Name:  Long Tom (Prototype)
Type (Category):  Weapon (Area-Effect)
Reference:  Interstellar Operations: Alternate Eras (p. 112)

Description:
Artillery weapons are a common and effective—but not always reliable—source of fire support in the major ground engagements of the BattleTech universe. Unless otherwise noted, the artillery weapons described here follow the same basic gameplay rules as presented for Artillery Weapons, and may not be fired by any applicable aerospace units (except Arrow IV) unless the unit is first landed or its special munitions rules permit otherwise.

Often referred to as “tube artillery” (to differentiate them from missile artillery weapons like the Arrow IV), the conventional artillery pieces of the Succession Wars—the Thumper, Sniper and Long Tom—remain the standard by which most similar weapons are measured. Often employing unguided, unpowered rounds, conventional artillery relies on technology that predates humankind’s first steps among the stars.

Game Rules:
Thumper, Sniper, Long Tom and BA Tube artillery weapons use the standard rules for Indirect Artillery and Direct-Fire Artillery, as well as Counter-Battery Fire, and may use a broad range of alternate ammunition loads, including standard, Smoke, Anti-Personnel, Incendiary and Thunder/FASCAM rounds. Note that BA Tube artillery is fired in squads and damage is multiplied by remaining troopers: a roll on the Cluster Hit Table is not required. BA Tube artillery may be used against airborne aerospace targets using the flak rules for direct-fire artillery. Ammunition expenditure is tracked during game play.

Primitive prototype ballistic weapons (standard autocannons and the Long Tom artillery weapon) will suffer a jam on any to-hit roll result of 2 and may carry only three-quarters of their listed ammunition capacity (rounding up) per ton. Jammed weapons cannot be cleared in battle, and are considered damaged—but not destroyed—for game play and repair purposes.

Regardless of their nature, all Primitive prototype basic weapons are incompatible with modern targeting enhancers, including Artemis, Narc, and the targeting computer.

BattleMechsIndustrialMechsCombat Vehicles

Prototype Date:	2445
Production Date:	—
Extinction Date:	2510
Recovery Date:	—

BattleMech Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
AMMUNITION COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
Special Unit Abilities

MegaMek Output → Weapon List:  Long Tom-P
MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  ISLongTomPrototype
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Long Tom (Prototype)

Prototype Date:	2445
Production Date:	—
Extinction Date:	2510
Recovery Date:	—

IndustrialMech Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
AMMUNITION COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
Special Unit Abilities

MegaMek Output → Weapon List:  Long Tom-P
MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  ISLongTomPrototype
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Long Tom (Prototype)

Prototype Date:	2445
Production Date:	—
Extinction Date:	2510
Recovery Date:	—

Combat Vehicle Specific Construction Rules

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
AMMUNITION COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE
ALPHA STRIKE WEAPON CONVERSION TABLE
Special Unit Abilities

MegaMek Output → Weapon List:  Long Tom-P
MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  ISLongTomPrototype
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Long Tom (Prototype)