compiled overview of the 20
ton Fireball 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
While trying to formulate a strategy to counter the onslaught of
the Clans, the
Federated Commonwealth commanders held a series of talks with the designers at the
New Avalon Institute of Science. The outcome of the discussions was a decision to build a light
BattleMech that could support heavier units when they suddenly encountered Clan
Elementals in combat. The
Federated Commonwealth commissioned the ALM-7D
Fireball soon after these debates and immediately dedicated some of the
Corean Enterprises assembly lines on
New Avalon to the new design.
Of the several designs submitted to the
Federated Commonwealth Review Board, the 7D was the most promising. Because Clan Elementals
swarm onto the battlefield in large numbers, the design called for a quick vehicle that could sustain a high fire rate for an extended period of combat time. The
'Mech was armed with a
Hovertec Streak SRM-2 Pod and a
Lindblad machine gun, both supplied with substantial ammunition. These weapons seemed well-suited to opposing
Elementals, but the feature that most caught the eye of the review board was its
speed.
The ALM-7D can run up to 184
kph even without the dangerous
MASC equipment. With a good gunner commanding the
'Mech, the machine could
race across the battlefield supporting several heavier units.
To meet the needs of these combat conditions, the engineers incorporated the
Corean B-Tech targeting and tracking system in the internal components, a system that had proven its effectivenaess in recent years. This system was also chosen because a substantial number was available at the
New Avalon manufacturing site, thus eliminating lengthy delays for transporting components from other worlds.
The
Federated Commonwealth plans to test the performance of the ALM-7D in
front-line situations where
veteran units will pit their expertise against
the Clans. The new design will most likely be assigned to
hot young piots because the
Fireball's capabilities suit the
individuality of many newer
MechWarriors. The F-C High Command hopes that piloting a
Fireball will help the
rookies mature more quickly than they would in a heavier line
'Mech that has to submit to a more coordinated battle strategy.
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