Shen Yi

The Shen Yi is a front line stealth BattleMech which has its roots in previous programs such as the Men Shen and Sha Yu BattleMechs, but due to the ravages of the Word of Blake Jihad, did not see any progress by the Capellan Confederation until the 3080s. The 'Mech eventually entered its field trials with the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces in 3085, and was scheduled for initial deployment to McCarron's Armored Cavalry and the Warrior Houses. The design was seen as a breakthrough in using 'Mechs with Stealth Armor in a front line role as opposed to the previously seen reconnaissance role by the CCAF. Within 15 years of its introduction, many older missile support elements in the CCAF had been replaced by the Shen Yi.

Weapons and Equipment
To perform its role as a main line 'Mech the Shen Yi is armed with a pair of Sian/Ceres Puma 20-Tube Medium Range Missile Launchers with four tons of ammunition in the center, left, and right torsos. These give it a respectable punch at medium to close ranges. For sparring with other units at long range the Shen Yi is armed with a Firmir UltraLase Extended Range Large Laser, mounted in the right arm with a pair of Firmir High-Frequency Medium Pulse Lasers to give it some protection at close range. The 'Mech is protected by 13 tons of Stealth Armor, which is linked to its Guardian ECM Suite in the left arm. To manage its heat load, the 'Mech has been provided with fourteen Double Heat Sinks.

Variants

 * SHY-5B : The new standard Shen Yi after testing in the 3090s, and introduction in Introduction Year::3093, this variant retains a single Firmir MaxiLase Large Laser, trading the rest of its arsenal for a pair of FarFire LRM-20 Launchers. BV (2.0) = 1,603