Mass: 55 tons
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 275 Fusion
Cruising Speed: 54.0 kph
Maximum Speed: 86.4 kph
Jump Jets:
5
Armor: Standard
Armament:
Manufacturer: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting System:
Standard
| Type: | VGD-4K | Tons: | |
| Technology Base: | Inner Sphere Level 1 | ||
| Mass: | 55.0 | ||
| IS: | 5.5 | ||
| Engine: | 275 Fusion | 15.5 | |
| Walking MP: | 5 | ||
| Running MP: | 8 | ||
| Jumping MP: | 5 | ||
| Heat Sinks: | 14 | 4.0 | |
| Gyro: | 3.0 | ||
| Cockpit: | 3.0 | ||
| Armor Factor: | 152 | 9.5 | |
| IS | AF | ||
| Head: | 3 | 9 | |
| Center Torso: | 18 | 22 | |
| Center Torso (rear): | 7 | ||
| R/L Torso: | 13 | 15 | |
| R/L Torso (rear): | 6 | ||
| R/L Arm: | 9 | 15 | |
| R/L Leg: | 13 | 21 | |
| Weapons And Equipment: | |||
| Weapon: | Loc: | Crit: | Tons: |
| Medium Laser | LT | 1 | 1.0 |
| Medium Laser | LT | 1 | 1.0 |
| Medium Laser | LT | 1 | 1.0 |
| PPC | RA | 3 | 7.0 |
| SRM 2 | LT | 1 | 1.0 |
| SRM 2 Ammo - Inferno (50) | LT | 1 | 1.0 |
| Jump Jets | LL | 2 | 1.0 |
| Jump Jets | RL | 2 | 1.0 |
| Jump Jets | CT | 1 | 0.5 |
| Cost: 4,938,506 | BV: 1,065 |
The Vanguard project was one of many research ventures that were designed to figure out ways to integrate new technology with radical design techniques. The Vanguard was originally designed as a medium class 'Mech to be used for deep penetration reconnaissance missions or as a first response unit in an attack. In test runs, the Vanguard also performed amazingly well as a light 'Mech hunter/killer.
The original plan was to develop a Griffin LAM after attempts at producing a Shadow Hawk LAM failed. The design specifications had an over-the-shoulder LRM-10 rack mounted on the left torso but this configuration made the 'Mech too heavy. The project was scrapped and the resources were funneled into the Vanguard project which modeled the Vanguard design around the original Griffin LAM designs.
There were only a dozen or so of these designs that were produced (the Kuritan ones) and all were destroyed during the defense of Caph. Of the original designs only two were built; the original two prototypes which were to be shipped back to New Avalon before the planet fell to the invading Kuritan forces. However, the prototypes, as well as the remains of the 72nd Star League Army were lost during a misjump on the final leg of the voyage. No record of the blueprints or the project are known to exist within the inner sphere.
The single Magna Firestar ER PPC provides the long range punch of the 'Mech, while the three Magna medium lasers coupled with the single Holly Streak SRM-2 gives the 'Mech some respectable medium range firepower. With average long and short range firepower coupled with incredible maneuverability, the Vanguard was hoped to be the best medium class 'Mech that would appear in the battlefield.
Unfortunately, the location of the SRM ammunition was a cause of concern for the commanders overseeing the project. Any ammunition explosion would not just disable the 'Mech, but destroy most of the weapons and equipment as well, limiting any possible salvage. The engineers explained that the weapons layout was to mimic the external features of a Griffin, making recognition difficult. The location of the ammunition could not have been placed anywhere else without severely complicating the SRM feed mechanism, which could have disastrous consequences. In the end, the design was not modified.
During its very short history, a number of variants were developed. The first variant is the standard version of the Vanguard, dropping the conversion equipment to add an extra two medium lasers, a Streak SRM-2, and two more double heat sinks. Designated the VGD-1Z, this design was much more powerful, and considerably cheaper to produce than the LAM version of the 'Mech. Unfortunately, heavy bombardment during the initial stages of the first succession war devastated the construction facility, and as a result, most of the advanced manufacturing robots were completely destroyed.
After the planet fell to the Draconis Combine, the Kuritan engineers discovered that the construction facility was unable to produce any of the advanced Vanguard designs due to the heavy damage. Instead of rebuilding the plant and the manufacturing robots, the engineers decided to modify the design of the 'Mech to allow the immediate construction of their version of the Vanguard with the remaining facilities at the plant.
The VGD-4K dropped the LAM conversion equipment and used a standard internal structure to replace the Endo Steel skeleton. The use of a weaker (and cheaper) 275 CoreTek engine meant that the speed of the 'Mech was also reduced. Only 14 single strength heat sinks were installed on the 'Mech. A Donal PPC replaced the more advanced Magna ER PPC, while the standard Holly SRM-2 replaced its more advanced Streak cousin.
The new 'Mech, although still an effective medium 'Mech, was but a shadow of its former self. The plant was eventually retooled to produce Griffins before it was slagged at the end of the second succession war.
