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Overview:
Within this document the Smilodon is classified as a "Dreadnought"; 'Mechs massing above 100 tons are otherwise known as Colossal or Superheavy 'Mechs.
Two of the initial prototypes of the Smilodon saw combat during the Outback Rebellion in 3088 on Broken Wheel. The Smilodon's prototypes were able to engage rebel forces at the Capital City's Governmental House steps of Broken Wheel in Austin and fend them off. The engagements helped to work out the development problems in the 'Mech, leading to the S1 design.
Although the Smilodon was a prototype, almost thirty of the huge 'Mechs were produced by Pentagon. The bulk of these 'Mechs were deployed in and around the Federated Suns Spinward Combat Theater Sabanillas Operations Area used for Field Marshal Xavier Steele's final stand, but some Smilodon also saw service around Anti-Spinward Combat Theater Hoyleton Operations Area and in the Woodbine PDZ.
Although the concept of a superheavy 'Mech had already been explored by the Terran Hegemony centuries before, it wasn't until Clan Rift Tiger overcame the problems associated with such a massive design that the Smilodon became viable. Featuring a skeleton larger and bulkier than any seen before, oversized actuators and a new myomer system that involved both larger fibre bundles than standard and the use of hybrid myomers, the Rift Tigers were able to overcome a number of flaws discovered by those who had explored the Superheavy 'Mech concept in the past. The resulting internal structure was far larger than would be viable for any conventional BattleMech, but in the case of the Smilodon, resulted in a working superheavy design that stood 10 meters taller than the 100-ton Atlas, from which the designers had evidently taken a number of cues.
But other than the unusual internal structure, myomers and actuators, featured relatively mundane armor, cockpit and weapon systems. The weight and nature of the Smilodon as a superheavy design demanded the use of a Heavy Duty Gyro, but even with the added weight from the enhanced gyro the Smilodon featured a spacious frame for fitting weapons and equipment into, and each Smilodon boasted an Improved Titan’s Vantage Mk II Computer. Wrapped in twenty-one tons of armor and with the arms and torso areas protected by CASE, each Smilodon was a rugged machine capable of weathering huge amounts of fire, and the combination of weapons made it capable of acting as a lethal defense unit and even as a serviceable anti-aircraft platform.
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Capabilities:
Originally based loosely on the Orca Superheavy BattleMech, the Smilodon was first of its kind to successfully use two legs instead of the commonly found tripod and quad designs. The Smilodon represented the first truly viable superheavy BattleMech design to appear on the battlefield. Commonly known as a Superheavy Omni or because of its immense size as "Colossal", the Smilodons method of motion gains advantage over more commonly used ones, allowing it to change direction without losing speed. Faster than many in its size class, its powerful PlasmaStar 500-rated Extra-Extralight Engine and sturdy construction allows the 'Mech to move and to carry ponderous amount of weaponry. Its hull is protected by 21 tons of Maximillian 320 standard armor, allowing it to absorb an immense amount of damage before succumbing to enemy fire. The Torso-Mounted Cockpit with an integral rumble seat used in the Superheavy Omni designs allows the 'Mech to act as a command unit and be able to target multiple enemies with less of a penalty. This is due to the Smilodon's command responsibilities being split between a dedicated pilot and gunner.
As a command 'Mech, the Smilodon's weapons focused on long range combat. An enhanced ER PPC used by Clan Wolverine was incorporated into the Smilodon. While more powerful than the Star League version, it delivers 33% more hitting power of the weapon that would become the Clan standard in later years. The PPC was augmented by two streak LRM-15 launchers, supplied with three tons of Streak missile reloads. The Streak LRM 15 marries the Streak guidance system with a standard LRM-15 launcher. The Streak LRM combines the orignial Streak's ammunition conservation with LRM range. Though successful, the Streak LRM launcher weighs twice as much as the standard Clan LRM launcher (as much as a standard Inner Sphere launcher). The Streak LRM cannot make use of any alternate ammunition types or enhanced guidance systems. Since the Streak LRM requires line of sight to lock on to a target it also lost the ability to make indirect fire attacks.
Its long-range arsenal includes a trio of Clan-grade ER PPCs mounted in the left arm for long range direct fire for even greater punch. The pair of 15-tube Streak Long-Range Missile launchers backs up the 'Mech's energy weapons with a launcher in its left upper torso and its upper center torso, right where the cockpit should have been.
The Smilodon's intermediate weaponry includes a massive Class 40 Hyper Assault Gauss Rifle, along with four tons of ammunition. A variation on the Gauss Rifle developed by Clan Hell's Horses in 3068. Hoping to stay ahead of the increasing technological curve, the designers apparently used similar design principles to the Lyran Alliance's Heavy Gauss Rifle. To compensate for its drawbacks, however, Rift Tiger scientists used a series of capacitors and launching tubes to fire a multitude of smaller-caliber Gauss slugs. The resulting high rate of fire, akin almost to Rotary Autocannons, made this weapon very effective again Battle Armor, Combat Vehicles, and exploiting the Kings of the battlefield once their armor is stripped off. The HAG 40 is the largest and most deadly of the HAG series and its mounted in the right torso just aft of the torso mounted cockpit.
Its short range weaponry consists of a Streak SRM-6 for close-range work, with with a single ton of ammunition. Should enemies forget and get any closer, the 'Mech could also fire its three Clan ER PPCs as they are not inhibited as their Inner Sphere counterparts with a minimum range restriction. Twenty-two double heat sinks, seventeen fixed with five additional heat sinks, fail to keep this configuration cool. It also incorporates an ECM Suite to protect itself from enemy electronics. All of the 'Mech's ammunition is protected by CASE found in the 'Mech left side torso. A Clan Light Active Probe completes the package. Though "boasting" an effective range of 90 meters, shorter than even the standard Beagle Active Probe available in the Inner Sphere, this reduction was considered an effective trade off for the halving of the standard active probes weight to free up space for other weapons and equipment.
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Development:
The Smilodon was a Superheavy Class BattleMech originally produced in secret by Clan Rift Tiger in the DeChavilier Enclave on Offerman. Designed with know-how acquired through experimentation undertaken by the Pentagon Orbital Factory complex on Offerman during the early 31st Century, Smilodon's development was spurred on due to the events of the United Leadership of the Tikonov Republican Army (ULTRA) which led to widespread warfare. Its development among other secret weapons development was put under the name, Dreadnought Project.
The Orca being the basis of what would become the Smilodon Omni Superheavy bipod. The 'Mech would be placed into production at the then-unknown factory on Offerman called Pentagon Orbital Factory Complex. It would be deployed during the DeChavilier Enclave time period to the Periphery March's most reliable regiments, only to be deployed in defensive roles as of 3090.
The Smilodon as presented appears to be an Omni design although no other configurations have been produced as of yet.
The Smilodon has the following Design Quirks
Command BattleMech
Distracting
Difficult To Pilot
Prototype
Rumble Seat
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