Opening Shots

Liao Weapons Maker Reveals System Problem

by William H. Keith, jr.

Dateline: Tikonov

Earthwerks Ltd. of Tikonov has revealed in a product bulletin a potentially serious problem with its newly designed SLS (Simplified Loading System) for the Delta Dart Long Range Missile system, specifically for the Rack 15 model.

Right: An explosive problem for Thunderbolts' Defects in Earthwerks SLS may be responsible for critical LRM failures in combat.

The SLS went on the market last year as a modification to the reload system of the Thunderbolt BattleMech and was intended to reduce the reload time of the LRM Rack by 50%. According to the bulletin, problems have arisen in re-arming the system after clearance of feed-related jams. Following the SLS manual, a normal feed jam can be remedied by simply engaging the built-in jam clearance system. However, in some cases if the feed track system is not first placed into neutral, the jam clearance equipment will fail, resulting in a misfeed of the next rack. The status board will indicate a clean reload but when firing is attempted, there is a chance that a misfire will occur and the rack will detonate without launching.

According to Earthwerks, the problem only arises if a reload occurs shortly after a serious system vibration such as might result from a nearby armor hit. The product bulletin states that company technicians are working on remedying the problem and that once a solution is found, the data will be provided free of charge to all purchasers of the SLS.

BattleTechnology News Service

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