Copyright 2007 by Brandon Cope
 
 

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MB-2 York battlesuit

The MB-2 was originally developed as a highly mobile anti-aircraft platform. However, as the war in the Pacific began to play out, it was used more and more against Japanese infantry, proving very useful against banzai charges. As a field improvisation, some were fitted with a hardpoint over the left shoulder that mounted three 4.5” M-8 rockets, which mixed with the four Browning M-1919A4's, made the MB-2 extremely effective against infantry and unarmored ground targets. The primary failing of the MB-2 is it’s very poor reliability. It is also somewhat slow, though can easily outrun a man on foot.

The battlesuit does 4d+2 thrust and 6d-1 swing damage (+2 if “barehanded”). Body ST is 54.

The MB-2 uses 0.1125 gallons per hour at routine usage (330 miles at 6 mph).
.
Subassemblies: Huge Marauder Chassis +1.
Powertrain: 2.5-kW gasoline engine w/2.5-kW walker drive train and 6 gallons in self-sealing fuel tank [body]; 4,000-kWs batteries.
Occupancy: 1 BS body  Cargo: None.

Armor
All: F 4/25 

Weaponry
4¥Ground LMG/M-1919A4 [Body:F] (500 each).
3¥114.5mm rockets/M-8 [Body:F]

Equipment
Body: 4¥.Smoke dischargers, 12-hour life support, 150-lb hardpoint, sealed. Arms: ST 54 waldo motor each. Head: Small radio transmitter/receiver.

Statistics
Size: 2.5'x2.5'x7.5' Payload : 0.21 tons Lwt: 1.49 tons
Volume: 6
 Maint.:  59 hours Price: $11,500

HT: 7.
HP: 27 Body, 9 Head, 12 each Arm/Leg.
 
gSpeed: 10
 aAccel: 4
 aDecel: 20 aMR: 2.5
 aSR: 1
Low Ground Pressure. Full Off-Road Speed.

<>Design Notes
All the mecha rules from W:WW were used, except for the “cheap” transmission cost from the core book. An exception is gAccel, which uses the “kick start” rule from VE2. The design gAccel, which was used for gSpeed determination was 1 (for mecha with a top speed under 30mph, the “kick start” acceleration is: 4 x top speed / speed factor (p.W146)).

If using the “expensive” legged transmission from W:WW, cost rises to $15,100 and Maint. to 52.

Variants
The 12-hour air tanks were part of a requirement for the vehicle to cross rivers submerged. Some suits omit the tanks and sealing, using the 0.5 VSP for cargo or spare ammo.

A small number of MB-2A1’s are undergoing field trials. They replace the four M-1919A4’s with two M-2HBs (Very Long Ground HMG) with 300 rounds per gun. They also remove the air tanks and sealing.

The Germans have a very similar design, using MG 34’s and omitting the rocket hardpoint. A slightly up-gunned version replaces the machine guns with two MG FF’s (20mm Short Aircraft AC) and 120 rounds per gun.