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Design Overview
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                 Combat Vehicle Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Balac Strike VTOL (Spotter)
Designer:           Anonymous ONI agent
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Clan
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            25
Role:               Striker
Configuration:      Combat Vehicle
Era/Year:           Jihad / 3079
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         3,372,720 C-Bills
Battle Value:       934

Movement Type:        VTOL
Power Plant:          Consolidated 135 XL
Cruising Speed:       118.8 kph 
Maximum Speed:        183.6 kph 
Armor:                Forging AM15 Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:             
    2 Type 6 ATM 6s
Manufacturer:         New York Vehicle Y2 Facility
    Primary Factory:  Trondheim
Communications:       Neil 9000 with ECM Suite
Targeting & Tracking: RCA Econotrac with Active Probe

================================================================================================
Overview:
    All information transcribed from Technical Readout 3085.
    
    The Diamond Sharks expected the Inner Sphere and Clan militaries would invest heavily to
    restore their forces to pre-Jihad strength. With their lower production complexities, this
    reconstruction was expected to initially focus on vehicle acquisition, so the Sharks
    examined a fast-to-market VTOL design.
    
    It appears as if the Balac’s design is not derivative of any established designs such as
    the Donar or Anhur. Another interesting aspect is that the Diamond Sharks seemingly spared
    no expense, supplying the craft with an XL fusion engine and top-of-the-line ATM 6
    launchers. Despite the inclusion of these expensive technologies, the Balac is still one of
    the more affordable means to bring ATMs to the battlefield, and at a speed not easily
    rivaled by other VTOL craft.

Capabilities:
    Intended as anti-vehicle support, the Balac is ideally suited to the task, courtesy of its
    paired ATMs. The weapons allow the craft to engage hostile vehicles from beyond the range of
    their weapons, and its substantial ammunition bay grants the Balac extended durability in
    the field. For additional firepower, and in case it runs out of ATMs, the Balac can rely on
    an ER medium laser.
    
    One disadvantage of the Balac is its armor protection, which allows the craft to survive
    incidental strikes from all but the heaviest of weapons but is insufficient to survive a
    sustained salvo. Since the majority of Balac operators prefer to fire at their targets while
    hovering, giving them a more stable firing platform, there have been numerous incidents of
    Balacs being surprised by a hostile ’Mech or vehicle in close proximity. As a result, most
    Balacs only hover and fire over terrain that has been vetted by friendly forces. Otherwise
    they typically orbit the enemy formation while close to their top speed.

Deployment:
    Despite a price tag noticeably above the norm for VTOLs the Balac found an eager market both
    among the Clans and the Inner Sphere until Exarch Stone’s swords-to-plowshares philosophy
    became widespread enough to slow sales. It is still a sought-after asset among mercenary
    units and continues to be common in most standing militaries, being preferred over many
    other designs that are being phased out.

Variants:
    The inherent flexibility of the ATM has reduced the need for variant craft, although the
    Diamond Sharks do produce a version that reduces the ammunition supply to mount an ECM suite
    and active probe. This version also swaps the ER medium laser out for TAG.
    
    A “budget” version of the Balac exists as well, using a standard fusion engine and
    downgrading the ATM 6s to LRM 15s. The ammunition supply is curtailed to compensate for the
    heavier engine.

Notable MechWarriors:
    Point Commander Caleb: A warrior in the Hell’s Horses Clan, Caleb is an ancient
    soldier even by Inner Sphere standards, having been born in the last year of the 30th
    Century. He has managed to survive to this day through a combination of fierce battlefield
    prowess and his relatively inoffensive manners. Being assigned to a solahma unit for the
    better part of four decades has not crushed his spirit as it is wont to do. Caleb continues
    to gleefully assault any and all of his Clan’s enemies, and his extensive career has given
    him the distinction of having killed the most combat vehicles of any other VTOL pilot we are
    aware of.
    
    Kommandant Samantha Thomlinson: As a member of the Lyran Guards, Thomlinson has been
    assigned to the majority of the brigade’s component units. She has become known for her
    ”triad” attack maneuver, where she utilizes speed to place her VTOL company, including
    Balacs, at 120-degree angles to the intended target formation. One of the three prongs then
    attacks, causing the target to expose itself to receiving rear shots from one of the other
    two prongs if they pursue. Turning to retreat is nigh-impossible for ground based forces.
    
    In one instance, Thomlinson was able to harry a battalion of tracked armor in this fashion
    over the course of three days while stopping frequently for rest and ammunition reloads in
    an unpredictable pattern. Despite having lost only eight tanks the commander of the
    battalion surrendered at dawn on the fourth day.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                          Standard                  2.50                     
Engine:                                       135 XL                   4.00                     
    Cruising MP:                                11                                              
    Flanking MP:                                17                                              
Heat Sinks (Single):                            10                     0.00                     
Control Equipment:                                                     1.50                     
Lift Equipment:                                                        2.50                     
Power Amplifier:                                                       0.00                     
Turret:                                                                0.00                     
Armor Factor:                                   48                     2.50                     
    Type:                                 Ferro-Fibrous                                         

                                              Armor                                             
                                              Value                                             
    Front:                                      15                                              
    R/L Side:                                   12                                              
    Rear:                                       7                                               
    Rotor:                                      2                                               

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                            Location              Tonnage       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 ATM 6s                                                      Front                7.00         
TAG                                                           Front                1.00         
ATM 6 (Ammo 20)                                               Body                 2.00         
Active Probe                                                  Body                 1.00         
ECM Suite                                                     Body                 1.00         

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 34
TP: CV,  SZ: 1,  TMM: 4,  MV: 22"v
Damage: (S) 3 / (M) 2 / (L) 1
Armor (A): 2,  Structure (S): 2
Specials: ATMO, CASE, ECM, PRB, RCN, SRCH, TAG
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:52:21-04:00)