Mech:  Bombardier

Model: BMB-12D

Class Heavy

Mass 65 Tons

Chassis KetoBond

Armor Choutaka Armorscale Limited

            with Case

Engine VOX 325 XL

Communications System: Neil 9000

Targeting Tracking System: DLK Type Phased Array Sensors

Heat Sinks.   10 Single

Speed 86.4 KPH

Armament

2x LRM-20's

1x SRM-4

1x Anti Missile System

Description

Continuing the trend toward specialized BattleMechs, the Bombardier was proposed to the Star League in 2735 by Wakazashi Enterprises as an "artillery 'Mech." The concept behind the design was to make a BattleMech that could replace less-mobile artillery vehicles, which might fall behind in an advance or be destroyed by counter-battery fire. It would be well-protected with twelve and a half tons of armor and use specialized missile racks which could carry diverse types of advanced missiles. Over years of testing and field exercises the Bombardier proved itself extremely effective at fulfilling the long-range fire support role, easily surpassing its vehicular counterparts and even inspiring talks of disbanding the SLDF's artillery arm once enough Bombardiers were operational.

More than 800 of these 'Mechs were in service by the time the Star League collapsed, and as the 'Mech finally entered the battlefield during the Succession Wars its shortcomings became all too apparent. The greatest of these was its endurance, as with limited ammunition stores for its LRM and SRM launchers the Bombardier could not last long in an extended firefight, and unlike other designs such as the older Archer it had no energy weapons to fall back on once its missile stores run dry. Such was the rapid expenditure of its specialized Bombardier Artillery Missiles during the First Succession War that many planets simply ran out after a few days of battle. Many Bombardiers were forced to fight on the front lines in close-support roles, and while well-armored, the 'Mech was not designed for slugging matches, leading to it suffering the most battlefield losses of any BattleMech type. By the time of the Second Succession War the handful of surviving Bombardiers were relegated to defending their dwindling stockpiles of specialized missiles, while others were cannibalized for their parts, and when taking to the field were forced to rely on supply vehicles for additional ordnance, arguably defeating the very purpose for which it was designed.

With its poor reputation Wakazashi Enterprises was content to let the design die out, even refusing to produce the spare parts it still had the technical knowledge to produce, though it allowed Earthwerks Incorporated license to refit a modest number of 'Mechs. By the end of the Succession Wars the remaining BMB-12Ds and -10Ds could be found in militia and reserve units in the Draconis Combine or Free Worlds League, while the Federated Commonwealth gave theirs to training units where ammunition shortages were not a problem. While ComStar secretly developed a limited number of -14C variants for its Com Guards, the most surprising development in the 'Mech's history came after the Clan Invasion, when the Outworlds Alliance began fielding the new BMB-05A variant following a secretive deal with Clan Snow Raven. Their use in a raid on Enif by the Alliance Grenadiers caused the Combine to start refitting their own Bombardier stockpiles.

Armament

The primary weapons on the Bombardier are a pair of Delphinius-20 LRM-20 launchers. These launchers are specially designed to handle the unique ammunition types in use at the time, such as Swarm and Thunder Missile LRMs, and while they have an excellent reach only two tons of ammunition means they run out after only twelve salvos. The secondary weapon carried by the Bombardier is an Arrowlight-4 SRM-4 built into the right arm. While suitable for driving off light units that get within the LRM's minimum range, it is not enough to truly protect the 'Mech from a determined attack and also suffers from having only a single ton of ammunition. A Buzzsaw Anti-Missile System protects the Bombardier from counter-missile fire, while the ammunition for all of the 'Mech's weapons is protected by CASE.