Demolisher
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Demolisher heavy tank | |
Production information | |
Manufacturer | Aldis Industries |
Production Year | 2823[1] |
Mission | Close Range/Urban Combat |
Type | Tracked |
Cost | 2,151,000 C-bills |
Technical specifications | |
Mass | 80 |
Armor | Durandal 160 Standard |
Engine | 240 GM Superload ICE |
Speed | 54.0 km/h |
Crew | 6 |
Communications System | Omicron 5000 |
Targeting Tracking System | Omicron VII |
Heat Sinks | None |
Armament | |
BV (1.0) | 609 |
BV (2.0) | 981[2] |
Contents
Description
Tall, squat, and using four treads, the Demolisher has a well-earned, though sometimes exaggerated, reputation as one of the most deadly vehicles on the battlefield. Designed to counteract the increasing scarcity of 'Mechs during the Succession Wars and based on the increasingly rare old SLDF heavy tank of the same name, the Demolisher became popular, especially on worlds where BattleMechs were not available.
Aldis designed the Demolisher to be able to destroy any 'Mech, which was what appealed to the customers. The initial run was well-received, with hundreds of Demolishers being bought by 'Mech-deficient planets.
Weapons and Equipment
The Demolisher is armed with two 185mm ChemJet Gun Autocannon/20s, which are enough to make any other unit, 'Mechs included, pause. The relatively short range of the guns means that maneuverable units with long-range weaponry can confound the Demolisher. It utilizes 10 tons of armor for protection, and the internal combustion engine allows for a cruising speed 32.4 km/h. The tank also lacks any form of secondary weapons, which may be detrimental when the massive cannons run dry.
Variants
Some crews are known to remove armor and install small defensive weapons if the situation requires.
- Mark I / Mark II
- The late Star League era original incarnation of the Demolisher design, and only known to have been in service with the Star League Defense Force.[3] The major difference between the two versions of this variant was the improved gun cooling system on the Mk II, which funneled most of the superheated exhaust gasses from the twin 185mm ChemJet Guns' four round bursts out the barrels; this solved a serious issue on the Mk I where the massive heat build up just from firing the guns forced crews to have to wear special coolant suits while operating the tank.[4][5] As in its later namesake, the Chemjet guns utilised autoloaders.
- Devastator Heavy Tank
- The third generation of the Demolisher, the DVE-5B Mark III, was found mainly among the defense forces of the richer planets in the Inner Sphere. It is powered by a Type 240 fusion engine and mounts some additional weapons: A Zippo Flamer in the turret, one Intek Small Laser in the front and on each side, and a front-mounted Holly SRM-6.[6] BV (2.0) = 1,029[7]
- Arrow IV
- This variant of the Demolisher tank debuted during the FedCom Civil War. It replaces the AC/20s and some armor with a pair of Arrow IV missile launchers and seven tons of ammunition. For defense against close range attacks it mounts a pair of medium lasers. BV (1.0) = 676[8], BV (2.0) = 1,297[9]
- Clan
- Developed by the Clans in 3058, this variant carries twin LB 20-X ACs as its main armament and with 40 salvos can deliver a lot of damage to its enemies. Mounted coaxially with these huge autocannon are a pair of Medium Pulse Lasers. Six Machine Guns scattered across the front and side arcs protect it from infantry. Like most Clan vehicles, the Clan Demolisher carries CASE to protect the ammunition bay. BV (1.0) = 1,184[10], BV (2.0) = 1,563[11]
- Gauss
- This 3053 version of the Demolisher swaps the AC/20s for twin Gauss rifles with 4 tons of ammunition and a pair of medium lasers. It also adds some armor protection. BV (1.0) = 1,090 [12], BV (2.0) = 1,529[13]
- MRM
- Developed during the late Clan Invasion-era, this variant can launch almost one hundred missiles at an enemy thanks to its three MRM-30 launchers.Each launcher can count on 2 tons of ammunition. A C3 slave allows it to take advantage of targeting data provided by other units. BV (1.0) = 1,006 [14], BV (2.0) = 1,242[15]
Related Designs
- Demolisher II - A replacement for the Demolisher developed by the Lyran Alliance.
- Zhukov Heavy Tank - Aldis Industries' follow-up design that shares several elements of the Demolisher.
Notes
- In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Zerstörer, which literally means Destroyer.
- Grayson Carlyle, in The Price of Glory, takes note of multiple Demolishers in a Star League-era cache discovered on Helm. This is likely the LosTech SLDF precursor (almost certainly in the form of the improved Mark II) to the Demolisher's Succession Wars incarnation.[3]
Gallery
Original Demolisher from TRO:3026
Decolorized reprint of Zerstörer (Demolisher) from German HWH:3031
Demolisher from TRO:3026 Revised
Demolisher from TRO:3039
Demolisher from RGilClan: vol. 25
Demolisher in Urban Terrain from CityTech
Demolisher in colors of 15th Dracon Regiment from Camo Specs
Demolisher in motion from CCG
Demolisher from MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game
(Apocryphal) DVE-5B Mark III Devastator from BattleTechnology, Issue #0102
References
- ↑ MUL online date for the Demolisher
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 unabridged - BV2 for original Demolisher Tank.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Price of Glory, ch. 28
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 86, "Demolisher Heavy Tank
- ↑ Era Report: 3052, p. 98, "Regarding Military Technology Classification"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 86
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 p. 50 - Devastator Heavy Tank - Tank listing with BV2.
- ↑ Records Sheets: Upgrades p.21
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 171
- ↑ Records Sheets: Upgrades p. 22
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 172
- ↑ Records Sheets: Upgrades p.21
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 173
- ↑ Records Sheets: Upgrades p.22
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 174