The very first Behemolisher heavy tanks saw real live battles on Nibo itself in 3078. The ludicrously low speed had mattered little as invading Quickcell funded mercenaries found themselves fighting among the close confines of of Nibo City after advancing through open terrain, where speed counted for little.
The original Mk I and II Behemolishers were both armed for a pair of heavy hitting Gauss rifles, while the former had missile launchers, medium lasers and machines guns as secondary weapons while a single 20-class LBX autocannon on the latter saw many an opponent essentially jumped from the frying pan into the fire after weathering the initial GR barrage onto to come into range of the murderous AC.
After 2 decades of technological exchange with the Inner Sphere and continuous appearance of newer and arguably better weapons onto the battlefields, Nibo has revealed the latest generation of the machines that had garnered equal measures of scorn and praise to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the current King's reign.
Capabilities:
While the Mk III swapped out the trademark Gauss Rifles for a pair of long tom cannon, the Mk IV elected to switch to a different and less loved class of Gauss Rifles - the Silver Bullet. While lacking the long punch hit of its relatives, the Silver Bullet fires cluster shots that increases accuracy, much like the LBX autocannon. Similarly powered by a Fuel Cell Engine, the Mark IV achieves something that all previous Behemolisher variants could not - exceed a maximum speed of 50 km/h. Complementing the pair of Silver Bullet GRs was a secondary weapons package that includes a pair of MRM-10 launchers and duo MagShots for anti-infantry work. Despite spotting a ton less of heavy ferros armour compared to the Mk III, the Mk IV still manages to clad itself up to over 60% of maximum protection, enhanced by CASE protection. However, the use of the poorly thought of Silver Bullet Gauss Rifles as its main armament has given the Mk IV a bad reputation despite several success in thwarting raiders. (Bad Reputation Quirk)
Like its sister, the newest generation of the Behemolisher mounts a Guardian ECM suite as well as the highly advanced next generation of NHI Communique Sys installed onboard provides the Mk IV with an advanced sensor suite (Improved Sensors Quirk) that allows it to detect hidden enemy units like what an active probe would.
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"This is unheard of Sire!" The grizzled tank commander splattered in shock, the binoculars that the man lowered from his eyes trembled as his fingers tightened around it in a fitful clench. In the distance, a pair of familiar looking, yet somewhat different monstrous vehicles roared across the testing fields several kilometres away. Grinding to a halt, the boxy turrets on both tanks swiveled ponderously as their tracked some unseen targets.
Without warning, the large bore guns on one of the tanks spat forth shards that sped forth at incredible speed. Seconds later, a pair of small fireballs blossomed in the skies.
"Ooooooo... drone VTOLs destroyed." A technician sitting at a nearby console reported in a high pitched and unusually high tone. King Marcus Collins raised an eyebrow and turned his head slightly at the man. The monarch of the Kingdom of Nibo made a mental note to have the technician tested for Nibo Star (the fruit) after the test.
The other tank suddenly surged forward, as it neared a building, nearly two dozen missiles exploded from the pair of boxes on its turret. Trailed by thick black smoke, the missiles cockscrewed wildly before smashing into the unfortunate drone light tank.
"Woohoo!" The same technician crowed again. "Direct hit! Target destroyed!!"
"That's it." The King growled. "Get this joker out of here."
As the man was dragged (still happily) screeching away, the King turned towards his officer, a smirk on his face. "So Colonel, what do you think of the Mk IV?"
"The new weapons are fun and all Sire." Colonel Andrew Smith replied. "But the speed..."
The King frowned.
"A Behemolisher travelling at over 50 km per hour... its just unnatural." The Colonel mumbled under his breath.
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Deployment:
The first production run of Behemolisher Mk III and IV went to the rebuilding Nibo Armed Forces. None had seen any real action, though field trials and live firing exercises saw both the good and bad of the machines. Compared to the inaccuracy of the Mk III's Long Toms, the Silver Bullets provided better accuracy, especially against fast moving ground and even air targets. While the MRM launchers could not compare with the MMLs for flexibility, they provided cheap and heavy hitting alternatives. Finally, the Magshots answered to the Mk III's lack of anti-infantry firepower.
It is rumoured that the Capellans are once again looking to licence manufacture the new line of Behemolisher tanks, much like the original versions, to supplement her Milita units.
Variants:
Alongside the Mk III, the new Mk IV has been paraded out during the King's 20th anniversary celebrations.
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Mass: 100 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: All Eras (non-canon)
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-F-A
Production Year: 3098
Cost: 5,878,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,510
Power Plant: 300 Fuel Cell Engine
Cruise Speed: 32.4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Armor: NHB Type XII Heavy Ferro-Fibrous with CASE
Armament:
2 Silver Bullet Gausss
2 MRM-10s
2 Magshots
1 CASE
1 Guardian ECM Suite
Manufacturer: Nibo Heavy Industries
Primary Factory: Nibo VI
Communications System: NHI Communique Sys
Targeting and Tracking System: NHI T&T Model IX
Quirks:
- Bad Reputation
- Improved Sensors
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 60 points 10.00
Engine: Fuel-Cell Engine 300 23.00
Cruise MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 1 0.00
Control Equipment: 5.00
Lift Equipment: 0.00
Turret: 4.00
Rear Turret: 0.00
Armor: Heavy Ferro-Fibrous AV - 238 12.00
Armor
Factor
Front 45
Left/Right 40/40
Turret 43
Rear 30
Rear Turret 40
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
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2 Silver Bullet Gausss T 2 2 30.00
2 Magshots T 2 2 1.00
2 MRM-10s T 8 2 6.00
CASE BD - 1 0.50
Guardian ECM Suite BD 0 1 1.50
@Silver Bullet Gauss (32) BD - 0 4.00
@Magshot Gauss Rifle (50) BD - 0 1.00
@MRM-10 (48) BD - 0 2.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 8 Points: 15
3t 4 4 2 0 4 0 Structure: 6
Special Abilities: CASE, ECM, EE, TUR(4/4/2, FLK 1/2/2), FLK 1/2/2