Shadow Cat II

Description
Based on the lighter Shadow Cat OmniMech, the Shadow Cat II is a heavy Clan Jade Falcon fire-support BattleMech.

When the Jade Falcon Touman clamored for a new heavy 'Mech design in the waning years of the Jihad, rather than waste time on an all-new design, merchant Daniel of Olivetti Weaponry responded by completing an unfinished Clan Homeworld BattleMech prototype that added fifteen tons to the medium weight OmniMech in the manner of the Ryoken II and Mad Cat II designs. While the original prototype mounted a Gauss Rifle like its lighter antecedent, after the Falcons won the rights to the Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle technology, the Shadow Cat II became their production testbed for the HAG technology.

Built using the same expensive weight saving technology as its lighter parent, the Shadow Cat II is able to match the performance of the Shadow Cat without any significant loss of firepower, but only a half ton increase of armor over the 45 ton design. Ten Double Heat Sinks can easily cope with the 'Mech's heavily ammo dependent weapons array.

Weapons and Equipment
A right-arm mounted Type 0 Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle 20, supported by a Type X Short Bow LRM-10 launcher in each torso allowed the Shadow Cat II to unleash a hail of fire capable of stripping off two full tons of armor. While most fire-support designs focus on punching through armor, the Shadow Cat II's shotgun-like payload made it more effective in tearing apart already damaged enemies. A Series 7Ja ER Medium Laser was mounted almost as an afterthought in the 'Mech's right torso. Carrying two tons each of LRM and HAG reloads, while the laser provided a degree of non-ammo based firepower, its inclusion was considered wasteful by many observers who suggested an extra ton of reloads for the ammo-hungry HAG may have been a better use for the weight.

Variants

 * Shadow Cat II 2 : An Experimental Technology variant fielded in Introduction Year::3077, the Shadow Cat II 2 replaces the HAG with an ER Large and ER Medium Pulse Laser, both fitted with Laser Insulator Shields. As with many Jihad-era Falcon experiments, the weight freed up by the removal of the HAG and its ammo was used to allow the Shadow Cat II 2 to mount a 'Mech scale Partial Wing to enhance its jump distance. The Shadow Cat II 2 variant retains the LRM-10 launchers and ER Medium Laser of the first variant . BV (2.0) = 2,106


 * Shadow Cat II 3 : This variant developed in Introduction Year::3089 carries four Streak SRM-6 launchers, supplemented by a single ER Large Laser and ER Medium Laser. This version is more intended for close in fighting rather than the long range fire support of the original. BV (2.0) = 2,387


 * Shadow Cat II 4 : This Dark Age configuration introduced in Introduction Year::3092 carries two LRM-10 launchers and a Gauss Rifle. It removes a single jump jet, which means it can only cover 150 meters per jump. BV (2.0) = 1,986

Dark Age Variants

 * Prototype/Gauss Rifle Variant - The original Homeworlds prototype, which was intended to carry a standard Gauss Rifle in place of the HAG, finally appeared in the flesh in the Dark Age era carrying either a "Thunderstroke" Mk II or an EMRG "Captain" model. This model also mounted MASC.

Related Mechs

 * Shadow Cat: The Shadow Cat II is a heavier, non-Omni variant of the Shadow Cat