Sorry if you already said it but do they have troops, armor, or artillery yet?
Battletech Welcome to the Jungle
- Thread starter Speaker4thesilent
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Sorry if you already said it but do they have troops, armor, or artillery yet?
Speaker4thesilent
Crazed Deplorable
Other than the artillery ‘Mechs, no.
Doomsought
Well-known member
Ouch, the space requirements put a pretty nasty limit on how useful those are. Still its better than nothing and can worth for a fast reaction force.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
So I was thinking (perilous activity, I know), with Catachan becoming part of Lyran Commonwealth, while it won't be added to the maps, the mere increase in people outside WW and CAC knowing it's location, will increase the likehood of ROM and ISF learning of it's location, so eventually there will be raids. Now usual procedure is to land some distance away from the target and then hit it, especially since WW are generously supplied with artillery. This also means experiencing all the wonders of Catachan flora and fauna, while WWs are shelling and sniping you. Ah the joys mech combat on death world. Thus the next attempt will surely be combat drop straight onto the central area, so apart from investing in ASF (which he is already doing) it might be good idea to invest into some static AA positions, for all those dropping mechs, especially those with drop packs. Also train some security or even anti mech infantry for settlement and factory protection.
Speaking on infantry tactics, another thought is that this might butterfly away the Grey Death Legion. While this section of border will certainly heat up with the Sevren slugging match with LCAF and DCMS keeping butting head as Dracs will seek to disrupt the flow of lostech and Steiners will seek to cash in the technical advantage they are gaining. So it is unlikely that Lyran State will try to garrison the supply route to one of their key industrial nodes with pirates, making it harder for Red Duke to pull his shenanigans, especially since this will be critical sector, instead of backwater. Also I think Verthandi should still be in Lyran hands, if Dracs exhaust themselves on Sevren they might not take it. So if some other merc unit is on Helm when Comstar pulls it's machinations, it will most likely get slaughtered and core will either be destroyed or undiscovered. This will greatly impede the Inner Sphere technological recovery, as Catachan only has a few military technologies for rediscovery.
And when Turkeys come calling the LCAF/AFFC (can't wait for butterflies) will be much harder nut to crack due to much more L2 tech in their ranks, but while Clans do not have position of Catachan, Comstar will surely give it to them during their collaboration. I would love to see Weber pull Wolcott on Turkeys, but time will tell.
Speaking on infantry tactics, another thought is that this might butterfly away the Grey Death Legion. While this section of border will certainly heat up with the Sevren slugging match with LCAF and DCMS keeping butting head as Dracs will seek to disrupt the flow of lostech and Steiners will seek to cash in the technical advantage they are gaining. So it is unlikely that Lyran State will try to garrison the supply route to one of their key industrial nodes with pirates, making it harder for Red Duke to pull his shenanigans, especially since this will be critical sector, instead of backwater. Also I think Verthandi should still be in Lyran hands, if Dracs exhaust themselves on Sevren they might not take it. So if some other merc unit is on Helm when Comstar pulls it's machinations, it will most likely get slaughtered and core will either be destroyed or undiscovered. This will greatly impede the Inner Sphere technological recovery, as Catachan only has a few military technologies for rediscovery.
And when Turkeys come calling the LCAF/AFFC (can't wait for butterflies) will be much harder nut to crack due to much more L2 tech in their ranks, but while Clans do not have position of Catachan, Comstar will surely give it to them during their collaboration. I would love to see Weber pull Wolcott on Turkeys, but time will tell.
If you count them as nothing more then mobile arty that is capable of seeing off light hover craft raids then their fine. As soon as those guns got strapped to them they stopped being real mechs combat wise.
You need troops on the ground ASAP the Snakes WILL send DESTs to take your people out or capture you once they know what your running and building. Not having troops to counter them as base defense is a suicide pact. At the very least Katrina will know better and give you some crack troops to cover your ass with. To say nothing of a supply raid while your mechs are in the thick of it.
I assume you just haven't had time to buy enough armor with cleared people to run them? Now that your more out in the open buying Armor you can refit should be a priority.
Speaker4thesilent
Crazed Deplorable
Basically, until this point their best security was obscurity. They’ve got limited ‘Corporate Security’ I.E. Rent-a-Cops, but nobody really professional infantry-wise. Tanks=wut tanks? But then Urban really isn’t a good tank environment in BT, so anything without AC-20s or shit-tons of SRMs has limited utility.
And, yes, some extra people for security is going to be one of Weber’s asks. Another will be some engineers for a project. Third, yes, LIC support. He knows he’s only done so well up to this point by only hiring people he can confirm have lived on ‘x’ world for forever or people cleared by Olivetti’s HR.
He’s not going to be able to keep doing that.
