Editing Gladiator (BattleMech)

{{Update Needed|[[Shrapnel (magazine)#Issue 15|''Shrapnel'' Issue 15]]}}
{{otheruses|the 55-ton Inner Sphere BattleMech|other uses|Gladiator}}
{{InfoBoxBattleMech
|image = Gladiator Shrapnel015.jpg
|name = ''Gladiator''
|manufacturer = 
[[Merryweather Industries]]<ref name=TRSWp96f>''Technical Readout: Succession Wars'', pp. 96–97: "GLD-4R Gladiator"</ref> <!-- reprinted from TRO:3075 -->
----
[[New Samarkand Armor Works]]<ref name=TRSWp96f />
----
[[StarCorps Industries]]<ref>''Objectives: Lyran Alliance'', p. 9</ref>
|production year = 2490
|year reference = <ref name=TRSWp96f /><ref>''TechManual'', p. 15</ref><ref name=TRO:3075>''Technical Readout: 3075'', pp. 206–207: "Gladiator 'Mech Profile"</ref><ref>''Era Digest: Age of War'', p. 11</ref><ref name="xtro">''Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 2'', p. 5</ref>
|model = GLD-4R<ref name=TRSWp96f />
|cost = 5,002,057 [[C-bill]]s
|Tech Base = Inner Sphere
|mech type = BattleMech
|mass = 55
|chassis = [[MW240]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp96f /> -->
|armor = [[Kemplar 5000]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp96f /> -->
|engine = [[CoreTek 275]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp96f /> -->
|comsys = [[Fujika Multiband]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp96f /> -->
|T&T = [[General systems AV-12]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp96f /> -->
|heat sinks = 13 [[heat sink|single]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp96f /> -->
|speed = 86 <!-- <ref name=TRSWp96f /> -->
|jumpjets = [[GE-2200]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp96f /> -->
|armament = <!-- <ref name=TRSWp96f /> -->
* 1x [[PPC]]
* 1x [[SRM-6]]
* 2x [[medium laser]]
|BV (1.0) = N/A
|BV (2.0) = 1,291<ref name=TRSWp96f /><ref name=TRO:3075/><ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 98</ref>
}} 

==Description==
The first homegrown [[BattleMech]] produced by the [[Draconis Combine]] was the '''''Gladiator'''''. The 55-ton 'Mech took seven years to design, as [[Coordinator]] [[Kozo Von Rohrs]] refused to open up the process to anybody but a select group at [[New Samarkand Armor Works]], the predecessor of [[Luthien Armor Works]], who were under constant surveillance by [[DEST]]. [[Introduction Year::2468]] finally saw the GLD-1R ''Gladiator'' hit mass-production.<ref name="xtro"/> Following the [[Battle of Nox]] in [[2475]], the  dishonored 'Mech was retired from official production, with NSAW closing down the production lines by [[Production Ceased::2488]].<ref name=TRO:3075/>

[[Merryweather Industries]] was the first private company to attempt BattleMech production without governmental support. Despite their location in the [[Terran Hegemony]], they acquired the plans to the ''Gladiator'' and produced a new run in [[2490]]. They were unable to raise the capital to finish their second run, the 4R, and nearly went bankrupt before changing over to [[IndustrialMech]]s. The GLD-4R production lines were closed down in [[Production Ceased::2495]].<ref name=TRO:3075/>

A few salvaged ''Gladiator'' -1Rs were still in service with militaries across the Inner Sphere and Periphery, though these relics were finally pushed to extinction during the [[Extinction Era::Reunification War]].<ref name=xtro/>

==Weapons and Equipment==
The 55-ton ''Gladiator'' is built on an [[MW240]] chassis, carrying a [[Core Tek 275]] fusion engine that gives it a top speed of 86 km/h, comparable to many other 'Mechs of the same weight. Nine and a half tons of [[standard armor]] provides a respectable amount of protection, while five [[jump jet]]s gives it greater agility and enables the 'Mech to jump up to 150 meters at a time.<ref name=TRO:3075/>

