Mass: 100 tons
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 300 Fusion
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54.0 kph
Jump Jets:
None
Armor: Standard
Armament:
Manufacturer: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting System:
Standard
| Type: | BIF-4P | Tons: | |
| Technology Base: | Clan Level 2 | ||
| Mass: | 100.0 | ||
| IS: | 10.0 | ||
| Engine: | 300 Fusion | 19.0 | |
| Walking MP: | 3 | ||
| Running MP: | 5 | ||
| Jumping MP: | |||
| Heat Sinks: | 30 (60) | 20.0 | |
| Gyro: | 3.0 | ||
| Cockpit: | 3.0 | ||
| Armor Factor: | 304 | 19.0 | |
| IS | AF | ||
| Head: | 3 | 9 | |
| Center Torso: | 31 | 46 | |
| Center Torso (rear): | 15 | ||
| R/L Torso: | 21 | 32 | |
| R/L Torso (rear): | 10 | ||
| R/L Arm: | 17 | 33 | |
| R/L Leg: | 21 | 42 | |
| Weapons And Equipment: | |||
| Weapon: | Loc: | Crit: | Tons: |
| ER PPC | LT | 2 | 6.0 |
| ER PPC | LA | 2 | 6.0 |
| ER PPC | RT | 2 | 6.0 |
| ER PPC | RA | 2 | 6.0 |
| ER Medium Laser | CT(R) | 1 | 1.0 |
| ER Medium Laser | CT(R) | 1 | 1.0 |
| Cost: 10,872,000 | BV: 2,839 |
This 'Mech was designed to be a fairly cheap and reliable fire support unit. Based on the popular Awesome design, the Clan designers simply added four extended range PPCs to the Awesome chassis. Due to the huge heat production of these weapons, additional heat sinks were installed to compensate, but the extra mass put considerable strain on the internal structure. Thus, the designers were forced to use a larger, more durable chassis for the 'Mech, which led to a larger engine and extra armor for protection. By the time the engineers had completed the prototype. The Blazing Inferno weighed in at 100 tons, and is one of the largest additions to the Punisher military force.
The four extended range PPCs provide the 'Mech with considerable long range firepower. With its thirty double heatsinks to remove the tremendous heat buildup from the PPCs, the Blazing Inferno is quite well equipped to handle most situations and confrontations. The nineteen tons of Omnium Heavy armor provide the 'Mech with ample protection for fire support missions, as well as for its roles as a defensive unit, for which it is fairly well suited for.
Field tests done by Star Commander Linwood Foster highlighted some of the designs few drawbacks. He noted that the high heat production and rare use of the rear firing lasers did not warrant their addition to the 'Mech. He also mentioned that the frontal armour should be reinforced as the Blazing Inferno would be expected to absorb considerable enemy abuse from head-to-head encounters rather than from rear assaults. These suggestions eventually lead to the redesign of the 'Mech and subsequent redesignation as the Rifleman IIIC.
