Jackrabbit

Jackrabbit
Production information
Manufacturer	Skobel MechWorks
Model	JKR-8T
Class	Light
Technical specifications
Mass	25 tons
Chassis	Skobel 100-ROB Endo Steel
Armor	Krupp 150 Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	GM 150
Speed	97 km/h
Jump Jets	None
Armament	1 x AC/2 1 x Streak SRM-2
BV (2.0)	417

Description

Developed in response to a SLDF request for a long-range infantry support BattleMech, the Jackrabbit was approved for combat testing a mere two weeks before the Amaris Coup, with Stefan Amaris taking advantage of this windfall and ordering the Jackrabbit mass-produced for his troops. Due to fundamental flaws in the design being revealed in the hard fighting of Amaris-Kerensky Civil War and the taint of being used against the SLDF, none were taken on Operation Exodus. The surviving examples of the 500 Jackrabbits produced and the Skobel factory were carefully mothball by ComStar.

Seeking new designs to recoup the massive material losses in the Battle of Tukayyid, and noting the Jackrabbit's dependable and sturdy base frame, Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht ordered the maligned design reworked, resulting in the well received Nexus which entered production in 3054. After their capture of Terra, the Word of Blake revised the production line to produce the so-called Nexus II as well as issuing the surviving Jackrabbits to their Protectorate Militia.

Armament

Intended to provide long-range fire support to fellow Light 'Mechs and infantry, the Jackrabbit is armed with a Armstrong JJ-Lite Autocannon/2 backed up at short range by a single Holly Streak SRM-2 rack. The main weapon is also the Jackrabbit's main drawback, as while class 2 autocannons have longer effective ranges than most other weapons, they inflict the same damage as a machine gun at the cost of considerable weight which could be devoted to a larger engine or more armor, a trade-off that ultimately doomed the Jackrabbit.

Variants

• JKR-9R - Nicknamed "the Joker" by SLDF troops, JKR-9R was developed by Rim Worlds Republic technicians attempting to boost the flawed Jackrabbits effectiveness by replacing the autocannon with a Large Laser, an extra heat sink and a ton of armor. Half the surviving examples are of this type.
• JKR-9W - A modern upgrade developed by the Word of Blake, the autocannon is replaced with a Light AC/5 and an ER Medium Laser is added to the right torso.
• Nexus - Developed to overcome the flaws of the design, the Nexus follows a more normal light 'Mech design style. A larger Nissan 175 engine boosts its top speed to 119 km/h and jump jets increase its maneuverability, with the weapon array entirely replace with a Medium Laser backed up by two Medium Pulse Lasers cooled by ten double heat sinks. As a weapon of last resort, the Nexus has two Small Lasers and for protection against missile attacks a Anti-Missile System. The only sour when compared to the Jackrabbit is that the armor protection has been reduced by 1 and a half tons.

References

• ComStar (sourcebook) - pp 98-99
• Technical Readout: 3058 - pp 96-97
• Technical Readout: 3075 - pp 176-177