A [[Lord's Light P1]] [[PPC]] provides long range firepower. Two [[Argra 1L]] [[medium laser]]s are just as powerful up close and a [[Thunderstroke (SRM-6)|Thunderstroke]] [[SRM-6]] exploits any holes in an enemy's armor.<ref name=TRO:3075/>

==Variants==
[[File:Gladiator (2).jpg|thumb|left|150px|An old ''Gladiator'', likely GLD-1R]]
*; GLD-1R : The original ''Gladiator'' used [[Primitive Technology|primitive technology]], so it only had a [[large laser]] and two [[medium laser]]s. In addition, it could only manage a top speed around 64 km/h,<ref name=TRSWp96f /> and was protected by 16.5 tons of [[primitive armor]].<ref name="xtro"/> The GLD-1R went out of production by 2488<ref name=TRO:3075/>. During the [[Jihad]], several companies began producing this primitive design of ''Gladiator'' as a part of the appearance of [[retrotech]] on the battlefield, driven by the need for war matériel; companies which produced the primitive ''Gladiator'' during this era included [[Rastaban Agricultural Products]],<ref>''Objectives: Lyran Alliance'', p. 7</ref> [[Metals of the Earth]]<ref name="O:DCp4">''Objectives: Draconis Combine'', p. 4: "State of the Industry at a Glance (Dec 3079)"</ref> and [[Sword of the Prophet Enterprises]]<ref name="O:DCp34">''Objectives: Draconis Combine'', p. 34: "Sword of the Prophet Enterprises"</ref> although many of these manufacturing lines had closed down by [[3079]]. BV (2.0) = 1,027<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged'', p. 199</ref> 

*; GLD-2R : A more modern variant that still used some primitive technologies, the 2R upgraded the top speed of the 1R to 86 km/h but the armament was unchanged.<ref name=TRSWp96f /> Few of these were ever fielded, as the design was apparently just a testbed for the newer technologies. Production of the GLD-2R stopped by 2488. BV (2.0) = 1,245,<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged'', p. 200</ref> 1,184<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 96</ref> 

*; GLD-3R : The first test platform for Merryweather, the 3R replaced the [[large laser]] with two [[LRM-10]]s.<ref name=TRSWp96f /> BV (2.0) = 1,282<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged'', p. 201</ref><ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 97</ref>

*; GLD-5R : The 5R is an upgraded variant that was unveiled by [[StarCorps Industries]] after a ''Gladiator'' fielded by Major [[Alex Keller]] of the [[Devil's Brigade]] that utilized cutting-edge and experimental technology gained notoriety. It is armed with a [[snub-nose PPC]], two [[ER medium laser]]s, and an [[MML-5]] with [[Artemis IV FCS]] to improve accuracy. Additional [[single heat sink]]s help to alleviate heat problems.<ref name=TRSWp96f /> This version has 12 tons of [[standard armor]], which gives it maximum protection for a 'Mech of its size. BV (2.0) = 1,425<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 99</ref><div style="clear:left;">

===Custom Variants===
*; ''Gladiator'' Keller : This variant had a 220-rated [[light fusion engine]] connected to a [[supercharger]], which can add some speed. The 'Mech also had six [[improved jump jet]]s, and a [[C3i computer]], which allows the 'Mech to share targeting telemetry with like-equipped units. It is armed with a [[snub-nose PPC]], enhanced by a [[PPC Capacitor]], two [[ER medium laser]]s, and an [[MML-5]] with one ton of ammunition devoted to long range missiles and another used for short range. 11 [[double heat sink]]s are barely adequate for such a 'Mechs's generated heat. The 'Mech also used 11 tons of armor, which is almost the maximum such a machine can carry. BV (2.0) = 1,348,<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged'', p. 203</ref> 1,557<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 100</ref>

==Design Quirks==
The ''GLD-1R Gladiator'' variant is subject to the following [[Design Quirks]]:<ref name="xtro"/>
* [[Bad Reputation]]
* [[Cowl]]
* [[Poor Sealing]]
* [[Poor Workmanship]]
* [[Unbalanced]] 
* [[Obsolete|Obsolete/2488]]

==Notes==
* The GLD-3R ''Gladiator'' variant was featured in [[BattleTechnology#Issue_0201|Issue 0201]] of ''[[BattleTechnology]]''. In the article by [[Dale A. Kemper]], additional details are described regarding Merryweather Industries' ill-fated production run of the GLD-3R ''Gladiator''.

