Banshee BNC-11G

Mass: 95 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-F-A
Production Year: 3084
Cost: 9,918,870 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,353

Chassis: Unknown Standard
Power Plant: Unknown 285 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Unknown Standard Armor w/ CASE
Armament:
    1  Imp. Heavy Gauss Rifle
    1  ER PPC
    1  ER Large Laser
    2  Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
    Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown

Overview:
The BNC-3E Banshee was an early 'Mech design, produced in the same era as the
MCK Mackie and the EMP Emperor. Tipping the scales at 95 tons, it is also one
of the heaviest 'Mechs ever built.

 In the late 2400's, The Terran Hegemony undertook construction of what would
be known as the Banshee in an effort to create an ultra-heavy, close-assault
vehicle able to engage other models of the newly developed BattleMech. Though
the model was criticized as being severely underarmed and thus outclassed by
other privately produced 'Mechs, The Terran Hegemony manufactured more than
5,000 Banshees in the next ten years. About a third of these still exist.

 With its death's-head cockpit and rigid Starshield armor, the Banshee was
impressive-looking but never popular with the Terran military. To this day, its
reputation is poor.


Capabilities:
As noted above, the Banshee's main role was as a close-assault vehicle. Indeed,
its powerful fists and legs can turn lighter 'Mechs to scrap. The intelligent
MechWarrior therefore keeps his distance from the Banshee, slowly picking it
apart with ranged weapons.

 From the outset, the 'Mech's massive size caused problems. For example, its
huge GM 380 power plant took up so much space that there was barely room to
install weapons and armor. As a result, the Banshee's armament is woefully
inadequate for such a big machine. Its single Hellstar PPC may be powerful, but
its Imperator-A autocannon and Magna Mark I light laser are simply not adequate
secondary weapons.

 The heavy-laminate Starshield armor is also impressive, being equal to or
greater than that of other comparable 'Mechs. Critics were quick to point out,
however, that a better-armed Marauder or Warhammer could blast away a Banshee,
which had only its one PPC and "popgun" autocannon for reply. What good, then,
was the heavy armor? In actual combat, even the lowly Rifleman was able to
overcome the Banshee, as the latter could rarely get close enough to bring into
play its superior mass.

 By the end of the 'Mech's ten-year production run, The Hegemony had officially
abandoned it, relegating the Banshee to militias and second-line units.


Battle History:
Many commanders considered the Banshee a liability rather than an asset in
battle. In desperation, they began to deploy them as fire support or as heavy
reserve to stop breakouts or for hand-to-hand combat when the better-armed
'Mechs had engaged the enemy at close range.

 This practice continues in the Successor States. Those Banshees not deployed
on backwater planets or with small militia units are usually found in the
second line of advance, or in rear areas providing autocannon and PPC fire to
support the advance of other 'Mechs.

 Although House Steiner's Banshee-S variant has yet to be tested in battle, the
new model may herald a rebirth for the beleaguered 'Mech.


Variants:
Numerous variants have been attempted over the years. For example, House Marik
replaced the Banshee's autocannon with a second PPC, but the resulting heat
buildup crippled the machine. A second, more successful Marik variant replaced
the PPC and the original, smaller autocannon with a single Imperator-Zeta Class
20 autocannon. This model still lacked the crucial secondary weapon system,
however.

 House Steiner variants may prove to be the most successful. With a full
hundred Banshees on hand for experimentation, Steiner engineers have been busy
modifying them. Assisted by Davion technicians, and with plans from the
Hesperus II factories, House Steiner first attempted a modification suggested
by many of the Banshee's early critics. By adapting the Banshee's power plant
housing, the bulky GM fusion unit was replaced with a lighter Pitban 285.
Although this modification reduces the Banshee's cruising speed to only 32 kph,
it frees up massive amounts of space for weapons installation. Early versions
of the Banshee-S are impressive.

 Also added were five new heat sinks, an extra light laser, four Magna Mark II
medium lasers, a second PPC, and a Harpoon 6-rack missile launcher. In
addition, Steiner has upgraded the Imperator-A autocannon to an Imperator-B
Class 10. Although this radical revision of the original Banshee still has
problems with overheating, the overall outlook is favorable. Once considered a
white elephant, the Banshee may well emerge as a potent war machine.


Notable 'Mechs & MechWarriors:
Major Laurine White

 A highly decorated veteran of several Steiner campaigns, Major White is
currently on special assignment, reporting directly to Archon Katrina Steiner.
White has been issued the first of the experimental Banshee-S designs, and is
responsible for testing the new 'Mech. Refurbished with spare parts from junked
BNCs, her Banshee is in perfect condition. Despite the high heat buildup from
the dual PPCs during simulated combat, the new 'Mech shows great promise.

 Major White's next assignment will be to take the Banshee-S into combat. An
intelligent, loyal officer, she is a MechWarrior ably suited to the task. House
Steiner eagerly awaits the results of her testing.


"Baron" Abel Karmak

 A crony of the Bandit King Redjack Ryan, Karmak was awarded a "barony" and a
Banshee by his grateful liege. Although he uses the 'Mech mostly to terrorize
his subjects, Karmak's Banshee occasionally takes part in water raids against
House Kurita. A realist rather than a coward, Karmak knows his Banshee is
outclassed by the more advanced Kurita machines, and hangs back from the
heaviest fighting in self-preservation. His fondest wish, however, is to obtain
a "real" 'Mech and thus become a heroic MechWarrior raiding the hated Successor
States for loot and water, perhaps one day displacing Redjack Ryan himself as
Bandit King.


Additional:
From TRO 3025.


Distribution from RS 3025/3026.


Entered by Corbin Ball.


================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                     145 points                9.50
Engine:             Fusion Engine                285                      16.50
    Walking MP: 3
    Running MP: 5
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             16(32)                    6.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 293                 18.50
    CASE Locations: 1 LT                                                   0.50

                                                      Internal       Armor
                                                      Structure      Factor
                                                Head     3            9
                                        Center Torso     30           45
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  15
                                           L/R Torso     20           30
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  10
                                             L/R Arm     16           32
                                             L/R Leg     20           40

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Large Laser                               LA        12        2         5.00
ER PPC                                       RT        15        3         7.00
Imp. Heavy Gauss Rifle                       LT        2         11       20.00
Medium Laser                                 CT        3         1         1.00
Medium Laser                                 HD        3         1         1.00
@iHGR (16)                                   RT        -         4         4.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 10

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:     10    Points: 24
3          5       5       4       0      4     0   Structure:  8
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA