it became iconic solely due to the video games needing a stand in for the Archer. Pre 3030 it was rare AF even in the CCAF,, hell by 3020 the K2 was extinct, until 3033. I love it, but it really got overused/exposed out of necessity.
Have you seen what they charge for an external sound system for a yeoman these days? Harumph. And they insist on including a soundtrack from over 1100 plus years ago. Something called WHAM! I've seen both Capellans and Kuritan infantry suicide rather than listen to that noise any longer. Kinda grew on me since the Yeomans were in their own forces.😊
The catapult is THE mech that got me into the battletech scene. As a kid I knew what the mechwarrior games were but didnt ever realize it was part of a larger universe. One day I was at a gamestore and a shelf had forcepacks.The boxy missile pods of the catapult made me go "these look like mechwarrior" and finally made the connection. And it was because of the catapult's iconic look that got me hooked for all this time.
Mine was the King Crab. My buddy, that got me addicted. He had the 2750. I was always reading it when I had a chance. King Crab was my favorite to read.
Same! Except for me it was the Mad Cat. I went to the local library and they had the technical readouts. I knew they looked similar, but I didn't make the connection until years later.
Same here actually! Never put two and two together until I saw the Catapult again in a battletech video. Finally figured it out and felt silly as all hell. XD
This happened to me a few months ago. I was setting up my BattleTech minis for a game at my LGS, a dude from the next table walked by and saw my Catapult. He commented "that looks like MechWarrior", and I got to fill him in.
The majority of players will probably first think of the Catapult when talking about fire support mechs. And with good reason - it's a great design, both visually and on the battlefield.
The Catapult looks great, but it's also a very clean design in terms of what it does: It has LRMs and enough ammo to really put the hurt on people, but it also has 4 Medium Lasers to finish up what it started from across the map, once it gets up and personal. And just to make sure that it can very freely pick its vantage point or to help it get up in your face more quickly through rough terrain, it can also jump 120m. In my eyes, it's right on the level of the Marauder, Madcat or Atlas in terms of how iconic it is.
One of the most classic mistakes for the basic CAT-C1 is thinking of it as a LRM boat. It has no ammo to keep firing for prolonged period of time. BUT it has quad ML - which is considerable for an 'introtech' mech. This means it can safely park itself in much more aggressive positions than your basic lurm boat - it allows it to fire from optimal range, or with line of sight more often. And once it inevitably runs dry, it CAN and should go into the thick of it, still contributing to the firepower of the lance, without the need to waste valuable time to get there. Let's be honest... 4 ML doesn't look like much, it is just a main array of the Jenner, right? But considering this is introtech we are talking about... This is is actually very heavy laser armament, all things considered. If you want a pure lurmer, A1 and C4 are there. As for other variants - I'm always sad there aren't many surprise SRM refits, beyond ButterBee and customs. The "splat-cat" as people sometimes call it is a hilarious idea in a pinch.
Usually you will use the mobility of the Catapult to get to a commanding firing position and cover the approach of your team. After using most of the ammo the catapult will follow and do the clean-up with the quartett of medium lasers and a solid 65-ton kick. One problem with the medium lasers is that the Catapult is defenseless to the rear. Mechs with a movement profile of 6/9/6 and higher can outflank this Mech. The rear armor isn´t terrible but it won´t last long against a Phoenix Hawk or Jenner.
"The prospect of being on the other side of this *vaguely* horrifying" Got that right. Raven spotter+3 of these bad boys is incredible defense for the Capellens. Learned so much additional context, particularly the early years. Great video. Appreciated! Edit: let's not sleep on some of those jokes either, particularly the overheating valcano. Humor ftw
The LRMs are for sandpapering the enemies armour. The Medium Lasers are for popping components when they try to stop you. It's a great mid-range brawler. If you can ride the sweet spot between the minimum range of the LRMs and the optimal range of the medium lasers.
Even when I was a dumb kid who wanted to pilot brawlers and assaults in the mechwarrior games, the Catapult always stuck with me. The K2 also made me wonder if the Catapult could ever get retooled into an Omnimech. The art makes it look like you could swap arms using the big screws attaching them! Amazing video as always!
It’s one of the most versatile mechs there is and it’s Royal variant is pretty much perfection for what it does. Plus jump jets and four medium lasers make it a fire support that can handle itself up close.
@@MechanicalFrogIt kind of reminds me of a Phoenix Hawk or a Thunderbolt in a way. You always know it will be useful in some way. Edit: You really missed out on the CPLT-C1b. It became an Inner Sphere staple again just in time for the Blake fun.
@@MechanicalFrog How can I settle down when there's a 'Mech as purrfect as the CAT-apult right there? Careful you don't push the pilot too much, they might get a bit... Mad. Side note: Savage Wolf when.
The Catapult is really my favorite heavy fire support design. It's mobility is enhanced over its primary competition, and manages to avoid the serious flaws the CRD and ARC both bring to the table.
@@RyeFields currently playing mechwarrior 5 and using a catapult armed with 4 SRM 6 ST's with all other weapons sacrificed for ammo and heat sinks and most of its max armor. I call it the "rocket hose" it's a ton of fun.
My first fame of table top BT an epoch ago, someone fielded one of these and I scoffed. A couple of lasers and some missiles, I thought derisively. Then i got hit by some salvos. Ever since that time, 30 years later, i still shutter when i see a catapult opposing me, whether on the table or in a video game. Thats how strong of an impact that mech had on me. Love it.
Operation Bulldog was only possible with my fire support lance of Jagermechs and Catapults behind all my other mechs getting all the glory on Port Arthur.
That is one of the "Designed for a Beer&Bretzel" wargame mechs. IRL "cram in as much ammo for the main gun" has been a design philosophy in tanks. Leading to "insteand disintegration of driver" designs with ammo right next to the driver in one of the Leopard tanks. So a "real world" Cat would likely run with two "last ditch" lasers (or a laser and a MG) and 16 rounds/launcher And then have a set of variants based on the hull (like the planned and realized variants of the Leopard or Marder(1)). So we likely would get A "bodyguard" replacing the LRM with two large lasers and four-six extra heat sinks so it can jump and fire at least the main weapons without heat build up. With the rest going into a Guardian ECM suit and/or a command console for a company+ command version An Arrow IV version with only two lasers and more ammo A Brawler/Tagger with Guardian, Beagle, TAG and NARC replacing the LRM. Carries either SRM or lasers End result is a set of base platforms that can form a mobile raiding force with a very limited variety in spare parts between the individual mechs. And the enemy garrison better contains more than Wasps and Stingers... (1) Fun - Argentine got more of those planned variants than germany
I love the Catapult. it was one of those mechs i used to great effect on the table. I really like the Butter Bee, it reminds me of the body guard Cat i use to use, mine was SRM 4s with a LRM 5 loaded with Smoke or Thunder. I will definitely use the Butter Bee against my little one on the table. Edit: I WILL be using the MF, it is so right up my alley. I like running a PR mech per Lance, I tend to run two lances at a time, so 4 PR can seriously cook squishies and mechs alike Another great video
I love the catapult because its such a good fire support mech. In HBS Battletech, I usually always end up with a catapult fire support lance. Fun times.
Posted my Catapult on your discord. Catapults are legacy machines that stand alongside Warhammers, T-bolts, Marauders and a good dozen other Mechs of BattleTech. Had good experience with catapults. Surprisingly tough and as you said, pulling their weight when needed.
Ironically the low Ammo of the Catapult probably explains how it as a type survived the succession wars with just 10 tons of armor and not being in production. After all if it has to RTB to reload the techs can rearmor it while it's there
What's amazing about the C1 and the K2 is you have to get pretty far up the tech tree to find anything that's close to a strict upgrade. They are consistently good enough
Back before I properly understood what Battletech was, I saw 4 mech trailers for Mechwarrior Online. The Centurion, the Jenner, the Atlas, and finally, the Catapult. I knew which spoke to me immediately. Good old missile spam. Let it rain high!
Peek fire support mech right here, a bit fragile for its weight class but having this much flexibility and mobility on a 60 tonner is nothing to ignore especially well into the time line. If any mech would or should have gotten an Omni refit it's this one
Iconic silhouette and one of the first true missile boats a player may have encountered. Many a mid-tier mercenary company has earned their coin off the backs of Catapults. Cheers!
One of my favourite fire support mechs. It might not have as many LRM tubes as an archer, but thanks to its jumpjets it can basically get everywhere, get into better firing positions or escape landbound enemies quickly. The base version with its 4 med lasers also has a decent close quarters punch. Its rugged, decently sturdy and has enough speed for a fire support mech. The only downside it has is its hunger for LRM ammo, wich isnt that much of a downside unless youre stuck behind enemy lines and cut off from supplies perhaps.. but that never happens, right? So protracted fights might not be exactly its forte. Needless to say the catapult should not enter melee fights against its own tonnage or those heavier then itselfe.. though a swift kick to a light or medium can still do alot of damage. And if all else false: 65 tons of death from above are no joke either. I prefer the catapult over the archer simply because of the jumpjets.. wich can be a life saver when it comes to hilly terrain or swampy terrain and gives this dedicated fire support unit a great amount of tactical and strategical flexibility that the archer does not have. Be it on the table, in harebrained battletech or in mechwarrior 5, the catapult wont dissapoint you and will perform
So A friend of mine is working on a cat varriant that takes advantage of crit splitting to mount a long tom on the back similar to the bullshark. The idea is it will move into location, deploy a tripod to stabilize and just act as an artillery piece that can be anywhere, at any time as it still has those jump jets. Down side, is he says it will only have the long tom and 2 small lasers.
Catapult. My favourite mech since I first read the 3025 TRO. Had a bunch of fun back in MWO running Splat-/streakcats and my "Garden Hose" Cat-A1 (6lrm5's and as much ammo as I could fit.) Thanks to the ridicolus realod speed of the 5's I could pump out a near constant stream of lrms.
Catapult is probably the best generalist mech you can get IMO. the C1 rocks even into the eras where fancy tech is all the rage. A C1 refit with double heat sinks and improved jump jets is deadly.
I have a Catapult K2 from the GDL lance box and it always has a place in my Draconis Combine lances I've even run it as a CPLT-K2-S from the MW5 Mercenaries Dragons Fury dlc which swaps out the Med Lasers & MGs for AC2s and Sml Lasers but still it's a monster when played correctly
When Asked, "Why do we love the Catapult?" I think Professor Tex put it best; "Name me one weapon system that can endure 500 years of warfare, and be maintained with half a toolbox and a High school level Education" Any mech that works, after centuries, with limited spare parts, substandard maintenance practices, and a gradual loss of understanding into just how the damn thing works, is better than no mech at all.
I really appreciate you making the effort to provide more distinct visuals for the spec sheets for the non-LRM boat variants like the CPLT-K2. Showing different paint schemes is nice, but I really enjoy seeing how different weapon loadouts, equipment, etc. do indeed make different variants look distinct from others. Plus, it can be a bit jarring to listen to a description of a 'Mech with distinct features like an Arrow IV launcher or RAC, see the specs on the screen, but have the accompanying visual be the same image used for other variants which clearly lacks the features being described. So, thank you for taking the time to show that not all Catapults have the same bulky missile boxes on top!
The Catapult is one of the premier mechs that benefits from doing very little to the original design post Helm Memory Core. What does that mean? Here, let me explain: My variant shall be called the _CPLT-G1_ Swap the 15 single heatsinks for 10 doubles in the engine. Saves five tons and adds five total cooling per turn. Use two tons for extra ammunition, one in each side torso. Now has 16 rounds of fire. Add case to the side torsos. Add two tons to the overall armor. It adds longevity to the mech's battlefield endurance, provides protection to mitigate the potential ammunition explosion with a failsafe in the event of an ammunition cookoff, retains the mobility it's known for and, most importantly, keeps refit costs low as it doesn't radically change too much from the base design. Thoughts?
@@DonaldWWitt It's a hell of a lot more difficult to swap the entire structure to Endo Steel or an XL engine and it's a LOT more expensive for either of those.
@@DonaldWWitt Obviously, yes, but that's a lot easier done than pretty much any other refit available, save for Ferro, which is middling at best in most cases.
12 shots and only one additional ton of armor traded for a total of 6 ML? Just to enforce a proper keep out zone for LRM usage! Or Upgrade the lasers to ERML and perhaps a SPL to provide emotional support to infantry.
Great job on the Catapault! You really showed how the simplicity and the utility of the Catapault stays fresh in all eras. two LRMs or two PPCs/big guns that can relocate easily & quickly will always have a place for company commanders out there! It definitely deserves its place in the main game box. Your guest voiceover were fun too!
This is my favorite mech. It has a great silhouette, and it looks like it was designed for a clear purpose. And in the games it does its job well, not bloated with unnecessary complexity or loaded up with so many weapons as to be unmanageable. I like the Marauder and the Rifleman for very similar reasons.
