Xanthos

The Xanthos was first introduced by the Capellan Confederation in Introduction Year::2564, designed by a young engineer named Dr. David Harrison. Working for Hollis Inc., he pioneered the technology to create four-legged BattleMechs. This technological advancement that later allowed the research into the Scorpion and Goliath enabled the Xanthos to get on the field. It was presented to the Terran Hegemony for review after the cancellation of the Catapult. Hollis pushed to have this 'Mech presented against Dr. Harrison's wishes in a bid to maintain financial solvency. Clumsy and stiff, the 'Mech failed to win the contract from the Star League purchasing committee.

Weapons and Equipment
A GE508 Autocannon/20 with three tons of ammunition provides substantial close hitting power. It is backed up with three Martell Medium Lasers, a six-tube Holly Short Range Missile Pack, and a rear-firing small laser. A PPC rounds out this design's weaponry, giving it some range.

Deployment
When originally sold, most of XNT-3Os were purchased by House Liao. While it performed fairly well on the field, shipment delays canceled its initial procurement. The design became extinct by the time of the Extinction Era::Second Succession War.

In the 3070s, the design re-emerged after the discovery of the Hegemony Memory Core. Elite Capellan, Lyran, as well as some mercenary units have acquired modern variants of this 'Mech.

Variants

 * XNT-2O : An early, primitive prototype introduced in Earliest Introduction Year::2564, the 2O used Age of War technology. In particular, the engine, cockpit and armor were all primitive technology. It could reach a top speed of 54 km/h and was protected by fifteen tons of primitive armor. Eighteen single heat sinks dissipated the heat produced by an Autocannon/10, SRM-4, Large Laser, and two medium and Small Lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,300


 * XNT-4O : The 4O is a Jihad-era variant, introduced in Reintroduction Year::3068, equipped with a Compact Engine and Heavy-Duty Gyro. The 'Mech has a Heavy PPC and two Light PPCs. The lasers were upgraded with extended range technology. All of the other weapons were removed. The chassis is now covered with a full complement of Stealth Armor. It also contains enough jump jets to vault up to ninety meters at a time. BV (2.0) = 2,548


 * XNT-5O : The proposed variant for Xanthos, which was on the drawing board as of 3075. To save weight it utilizes an Endo Steel frame and Light Ferro-Fibrous armor, though a Compact Gyro is used to make a little extra room. Improved Jump Jets enable it to leap up to one hundred fifty meters in a single bound. It is armed with one ER PPC, five Medium Pulse Lasers, and a rear-mounted ER Small Laser. BV (2.0) = 2,146


 * XNT-6O : This Dark Age era variant carries two PPCs, two Small Pulse Lasers, four ER Medium Lasers, and a single LRM-10. It is protected by Stealth Armor and uses a Guardian ECM Suite. Fifteen double heat sinks are augmented by a single Coolant Pod. BV (2.0) = 2,300


 * XNT-7O : Another Dark Age model, this version uses a 400XL fusion engine to reach a top speed of 64km/h. It is protected by standard armor and CASE II in case the two Clan-spec Gauss Rifles explode. The Gauss Rifles are supported by four Clan-built ER Medium Lasers. BV (2.0) = 2,620

Dark Age Variants

 * XNS-01-A : Manufactured in 3132, this Dark Age era variant utilizes a 400 LTV XL fusion engine to save weight, giving the 'Mech a higher top speed of 64.8 km/h. Its armament consists of four ER Medium Lasers and two Gauss Rifles. NOTE: This is the same as the XNT-7O described above.

Design Quirks
The XNS-2O Xanthos is subject to the following Design Quirks:
 * Bad Reputation
 * Obsolete (2565)
 * Poor Performance
 * Protected Actuators
 * Prototype
 * Unbalanced

Notable pilots

 * General Bernard Nordhoff of Lyran Commonwealth was a notable Xanthos Pilot during the Dark Age.