{{ApocryphalContentStart}}
* Originally intended to meet a [[Star League Defense Force]] requirement for a new long-range support 'Mech, Merryweather Industries offered the GLD-3R ''Gladiator'', with the first prototypes undergoing testing in [[2468]]. After achieving success in its early field tests, Merryweather Industries was awarded a contract to produce 1,200 of the 'Mechs. However, in [[2470]] the contract was revoked, pointing to computer simulations that showed the 'Mech was not powerful enough to fill the role it had been built for. Having already produced over 100 of the machines, and prepared to produce 2,000 more, the loss of the contract nearly bankrupted Merryweather Industries. Private investors were quickly sought, and with the approval of the Star League, 2,000 ''Gladiators'' were sold, most notably to the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Draconis Combine]]. Following the conclusion of the first run, Merryweather Industries discontinued the ''Gladiator'' line and continued to produce [[IndustrialMechs]]. The long-range close-support role would eventually be filled by the ''[[Archer]]'', specifically the ARC-2C variant. At the time of the article's printing (February 3028), the author estimates that about 150 of the 'Mechs remain, though most are hybrids. There are no known examples of "standard" ''Gladiators'' as they were built.<ref name=BattleTechnology>''BattleTechnology'', #Issue 0201, pp. 42–43</ref>

* As presented in ''BattleTechnology'', the GLD-3R ''Gladiator'' mounts a pair of [[DLC-10]] shoulder-mounted [[LRM-10]] launchers, backed up by a single [[Duodyne Mark II]] [[medium laser]] in each arm. A [[Fujika Multiband]] communication system and [[General Systems AV-12]] targeting package is used. The GLD-3R is mentioned as using [[GE-2200]] [[jump jet]]s, which are noted as allowing for altitude variation during during movement. The top speed and cruising speed is listed as 58.1 km/h and 84.2 km/h, slower than what its engine should theoretically provide. Compared to the GLD-3R presented in later sources, the one described in ''BattleTechnology'' has one fewer jump jet and mounts an extra half-ton of armor.<ref name="BattleTechnology"/>
{{ApocryphalContentEnd}}

* No mention is made of the earlier GLD-1R, GLD-2R, or Merryweather's second ''Gladiator'' run, the GLD-4R. The artwork presented for the ''Gladiator'' is completely different from the art presented for the GLD-4R ''Gladiator'' in ''Technical Readout: 3075''. It is unclear whether the artwork presented is meant to be of an original ''Gladiator'', or one of the many "hybrid" ''Gladiators'' mentioned by the article author.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Gladiator 3075.jpg|Original ''Gladiator'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3075|TRO:3075]]''
GLD-1R Gladiator.jpg|Experimental GLD-1R ''Gladiator'' from ''[[Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 2|XTRO:Primitives II]]''
Gladiator Shrapnel015.jpg|''Gladiator'' from [[Shrapnel_(magazine)/Issue_15|''Shrapnel'' #15]] 
Gladiator_FMSLDF_p168.jpg|[[DCMS]] ''Gladiator'' from ''[[Field Manual: SLDF|FM:SLDF]]''
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[BattleTechnology#Issue 0201|''BattleTechnology'', Issue #0201]]
* ''[[Era Digest: Age of War]]''
* ''[[Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 2]]''
* ''[[Master Unit List: Battle Values]]''
* ''[[Objectives: Draconis Combine]]''
* ''[[Objectives: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3075]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''
{{div col end}}

[[Category:'Mechs]]
[[Category:Draconis Combine BattleMechs]]
[[Category:Terran Hegemony BattleMechs]]
[[Category:Improved C3 Equipped BattleMechs]]