You and so many others in the BattleTech and MechWarrior community are a godsend! Growing up, my first game was MechWarrior 2 on PC, and I stayed with the series till MechWarrior 4: Mercs and MechCommander 2. I'd heard a few years later a MW5 was in development, and 2 years ago I got it on PS5. Now, October 3rd is a trip back to childhood. Hope you're having a great night!
You're most certainly welcome! My current favorite Catapult variant is the Otomo in MW5: Mercs. I usually run with the Mauler Otomo, but when it's in the shop? This dragon breathes blue bolts of ER-PPCs and AC-2s, at the highest grade. AC-2s might not be the strongest, but when lights and mediums wanna get up close? These and small lasers get the job done.
The Catapult, when you want an Archer AND mobility. Unless you like the K2, which is a Warhammer-lite, and with DHS you can put the jump jets back in. The mobility plays well with ELRMs. And few mechs owe so much of their fame to Harmony Gold.
How dare you forget one of the most important parts: the sideways ejection system! I’m kidding, obviously, but it would be nice to see that represented with a zero-point Design Quirk.
CATAPULT GO BRRRRRRRRRRR 😈😌 The Catapult was the first ‘Mech I played on tabletop, it was just so cool to me as a kid, and my love for it has endured. It’s got the right mix of mobility, firepower, and armor, I think it’s the best fire support ‘Mech in Battletech. The stock variant not your cup of tea? Try one of like 50 others, or make your own! If it fits, it’s a Catapult. (I am the world’s top Catapult fan, nobody can beat me, it’s just so awesome)
In my Inner Sphere MegaMek campaign, I straight up have a full company of these. They’re split into two variants: One with 2 SRM6’s and 4 Medium Lasers, the other with 2 Large Lasers and 4 Mediums. They all move 4/6/4 and are max/near max armor, also having the heat to fire most of the weapons. With 3050 era tech, they all get Dbl Heat Sinks, the Large Lasers get upgraded to Large Pulses, Mediums stay standard, and I think they all get a speed boost to 5/8/5 or maybe 5/8/4 with XL engines. I know XL engines are a risk, but when fighting in formation, they’re able to take down most ‘Mechs before they can even be effective against the Catapults. Considering switching some (I have it split 6-6 rn) to a custom LRM boat variant for longer range, maybe I’ll use Clan tech LRMs?
How they justified making the "Royal" Catapult configuration I'll never know, given the history of the design. lol But we needed it listed here, Frog! We needed it! :P All jokes aside, fun times. And I'm glad to have helped contribute.
Another one of the original 3025 TRO mechs that just "clicked." Of course, grognards being grognards, there was always going to be some tinkering. My favorite was to replace the two LRM 15s with six LRM 5s. This resulted in the exact same throw weight, but left you with an additional two tons to play with. Usually I would simply double the LRM ammo as this ensured that the Catapult could bombard foes for a much longer period without having to retire to resupply. I should note that one member of our battletech group back in the 90s (who shall remain nameless) called his Catapult "Boing, Boing, Boom, Boom."
It's a classic for a reason! Also as someone who's fought against mechs with dual plasma + Inferno SRMs I can confirm it is terrifying against all but TSM melee mechs And the chance of someone bringing one of those is quite low.
For something that primarily sticks in the popular mind's eye of Battletech because of its two boxes of long-distance fun, the Catapult is mobile and surprisingly versatile at a number of ranges and has a number of curious but effective variants that break from its usual role. I've never had a bad word to say about well-utilized Catapults and I never will.
The Catapult is one of the best all time fire support platforms, the bog standard one is a superior 'mech to the Archer, more ammo, a greater defensive battery, and it can jump. And its tons of variants and weapons mean its just great. As always a magnificent video Mr Frog!
I've always loved the Catapult. It has that nice mix of firepower, mobility, and durability. It can hold it's own in knife-fighting range. I field one on a regular basis in my tabletop group.
I’m a sucker for a classic C1 catapult, I always end up out of position with my crusader or archer just wishing for jump jets or more heat sinks in a vulnerable moment. I still bring a C5A in most of my merc or periphery forces in later eras as a solid upgrade to the C1. It’s not flashy or standout but both are solid additions to a heavy Calvary Lance.
