Originally posted on rec.games.mecha February 22, 1998
(This design was based on conversations with Solarmech, and I give him credit for the original idea.) Overview: The MHL-1X Marshal was created by the Taurian Concordat and Magistracy of Canopus to fill a specific role: defending new colonies from pirates. In some cases, the Marshal has performed superbly, but in others, defending forces of Marshals have been overwhelmed by pirate attacks (and by the inability of a limited number of personnel to perform the complicated maintenance necessary to keep a battlemech operating.) Some colonies wanted and needed to organize a militia to defend themselves when their Colonial Marshals (with their Marshal battlemechs) were unable to do so, and it is for them that the SHF-1A Sheriff was created. Capabilities: The SHF-1A Sheriff has a weapons array that is very similar to the Marshal. This was done to simplify supply and maintenance requirements, and to allow the two to work together well. The Sheriff's main firepower comes from its turret-mounted Lg. Laser and Med. Pulse Laser, and its two machine guns give it good anti-infantry capabilities. Its side-mounted but front-facing LRM-5s give the Sheriff the ability to defend itself at long ranges, and with indirect fire. Its fusion engine (nearly identical to the engines placed in the LT-1 Light Tank and AC-1 Armored Car) gives it the ability to function for long periods of time without refueling, and its chassis was adapted from the chassis used by the plentiful Vedette, making it easy to modify and maintain. Finally, its 13 tons of armor give it excellent protection. SHF-1A Sheriff Tech Base: IS Level 2 Tonnage: 50 Engine: 200 fusion 12.75 Cruise: 4 Flank: 6 Movement type: tracked IS: 5 CC: 2.5 HS: 12 2 Turret Tonnage: 1 Armor: 208 (standard) 13 Front: 60 L/RS: 34 Rear: 30 Turret: 50 Weapons: Lg. Laser T 5 MPL T 2 2 MG T 1 MG Ammo 100 B 0.5 2 LRM-5 F 4 LRM Ammo 24 B 1