compiled overview of the 25
ton Mongoose 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
Introduced in the spring of 2660, the quick, agile
Mongoose soon became popular with
Star League light
lance commanders. Equipped with the
Beagle active probe, which combined thermal and magnetic passive sensors with an active millimeter-wavelength
phased-array radar, the
Mongoose rendered all attempts at concealment useless.
Though the
'Mech was originally designed for deep
reconnaissance, commanders began to adapt it for command and control duties as soon as they
discovered that the
Mongoose's advanced sensor array and associated central processing units would allow them to easily coordinate the activities of an entire light
company. Demand for this new vehicle was high, and by 2668, the design had become the standard command
'Mech for all light and
recon lances.
The First and
Second Succession Wars devastated the
Inner Sphere's industrial might. As was the case for the
MechWarriors of many advanced BattleMech designs dependent on a constant flow of replacement parts,
Mongoose pilots found themselves patching and jury-rigging together their "
state-of-the-art" electronics and weaponry. The first item to suffer was the
sensor array, and today, none of the few operational
Mongooses have a
functioning Beagle probe.
The
Mongoose was designed to replace the venerable
Locust, with ground speed, rather than
jumping ability, as the key to the
'Mech's maneuverability. An instant success with field commanders, the
'Mech is considered an outstanding design. The
'Mech's armament is based entirely on energy weapons, freeing it from an undue reliance on resupply. This makes the
Mongoose an ideal deep-recon
'Mech or
raider.
The
Mongoose carries a heavy load of
armor for its size, and it can withstand a direct
PPC blast to the chest without suffering internal damage. If necessary, the
Mongoose can engage medium
'Mechs with some chance of success.
The laser systems are tried and dependable, with excellent heat dissipation provided by the primary cooling collars located just above the
'Mech's elbows.
Secondary
heat sinks, located in the back of the torso, funnel heat toward the waist. The
lasers mounted in the center torso and head are very accurate, employing internal compensatory systems that allow the
Mongoose to aim precisely when at a full run. The only drawback to the weapon system is the cooling jacket for the center torso laser, which rests on top of the engine compartment and tends to deteriorate rapidly. Replacement is not difficult, but studies show the jacket is virtually useless after only 100 firings. The additional heat does not impair the
Mongoose's performance, but it makes the
cockpit uncomfortable for the
pilot and sometimes interferes with the sensor array.
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