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#BattleTech Meet the LT-MOB-25 Mobile Long Tom. While BattleMechs dominate much of the attention in BattleTech, conventional artillery remains an important part of large-scale warfare. The Mobile Long Tom represents an extreme example of that principle. Its purpose is to deliver powerful artillery support against distant targets. But unlike a conventional self-propelled gun, the original Mobile Long Tom is actually a connected convoy. TECHNICAL PROFILE Designation: LT-MOB-25 Classification: Mobile artillery system Total mass: 95 tons Primary tractor: 65 tons Engine: Robel 110 internal-combustion engine Maximum speed: 25.6 km/h Crew: 15 Battle Value 2.0: 515 ARMAMENT • 1 Long Tom artillery piece • 4 defensive machine guns The system entered production in BattleTech's fictional history in 2602. It was originally manufactured by Rebel Industrial Technologies for the Star League Defense Force. The primary vehicle carries the artillery weapon, propulsion system, and targeting equipment. Behind it are five additional carriages. Two support carriages carry personnel and equipment needed to direct artillery fire. Three ammunition carriages provide the ammunition required for sustained operations. The entire arrangement resembles a small armored train traveling on tracks rather than rails. But the design has serious limitations. Its enormous weight restricts movement. The convoy depends heavily on suitable roads and can become immobilized in difficult terrain. Its defensive armor is relatively light. And its machine guns are inadequate for fighting off determined BattleMech attacks. The Mobile Long Tom therefore depends on friendly forces for protection. The Mobile Long Tom is especially interesting in larger BattleTech campaigns. It can support operations beyond the immediate battlefield, making artillery spotting and coordination important. A commander might use it to threaten fortified positions or support an advancing formation. But an opposing force that discovers the artillery convoy could attempt to disable it before it fires again. That creates interesting mission possibilities. Escort the artillery convoy. Protect its ammunition. Capture the enemy's firing position. Or launch a raid against its support vehicles. The Mobile Long Tom demonstrates that BattleTech warfare involves far more than individual BattleMechs exchanging weapons fire. Logistics, artillery, transportation, and protection all matter.

Y-wing Starfighter — The Rebel Alliance's Veteran Bomber #StarWars #Starships #SciFi Long before the X-wing became the most recognizable fighter of the Rebel Alliance, another spacecraft was already fighting battles across the galaxy. The Y-wing. Originally developed for the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars, the Y-wing was a durable attack spacecraft designed for missions that required heavier firepower. Its primary assignments included bombing enemy warships, attacking ground targets, and supporting larger military operations. The Y-wing was never the fastest or most maneuverable fighter. But it possessed something equally important. Survivability. STARFIGHTER PROFILE Classification: Starfighter and light bomber Original operator: Galactic Republic Later operator: Rebel Alliance Primary missions: Bombing, attack, escort, and fleet support. Armament: Laser cannons, ion weapons, and proton torpedoes, depending on variant Defenses: Deflector shields and armored construction One of the Y-wing's most distinctive features was its exposed mechanical framework. During the Galactic Civil War, many Rebel-operated Y-wings had portions of their original outer hull plating removed. This made maintenance easier for the Alliance's frequently overworked technicians. The Y-wing's combat history stretched across generations. CLONE WARS Republic Y-wings participated in the attack against General Grievous's enormous warship Malevolence. Anakin Skywalker led Shadow Squadron in a dangerous mission to disable the vessel's powerful ion cannon. THE REBELLION Years later, the crew of the Ghost helped recover Y-wings from an Imperial scrapyard at Reklam Station. Those fighters helped strengthen the growing Rebel fleet. BATTLE OF YAVI Gold Squadron, commanded by Jon "Dutch" Vander, attempted the first attack run against the Death Star's thermal exhaust port. Although the squadron was destroyed before completing its mission, the attack demonstrated the importance of the Y-wing's proton torpedoes. BATTLE OF ENDOR Y-wings continued serving the Alliance during the assault on the second Death Star. The remarkable thing about the Y-wing is that it remained useful even as newer spacecraft entered service. It wasn't designed to win every dogfight. It was designed to carry weapons into dangerous places and return whenever possible.