Overview The FLE-14 Flea Type Light BattleMech was the prototype vehicle that eventually became the FLE-15 in its final design. First produced in 2519 AD, the FLE-14 Flea was produced in a limited 5000 unit run to test its abilities. These field test showed that as an upgrade for the replacement of the TRP-10 Trooper crowd control/scouting 'Mech, it was a poor improvement. Redesign led to the FLE-15 Flea which proved far more successful. Old Star League records show that over 20,000 of the FLE- 15 'Mechs were constructed before the rise of the Successor States. The best estimates calculate that somewhere over 2000 of the FLE-15 are still in operation today, while those remaining from the FLE-14 Class number less than 200. Currently, all Flea Classes are out of production, having been superceded by newer or heavier Scout 'Mechs. The type is still a favorite of some MechWarriors, however, and no less than five popular versions can still be seen on battlefields throughout the Known Sphere. The main mission of the FLE-1 4 was crowd control and fast scouting. With its nearly nonexistent armor and light weapon it must rely on its great speed and jumping ability to avoid situations in which it could be easily destroyed. The Flea is also used as an infantry buster, being able to screen heavier 'Mechs from pesty foot soldiers and their armored vehicles. Capabilities The FLE-14 Flea Type light BattleMech was extremely fast and maneuverable and had the largest jumping capacity then attempted by Star League designers. Its jumping ability gave it its name, although its more successful cousin the FLE-15 lost all jump capability in favor of heavier weapons and armor protection. It is ironic that the name and general design were retained in the FLE-15. At longer range the FLE-15 and its jumping cousin cannot be differentiated. In open terrain the FLE-14 is one of the fastest 'Mechs yet created. These movement abilities help it avoid heavier 'Mechs that it could not hope to engage. Its armament is designed for medium ranges only, so car must be taken to avoid long ranged fire that could not be replied to. The Flea's main anti-Mech armament is its single Diverse Optics Type 15 Medium Laser. Although the FLE15 and its variations carry a diversified array of smaller weapons, this did not occur on the FLE-14 (although many local commanders added twin machine guns for infantry suppression). Fleas were never designed to fight other 'Mechs. Only against infantry and their lighter armored vehicles can the Flea ever act offensively with much of a chance for success. Battle History During the First and Second Succession Wars, both the FLE-14 and FLE-15s were used extensively as scouts and infantry screens in almost every engagement of the conflict. Their losses were tremendous, however. In the Battle of Pohlan in 2794, fully 80% of the 300+ Fleas that were used by the forces of House Kurita and Davion were destroyed in the two month campaign. More cautious tactics have prevailed in the centuries since those conflicts, and no other MechWarrior pilot has learned to be more cautious than those that operate Fleas. More recently, during a bandit raid on the planet New Riga in 3005 AD by Hendrik III of Oberon VI, a recon lance of pirate Fleas was able to lead the defending 'Mechs away from their defense point and into an ambush. The Fleas were easily able to outdistance their lumbering opponents until Hendrik's heavy 'Mechs were able to get behind the defenders, overwhelming them. FLE-14s very rarely saw 'Mech combat after the Second Succession War since their lives on the 'Mech Battlefield were usually measured in seconds. The added advantage of rapid jump capability never was able to outweigh the simple fact that the FLE-14 was totally outclassed. They did serve as useful crowd control vehicles, and were used extensively in rear areas protecting supply and repair bases from partisan activity. Variants The FLE-14 was superseded so rapidly by the FLE-15 that no official variants of the model were ever converted, unlike the FLE-15, which has at least three different versions. Unofficial variants did occur quite often through the FLE-14's lifetime. These usually included a reduction or elimination of jump capability for more armor protection and/or weapons systems. These conversions simply turned the FLE-14 into a FLE-15 most of the time. Notable 'Mechs and Mech Warriors Mech Warrior Alvira MacNeil One of the most famous FLE-14 pilots ever to have lived, Alvira MacNeil was a scout in the service of House Davion during the Second Succession War. She was assigned to several different units, depending upon the mission those units were ordered to carry out. Alvira was a master at operations behind enemy lines who used her Flea "Hound Doggie" to great effect in a number of operations. She invented and improved upon the "JumpGlide" effect which allowed her Flea an even greater jump range than was then thought possible. This tactic got her out of many tight spots in her numerous campaigns. A number of time "Hound Doggie" was reported to be a new type of AeroSpace Fighter by enemy intelligence sources. Her motto, "Never walk when you can glide" finally brought her to grief during a stint as instructor of Scout Tactics on New Avalon. MacNeil had made a bet that she could jump up Mount Silenas using her FLE-14. She attempted this feat with a huge crowd watching. Unfortunately, Alvira lost control of her 'Mech while trying to jump up an escarpment at the 7000 foot level and the FLE-14 tumbled down the mountainside. MechWarrior MacNeil suffered severe internal injuries and died six days after the accident. FLE-14 Flea Type Light BattleMech Mass: 15 tons Chassis: Earthwerk FLE Power Plant: Magna 135 Cruising Speed: 92.3 kph Maximum Speed: 145.9 kph Armament: One Diverse Optics Type 15 Medium Laser Main Manufacturer: Earthwerks, Inc Communications System: Neil 4000 Targeting /Tracking System: RCA Instatrack Mark IV Simulator Slats Type: FLE-14 Flea Tonnage: 15 Tons Internal Structure: 1.5 Tons Engine: Magna 135 4.5 Tons Walking MPs: 9 Running MPs: 14 Jumping MPs: 8 Heat Sinks: 10 0 Tons Gyro: 0.2 Tons Cockpit: 3 Tons Armor Factor: 16 1 Tons Head: 3 2 Tons Center Torso: 5 3/1 Tons Rt/Lt Torso: 4 2/1 Tons Rt/Lt Arm: 2 1 Tons Rt/Lt Leg: 3 3 Tons Weapons and Ammo: Type Location Critical Tons Medium Laser RT 1 1 Jump Jets LL 2 2 Jump Jets RL 2 2 Blueprints (very slow: 203K) Back to BattleTechnology 8 Table of Contents Back to BattleTechnology List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1989 by Pacific Rim Publishing. 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