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BJ-1 Blackjack

BJ-1DB Blackjack
BJ-1DC Blackjack

Armament:

2 Whirlwind-L Autocannon/2s

4 Intek Medium Lasers

Manufacturer:    General Motors

   Location:    (Unknown)

Communications System:    Dalban Micronics

Targeting & Tracking System: Dalban AQ

Overview:

       General Motors' original contract called for the production of "a medium BattleMech with insurgency-suppression and fire-support capabilities." The result was the Blackjack, a 45-ton 'Mech armed with lasers and autocannon.
       The production model differed from early prototypes in replacing the twin, arm-mounted GM Flashpoint flamers with heavier but more reliable Whilwind-L autocannon. This also required replacing the original Vox 225 power plant with the lighter GM 180, which reduced the Blackjack's speed and endurance. Whitworth jump jets were added to increase the 'Mech's mobility.
       Because the Blackjack fulfilled all its production requirements and was a good medium 'Mech, GM was not prepared for the negative reaction it received. Despite a complete lack of evidence to support any criticisms of the 'Mech, the Blackjack was rejected by both the Star League and its MechWarriors, and so production was canceled after only a few years.

Capabilities:

       The Blackjack's main function was to suppress and/or destroy non-'Mech insurgent forces that began to appear as the Star League's authority was eroding. The 'Mech fulfilled its secondary role of fire support with only moderate success, as its twin light autocannon were barely effective at blasting away armor from 'Mechs. The medium lasers provided more firepower, however. When used en masse by en entire lance or company of Blackjacks, they proved quite effective.
       Despite its poor reception, records of the Blackjack's performance show it to have been a reliable 'Mech. Its greatest weakness was extremely fragile joints, a fragility shared by the autocannon linkage on GM's other major 'Mech, the Marauder.
       The Blackjack's only true drawback was the bad press it received, which claimed that the entire project was a boondoggle because the 'Mech's basic design was flawed and unstable. Critics claimed that the 'Mech's narrow footpads made it susceptible to falling and reduced its mobility, or that the StarGard II armor was brittle and tended to fall off. Though none of these claims were ever substantiated, the rumors were enough to throw the Blackjack into disfavoe.

Deployment

       Used effectively but only sparingly by the Star League, the Blackjack continues in use among the Successor States. It functions generally as fire support or faces off against infantry and small armored vehicles. Houses Liao and Davion have most of the Blackjacks now in existence, but use them only rarely. The Blackjack can hold its own against comparable 'Mechs and is fully capable of winning in one-on-one combat.
       In fact, the myth of the Blackjack's inferiority received a blow in 3022 when the infamous Kurita Tai-I Mercer Ravannion attempted to use his own brand of "horde" tactics against an under-strength Davion garrison on the ice world of Xhosha VII. Ravannion theorized that 'Mech warfare could be carried out by swarms of ultra-light Stingers and Wasps that would attack and overwhelm heavier, but numerically inferior, defending 'Mechs. Ravannion's attempts to prove his theories were uniformly disastrous, but he remained supremely confident in the basic soundness of his concept. The tiny garrison on Xhosha was one of many opposing forces to suffer for his arrogance.
       The Xhosha defense consisted of two companies of the Draconis March Militia, equipped mostly with Locusts and Blackjacks. When swarms of Stingers and Wasps burst from their DropShips in what Ravannion hoped was an irresistible wave, they caught the Militia by surprise. Freezing temperatures affected the performance of 'Mech equipment on both sides, particularly the defenders' Locusts.
       In the end, Cadet Michael Ubodo's "out-moded and inverior" but heavier Blackjacks took the brunt of the fierce Kurita attack on the ice Plain of Swords. Driven by his obsession, Ravannion threw his 'Mechs into battle without regard for men or materiel.
       Ubodo, a recent NAIS Training Cadre graduate brevetted to command of the Xhosha garrison, was beset on all sides by the light, swift Kurita 'Mechs. Remaining calm, he took advantage of every terrain thrust with a counter-thrust from his outnumbered Blackjacks. He personally led the counterattack that broke the back of Ravannion's assault.
       Ravannion withdrew his forces in disorder and returned home to "further refine" his theories. He was killed a year later in a fight with McKinnon's Raiders on Fallon II.
       Hanse Davion personally decorated young Ubodo. The sight of the much-maligned Blackjack standing in line for Davion honors alongside Marauders and Crusaders has forced some critics to reconsider their opinion of the 'Mech.

In use by:

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Type/Model:	Blackjack BJ-1
Mass:	45 tons

Equipment:		Crits	Mass
Internal Structure:	75 pts Standard	0	4.50
Engine:	180	6	7.00
Walking MP:	4
Running MP:	6
Jumping MP:	4
Heat Sinks:	11 Single	4	1.00
(Heat Sink Loc: 2 LT, 2 RT)
Gyro:		4	2.00
Cockpit, Life Support, Sensors:		5	3.00
Actuators:	L: Sh+UA+LA, R: Sh+UA+LA	14	.00
Armor Factor:	136 pts Standard	0	8.50

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		Internal	Armor
		Structure	Value
	Head:	3	9
	Center Torso:	14	18
	Center Torso (Rear):		9
	L/R Side Torso:	11	15/15
	L/R Side Torso (Rear):		6/6
	L/R Arm:	7	12/12
	L/R Leg:	11	17/17

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Weapons & Equipment:	Loc	Heat	Ammo	Crits	Mass
1 Autocannon/2	RA	1	45	2	7.00
(Ammo Loc: 1 CT)
1 Autocannon/2	LA	1		1	6.00
1 Medium Laser	RT	3		1	1.00
1 Medium Laser	LA	3		1	1.00
1 Medium Laser	RA	3		1	1.00
1 Medium Laser	LT	3		1	1.00
4 Standard Jump Jets:				4	2.00
(Jump Jet Loc: 2 LL, 2 RL)
TOTALS:		14		44	45.00
Crits & Tons Left:				34	.00

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Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:	3,153,750 C-Bills
Battle Value:	795
Cost per BV:	3,966.98
Weapon Value:	588 / 588 (Ratio = .74 / .74)
Damage Factors:	SRDmg = 15; MRDmg = 5; LRDmg = 2
BattleForce2:	MP: 4J,   Armor/Structure: 3/4
	Damage PB/M/L: 2/2/-,   Overheat: 1
	Class: MM,   Point Value: 8