturer General Motors
Use Mining
Weight Class Varies
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Cost ??? C-bills
Introduced 3055
Technical specifications
Mass 400 kg
Top Speed 10 km/h
Armament

None

Armor Type Standard
BV (1.0) ???
BV (2.0) 4[1]

Description[edit]

The Tunnel Rat mining exoskeleton was part of GM's ambition to reenter the mining industry. This was made possible with the recovery of the Helm Memory Core. GM had originally produced the mining suits during the late Star League Era, however, the Succession Wars caused the company to lose the technological knowledge to produce such suits. The company's ambitions to expand its offerings once again in the mining market became reality when power armor technology was recovered. Utilized for the mining industry, the Tunnel Rat was created as a suit able to withstand the harsh elements of underground mining. The suit was given modular plug-ins to allow tools to be attached for various jobs. The suit is notable for its communication and sturdy life support features.[2]

The suit is primarily produced at GM's Kathil facilities, with a variant of the suit being produced at its Talcott factory.[2]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The suit is equipped with two plug-in module slots in both arms. It also has a searchlight and an industrial drill permanently mounted in its right arm.[2]

During the Jihad several armed variants of the Tunnel Rat were created. They are all based on the Tunnel Rat III, and have a sixty-meter jump capability.[3]

Variants[edit]

  • Tunnel Rat (Armored Glove) 
    GM created a version of the Tunnel Rat that uses a pair of armored gloves for delicate work. BV (2.0) = 4[4]
  • Tunnel Rat II 
    The suit is notable for its moderate upgrade in its armor and electronics.[2]
  • Tunnel Rat III 
    Produced on Talcott, this is a heavier version of the first two models. The suit has improved armor, extended life support, and a thirty meter jump range. It is otherwise identical to the Tunnel Rat I and II variants.[2] BV (2.0) = 7[5]
  • Tunnel Rat IV (Armored Glove/GL)
    This version has a sixty meter jump capability and is armed with a single Grenade Launcher. BV (2.0) = 8[6]
  • Tunnel Rat IV (Armored Glove/LMG)
    This version has a sixty meter jump capability and is armed with a Light Machine Gun. BV (2.0) = 10[7]
  • Tunnel Rat IV (Battle Claw/GL)
    This version has a sixty meter jump capability and is armed with a Grenade Launcher and Battle Claw. BV (2.0) = 9[8]
  • Tunnel Rat IV (Battle Claw/LMG)
    This version has a sixty meter jump capability and carries a Light Machine Gun and Battle Claw. BV (2.0) = 14[9]

Notes[edit]

The Tunnel Rat I and II are functionally and statistically identical.

References[edit]

  1. Record Sheets: Vehicle Annex, IndustrialMechs & Exoskeletons]], p. 22
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex, pp. 188-189, "Tunnel Rat Profile"
  3. Record Sheets: Vehicle Annex, IndustrialMechs & Exoskeletons, pp. 25-28
  4. Record Sheets: Vehicle Annex, IndustrialMechs & Exoskeletons, p. 21
  5. Record Sheets: Vehicle Annex, IndustrialMechs & Exoskeletons, pp. 23-24
  6. Record Sheets: Vehicle Annex, IndustrialMechs & Exoskeletons, p. 25
  7. Record Sheets: Vehicle Annex, IndustrialMechs & Exoskeletons, p. 26
  8. [[Record Sheets: Vehicle Annex, IndustrialMechs & Exoskeletons, p. 27
  9. Record Sheets: Vehicle Annex, IndustrialMechs & Exoskeletons, p. 28

Bibliography[edit]