LGB-OA Longbow
Overview
With debate growing over Resolution 288 and spreading rumors about the possibility that the Captain-General had been replaced with a double, powers within Andurien began preparing for secession again during the late sixties. While it took over a decade for the opportunity to arise, the Duchy made the most of that time.
When Brooks Incorporated stumbled upon a wireless omnitechnology interface for vehicles, Andurien secessionists immediately moved in to keep the development a secret. The system was adapted for use on OmniMechs and the Duchy began to acquire reliable BattleMechs for loyal militias as part of a covert upgrade program.
By far the most troublesome target of these acquisitions were Longbows. The secessionists underestimated the popularity and versatility of the design, and it was eventually more economical to quietly license the Longbow and create a similar ‘Mech domestically. When the Duchy shrugged off their neutrality three years into the Free Worlds League Civil War, those Longbows became the backbone of the new First Andurien Rangers.
Capabilities
Even for an assault ‘Mech, the new Longbow carries staggering firepower. There are no weight-saving construction materials one expects from a modern war machine. It’s a relic from an earlier era; it's slow, heavily armored, and dedicated to waddling into battle with piles of guns.
That problem is ameliorated by the Longbow’s many weapon loadouts. Most are designed to give it standoff power and support abilities before it closes with the enemy. Other loadouts are focused on delivering overwhelming firepower in city engagements or in air-deployed headhunting missions.
The I-2 omnimech technology helps with this. The omni pods connect with the Longbow’s central computer via shortwave radio link. Electronics jamming can cause problems with these links, but such interference only happens at close ranges. The savings on tons of cablings and interfaces is often considered worth the risk.
OmniMechs are designed to handle different frequencies depending on the omni pods used. BattleMechs using I-2 technologies have a single set of radio frequencies which are easily isolated and completely shut down. Enhancing the ability of weapons and computer systems in BattleMechs has proven expensive enough that Duchy military planners prefer to focus on making more OmniMechs instead.
Battle History
The Duchy of Andurien’s Operation Knight South was a bluff, cutting aggressively into the Capellan Confederation to deter the larger state from adventurism. Instead of leap-frogging, fast-strike raids against a numerically superior foe, Andurien companies tore through understrength regiments and suffered fervent attacks from defending forces throwing themselves into their lines. This necessitated the C variant.
As Capellan resistance stiffened, Lieutenant Colonel Geraint Gross knew the Duchy needed a win against the CCAF on equal terms before they could bring Sian to the table. He took his command lance of new OmniMechs--Mercurys, Falcon Hawks, and Galahads--and outfitted them with long range missile loadouts. He then lured the Capellan force into a nearby forest using himself as bait. With his Longbow Prime, he eviscerated the enemy commander while spotting for friendly missile fire. Gross died, but the Anduriens won the day and a month later the Andurien Rangers negotiated a cease fire with representatives from Warrior House Dai Da Chi.
Variants
Known as being easy to maintain, the Primary configuration carries a pair of massive class-twenty autocannons. The addition of jump jets makes it a formidable infighter, but even three additional heat sinks struggle to keep up with its output.
The A configuration calls back to the Longbow of the Star League Era. The LRM 5 racks have been converted into SRM 4’s and the LRM 20’s have been converted into smaller, 15-shot models. Third LRM 15 system has offset the loss in firepower.
A pair of MML 9’s split the difference between short and long range firepower for the B configuration. A trio of autocannons carry the real knockdown power; a traditional class-10 autocannon carried opposite twin light autocannons make it a formidable foe.
The C loadout of the Longbow carries eight machine guns and forty medium range missiles for devastating firepower under a pressing charge of enemies. A single LRM 10 rack preserves its fire support abilities.
