Schrek the Third

The Schrek the Third is a 100-ton Inner Sphere-tech combat vehicle based around three ER PPCs and a targeting computer. It is an experimental development of the popular Schrek PPC carrier. It comes after the Schrek and Schrek II-X.

Deployment and specifications
Costing nearly 14 million C-Bills (mostly due to its XL engine), the vehicle is only deployed in specific circumstances as limited numbers of them were made. Some complained that for the same price, better Battlemechs could be bought. However the three turret-mounted ERPPCs give the Schrek an attack flexibility at all ranges possessed by no stock battlemech, while at the same time it never overheats due to the 35 extra heatsinks (plus ten on the Fusion engine) integrated to the vehicle chassis.

The turret allows to fire around a full 360 degrees around the vehicle, while the Targeting Computer significantly improves accuracy even at long ranges.

It also features 18.5 tons of Heavy Ferro Fibrous Armor, giving it over 92% of the maximum armor for its tonnage.

Overall, the combat performance and ability to aim the PPC shots made it a powerful force, yet, it suffered from the standard vehicle problems such as damaged motive systems when attacked; as such, despite its high armor and capability to fire point blank, is was considered more suitable to use as fire support while other units held the line. There was no tonnage left without clantech to solve this problem with the likes of an Armored Motive System.

Further developments
Its battlefield performance would be analyzed by the Clan Ghost Bear and give rise to the Schrek IIIC. Meanwhile the IS would go on to produce the Schrek 4, Schrek 5, Schrek 6, and Schrek Zero.

Downgrade
Stylized as "Schrek the Thir-Do", this field refit variant strips the XL engine (mostly in order to use in 'mechs) for a lower-rated standard Fusion engine. Two and a half tons are gained which get used into extra armor and a Guardian ECM. The speed downgrade, however, leaves the Thir-Do as a barely moving fire platform, more suited to pre-combat positioning than to battle maneuvers. BV 2.0: 1582

Particularities
The battle cry of Schrek the Third crews is "It isn't Ogre yet".

Quirks

 * Difficult to mantain: Though the components of the Schrek the Third are fairly standard, the wiring that connects the three ER PPCs to the Targeting Computer is quite complex, making mantaining the vehicle in top shape a hassle for repair crews.

Timeline

 * Prototyped: 3064 (Lyran Commonwealth, with illegally trafficked Draconis Combine ERPPCs)
 * Advanced: 3064-3069
 * Standard: 3070
 * Extinct: -