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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Horseshoe Crab HRC-M2
Designer:           Knightrunner
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  D
Tonnage:            35
Configuration:      Quad BattleMech
Era/Year:           Succession Wars / 2908
Rules (Current):    Introductory
Rules (Era):        Introductory
Rules (Year):       Introductory
Total Cost:         2,888,550 C-Bills
Battle Value:       797

Chassis:              Standard
Power Plant:          245 Fusion
Walking Speed:        75.6 kph  
Maximum Speed:        118.8 kph 
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                Standard
Armament:             
    1 Large Laser
    1 SRM 4
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown

================================================================================================
Overview:
    The HRC-M2, one of the rarest mechs ever used in Marik space, was designed, built, and used
    almost exclusively on the sea-mining colony of Erelan early in the 30th century.
    
    Erelan, one of the most prosperous planets in the Free Worlds League owed its wealth to the
    extensive sea-mining operations dotting its continental shelves.  These massive industrial
    complexes produced massive quantities of high-quality ore, but were constantly targeted in
    raids.  Mech losses (due mainly to flooded body sections) in these raids were ruinous to
    both sides, but the industrial capacity of the planet and availability of skilled engineers
    provided a solution: a mech designed specifically to fight underwater.
    
    The Horseshoe Crab design was loosely based on a smaller exploration/construction chassis of
    proven stability.  A large laser provided ample firepower at range, while a short-range
    torpedo launcher could flood an enemy mech in a single salvo.  A land-based variant could be
    easily retrofitted by removing the torpedo launcher in favor of an SRM rack, but the HRC
    proved somewhat less deadly outside of the water.
    
    Unfortunately, the Horseshoe Crab was a victim of its own success.  After several raids were
    decimated by the HRC's torpedoes, the Steiner general Alphonse van Haarten ordered an
    orbital strike against Erelan's underwater industrial base in 2917.  Although several
    Horseshoe Crabs survived the barrage, their factory was destroyed, along with much of the
    planet's population and industrial capacity.  Although never conquered, Erelan has never
    fully recovered and the Horse hoe Crab passed into obscurity.

Capabilities:
    The original Horseshoe Crab was well-suited to underwater combat.  The four-legged mech was
    reasonably quick and maneuverable when submerged, and the laser and torpedo racks were
    highly effective against submarines and land-based mechs.  The extra stability of the
    platform was a major factor in the design's success.
    
    The HRC's quad nature also made salvage easier; a HRC could drag itself back to base even
    after several body sections were flooded.  Pilots typically wore armored dive suits with
    modified neurohelmets, allowing them to survive cockpit flooding or catastrophic life
    support failure.

Deployment:
    As of 3025, the only remaining Horseshoe Crab is a land conversion serving in the Erelan
    militia.  Lack of replacement parts and prejudice against quadrupedal mechs keeps this mech
    out of major combat, and helps preserve the last remnant of a unique line.

Variants:
    No specific variants were ever produced, but several individual mechs were field modified
    for land duty by replacing the torpedoes with short-range missiles.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                          Standard                  3.50                     
Engine:                                     245 Fusion                12.00                     
    Walking MP:                                 7                                               
    Running MP:                                 11                                              
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Single):                            10                     0.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                   88                     5.50                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              8       
    Center Torso:                      11             12       
    Center Torso (rear):                               2       
    R/L Torso:                          8             11       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  2       
    R/L Front Leg:                      8             10       
    R/L Rear Leg:                       8             10       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Large Laser                                               CT                2          5.00             
SRM 4                                                     RT                1          2.00             
SRM 4 (Ammo 25)                                           RT                1          1.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 28
TP: BM,  SZ: 1,  TMM: 3,  MV: 14"
Damage: (S) 2 / (M) 2 / (L) 0,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 3,  Structure (S): 3
Specials:
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:52:21-04:00)