No heavy anti Dropship/ASF weapons?
Speaker4thesilent
Crazed Deplorable
Sore wa himitsu desu.
Doomsought
Well-known member
While heavily limited, as long as you put jump jets and good engines on them, then they are VERY mobile artillery that can set up anywhere you want except underwater.
Bear Ribs
Well-known member
If this gentleman attempts to join your mercenary group do not hire him unless you plan to use him as a convenience item.
More seriously it seems to me that you need Ortillery, lots of artillery. The heavy woods mean mechs will move slowly and hovers and fast tire vehicles will be useless. Granted the trees supply cover which won't help but the main things that can avoid getting pasted by artillery are nerfed in this specific instance.
There's still whatever roads are leading towards your factories but if your enemy is taking a predetermined route towards you that you know about I'd say they're already at a supreme disadvantage.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
He is planing to build Vulcan ASF, with dual Gauss rifles, I reckon this will be heavy enough anti Dropship/ASF weapon.
Warships are waaaaay beyond his capabilities, he has a mech factory and with a lot of effort he will be able to build ASF factory, but even if he captures Star's End he won't be able to build Warships, this is a an effort that requires the resources of an entire Successor State.
He has a company of well mobile artillery, it should do for now.
Speaker4thesilent
Crazed Deplorable
A dozen Sniper artillery pieces is a nasty threat. Even the Mechs themselves are the sort of thing where, if an enemy assumes they’re easy prey, that enemy is gonna get their teeth kicked in. The Heliopolis is a nasty brawler.
Tryglaw
Well-known member
Even conventional artillery that can be pre-sighted on most likely landing zones can put the dropships into a world of hurt as they try to set down and disembark. You just need a good command system to call in bombardment on designated coordinates.
The problem with fielding vehicles, or at least a problem, is that unless they're fusion or fuel cell they require fuel other than hydrogen, and fusion tanks are a bit thin on the ground at this time while fuel cells are all but nonexistent. I don't get the impression Catachan is rich in hydrocarbons that aren't currently part of living things.
It's much easier to refit armor with a fusion engine then a mech, and they build a number of fusion engines. Buying ICE and refitting would be easily doable. More importantly the geography of the planet means LRM carriers, and short range urban focus without having to worry about mid range. Though to be honest forcing them to land in 'no man's land' and then riling the beasties should be all you need to deal with an invasion.
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They only build XLs as far as I recall, which are rather extravagant for vehicles, and the smallest is the 225, which is barely usable for VTOLs. And with jungles you really don't want to drive through VTOLs are outside artillery tracks the most usable type.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
No, they were building standard engines from the start, the production of XL engine(s) has only just started and is still going through teething problems.
And yes, Catachan is unfriendly to combat vehicles, apart from purchasing some VTOLs for scouting or transport (SAR birds?) I don't see why WWs would need to bring additional combat vehicles to Catachan.
And yes, Catachan is unfriendly to combat vehicles, apart from purchasing some VTOLs for scouting or transport (SAR birds?) I don't see why WWs would need to bring additional combat vehicles to Catachan.
Tryglaw
Well-known member
Well, yes, to keep enemy forces from trashing the place, the key is to prevent their landing, not to defeat them on the ground - if they have managed to land damage becomes unavoidable, even if they just hover with the dropships and use their fusion torches to, well, torch the place. Never mind assault drop directly on top of industrial facilities.
So the way to go is to invest in heavy fighters and early warning space infrastructure (that and refuelling sats in orbit / Lagrange points) that can splash enemy dropships before they can land. Doubly important if someone (*cough*toaster worshippers*cough*) should try to pull "unknown faction using a dropship as KKV".
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
And he is doing just that. By upgrading first the Centurions and then the Stingray, he is building up group of people who will form the nucleous of future ASF production line, which at some point in future will start churning out Vulcans, 80 ton ASF, carrying two Gauss rifles.
As for ground forces he has 160 upgraded mechs, plus 8 old WW mechs and whatever he takes from production line. This means that from his stocks (disregarding personnel matters) he can field four mech battalions + artillery company + regimental command lance and training cadre. Now, the safe guess would be that he hasn't filled all the slots yet, but in the future he will probably deploy on contracts with three battalions + artillery company and regimental command lance, leaving one battalion and training cadre to garrison Catachan along with significant ASF contingent.
As for ground forces he has 160 upgraded mechs, plus 8 old WW mechs and whatever he takes from production line. This means that from his stocks (disregarding personnel matters) he can field four mech battalions + artillery company + regimental command lance and training cadre. Now, the safe guess would be that he hasn't filled all the slots yet, but in the future he will probably deploy on contracts with three battalions + artillery company and regimental command lance, leaving one battalion and training cadre to garrison Catachan along with significant ASF contingent.
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