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Description

During the Second Succession War, Damage Inc was wiped out fighting for the Capellan Confederation. During the last days of the Third Succession War the descendants of the original unit resurrected Damage Inc. as a reinforced combined arms battalion.

In 3023, the unit was again mauled, this time fighting against the CapCon, narrowly escaping from McCarron's Armored Cavalry, saved only by a timely firebombing run by their ASF Company. Even so four mechs and six of their Manticore tanks were destroyed or rendered combat ineffective.

Part of the issue was their ancient Mobile Long Tom had broken down during the battle, leaving only the Long Tom battery on their Fortress Class Dropship to provide fire support. Shortly after this, chance would hand Damage Inc an unusual opportunity to address this.

6 months later, the unit intercepted a shipment of a full company of Capellan Demolishers being sent back to Aldis' factory on Betelgeuse to be rebuilt and refit. Leveraging some contacts Jalastar Aerospace, Commander Myers outlined a somewhat unusual idea, trading the other 8 Demolisher Chassis and components to have the remaining 4 extensively modified.

Replacing the 240 ICE engine were 240 Fusion Engines, salvaged from their lost Manticores, freeing up considerable weight, and reducing refueling concerns, while maintaining the original power to weight ration of the tank.

Next, 4 Long Tom Artillery Batteries were ordered from Armstrong Weapons. These would be fit into the Turrets in place of the twin Chemjet SuperHeavy Autocannons. Extensive reinforcement and shock absorption gear was added, allowing not only full 360 degree rotation of the Battery, but even for it to be able to fire while moving at cruise speeds, if needed*. This would be fed by a 3 ton magazine, allowing for almost 3 minutes of sustained fire. Since they were intended to operate from base camp primarily this was deemed sufficient.

While the base armor layout of the Demolisher was also retained, the decision was made to add point defense weapons, "just in case". 3 Sperry Browning 20mm machine guns were mounted, 1 in the bowgunner position, controllable by the driver, the other 2 in the turret, controllable by either the Gunner or Commander. These would be fed by a half ton magazine. Lastly, a Holly SRM Twin Rack was added to the side of the turret, to provide added punch if needed.

The raw power of the Long Tom does mean the newly dubber "Earth Shaker" would need almost twice the man hours of maintenance as a standard Demolisher, and the violent recoil would affect occasionally jam the feeds to the MGs or SRMs. Also the recoil made he environmental seals on the turret less than reliable. This was handled mostly by separating the crew compartment from the turret entirely.

Still, with nearly twice the groundspeed, superior terrain handling capabilities, and 2.5 tons the armor of a traditional Mobile Long Tom, it was considered worth it.

After much trial and error, the chassis were considered sufficiently reliable to be used in combat trials, just in time for the outbreak of the Fourth Succession War. And as good fortune would have it, Damage Inc would find an itself having an opportunity to get a measure of revenge against the MAC, catching the 2nd Battalion of the Barton's Regiment, separated from the rest of their allies.

Using their Mech and Armor Companies to draw the Big MAC into a trap, Damage Inc would unleash barrage after barrage of Long Tom fire from all 4 Earth Shakers, their Fortress and the aged MLT, combined with multiple bombing and strafing runs by their reinforced Aerospace Company. By the time Barton's forces manged to escape, nearly 2/3 of their mechs were destroyed or severely damaged.

After the 4th Succession War proved the concept, a full production run would be built leading up to the War of 3039, where they would once again prove their worth, this time against the Dragon. Instead of wasteful use of still expensive and somewhat rare fusion engines, Maverick Industries focused on their extensive experience with CV Fuel Cell Engines, and so while limited in range, it was still much more tactically liberating. The new take on the unit could carry 30 rds of onboard ammunition, and carry a point defense system, consisting on 4 Machine Guns, one in each side, and the rear, with another coaxial to the main gun in the turret. Also mounted in the turret is a SRM2 rack, usually loaded with Infernos or Smoke warheads, and used more as a defensive countermeasure than an offensive weapon. Approximately half were so equipped, with the other half only carrying 2 of the MGs, and instead carrying 9 tons of ammunition.

Still, not long after this, the shorter range, but lighter and more versatile Arrow IV would start eclipsing tube artillery, for sheer tactical flexibility and so the lines would be shuttered. During the Jihad though, it would get a new lease on life, using Heavy Ferro Armor to free up enough tonange for extra layers of active defense, adding an Anti Missile System, and replacing the SRM2 with Vehicular Grenade Launchers.

*rough sketch from my notebook doodles... and addiction to artillery. TRO/Record Sheet courtesy of the MACHINE SHOP website.

*Note. It says if NEEDED. Not that it was as accurate, or even desirable. The biggest thing it means is that instead of being parked on stabilizers to fire, it can literally be sitting at idle, fire, then immediately reposition to avoid counter battery fire. Obviously firing on the move, even with future fire control tech would severely impact accuracy (making danger close fire missions impossible, for instance). It's always best if one can fire from stationary with ANY weapon, for accuracy. But being ABLE to fire while moving is still desirable.

