Salamander (BattleMech)

The Salamander is an assault fire support 'Mech that is built to carry out a similar mission as the Awesome, long range fire support and bombardment. The Salamander is powered by a Pitban 320 XL Engine and is built on a Chariot Type IV Endo Steel chassis allowing the 'Mech to dedicate over half of its weight to its weapons and the equipment needed to carry out its mission. The Salamander is also armored with fifteen and a half tons of armor, which is heavy even for an assault class fire support 'Mech. The 'Mech is also fitted with CASE equipment that, while it does not prevent a mission kill of the Salamander, does make the 'Mech salvageable in the event of an ammunition explosion.

Weapons and Equipment
The Salamander's arsenal centers around its primary long range weapons systems; three Doombud LRM-20 launchers. This heavy LRM payload allows the Salamander to put one and a half times more fire down range than an Archer. Additionally, the Salamander can sustain a barrage for three minutes at its maximum rate of fire, which is an impressive feat for a dedicated fire support 'Mech. For close range defense, the 'Mech carries two Defiance B3M Medium Lasers.

Variants

 * PPR-5T : The 5T variant of the Salamander makes the 'Mech faster with a ground speed of 86.4 kph to allow it to move with a more fluid battlefield. The 'Mech removes the entire weapons compliment and carries three LRM-15 launchers as its primary weapons and two Small Lasers for close combat. The 'Mech also carries only thirteen and a half tons of armor, which still represents strong protection for a fire support 'Mech. BV (1.0) = 1,352, BV (2.0) = 1,589


 * PPR-6S : The 6S increases the amount of close range protection that the Salamander has. This is done by removing one of the LRM-20 launchers and replacing it with an SRM-6 launcher. Additionally, the 'Mech has had an Artemis IV fire control system installed on each of the launchers giving the 'Mech increased missile accuracy. BV (1.0) = 1,465, (1,424) , BV (2.0) = 1,714


 * PPR-6T : The 6T model also makes the Salamander more powerful at close range. One of the LRM-20 launchers have been removed to make room for a pair of Medium Pulse Lasers and a Large Pulse Laser. This makes the Salamander very potent if forced into a short-range firefight. BV (1.0) = 1,381, BV (2.0) = 1,681


 * PPR-7S : An attempt to make the Salamander more mobile, the 7S removes the XL engine and replaces it with a Light Fusion Engine. The 'Mech also removes the 'Mechs entire arsenal. The 'Mech is armed with three LRM-15 launchers with an Artemis IV fire control system. The 'Mech also has a pair of ER Medium Lasers for close range combat. The 'Mech is also outfitted with four jump jets which allow the 'Mech to jump up to one hundred and twenty meters. BV (1.0) = 1,768, BV (2.0) = 2,023


 * PPR-7T : This Salamander was introduced in the Dark Age. It carries a Boosted C3 Slave unit, two Extended LRM-15 launchers and one Extended LRM-10 launcher. It also carries eleven double heat sinks. To make room for this equipment, engineers had to install an XL Gyro. BV (2.0) = 1,647

Notable pilots

 * Leutnant Luther Fisk, officer of Fifteenth Arcturan Guards piloted an Salamander in Thorin during the first stages of FedCom Civil War..