Antlion

Description
The Antlion was an unusual Quad BattleMech; it was purpose-built by StarCorps Industries for the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns from their plant on Crofton to fill a tactical indirect fire support role. The introduction of the Antlion was at least in part a reaction to the proliferation of Anti-Missile Systems, which rendered other indirect fire systems significantly less effective after the mid-thirty-first century.

Relatively slow despite the use of a GM SuperFusion 225 XL, XL Gyro and Small Cockpit, the Antlion combined nine and a half tons of Light Ferro Fibrous armor with a Reinforced Structure for survivability, although a great deal of the Antlion's defense depended on the Bloodhound Active Probe each 'Mech was equipped with.

Outclassed in direct combat by many 'Mechs, the Antlion wasn't designed to fight opponents directly; instead, the Antlion was designed to rain down indirect fire, preferably from cover some distance away. The Bloodhound Active Probe helped with this mission profile, but StarCorps also installed a Remote Sensor Dispenser in the Antlion's left torso, acting as a force multiplier by allowing an Antlion to seed an area with sensors in anticipation of subsequent fire missions.

Weapons and Equipment
The Antlion mounts a pair of Clan-tech Type 4 'Mech Mortars, one in the left torso and one in the right, both fed by six tons of ammunition secured deep inside the right torso and protected by CASE II. This ample supply of ammunition allows the Antlion to conduct substantial bombardments, if it has the time and opportunity to do so; however, the only other weapons mounted onto the Antlion are a pair of Sperry Browning Light Machine Guns mounted in its head.

Variants
As of 3145 no variants of the Antlion had been introduced to service.

Design Quirks
As of 3145 no design quirks emerged.