Behemoth (Super-Heavy) (Combat Vehicle)

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Behemoth II (Custom Combat Vehicle) Type: Inner Sphere level 2 super-heavy tank Tonnage: 200 Engine: 400 XL 39.5

 Cruise: 2
 Flank:  3
 Type: tracked

Control Components: 10 Internal Structure: 40 Heat Sinks: 10 0 Turret: 6 Sponson turrets: 0.5 Armor: 412 (ff) 23

 Front:   82-20
 F-sides: 60-20
 R-sides: 50-20
 Rear:    50-20
 Turret:  60-20

Weapons and equipment: V-Flamer LSp 0.5 V-Flamer RSp 0.5 V-Flamer ammo 20 B 1 2 MGs LSp 1 2 MGs RSp 1 MG ammo 100 B 0.5 SRM-2 LSp 1 SRM-2 RSp 1 SRM-2 ammo 50 B 1 CASE B 0.5 2 AM Guns T 1 AM ammo 48 B 4 2 Gauss Rifles T 30 Gauss ammo 40 B 5 2 LB 10-X ACs T 22 LB ammo 20 (C) B 2 LB ammo 20 (S) B 2 PPC T 7

Cost: 89,209,388 C-bills Battle Value:

 Defensive: 519
 Offensive: 1,118
 Total: 1,637

Behemoth II model b Type: Inner Sphere level 2 Tonnage: 100 Engine: 200 ICE 17

 Cruise: 2
 Flank:  3
 Type: tracked

C.C.: 5 I.S.: 10 Heat Sinks: none 0 Turret: 3 Sponson turrets: 0.5 Armor: 320 (standard) 20

 Front:  80
 Sides:  60
 Rear:   60
 Turret: 60

Weapons and equipment: V-Flamer LSp 0.5 V-Flamer RSp 0.5 V-Flamer ammo 20 B 1 2 MGs LSp 1 2 MGs RSp 1 MG ammo 100 B 0.5 SRM-2 LSp 1 SRM-2 RSp 1 SRM-2 ammo 50 B 1 2 LRM-5s T 4 LRM-5 ammo 24 B 1 Gauss Rifle T 15 Gauss ammo 24 B 3 LB 10-X AC T 11 LB ammo 30 B 2

Cost: 3,385,666 Battle Value:

 Defensive: 304
 Offensive: 623
 Total: 927

Capabilities: The Behemoth II mounts an extremely large amount of weaponry. It's primary weapons battery consists of two Gauss Rifles, two LB-10X autocannons, and one PPC, mounted in the turret. It's primary weaponry gives the Behemoth II the ability to deal massive amounts of damage at long, medium, and short ranges.

Defensively, the Behemoth II mounts two turret-mounted anti-missile systems with two tons of ammo apiece. This should provide a defense against SRMs, one of a large tank's worst nightmares. For anti-infantry defense, the tank mounts on each side-facing sponson turret a Flamer, two Machine Guns and an SRM-2, which may be loaded with either explosive or inferno ammunition. This armament is able to destroy large amounts of unarmored infantry. (For armored infantry, TTI and VMI recommend use of the main weaponry.)

The armor protection of the Behemoth II is superb. Over 20 tons of armor give it protection equivalent to that of an assault BattleMech.

While it's maximum speed of 32 kph is ridiculously slow by some standards, the designers of the Behemoth II believe that it is not a burden on the tank, when used in its primary roles - assaulting prepared positions, and defending strategic locations. The sight of a tank that masses twice as much as the largest BattleMech is certain to make any opponent uncertain of their success, and few raiders will risk attacking an objective guarded by one.

Some critics have appeared, claiming that a tank that costs more than some dropships is horribly over-priced. TTI and VMI respectfully disagree, pointing to other, even more popular tanks and 'Mechs that mount expensive components, such as XL engines, for little or no reason. Rumors that quote certain high-level TTI executives as saying "There's a sucker born every minute" are completely false, say TTI and VMI spokespersons, and sales to neighboring realms and mercenary units continue to rise.

The Behemoth II model b, intended for domestic sales, is different in several major ways from the standard edition. It's much smaller size allows it to not only use bridges more effectively, but fit into standard dropship vehicle transport cocoons, enhancing it's deployability. It's main weaponry is not as great as the standard edition, but it's paired Gauss Rifle - LB 10-X AC combo is still to be respected, and the anti-infantry armament of the two is identical. The addition of two LRM-5 units rounds out the model b's weapons complement. Most importantly, it costs just under 1/26th that of the standard edition, allowing customers without billions of c-bills to spend to take advantage of the new tank.

Deployment Over 100 Behemoth IIs have been sold, with the primary purchasers being the Federated Commonwealth and certain large mercenary units. In addition, an unspecified number of Behemoth II model b's have been purchased by the Taurian Defense Forces and Magistracy Armed Forces, and have been placed in reserve units across these two realms.

Battle History The Behemoth II has yet to see combat.