Phoenix (BattleMech)

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Phoenix (BattleMech)
Phoenix
Production information
Manufacturer Krauss-Liemann Incorporated[1]
Diplass BattleMechs[2]
Production Year 2520[3][4]
Model PX-3R[1]
Class Medium
Cost 4,234,250 C-bills[3]
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 50 tons
Chassis 12b Krauss-Liemann
Armor PanzerSlab Type 3[1]
Engine Magna 250[1]
Communications System Vex/Holden TriComm Plus
Targeting Tracking System Dillon QuadTrac w/Particle Cannon Suite[1]
Heat Sinks 14[1]
Speed 86[1] km/h
Jump Jets Gerard Special A[1]
Armament
BV (1.0) ???
BV (2.0) 1,106[1][3][5][6]


Description

The Phoenix was the Rim Worlds Republic's first effort to design a jump-capable BattleMech designed and produced by Krauss-Liemann Incorporated. Terens Amaris was convinced that the Wasp and its jump jets heralded a sea-change in tactics and was determined to build a 'Mech larger than the Wasp that incorporated them. Unfortunately, the Republic lacked jump jets, so the project stalled while technicians reverse-engineered the technology. Terens insisted on "quality over quantity" in the Republic's BattleMech program, delaying production until well after the Terran Hegemony had fielded the Griffin and Shadow Hawk. The First Consul diverted resources away from other production efforts to accomplish this which became a massive boondoggle. Nonetheless, the Phoenix and its jumping capability did allow the Republic to execute new battle plans, including combat drops from DropShips. No other power produced or salvaged the Phoenix and it was believed to have become extinct following Aleksandr Kerensky's conquest of the Rim Worlds Republic. It was surprising, then, when a ComStar report indicated that the Hanseatic League was deploying a number of them.[1]

The earliest prototypes of the Phoenix underwent numerous changes throughout its long development history. Having nearly reached completion of a prototype in 2470, Terens Amaris ordered the design team to implement jump jet technology for immediate testing - information that had been acquired by the Republic's intelligence agency. They quickly scrambled to redesign a machine that was essentially complete as a result. The design philosophy had been intended to create a front-line "trooper" BattleMech that would engage enemies at all ranges and so had mounted a PPC and a two SRM-4 launchers. In order to reconfigure it as jump-capable, the launchers were downgraded to twin SRM-2s, but received slightly better armor protection. Ultimately Krauss' engineers encountered the same problems as the Terran Hegemony with their earlier Wasp and it took an additional 4 years until the redesigned prototype was unveiled and another 6 before it was production ready. It was mired by constant problems including electronics interference when the particle cannon was fired, with pilots giving it the name "Sparkly Bird." The legs were also too weak to deal with the stress of landing a 50 ton BattleMech, resulting in fractured or shattered leg and torso structural components. These were eventually corrected after 33 years, just 13 years before Krauss-Liemann Incorporated designed the modern PX-3R Phoenix. [7]

The main feature of the medium-class Phoenix is its ability to jump up to 150 meters. Capable of attaining 86 km/h, the Phoenix is protected by nine tons of armor.[1]

Weapons and Equipment

Primarily a sniper, the Phoenix mounts a Stolz Harbinger 2 PPC. To back it up, the 3R carries a pair of SRM-2 launchers. Two ammo bins enable the use of different munitions, including Infernos.[1]

Variants

  • PX-1R 
    The original prototype of the primitive Phoenix introduced in 2474[8], the 1R was slower with a top speed of 64 km/h and had fewer heat sinks.[1][7] BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 900[9][8]
  • PX-4R 
    This variant developed in 2581[10] was highly anticipated, but it proved to be so unpopular that production was canceled. The decision to switch to an ammunition-fed Autocannon/10 instead of the PPC is blamed.[1] BV (2.0) = 996[11][12][10]

Design Quirks

The PX-1R Phoenix variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:[7]

Gallery

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 Technical Readout: 3075, pp. 298-299, "PX-3R Phoenix"
  2. Field Report 2765: Periphery, p. 11, "Infrastructural Integrity"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 MUL online entry for the Phoenix (BattleMech)
  4. Era Digest: Age of War, p. 11
  5. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 272
  6. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 217
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 5, p. 4 "PX-1R Phoenix 'Mech Profile"
  8. 8.0 8.1 MUL online entry for the PX-1R Phoenix varinat
  9. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 273
  10. 10.0 10.1 MUL online entry for the PX-4R Phoenix varinat
  11. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 274
  12. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 218

Bibliography