Description

During the Second Succession War, Damage Inc was wiped out fighting for the Capellan Confederation. During the last days of the Third Succession War the descendants of the original unit resurrected Damage Inc. as a reinforced combined arms battalion.

In 3023, the unit was again mauled, this time fighting against the CapCon, narrowly escaping from McCarron's Armored Cavalry, saved only by a timely firebombing run by their ASF Company. Even so four mechs and six of their Manticore tanks were destroyed or rendered combat ineffective.

Part of the issue was their ancient Mobile Long Tom had broken down during the battle, leaving only the Long Tom battery on their Fortress Class Dropship to provide fire support. Shortly after this, chance would hand Damage Inc an unusual opportunity to address this.

6 months later, the unit intercepted a shipment of a full company of Capellan Demolishers being sent back to Aldis' factory on Betelgeuse to be rebuilt and refit. Leveraging some contacts Jalastar Aerospace, Commander Myers outlined a somewhat unusual idea, trading the other 8 Demolisher Chassis and components to have the remaining 4 extensively modified.

Replacing the 240 ICE engine were 240 Fusion Engines, salvaged from their lost Manticores, freeing up considerable weight, and reducing refueling concerns, while maintaining the original power to weight ration of the tank.

Next, 4 Long Tom Artillery Batteries were ordered from Armstrong Weapons. These would be fit into the Turrets in place of the twin Chemjet SuperHeavy Autocannons. Extensive reinforcement and shock absorption gear was added, allowing not only full 360 degree rotation of the Battery, but even for it to be able to fire while moving at cruise speeds, if needed*. This would be fed by a 3 ton magazine, allowing for almost 3 minutes of sustained fire. Since they were intended to operate from base camp primarily this was deemed sufficient.

While the base armor layout of the Demolisher was also retained, the decision was made to add point defense weapons, "just in case". 3 Sperry Browning 20mm machine guns were mounted, 1 in the bowgunner position, controllable by the driver, the other 2 in the turret, controllable by either the Gunner or Commander. These would be fed by a half ton magazine. Lastly, a Holly SRM Twin Rack was added to the side of the turret, to provide added punch if needed.

The raw power of the Long Tom does mean the newly dubber "Earth Shaker" would need almost twice the man hours of maintenance as a standard Demolisher, and the violent recoil would affect occasionally jam the feeds to the MGs or SRMs. Also the recoil made he environmental seals on the turret less than reliable. This was handled mostly by separating the crew compartment from the turret entirely.

Still, with nearly twice the groundspeed, superior terrain handling capabilities, and 2.5 tons the armor of a traditional Mobile Long Tom, it was considered worth it.

After much trial and error, the chassis were considered sufficiently reliable to be used in combat trials, just in time for the outbreak of the Fourth Succession War. And as good fortune would have it, Damage Inc would find an itself having an opportunity to get a measure of revenge against the MAC, catching the 2nd Battalion of the Barton's Regiment, separated from the rest of their allies.

Using their Mech and Armor Companies to draw the Big MAC into a trap, Damage Inc would unleash barrage after barrage of Long Tom fire from all 4 Earth Shakers, their Fortress and the aged MLT, combined with multiple bombing and strafing runs by their reinforced Aerospace Company. By the time Barton's forces manged to escape, nearly 2/3 of their mechs were destroyed or severely damaged.

After the 4th Succession War proved the concept, a full production run would be built leading up to the War of 3039, where they would once again prove their worth, this time against the Dragon. Instead of wasteful use of still expensive and somewhat rare fusion engines, Maverick Industries focused on their extensive experience with CV Fuel Cell Engines, and so while limited in range, it was still much more tactically liberating. The new take on the unit could carry 30 rds of onboard ammunition, and carry a point defense system, consisting on 4 Machine Guns, one in each side, and the rear, with another coaxial to the main gun in the turret. Also mounted in the turret is a SRM2 rack, usually loaded with Infernos or Smoke warheads, and used more as a defensive countermeasure than an offensive weapon. Approximately half were so equipped, with the other half only carrying 2 of the MGs, and instead carrying 9 tons of ammunition.

Still, not long after this, the shorter range, but lighter and more versatile Arrow IV would start eclipsing tube artillery, for sheer tactical flexibility and so the lines would be shuttered. During the Jihad though, it would get a new lease on life, using Heavy Ferro Armor to free up enough tonange for extra layers of active defense, adding an Anti Missile System, and replacing the SRM2 with Vehicular Grenade Launchers.

*rough sketch from my notebook doodles... and addiction to artillery. TRO/Record Sheet courtesy of the MACHINE SHOP website.

*Note. It says if NEEDED. Not that it was as accurate, or even desirable. The biggest thing it means is that instead of being parked on stabilizers to fire, it can literally be sitting at idle, fire, then immediately reposition to avoid counter battery fire. Obviously firing on the move, even with future fire control tech would severely impact accuracy (making danger close fire missions impossible, for instance). It's always best if one can fire from stationary with ANY weapon, for accuracy. But being ABLE to fire while moving is still desirable.