compiled overview of the 35
ton Panther 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
Originally designed in 2739 as a
fire support vehicle for reconnaissance units, the prototype
Panther was first built for the
Star League during the closing years of the
Cameron dynasty. The
Panther has been the
Draconis Combine's pre-eminent light
'Mech throughout the
Succession Wars. The
Combine is the only
Successor State that today uses the
Panther in any significant numbers. This is because they control the only working
Panther factory, located on the temperate world of
Alshain.
The
Panther was produced on the planets of
Jarett and
New Oslo, located inside the
Free Rasalhague Republic. The
Panther had an important part in the development of the
FRR's
KungsArmé, especially the Husar
regiments. But, sadly, both planets have fallen to
the Clans. The
New Oslo plant was disassembled and the
Jarett plant
gutted before
the Clans took either planet; the production of
Panthers has dropped dramatically.
Though there have been many attempts to knock out the factory at
Alshain, the fact that it is housed in the
bowels of a mountain makes it a tough target. The factory is churning out
Panthers for
Kurita as quickly as possible, slowed down only by the delay in getting
target computers delivered from clear across the
Combine.
The
Mech's poor performance at the Battle of
St. John in 2759 pointed out both a flaw and a strength in the design. The flaw was that the large
laser, mounted on the
'Mech's right arm, lacked effective
range and power. The strength was the
'Mech's basic hardiness. To improve this battle worthy machine's firepower,
Star League engineers replaced the large laser with a
PPC.
Its
PPC is unusual for a
'Mech of its size. An extraordinary weapon, the
Lord's Light PPC combines the fire-power of a standard
PPC with the lightness and flexibility of an arm-carried weapon. For close-in work, the
Panther carries four
SRM tubes with enough ammunition for twenty-five shots. The reliable Telos system is placed in the
'Mech's chest area, which ensures it good
protection.
Prior to the Clan invasion,
Alshain Weapons had plans in the works to build another factory on
Krenice.
The Clans' arrival forced
Alshain Weapons to step up those plans.
Panthers incorporating recovered technology are expected to begin
marching off the line at
Krenice sometime within the next year.
The availability of
Star League technology has given
Gorton, Kingsley and Thorpe Enterprises the chance to make a good thing better at its rebuilt factory on
Satalice. Though the
Panther was already well armed and armored,
GK&T Ent. is planning to improve both of the
'Mech's weapon systems and to beef up its defenses. The use of
endo steel in the new
Panther's internal structure saves enough weight to allow for other changes.
The excellent
Lord's Light PPC is replaced in the new
Panther by the second-generation, extended-range Lord's Light 2. Field trials have shown no problems with the new system. The reliable
Cat's Eyes 5 targeting system has been merged with the
Artemis IV fire-control system, greatly improving the accuracy of the
Telos-4 SRM launcher. Though the
Panther is well armored for a light
'Mech, an occasional lucky shot has detonated missile reloads in the past, making the revamped
Panther a perfect candidate for
Cellular Ammunition Storage Equipment.
Panthers with such equipment are just beginning to reach the most prestigious units.
Pilots discovered early in the
Panther's career that it was well-suited to the dirty tactics of city fighting. The nimble
'Mech easily moves through the restricted spaces of a city, while its
PPC gives it the chance of disabling all but the heaviest
'Mechs with a few aimed shots. From
rooftop ambushes to muggings on dark streets, the
Panther has gained quite a reputation. For its urban brawling prowess.
Lyran Commonwealth MechWarriors have nicknamed it "the
Alley Cat". Even in a city, however, the
Panther cannot stand up to a heavy
'Mech such as the
Warhammer or
Zeus in a head-on engagement. Finding himself in that situation, the
Panther pilot must rely on good shooting and the
'Mech's superior mobility to leave the field in one piece.
Kurita first used
Panthers in a large-scale
offensive action on the planet
Quentin during the
First Succession War, and the action remains a model for how the
Combine employs the
'Mech. Once the
Second Legion of Vega was reorganized with
Panthers as the mainstay of its light units, it was ordered to assault the agricultural planet
Quentin, owned by Duke
Davion. Catching Davion's
42nd Avalon Hussars off guard, the
Second Legion of Vega mauled them severely. Though the
Hussars'
'Mechs were generally heavier and had more firepower, they could not react fast enough to the fleet-footed
Panthers firing heavy hits with their
PPCS. The Hussars retreated, giving up the only major city and spaceport on
Quentin.
The victory on
Quentin paled in significance, however, when
Minoru Kurita was assassinated on
Kentares IV at about the same time. To support his rage against the people of Kentares,
Jinjiro Kurita took troops and supplies away from the
Second Legion of Vega and sent the unit as reinforcements to the Kentares front. In the meantime, the
42nd Avalon Hussars had been reinforced by units of the
Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry.
Suddenly on the defensive, the
Panthers of
Kurita's Second Legion bore the brunt of the Hussars' counterattack. From prepared positions in and around the city, the
Panthers held off an onslaught by
Davion Warhammers and
Marauders. This delaying action, led by Captain
Ted "Red Beard" Henry, created enormous confusion in the
Davion advance. His troops' action allowed the safe withdrawal of the Second Legion when it became apparent that there was no hope of reinforcements.
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