Phoenix (BattleMech)

The Phoenix was the Rim Worlds Republic's first effort to design a jump-capable BattleMech designed and produced by Krauss-Liemann Incorporated. Terens Amaris was convinced that the Wasp and its jump jets heralded a sea-change in tactics and was determined to build a 'Mech larger than the Wasp that incorporated them. Unfortunately, the Republic lacked jump jets, so the project stalled while technicians reverse-engineered the technology. Terens insisted on "quality over quantity" in the Republic's BattleMech program, delaying production until well after the Terran Hegemony had fielded the Griffin and Shadow Hawk. The First Consul diverted resources away from other production efforts to accomplish this which became a massive boondoggle. Nonetheless, the Phoenix and its jumping capability did allow the Republic to execute new battle plans, including combat drops from DropShips. No other power produced or salvaged the Phoenix and it was believed to have become extinct following Aleksandr Kerensky's conquest of the Rim Worlds Republic. It was surprising, then, when a ComStar report indicated that the Hanseatic League was deploying a number of them.

The earliest prototypes of the Phoenix underwent numerous changes throughout its long development history. Having nearly reached completion of a prototype in 2470, Terens Amaris ordered the design team to implement jump jet technology for immediate testing - information that had been acquired by the Republic's intelligence agency. They quickly scrambled to redesign a machine that was essentially complete as a result. The design philosophy had been intended to create a front-line "trooper" BattleMech that would engage enemies at all ranges and so had mounted a PPC and a two SRM-4 launchers. In order to reconfigure it as jump-capable, the launchers were downgraded to twin SRM-2s, but received slightly better armor protection. Ultimately Krauss' engineers encountered the same problems as the Terran Hegemony with their earlier Wasp and it took an additional 4 years until the redesigned prototype was unveiled and another 6 before it was production ready. It was mired by constant problems including electronics interference when the particle cannon was fired, with pilots giving it the name "Sparkly Bird." The legs were also too weak to deal with the stress of landing a 50 ton BattleMech, resulting in fractured or shattered leg and torso structural components. These were eventually corrected after 33 years, just 13 years before Krauss-Liemann Incorporated designed the modern PX-3R Phoenix.

The main feature of the medium-class Phoenix is its ability to jump up to 150 meters. Capable of attaining 86 km/h, the Phoenix is protected by nine tons of armor.

Weapons and Equipment
Primarily a sniper, the Phoenix mounts a Stolz Harbinger 2 PPC. To back it up, the 3R carries a pair of SRM-2 launchers. Two ammo bins enable the use of different munitions, including Infernos.

Variants

 * PX-1R : The original prototype of the primitive Phoenix introduced in Introduction Year::2474, the 1R was slower with a top speed of 64 km/h and had fewer heat sinks. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 900


 * PX-1KC : Wechsel Royal Industrial Repair and Heavy Machining (WRI, Inc.) on Kaumberg has created four variants of the RetroTech Phoenix. The PX-1KC replaces the PPC and two heat sinks with an Autocannon/5 and a ton of ammunition. BV (2.0) = 766


 * PX-1KL : The second WRI, Inc. Phoenix configuration replaces the PPC, two heat sinks, and the SRM-2s of the original for a single Large Laser supported by a SRM-6 and two tons of ammo. BV (2.0) = 930


 * PX-1KR : The third WRI, Inc. Phoenix configuration replaces the PPC and two heat sinks with a Heavy Rifle and two tons of ammunition. The loss of the 'Mech's jump jets for the heavy, inefficient weapon and an extra half ton of armor makes it unpopular with pilots. BV (2.0) = 760


 * PX-1KT : The final WRI, Inc. Phoenix configuration may be the best. The PPC is traded for a Thunderbolt 10 missile with two tons of ammunition. This lets the Phoenix hit with as much damage as the original, but at a much lower heat penalty. BV (2.0) = 857


 * PX-4R : This variant developed in Introduction Year::2581 was highly anticipated, but it proved to be so unpopular that production was canceled. The decision to switch to an ammunition-fed Autocannon/10 instead of the PPC is blamed. BV (2.0) = 996

Design Quirks
The PX-1R Phoenix variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:
 * EM Interference
 * Obsolete (2525)
 * Poor Workmanship
 * Weak Legs