UrbanMech
UrbanMech is a Light, 30-ton mech produced to fight in Urban Areas, a deathtrap to most other mechs:debris limiting the maneuverability, maze-like structure of urban terrain allowing for multiple killzones in a small area, and the fact that it's still pretty easy to see a giant mech that often overshadows a building next to it, while infantry and vehicles are able to use the same buildings as cover. UrbanMech was a solution to the problem of Urban Warfare, and despite the seemingly lacking characteristics, it is certainly a capable in it's role.
Overview
UrbanMech was originally produced by Orguss Industries for the Star League Protection Force. Later, the UrbanMech production was overtaken by Hellespont Industrials, mainly produced for Capellan Confederation. The primary role of UrbanMech, as mentioned above (as well as within it's name), is to fight within the Urban confines, where larger Mechs and Combat Vehicles are inferior to the Infantry Fireteams and Light AFVs (Armored Fighting Vehicles). It's small size (around 10-11 meters), small silhouette, and capability to travel small distances using jump-jets makes it a dangerous and a difficult to engage enemy in it's designated environment.
On the other hand, UrbanMech is considered (rightfully) the slowest BattleMech in existence: it's top speed is 32.4 km/h, meaning that's it's slower that the 100-ton behemoths (the lesser speed range of Assault Class BattleMech is 55 km/h). This means that humpty-dumpty better must have a wall to fall off (or rather, behind), to stand a chance against even mechs of it's own weight class.
Also, UrbanMech is one of the few mechs reintroduced by Wolf's Dragoon to the Inner Sphere during their "infiltration" mission (alongside Flea, Hoplite, and a few other designs that were considered rare or extinct in the Inner Sphere). The showcase of the proper use of UrbanMech gave a new lease to life for the previously forgotten and damned design.
Armament
To this role, UrbanMech was armed with a AutoCannon/10 and a Small Laser. And while the later is nothing to write home about, the prior is a weapon capable of making a considerable dent in a well-armored enemy of any kind. This does limit UrbanMech's usefulness by tying it directly to it's limited ammo count, as Small Laser would be incapable of doing much damage to anything beside infantry lying still in the open field - something that isn't going to happen in the Urban Combat.
The Faberge Collection
Despite the relatively straightforward concept behind the Mech, there were numerous attempts in making the mech more capable in more varied environments:
- UM-R60L - Capellan somehow found 2 tons of armor to remove from the Mech, and stuck an Autocannon/20 on it. Leaving it with even less ammo. For historical comparison, imagine a KV-2 turret on a T-70 chassis. Same results, just add legs.
- UM-R63 - This version of UrbanMech uses a Clannerscum LB-X (shotgun) /10 Autocannon, as well as a getting itself a Small Pulse Laser to support to primary one. This is a clean upgrade to Urbies' firepower, making it an even deadlier opponent. This is considered a standard Capellan version of UrbanMech after the general upgrade from the base version.
- UM-68 - Draconis Combine replaced the Autocannon with Dumb Fire Missiles. 30 of them. This possibly triples the damage output of a single shot, giving UrbanMech a ridiculous Alpha Damage capability. On the other hand, such a small mech would suffer greatly from the lack of ammunition, meaning that it is at most capable of launching two salvos, before being forced to fall back.
- UM-69 - A Free Worlds League version of UrbanMech, using the latest of Clannerscum technology - Ultra AutoCannon/10, Extended Range Small Laser, and Ferro-Fibrous armor. And all that was lost, is an additional Heat Sink (not the most important component for a mech that relies on a ballistic weapon).
- UM-R70 - Federated Sun's version is quite a bit like the Free Worlds League one in the fact that it uses Clannerscum technologies. Ferro-Fibrous armor, Rotary Autocannon/5, Medium and Small Extended Range lasers, give it a great deal of staying power on the field, making it ideal for long-term engagements, such as Defense of Urban Areas.
- UM-R80 - A very strange version of the UrbanMech. It replaces the Autocannon with a Snub Nose PPC (a smaller, short range PPC), Small Pulse Laser, TAG Missile Support System, Beagle Active Probe, and Guardian ECM Suite. It also has improved Jump Jets, making it even more nimble and capable in traversing the urban terrain. This makes it a great competitor to Raven, especially due to being a capable combat mech in close combat.
- UM-AIV - This version of UrbanMech exchanges it's Small Laser for Extended Range Medium Laser and an Arrow IV missile launcher. This means that it not only is capable of doing damage to most targets, but that it can also call friendly artillery from a few miles away to join in the fun as well.
- UrbanMech IIC - Clan version of the UrbanMech. Uses clan weaponry Extended Range Small Laser, ultra Autocannon /10. In addition, clan technicians have been able to speed it up to the 54 km/h - still slightly slower than most Assault mechs. Beside's those two upgrades, this version is inferior to later Inner Sphere versions, amusingly enough. There is also a Blake Jihadist version of IIC, which replaces the Autocannon with Hyper Assault Gauss Rifle and the Small Laser with a Flamer.
- There are also rumors of some UrbanMechs being armed with Machine Guns instead of small Lasers. We have dismissed those claims.
Gallery
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He died for your sins. Of not making this page earlier.
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Free Worlds League UrbanMech.
