Gila
Mass: 85 tons
Chassis: Geometric 530 Hard Core
Power Plant: RoboTrek 255 Super Reliable
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: JF Series 85
Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor: CarboStrand 30 Weight ASff
Armament:
44.0 tons of pod space
Manufacturer: Refits / Clan Snow Raven
Primary Factory: Lum
Communication System: GRPNTR Groundpainter 5
Targeting & Tracking System: Scope 30 RNDST
Introduction Year: 3054
Tech Rating/Availability: F/X-X-E-D
Cost: 11,064,156 C-bills
Overview
Training duty in the SLDF was split evenly between three ‘Mechs: the ever plentiful Stinger, the rarer but remarkable Chameleon and the reliable (yet deadly) Crockett. While the Stinger was also used as a scout by most militaries, the other two had a very definite role and were not meant to be used in “actual fighting”… until the Succession Wars happened. Even there, the Crockett had been pressed into combat service during the Amaris Civil War a fair bit and its life support issues had been brought up to the Star League Corp of Quartermasters.
The Exodus did not take many Crocketts with it, leaving a large portion of the remaining ones with Jerome Blake. Those were also the “first casualties” of the demilitarization of the Pentagon Worlds, as training new MechWarriors was not regarded as essential. Almost immediately put in caches, their fancier equipment stripped off, those Crocketts would have been completely forgotten about if not for the ilKhan Reforms after the Battle of Tukayyid.
One of the radical changes brought forward by Lynn McKenna was the desire for Trueborn warriors to clear their training sibko in much larger numbers. This quickly required more machines be made available for sibcadets, with Brian Caches being raided by the Merchant caste to find the necessary machines. The handful of Crocketts, along with many Chameleons, were acquired by the ilKhan Council, which commissioned immediate conversion of them and a “production plan” be put in place by the Scientist Caste to provide for new warriors.
Conversion of the design into an effective “training OmniMech” began in earnest in 3054, following in the steps of things like the Night Chanter and Spirit Walker and using the existing chassis and converting it to an Omni platform instead of building a new ‘Mech from the ground up. As the heaviest of the new training ‘Mechs, the Gila would be provided in smaller amounts to sibkos but would be essential both for training “officer-level cadets” and to habituate younger cadets in BattleMech operation.
Capabilities
The Gila is built around an extensively reliable 255 Fusion engine, which is much easier to produce than the common XL engine the Clan uses. While it only can reach a top speed of 54kmph, it also is equipped with jump jets which are hard mounted, allowing it to reposition 90 meters if required. This is all so that new pilots can learn how to move and operate BattleMechs in a variety of situations. To make sure the cadets “do not wreck it”, the Crockett C has 13 and a half tons of ferro-fibrous plates covering a simple structure which can be repaired quicker than any fancy endo-steel chassis.
Prime
44 tons of pod space is massive and allows for a wide variety of configurations. The Prime Configuration of the Gila was built to specification by the ilKhan, with all basic types of weapons a cadet would need to learn to operate. Each shoulder mounts a missile launcher, with a 6-tubes of SRM on one side and a 10-rack of LRM on the other. A large bore 10-class ultra-autocannon is also in the side torso, allowing for a strong double punch when required. Each arm mounts a large and medium laser, with ER versions on one side and pulse versions on the other.
Alpha
The A configuration of the Gila is meant to train pilots in long range direct fire roles and is viewed as one of the most destructive one. Each arm copies the Marauder setup with an ER PPC and an ER Medium Laser, allowing for devastating energy weapon fire. To support this, the side torso mounts a gauss rifle with 2 tons of reloads. All these weapons are tied to a targeting computer on top of things.
Bravo
B Configuration focuses solely on long range missiles to teach pilots both heat management, indirect fire and weapon clustering. With 120-racks of long range missiles spread between each arms and side torsos, the Bravo still needs to be careful about overheating due to its limited number of double heat sinks. 8 tons of reloads allows the cadet to learn about speciality ammunition as well. A single, center-torso mounted ER Medium Laser rounds up the equipment.
Charlie
C configuration is once again a specialized model, featuring a 20-class autocannon in each side torso. One side features a LB-X model with 3 tons of reloads, while the opposite has an Ultra with 4 tons of reloads. One major difference on this one is that each arm feature full actuators and an ER Large Laser for longer range fire power.
Delta
D configuration took advantage of Clan Coyote’s new ATM technology and reproduced the original Crockett as closely as they could. Each shoulder mounts a 6-tube of ATM, while a LB-10X also resides in the right torso. Each arm features an ER Large Laser and an ER Small Laser, all of this cooled by 17 double heat sinks.
Hotel
The H Configuration was built to prepare new cadets to some of the other new technologies introduced by the Clans by 3060. The main weapons are either the pair of arm-mounted Heavy Large Lasers or the torso-mounted HAG/40 (with a mere 12 shots even though 4 tons are devoted to the ammunition). For backup, you have an ER Medium Laser mounted in the center torso for mid-range engagements, while the arms also have a Medium Pulse Laser and Heavy Small Laser as backup.
Technical Readout
Type: Gila Prime
Technology Base: Clan (Standard)
Tonnage: 85
Battle Value: 2,634
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 8.5
Engine 255 Fusion 13
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 3
Double Heat Sink 20 [40] 10
Gyro 3
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor (Ferro) 259 13.5
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head 3 9
Center Torso 27 41
Center Torso (rear) 13
R/L Torso 18 28
R/L Torso (rear) 8
R/L Arm 14 27
R/L Leg 18 35 Weight and Space Allocation
Location Fixed Space Remaining
Head Ferro-Fibrous 0
Center Torso None 2
Right Torso None 12
Left Torso None 12
Right Arm 2 Ferro-Fibrous 8
Left Arm 2 Ferro-Fibrous 8
Right Leg Ferro-Fibrous 1
Left Leg Ferro-Fibrous 1
Right Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm
Left Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm
Weapons and Ammo
Location Critical Heat Tonnage
Jump Jet LL 1 – 1.0
Jump Jet CT 1 – 1.0
Jump Jet RL 1 – 1.0
5 Double Heat Sink RT 10 – 5.0
LRM 10 Ammo (12) RT 1 – 1.0
LRM 10 RT 1 4 2.5
ER Medium Laser LA 1 5 1.0
ER Large Laser LA 1 12 4.0
Double Heat Sink LA 2 – 1.0
Ultra AC/10 LT 4 3 10.0
SRM 6 Ammo (15) LT 1 – 1.0
SRM 6 LT 1 4 1.5
Ultra AC/10 Ammo (20) LT 2 – 2.0
2 Double Heat Sink LT 4 – 2.0
Large Pulse Laser RA 2 10 6.0
Medium Pulse Laser RA 1 4 2.0
2 Double Heat Sink RA 4 – 2.0
Features the following design quirks: Easy to Pilot
