BattleMech Technical Readout

Type/Model: Griffin GRF-1N
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
   
Mass: 55 tons
Chassis: Earthwerk GRF Standard
Power Plant: 275 Core Tek Fusion
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: 5 Rawlings 55 Standard Jump Jets
   Jump Capacity:    150 meters
Armor Type: Starshield A Standard
Armament:
1 Fusigon PPC
1 Delta Dart LRM 10
Manufacturer:    Earthwerks Incorporated
   Location:    (Unknown)
Communications System:    Neil 6000
Targeting & Tracking System: Octagon Tartrac System C


Overview:
         The GRF-1N Griffin was first put into production in 2492. Considered a heavy 'Mech early in its career, the Griffin was superseded by heavier and better-armored vehicles within a century. The design was popular, however, and so the Griffin was kept in production but downgraded to medium status. This 'Mech may currently be found in almost every unit of the Successor States.
         Though the Griffin was initially designed as an assault 'Mech, its capacity was soon surpassed by more advanced weapons technology. For this reason, the Griffin was given a new specialty, that of long-range support in medium lances, a role for which it is well suited.

Capabilities:
         The Griffin's armament is limited yet powerful. Its hand-held Fusigon PPC can inflict heavy damage at long ranges. This, combined with the drum-mounted Delta Dart LRM ten-rack, allows the Griffin to hit hard at long or medium ranges. Unfortunately, the Griffin is not equipped for close combat and must rely on other 'Mechs of its unit to provide most of the effective short-range fire. It is equipped with two massive battle fists in case hand-to-hand combat is necessary, however.
         One of the Griffin's special advantages is its high maneuverability relative to its tonnage. With a maximum speed of more than 80 kph and the use of its Rawlings 55 jump jets, the Griffin can outdistance any heavier 'Mechs that might do it harm. It is the CoreTek 275 fusion engine that allows the 'Mech to achieve such speeds. More massive and efficient than many heavier 'Mech engines, the CoreTek 275 is the real reason for the Griffin's long and successful career.
         By medium 'Mech standards, the Griffin's defensive armor is substantial. However, it must often confront heavier 'Mechs (in support of other medium vehicles). Because of this, two false armor baffles have been added to the shoulder assemblies of each arm on most Griffins. These baffles give additional, yet limited, protection to the long-range missile drum and the head/cockpit area. Two other small armor baffles are located on the legs, protecting the knee joint actuator assembly areas.
         As with many other early 'Mechs, the Griffin has a serious problem with overheating. Because the 'Mech is fitted with too few heat sinks for its large-caliber armament, a Griffin pilot is usually faced with the choice of either firing or fleeing. In most cases, he cannot do both without risking dangerous levels of heat build-up.

Battle History:
         During the Ninth Battle of Holt in 2967, medium lances of House Liao's Marion's Highlanders engaged elements of House Marik's Second Regulan Hussars. Outnumbered and outgunned, Marion's Highlanders nevertherless attacked the Hussars' fortified positions, taking heavy losses. The defenders singled out the attackers' Griffins for quick destruction, as their long-range fire support had permitted some initial success to the other medium 'Mechs of the assault force. When the attack was over, both sides had taken heavy losses, but the Marik defense line remained intact. The Liao forces withdrew from the planet soon after.
         In 3012, an interesting Griffin-to-Griffin battle took place in the ruins of Shimgata, capital city of Shiro Ill, between elements of Wolf's Dragoons and House Marik's defense forces. Two medium lances of Wolf's Dragoons, composed mostly of Griffins, encountered a similar force of enemy units. As both sides called in reinforcements, the Griffins went at each other in close combat amid the confining, debris-strewn streets. Body punches and jump-kicks took the place of weapons fire when no one could identify enemy targets in the melee. Finally, both sides disengaged, more through mutual exhaustion than defeat. Three Griffins had been lost on both sides, but these six damaged 'Mechs were taken by Wolf's Dragoons when the regiment finally occupied Shimgata in force.

Variants:
         The House Steiner modification is the only major variant on the basic Griffin design. Steiner has replaced the Fusigon PPC with one large laser and two medium lasers, and replaced the standard LRM ten-rack with a five-rack This new arrangement does not help the Griffin's inherent heat problems, but it does provide for less random damage because laser damage is more constant than missile spreads.

Notable 'Mechs & MechWarriors:
MechWarrior "Dropkick" Darvin
         A member of O'Hara's medium lance in House Steiner's Winfield's Brigade, "Dropkick" Darvin Webster is famous for his often foolhardy close assaults in his Griffin, the Hopalong. Webster is skilled in the jump-kick tactic of smashing his 'Mech into the upper torso and head of an opponent, which is how he earned his nickname. Though the maneuver causes damage to both 'Mechs, "Dropkick" Darvin has come out of most of these confrontations fairly intact. His Griffin does have the most patched-up lower torso of any in Winfield's Brigade, however.

MechWarrior Pers Stromsky
         A member of Bandit King Redjack Ryan's motley 'Mech force, Pers Stromsky is known for his merciless combat style. There are many stories of his sadistic practice of kicking in the cockpits of disabled enemy 'Mechs to ensure the death of the MechWarrior still inside. Redjack Ryan and his men excuse Stromsky's inhuman behavior, saying that he has become more than half machine himself, with both legs, one arm, and the right side of his face now encased in bionic material.
         Stromsky survived one of the greatest horrors a MechWarrior has to face, that of a cockpit burnthrough in an overheated 'Mech. Some warriors who know Stromsky say that he tries to destroy disabled MechWarriors out of mercy, so that they will not have to burn as he did, trapped in a disabled 'Mech. Whatever the truth, both House Kurita and House Davion have placed a high price on his head.

Type/Model: Griffin GRF-1N
Mass: 55 tons
Equipment:   Crits Mass
Internal Structure: 91 pts Standard 0 5.50
Engine: 275 6 15.50
   Walking MP: 5    
   Running MP: 8    
   Jumping MP: 5    
Heat Sinks: 12 Single 1 2.00
   (Heat Sink Loc: 1 CT)
Gyro:   4 3.00
Cockpit, Life Support, Sensors: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA+LA+H, R: Sh+UA+LA+H 16 .00
Armor Factor: 152 pts Standard 0 9.50
    Internal Armor
    Structure Value
  Head: 3 9
  Center Torso: 18 20
  Center Torso (Rear):   7
  L/R Side Torso: 13 20/20
  L/R Side Torso (Rear):   6/6
  L/R Arm: 9 14/14
  L/R Leg: 13 18/18
Weapons & Equipment: Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
1 PPC RA 10   3 7.00
1 LRM 10 RT 4 24 4 7.00
   (Ammo Loc: 2 RT)
5 Standard Jump Jets:     5 2.50
   (Jump Jet Loc: 2 LT, 2 RT, 1 CT)
TOTALS:   14   44 55.00
Crits & Tons Left:       34 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 4,957,106 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,021
Cost per BV: 4,855.15
Weapon Value: 611 / 611 (Ratio = .60 / .60)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 7; MRDmg = 9; LRDmg = 4
BattleForce2: MP: 5J,   Armor/Structure: 4/5
    Damage PB/M/L: 2/1/1,   Overheat: 0
    Class: MM,   Point Value: 10
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