@@MechanicalFrog oh yeah my old light horse heavy Calvary Lance was a Victor, catapult, grasshopper, and a thunderbolt 5SE. An expensive Lance for the era but they are so hard to pin down and they will eat any Lance that can catch them in 3025.
If the catapult was an omnimech then reloading crews could swap out the missile boxes during battle. If the catapult had arms then it could do so itself Is there a torpedo variant for use on that flooded Earth planet? Just in case the ilclan era ends with us having to liberate earth city by city
When my dad got me into mechwarrior, this was the first mech I ever piloted. It’s pretty thoroughly influenced my view of mechs as a concept ever since
Very nice video, the Catapult is an old favorite. Props for covering the Butterbee variant, which is one of my favorite Introtech mechs. With a ton of Inferno rounds it becomes a nightmare for many undersinked Introtech heavies and assaults.
Few mechs are as close to this dirty Capellan's heart as the subject of this video. When it comes to defending the Celestial Wisdom's rightful domain, accept no substitutes.
Long time follower, awesome idea cool. See you and tex awesome info on Dire wolf or innissphere Daishi It my favorite mech all time big battle since 1990
I have always loved the CPLT-C1 for its balance. It has decent to good movement, good weapons, a good amount of heat sinks and a decent amount of armor. I think that whoever designed it was actually thinking. It is a well balanced machine. Sergeant Unther made the machine so intimidating (yes in MW2:Mercs it was prone to take headshots). It is not under-sinked like the Archer or some of the Thunderbolt variants.
![ลองสุ่มไอโฟน 990 โกงมั้ย? [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.101 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfsWe0j492k/mqdefault.jpg)
I genuinely think it's one of the setting's iconic mechs because it just makes sense from pure practicality.
Agreed.
Never considered this, but this is an awesome take
I totally agree.
MAD
CAT
MAD
CAT
MAD...
CAT...
it became iconic solely due to the video games needing a stand in for the Archer. Pre 3030 it was rare AF even in the CCAF,, hell by 3020 the K2 was extinct, until 3033. I love it, but it really got overused/exposed out of necessity.
*points at the catapult* - "This one brings joy."
*points at the Yeoman* - "This one just fucking confuses me. Be more like Catapult."
Truth.
But Yeoman is Boombox with LEGS!
Have you seen what they charge for an external sound system for a yeoman these days?
Harumph.
And they insist on including a soundtrack from over 1100 plus years ago.
Something called WHAM!
I've seen both Capellans and Kuritan infantry suicide rather than listen to that noise any longer.
Kinda grew on me since the Yeomans were in their own forces.😊
Longbow being the ignored middle child.
But…but…but….😢
The catapult is THE mech that got me into the battletech scene. As a kid I knew what the mechwarrior games were but didnt ever realize it was part of a larger universe. One day I was at a gamestore and a shelf had forcepacks.The boxy missile pods of the catapult made me go "these look like mechwarrior" and finally made the connection.
And it was because of the catapult's iconic look that got me hooked for all this time.
That's awesome. It definitely has an iconic look to it.
Mine was the King Crab. My buddy, that got me addicted. He had the 2750. I was always reading it when I had a chance. King Crab was my favorite to read.
Same! Except for me it was the Mad Cat. I went to the local library and they had the technical readouts. I knew they looked similar, but I didn't make the connection until years later.
Same here actually! Never put two and two together until I saw the Catapult again in a battletech video. Finally figured it out and felt silly as all hell. XD
This happened to me a few months ago. I was setting up my BattleTech minis for a game at my LGS, a dude from the next table walked by and saw my Catapult. He commented "that looks like MechWarrior", and I got to fill him in.
The majority of players will probably first think of the Catapult when talking about fire support mechs. And with good reason - it's a great design, both visually and on the battlefield.
A very solid pick.
That, and Harmony Gold. Prior to their law suit, you'd have thought of the Archer.
@@tenchravenUncomfortable truths are nonetheless true.
It has never disappointed me when I use it properly!
The Catapult looks great, but it's also a very clean design in terms of what it does: It has LRMs and enough ammo to really put the hurt on people, but it also has 4 Medium Lasers to finish up what it started from across the map, once it gets up and personal. And just to make sure that it can very freely pick its vantage point or to help it get up in your face more quickly through rough terrain, it can also jump 120m.
In my eyes, it's right on the level of the Marauder, Madcat or Atlas in terms of how iconic it is.
Very well put.
