Tortoise II

Tortoise II
Production information
Manufacturer	StarCorps Industries
Use	Frontline City Fighting
Chassis Type	Quad
Weight Class	Assault
Tech Base	Mixed
Introduced	3134
Technical specifications
Mass	2 tons kg
Top Speed	1(2) km/h
Armament	1x Modular Turret Mount 1x Detachable Weapon Pack (ER Medium Laser)
Armor Type	Clan Improved Stealth
BV (2.0)	143 (aSRM) 152 (SRM) 143 (LRM) 119 (C3)

Description

The brainchild of Dr. Stephen Vance, Tortoise II Battle Armor was an Assault Class Quad Battle Armor developed by the Republic of the Sphere. It was a hybrid of of Inner Sphere and Clan technologies utilized by the Republic, which was costly for StarCorp Industries of Terra to develop. This was due to the unique design features Dr. Vance incorporated into it. Dr. Vance utilized wheels instead of rear legs to help the design carry its twin modules of weapons onto the battlefield. Nicknamed the "Wheelbarrel", the original Tortoise prototype was a money pit. After a redesign and some technology exchanged between Arc Royal MechWorks, the new Tortoise II proved to be successful redesign despite its critics.

At its only known public trial demonstration against Republic forces in 3134, it showed it was a durable heavy weapon platform. This occurred prior to events leading to Fortress Republic.

Weapons and Equipment

The primary weapon systems the Tortoise II are split between a Modular Turret Mount and a Detachable Weapon Mount. Its main weapon is a ER Medium Pulse Laser located in the Detachable mount on the main body. A number of weapons can be fitted onto the turret mount: an Advanced SRM 3 Launcher with eight rounds of ammunition, a Clan SRM 6 launcher with three rounds of ammo, an LRM-4 with seven rounds of ammunition, or a Battle Armor C3 System and pair of Light Machine Guns with fifty rounds per gun.

Like other Assault-weight battle armor suits, the Tortoise II is slow. However, should a pilot need go beyond the armor's 10 kph speed, the soldier wearing it could remove the suit's Detachable Weapons Mount to double its speed. The suit is protected by 350 kilograms of Clan Stealth Armor, allowing the unit to survive direct hits and making it harder to target.

Design Quirks

The Tortoise II has the following Design Quirks;

• Distracting
• Difficult to Maintain
• Hard to Pilot
• Prototype

Notes

• As of this writing, the Tortoise II's record sheet is only found in Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 2.

Bibliography

• Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 2