compiled overview of the 50
ton Centurion 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
The
Centurion was designed and built by
Corean Enterprises as an operating partner for the highly successful
Trebuchet. Produced from 2801 until the Corean plant on
Ramen II was destroyed in 2845, it boasts a powerful
Luxor medium-heavy autocannon and two
Photech 806c medium lasers, one of which fires to the rear. For long-range hitting power, it has a chassis-mounted
Luxor 3R LRM-10. This cross section of weaponry gives the
Centurion a potential damage curve that increases steadily as it nears its target.
Unfortunately, many CN9-As have developed defects in their
autocannon loading mechanisms. In many cases, it has been necessary to replace the entire loader. As replacement parts for the Luxor autocannon become increasingly rare, techs often replace the entire autocannon with another model or choose to mount a different type of weapons system in its place. Both alternatives require an extremely complicated and time-consuming operation, because the manufacturer custom-fit the Luxor system into the
Centurion's
chassis with no room for modifications.
Though the CN9 is a fine
'Mech when in good condition, the defective autocannon makes its future uncertain. In the future,
Centurions may adopt a variety of roles, depending on the refits they receive.
The CN9-D
Centurion is manufactured at
Corean Enterprises'
New Avalon factory and at
Jalastar Aerospace's facility on
Panpour. The design combines
endo-steel internal structure, extra-light engine technology,
Cellular Ammunition Storage Equipment to guard against an internal missile explosion, and an
Artemis IV fire-control system to improve the accuracy of the
Centurion's
Luxor 3R LRM-10 long-range missiles.
Additionally, the CN9-D employs a
Mydron Excel LB 10-X autocannon in place of the Luxor D-Series autocannon used in earlier versions of the
Centurion.
BattleMech troops have especially welcomed the new autocannon.
Reportedly,
Davion engineers continue to test new
Centurion prototypes that feature improved
myomers stable enough for battlefield use, and apparently the Davion military has deployed one such machine against
the Clans.
The
Centurion is best known for making slow, steady advances. Its autocannon and medium lasers allows the CN9 to inflict maximum damage when attacking at close range, and with 8.5 tons of
armor, the
Centurion is tough enough to absorb a considerable amount of punishment. Moreover, its
heat sinks allow it to keep up a vigorous assault without danger of overheating.
The twenty
autocannon reloads and twenty-four
LRM re
loads make it possible for the CN9-A to operate away from a supply base for short periods. Because of this, and its ability to move quickly and fire without overheating, the
Centurion is often used as part of a raiding
lance.
The CN9 can also lay covering fire at long ranges. However, it is rarely used in this capacity during major engagements because the launch rate of its LRM-10 is too slow to be effective against multiple opponents. In smaller encounters, the LRMs are very effective, and the twenty-four
reloads allow the
Centurion to keep up the
pressure.
The formidable appearance of the
Centurion's Luxor
autocannon tends to elevate the pilot's
confidence and give him the feeling that he can blast his way through anything. This fighting
spirit can often be a valuable psychological advantage to a lance or company facing stiff opposition.
During the Battle for
Hoff, it was
MechWarrior Fadre Sing, not the
company commander, who is credited with leading the decisive assault on the
Eridani forces at
Azure
Stone Mesa. According to official reports, the young pilot became restless while his commanding officer debated the rationality of a frontal assault. Sing announced that he was "going over there to pound a few Eridani
'Mechs into spare parts" with or without help from the rest of the
lance. He set off across the mesa and after a moment's hesitation, the rest of the
company followed, leaving the commander with his mouth gaping. Under Sing's command, the company smashed through the enemy line and destroyed a vital supply
depot. The spectacular success of the raid made it politically dangerous to
court-martial Sing. Instead, he and his
Centurion were assigned to "an important post" on a
frontier world.
In the battle for
New Mendham,
Lieutenant Ian Grimm distinguished himself, and his
Centurion, by attacking and destroying a
Marauder single-handedly. The
Marauder had been punching its way through an office tower when the building caught fire. The pilot panicked and started firing his
PPCs wildly to blast his way out. By the time the
Marauder cleared the fire, it was badly overheated and close to shut-down. Grimm saw it coming out
and moved in to attack at close range.
Grimm's
Centurion was too close to be easily hit with a
PPC, and the
Marauder was too hot to make wild shots, so the
Marauder began
kicking and
punching, trying to pound its attacker into
scrap. The CN9 managed to move out to about sixty meters and started hammering away at the
Marauder with its
autocannon and medium
laser. The only weapons that the
Marauder could effectively fire were its two medium lasers, but with its targeting system malfunctioning due to high temperatures, even those were little use. In the end, the
Centurion managed to blast through the left-torso
armor and hit the
autocannon
magazine. The explosion gutted the
Marauder.
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