Gorgon (ProtoMech)

Description
The Gorgon is a heavy fire support unit that often anchors ProtoMech Points. Second only to the heavy Minotaur in armor protection, the Gorgon can stay in a fight until it has exhausted all its ammunition, which is its primary drawback. The Gorgon is also responsible for the practice of ProtoMechs carrying a "main gun" externally mounted to the torso and supported by the arms, a necessity devised by Clan Smoke Jaguar engineers given the size of its primary weapon.

Initially only Clan Star Adder adopted the Gorgon after the fall of the Smoke Jaguars, though they were soon joined by the Jade Falcons, Nova Cats and Snow Ravens.

Weapons and Equipment
With a standard LRM-10 launcher and one ton of ammunition, the Gorgon can provide almost as much firepower as a Valkyrie. For close in work, the Gorgon mounts an ER Micro Laser. Usually a pilot will use this weapon to deter pursuit when heading back to reload the LRM launcher. The 65-rated fusion engine propels the ProtoMech to a cruising speed of 43 km/h and the Gorgon carries sufficient armoring to survive a full volley from an SRM-6 to the chest.

Variants

 * Gorgon 2 : Developed in the 3060s, this variant is designed for close-quarters combat. The long-range weaponry is dropped, for additional armor, Jump Jets, and a Medium Pulse Laser. BV (2.0) = 308


 * Gorgon 3 : This variant utilizes short-range missiles in place of its laser weaponry, carrying a torso-mounted SRM-4 Launcher with one ton of ammunition. The variant also increased its armor protection and mounted a more powerful engine for a maximum speed of 80 km/h.


 * Gorgon 4 : A Jihad era variant, this model utilized a torso-mounted AP Gauss Rifle with two tons of ammunition. Its torso was also fitted with an SRM-6 Launcher with one ton of reloads.  It was given a half-set of jump jets and a rearrangement of its protection. BV (2.0) = 289


 * Gorgon 5 : This Dark Age variant carries a Streak missile launcher and uses Magnetic Clamps to ride on OmniMechs.


 * Gorgon 6 : Another Dark Age variant, this model removes most of the weaponry to provide electronic warfare systems to its Star.