HOME | DD

Description
The TagMaster was a design put into operation even before the Clan Invasion, by the Mercenary Brigade "Damage Incorporated". Even from their early days before the 4th Succession War they had used artillery and aerospace more heavily than most units to supplement their Mechs, Tanks and Infantry. When the Arrow IV system started into production in 3044, the Commander used his connection in the Lyran Commonwealth to secure several batteries and TAG designators.

As early as 3045 Dmg Inc had already started replacing the Medium Laser on their Savannah Masters with TAGs. The early problem being that a fixed mount really limited their ability to continue to Lase a target while performing evasive maneuvers. So in short order a Turret was installed on the roof, and Warrior VTOL targeting Helmets were modified to allow the drivers to "look and Lase" as they drove.

The issues being this reduced the armor even more to be basically just proof vs Small Arms, and also it was still very difficult and dangerous to look/focus on a target while zipping about at high speeds. So initial deployment was limited. Then the Clan Invasion began. And the horror stories of the Alien Invaders butchering captured artillery batteries to a man forced more thought into how to make the artillery assets more mobile and survivable.

During this time Damage Inc abandoned Tube Artillery Entirely and focused on AIV use. But instead of using relatively slow tanks or mechs to carry the Batteries, they pioneered using VTOLs and Fast Hover Vehicles as base launching platforms. Saladin Hover tanks were among the first to be converted, with more teething issues with VTOLs, until the Yellow Jacket platform launched which DMG INC quickly adopted and modified to the role, before actually commissioning their own purpose built VTOLs in the 3060s.

This in turn necessitated survivable spotting units. And while it became standard practice on most DMG INC mechs & mechs to swap a Medium Laser or Heat Sink for a TAG, still more was needed and the Savannah Masters were again pressed into service. Eventually Heavy Ferro Armor would be developed, allowing it to largely retain it's original limited protection level.

Also much development on the targeting software side would allow for "semi intelligent" locking, usually holding target lock for up to 2.5 seconds after the looking away, allowing the driver more freedom to look about without immediately worrying about losing lock. The new software was fully integrated by the end of the FedCom Civil War.

These would become integral in their order of combat, and also their 4/4 Doctrine, which means any OpFor target designated for Artillery would have 4 TAG carriers and 4 Arrow IV Batteries dedicated to it, ensuring a continued Lase of the target and maximum impact upon arrival.

SL Lewis Industries would eventually run out of their original Omni 25 Fusion Reactors, which necessitated an alternative. At this point, Damage Inc offered to co fund development of a New GM 45 XL fusion Engine, which would be used in all future models. This increased the Savannah Master's already blazing speed to an insane 281 kph (175 mph for you moon lander types).

Variants: Limited use of a version carrying either a Small Pulse or Small X Pulse Laser has appeared since Grey Monday, spurred on by the Increased prominence of Infantry forces in the so called "Dark Age". Likewise a version with an ER Flamer has been in testing in multiple uses, with the ability to create smoke, concealments, redirect combat forces by setting strategically placed fires.

Description
The TagMaster was a design put into operation even before the Clan Invasion, by the Mercenary Brigade "Damage Incorporated". Even from their early days before the 4th Succession War they had used artillery and aerospace more heavily than most units to supplement their Mechs, Tanks and Infantry. When the Arrow IV system started into production in 3044, the Commander used his connection in the Lyran Commonwealth to secure several batteries and TAG designators.

As early as 3045 Dmg Inc had already started replacing the Medium Laser on their Savannah Masters with TAGs. The early problem being that a fixed mount really limited their ability to continue to Lase a target while performing evasive maneuvers. So in short order a Turret was installed on the roof, and Warrior VTOL targeting Helmets were modified to allow the drivers to "look and Lase" as they drove.

The issues being this reduced the armor even more to be basically just proof vs Small Arms, and also it was still very difficult and dangerous to look/focus on a target while zipping about at high speeds. So initial deployment was limited. Then the Clan Invasion began. And the horror stories of the Alien Invaders butchering captured artillery batteries to a man forced more thought into how to make the artillery assets more mobile and survivable.

During this time Damage Inc abandoned Tube Artillery Entirely and focused on AIV use. But instead of using relatively slow tanks or mechs to carry the Batteries, they pioneered using VTOLs and Fast Hover Vehicles as base launching platforms. Saladin Hover tanks were among the first to be converted, with more teething issues with VTOLs, until the Yellow Jacket platform launched which DMG INC quickly adopted and modified to the role, before actually commissioning their own purpose built VTOLs in the 3060s.

This in turn necessitated survivable spotting units. And while it became standard practice on most DMG INC mechs & mechs to swap a Medium Laser or Heat Sink for a TAG, still more was needed and the Savannah Masters were again pressed into service. Eventually Heavy Ferro Armor would be developed, allowing it to largely retain it's original limited protection level.

Also much development on the targeting software side would allow for "semi intelligent" locking, usually holding target lock for up to 2.5 seconds after the looking away, allowing the driver more freedom to look about without immediately worrying about losing lock. The new software was fully integrated by the end of the FedCom Civil War.

These would become integral in their order of combat, and also their 4/4 Doctrine, which means any OpFor target designated for Artillery would have 4 TAG carriers and 4 Arrow IV Batteries dedicated to it, ensuring a continued Lase of the target and maximum impact upon arrival.

SL Lewis Industries would eventually run out of their original Omni 25 Fusion Reactors, which necessitated an alternative. At this point, Damage Inc offered to co fund development of a New GM 45 XL fusion Engine, which would be used in all future models. This increased the Savannah Master's already blazing speed to an insane 281 kph (175 mph for you moon lander types).

Variants: Limited use of a version carrying either a Small Pulse or Small X Pulse Laser has appeared since Grey Monday, spurred on by the Increased prominence of Infantry forces in the so called "Dark Age". Likewise a version with an ER Flamer has been in testing in multiple uses, with the ability to create smoke, concealments, redirect combat forces by setting strategically placed fires.