The Secret Weapon: Merlin BattleMech

 

    The Merlin was hailed as a technological marvel at the time it was released, as it was the first completely new design to be developed in over 100 years and its origin is tied to its manufacturer, the Mountain Wolf BattleMechs.
    Founded in the Lyran Commonwealth during the first Star League, Mountain Wolf BattleMechs was a key supplier of light BattleMechs. The Night Hawk proved so popular that the company opened a subsidiary factory in the Outworlds Alliance when the Alliance was a Star League Territory. A Free Worlds League raid in 2945 destroyed the Vendrell plant, and eventually the Succession Wars destroyed the Alpheratz facilities, and Mountain Wolf BattleMechs became a memory.
    In the early 31st century, Brandon O'Leary spent much of his family's fortune to restore the Alpheratz facility. The production line there started producing the Merlin in 3010,  in very small numbers and utilizing mainly salvaged components acquired with the support of the OA government and Alliance Defenders Limited.  The initial batch utilized fusion engines removed from Manticore and Schrek combat vehicles that were later brought back to service with ICEs.

    The existence of the Mountain Wolf BattleMechs was kept in secrecy for decades with the first units being supplied to OA Military and selected mercenary units that operated far away from OA.  By 3025, eight Merlin MLN-1A were serving under the Avellar Guards in Alpheratz but its existence was not known by other units and they were only used in a few under-cover actions against pirates outside borders, like in Antallos (Port Krin).

Merlin MLN-1A

Overview

MechWarriors hailed the Merlin as a breakthrough when it was introduced in 3010 - not because it offered advanced features, but because the Merlin was one of the first new ´Mech designs to be produced in the Inner Sphere in several centuries. Rugged and reliable, the Merlin is suitable for a variety of assignments. Its versatility makes it a popular choice in the Periphery and with mercenary units throughout the Inner Sphere.

Capabilities

In designing the Merlin, its engineers sought to create a BattleMech that would stand up to hard use, serve multiple roles, and that could be easily repaired using commonly available parts. They succeeded on all counts. The Pitban 240 gives the Merlin speed comparable to most heavy ´Mechs used in the Inner Sphere and the ten-plus tons of armor offers protection adequate for most situations. A balanced mix of long and short-range weapons makes the Merlin versatile enough to handle ´Mechs and infantry with equal ease, and its jump jets provide satisfactory mobility.

Type/Model:	Merlin MLN-1A
Mass:	60 tons

Equipment		Crits	Mass
Int.Struct.:	99 pts Standard	0	6
Engine:	240 Fusion	6	11.5
Walking MP:	4
Running MP:	6
Jumping MP:	4
Heat Sinks:	18 Single	9	8
Heatsink Location:	5 LT, 4 RT

Gyro:	4	3
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors:	5	3

Actuators:	L: Sh+UA+LA R: Sh+UA+LA	0
Armor Factor:	168 pts Standard	0	10.5

			Right Torso: 10.71%
Critical Location	Internal Struture	Armor Value
Head	3	9
Center Torso	20	26
Center Torso Rear		11
Left Torso	14	18
Left Torso Rear		8
Right Torso	14	18
Right Torso Rear		8
Left Arm	10	16
Right Arm	10	16
Left Leg	14	19
Right Leg	14	19

	Weapons & Equipment	Loc	Heat	Ammo	Crits	Mass
1	Machine Gun	LT	0	100	2	1
	(Ammo Locations: 1 CT)
1	LRM 5	RT	2	24	2	3
	(Ammo Locations: 1 CT)
1	Medium Laser	LA	3		1	1
1	Medium Laser	RA	3		1	1
1	PPC	RT	10		3	7
1	Flamer	LT	3		1	1
4	Standard Jump Jets:	-	0		4	4
	(Jump Jet Loc: 2 LL, 2 RL)
	TOTALS:		21		14	18

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:	4`960`000 C-Bills
Battle Value 1:	1039
Battle Value 2:	1218 (HMP:1217) (MUL:1217)
Cost/BV:	4072 C-Bill/BV

Record Sheet MLN-1A