Blackjack (BattleMech)

Blackjack (BattleMech)
Blackjack
Production information
Manufacturer General Motors, Ceres Metals Industries
Production Year 2757[1][2]
Model BJ-1
Class Medium
Cost 3,147,225 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 45 tons
Chassis GM BJ-I
Armor Durallex Medium
Engine GM 180
Communications System Dalban Micronics
Targeting Tracking System Dalban AQ
Heat Sinks 11
Speed 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets Whitworth Jetlift
Armament
BV (1.0) 795[3]
BV (2.0) 949[4]


Description

The Blackjack was designed by General Motors in a bid for a fire support and counter-insurgency 'Mech. The prototype version of the Blackjack was designed to carry Flamers, but were replaced with two light autocannons in the production version of the 'Mech. In long range engagements, the Blackjack has lackluster performance. Where the 'Mech excels is in close quarters combat because its short ranged weapons, jumping distance of up to one hundred and twenty meters, and heavy armor make it a devastating street fighter.

Weapons and Equipment

The Blackjack carries two Whirlwind-L Autocannon/2s for long range, direct fire support. These autocannons provide excellent reach at the cost of damage capability. For close combat, the Blackjack has four Intek Medium Lasers. These lasers, when combined with the Blackjacks maneuverability, make the 'Mech very dangerous in an urban setting.

Variants

  • BJ-1X 
    Early Blackjack prototype differed from the production model significantly. It was armed with twin GM Flashpoint flamers and additional heat sinks in place of each autocannon, it was powered by a VOX 225 power plant allowing it for greater speed than the later models, but lacked the jumpjets. [5]
  • BJ-1DB 
    The 1DB Blackjack is a variant intended to increase the 'Mech's lethality. The two autocannons have been replaced with two Large Lasers and several heat sinks have been added to the design to handle the extra heat load. BV (1.0) = 881[3], BV (2.0) = 1,015[6]
  • BJ-1DC 
    The 1DC Blackjack sacrifices the 'Mech's jumping ability in order to add two Small Lasers and additional heat sinks to deal with the additional heat load. BV (1.0) = 718[3], BV (2.0) = 917[7]
  • BJ-2 
    The BJ-2 upgrade of the Blackjack upgrades the 'Mech with two Diverse Optics Sunbeam ER Large Lasers and four Hovertec Streak SRM-2 launchers. This variant also upgrades the heat sinks to double strength versions. [note, the BJ-2 was errata'd to use double heat sinks by FASA Corporation after its release] BV (1.0) = 858[3], BV (2.0) = 1,148[8]
  • BJ-2r 
    Introduced in the Dark Age this Blackjack variant replaces the weaponry of the BJ-2 with a Large Re-engineered Laser in each arm, backed up by a single Medium Laser. It can jump 120 meters at a time, and uses eleven double heat sinks. BV (2.0) = 1,076[9]
  • BJ-3 
    Built by the Capellan Confederation on St. Ives during the Fourth Succession War, this 'Mech was probably the first in decades if not centuries to feature Double Heat Sinks, a revolutionary re-discovered technology. It is implied[10] that the heat sinks were actually stolen from the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth, but in any case the BJ-3 was the first regular variant to employ them again as part of its standard loadout (as opposed to field refits or ancient Star League era 'Mechs). The superior heat dissipation allowed the 'Mech to be equipped with two Ceres Arms Smasher PPCs and four Medium Lasers.
    The majority of the BJ-3 models were turned over to the Federated Suns by the St. Ives Compact after the Fourth Succession War, following that state's secession from the Confederation during the war,[11] but production continued domestically within the St. Ives Compact, predominantly but not exclusively for St. Ives Compact forces, afterwards.[12] BV (1.0) = 1,099, BV (2.0) = 1,271[13][14]

Related OmniMechs

  • Blackjack - This OmniMech version of the venerable Blackjack debuted around 3058.[16]

Gallery

References

  1. Record Sheets: 3039, 2nd Ed., p. 48
  2. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 128 states, "The Blackjack's original role was to help suppress insurgent forces (mainly in the Periphery) that challenged Star League authority in the decades before its fall."
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Combat Operations, p. 126
  4. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 110
  5. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 128
  6. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 111
  7. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 112
  8. Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 47
  9. Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades, p. 111
  10. Proprietary short story
  11. Battlepack: Fourth Succession War, p. 37 "New 'Mechs - BJ-3 Blackjack"
  12. Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
  13. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 113
  14. Objective Raids, p.148
  15. Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 73
  16. Technical Readout: 3058, p. 88

Bibliography