LGB-OA Longbow
Type/Model: Longbow LGB-OA
Tech: Mixed / 3072
Config: Biped OmniMech
Manufactured: Duchy of Andurien
Fielded:
Duchy of Andurien (Common)
Mass: 80 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 0 8.00
122 points
Engine:240 Fusion 6 11.50
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 Single 1 0.00
(Loc: 1 HD)
Gyro: 4 3.00
Cockpit: 5 3.00
Actuators: 12 0.00
L: Sh+UA R: Sh+UA
Armor Factor: 0 14.50
232 pts
Internal Structure Armor Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 25 37
Center Torso (Rear): 12
L/R Side Torso: 17 25/25
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 8/8
L/R Arm: 13 23/23
L/R Leg: 17 31/31
Weapons and Equipment Loc Crits Tons
---------------------------------------
Primary Configuration
SRM-4 RT 1 2.00
2 Small Lasers LT 2 1.00
Autocannon/20 RA 10 14.00
Autocannon/20 LA 10 14.00
@AC/20 (15) RT 3 3.00
@SRM-4 (25) RT 1 1.00
@AC/20 (10) LT 2 2.00
Jump Jet CT 1 1.00
Jump Jet RL 1 1.00
Jump Jet LL 1 1.00
Crits & Tons Left: 18 0.0
A Configuration
SRM-4 CT 1 2.00
LRM-15 RT 3 7.00
Large Laser LT 2 5.00
SRM-4 LT 1 2.00
LRM-15 RA 3 7.00
LRM-15 LA 3 7.00
@LRM-15 (16) RT 2 2.00
@SRM-4 (25) LT 1 1.00
@LRM-15 (8) RA 1 1.00
@LRM-15 (8) LA 1 1.00
Heat Sink CT 1 1.00
Heat Sink LL 2 2.00
Heat Sink RL 2 2.00
Crits & Tons Left: 27 0.0
B Configuration
MML-9 RT 5 6.00
MML-9 LT 5 6.00
Autocannon/10 RA 7 12.00
2 Light AC/5s LA 4 10.00
@MML-9 (LRM) (13) RT 1 1.00
@MML-9 (SRM) (11) LT 1 1.00
@AC/10 (20) RA 2 2.00
@Light AC/5 (20) LA 1 1.00
@LAC/5(Precision) (10) LA 1 1.00
Crits & Tons Left: 23 0.0
C Configuration
2 Medium Lasers CT 2 2.00
MRM-20 RT 3 7.00
MRM-20 LT 3 7.00
2 (R) Medium Lasers LT 2 2.00
4 Machine Guns RA 4 2.00
LRM-10 RA 2 5.00
4 Machine Guns LA 4 2.00
@MRM-20 (24) RT 2 2.00
@MG (1/2) (100) RT 1 0.50
@LRM-10 (Frag) (12) RT 1 1.00
@MRM-20 (24) LT 2 2.00
@LRM-10 (12) RA 1 1.00
Heat Sink LT 2 2.00
Heat Sink LL 2 2.00
Heat Sink RL 2 2.00
CASE RT 1 0.50
Crits & Tons Left: 16 0.0
Type I-2 Omni Technology - This is a wireless omnipod interfacing technology. This technology only saves on targeting connections; cooling and power leads are still required. This saves 0.5 tons per 5 tons of pod-mounted weapons (not equipment, ammunition, or physical weapons). Due to the complexity of running targeting data through any source but the unit’s own targeting systems, I-2 omni units may not mount targeting computers, C3 systems of any kind, AES, or Nova CEWS.
These units are very susceptible to electronics warfare interference. For every enemy ECM field affecting the unit, it suffers a +1 to-hit (to a maximum of +3). iNARC Haywire pods inflict an additional +1 penalty (for a total of +2, which is not subject to the penalty cap of ECM fields). I-2 pods are completely incompatible with conventional OmniMech technology and vice versa.
The Longbow configurations mount the following additional gear when using these optional rules.
Primary Configuration
Heat Sink CT 1 1.00
Heat Sink LL 1 1.00
Heat Sink RL 1 1.00
A Configuration
Heat Sink RT 1 1.00
Heat Sink LT 1 1.00
CASE RT 1 0.50
CASE LT 1 0.50
B Configuration
Heat Sink LL 2 2.00
Heat Sink RL 1 1.00
C Configuration
Heat Sink RT 2 2.00
CASE LT 1 0.50
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