STATISTICS
| Mass: 35 tons | Movement Type: Bipedal Humanoid |
| Power Plant: TME 210 eXtraLight | Armor Type: TME 3050 FerroFibrous |
| Comm Systems: TME Vox Et Deus | Cruising Speed: 65 kph |
| Targeting/Tracking Systems:
TME 3050 Point-And-Shoot |
Maximum Speed: 87 kph |
| Chassis: Alahain 56-Carrier (Endo) | |
| Armament: 1 TME/BTSTS-EPPC:3049 "ReachOutAndKillSomeone" Extended Range Particle Projection Cannon 4 TME/BTSTS-ML:3000 "ZapEmGood" Medium Lasers |
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OVERVIEW
The TME-56 was initially designed for an abortive Inner Sphere raid into Clan space in late 3055. Two lances of light and medium secret TME designs found themselves ambushed by two assault Stars of Daishis and Masakaris. The outcome, predictably, was quickly grim. However, after tales of how well these strangely modified 'Mechs did against impossible odds spread, TME came out and put their secret designs into full production.
CAPABILITIES
The Black Panther is a radical customization of a PNT-series Panther. The Panther's original particle projector cannon was upgraded to an extended-range version. Its missile launcher was removed and replaced with three medium lasers. An extra-light engine increased the Panther's speed by 50% and additional heat sinks increased its jumping distance by the same factor. Upgraded ferro-fibrous armor supplied its light frame with as much armor as it could carry. All of these modifications made it a superior fighter for "black ops."
DEPLOYMENT
The TME-56 is, like the TME-21 Tin Can, actually a modification kit sold seperately from a Panther chassis. This modification kit sells extremely well in the Draconis Combine, where many MechWarriors and commanders want to upgrade aging Panthers.
TME-56 Black Panther Customization |
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| 35 tons | Cruising MP: 6 (64.8 kph) | Flank MP: 8 (86.4 kph) | Jump MP: 6 (120m) |
| Engine: 210 XL Fusion | Engine Mass: 4.5 t | Cockpit Mass: 3 t | Gyro Mass: 3 t |
| 10 (20) Dbl Heat Sinks | Structure Mass: 3.5t | Armor Mass: 7.0t Ferro | Armor Points: 119 |
Drawing Board Stats for the TME-56 Black Panther
ARMOR |
EQUIPMENT |
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Location |
Front |
IS |
Rear |
ER PPC | Right Arm |
| Head: | 9 | 3 | NA |
2 Medium Lasers | L. Torso |
| Center Torso: | 17 | 11 | 5 | 2 Medium Lasers | R. Torso |
| Left / Right Torso: | 12 / 12 | 8 / 8 | 4 / 4 | XL Engine | L/R Torso |
| Left / Right Arm: | 12 / 12 | 6 / 6 | NA / NA | Double Heat Sink | L. Torso |
| Left / Right Leg: | 16 / 16 | 8 / 8 | NA / NA | Double Heat Sink | R. Torso |
| 2 Jump Jets | C. Torso | ||||
| 2 Jump Jets | Left Leg | ||||
| 2 Jump Jets | Right Leg | ||||
DESIGNER'S NOTE: The Panther drawing is from the 3025 Technical Manual, and the silhouette is from the BattleTech Reinforcements box set, both copyright FASA 1986. The Panther planform and design are copyright FASA. These statistics are my own.