The Catapult just works. It does the job you need it to do without costing a fortune. That's about the highest form of praise I can think of.
True that.
One of the most classic mistakes for the basic CAT-C1 is thinking of it as a LRM boat.
It has no ammo to keep firing for prolonged period of time. BUT it has quad ML - which is considerable for an 'introtech' mech.
This means it can safely park itself in much more aggressive positions than your basic lurm boat - it allows it to fire from optimal range, or with line of sight more often. And once it inevitably runs dry, it CAN and should go into the thick of it, still contributing to the firepower of the lance, without the need to waste valuable time to get there.
Let's be honest... 4 ML doesn't look like much, it is just a main array of the Jenner, right? But considering this is introtech we are talking about... This is is actually very heavy laser armament, all things considered.
If you want a pure lurmer, A1 and C4 are there.
As for other variants - I'm always sad there aren't many surprise SRM refits, beyond ButterBee and customs. The "splat-cat" as people sometimes call it is a hilarious idea in a pinch.
Absolutely agree.
Jenners also can't fire their lasers all the time, appropriately heat sink'd weapons are an oft under-valued point.
Usually you will use the mobility of the Catapult to get to a commanding firing position and cover the approach of your team.
After using most of the ammo the catapult will follow and do the clean-up with the quartett of medium lasers and a solid 65-ton kick.
One problem with the medium lasers is that the Catapult is defenseless to the rear.
Mechs with a movement profile of 6/9/6 and higher can outflank this Mech.
The rear armor isn´t terrible but it won´t last long against a Phoenix Hawk or Jenner.
Definitely renaming one of my Catapults to “Splat Cat” after switching it to ASRMs hahaha thanks for that!
"The prospect of being on the other side of this *vaguely* horrifying"
Got that right. Raven spotter+3 of these bad boys is incredible defense for the Capellens.
Learned so much additional context, particularly the early years. Great video. Appreciated!
Edit: let's not sleep on some of those jokes either, particularly the overheating valcano. Humor ftw
Catch the ZZTop at the end?
"Because what's better than big missiles? Bigger fking missiles, of course." -Tex
The LRMs are for sandpapering the enemies armour. The Medium Lasers are for popping components when they try to stop you.
It's a great mid-range brawler. If you can ride the sweet spot between the minimum range of the LRMs and the optimal range of the medium lasers.
Even when I was a dumb kid who wanted to pilot brawlers and assaults in the mechwarrior games, the Catapult always stuck with me. The K2 also made me wonder if the Catapult could ever get retooled into an Omnimech. The art makes it look like you could swap arms using the big screws attaching them!
Amazing video as always!
Thanks! Back when I played MWO, I mostly ran in the Founders Catapult. It wasn't top tier but I loved it.
It’s one of the most versatile mechs there is and it’s Royal variant is pretty much perfection for what it does. Plus jump jets and four medium lasers make it a fire support that can handle itself up close.
Close fire support for the win.
@@MechanicalFrogIt kind of reminds me of a Phoenix Hawk or a Thunderbolt in a way. You always know it will be useful in some way.
Edit: You really missed out on the CPLT-C1b. It became an Inner Sphere staple again just in time for the Blake fun.
It's that classic bomber cockpit. It just makes it look so cool.
Absolutely.
The cutest CAT on the battlefield
Settle down, meow.
@@MechanicalFrog How can I settle down when there's a 'Mech as purrfect as the CAT-apult right there? Careful you don't push the pilot too much, they might get a bit... Mad.
Side note: Savage Wolf when.
One of my all time favorite mechs that got me into BattleTech in the first place. The Catapult will always hold a special place in my heart.
Glad to hear it. :D
I'm listening to this while walking my own actual cat.
Fitting
Settle down, meow.
Hi kitty! 🙀😻😽
The Catapult is really my favorite heavy fire support design. It's mobility is enhanced over its primary competition, and manages to avoid the serious flaws the CRD and ARC both bring to the table.
Because we love LRM boats and all of their variants
Fact Check: True.
@@RyeFields currently playing mechwarrior 5 and using a catapult armed with 4 SRM 6 ST's with all other weapons sacrificed for ammo and heat sinks and most of its max armor. I call it the "rocket hose" it's a ton of fun.
Yyessss! The missile chicken! The catapult has consistently been one of if not my favourite mech.
My first fame of table top BT an epoch ago, someone fielded one of these and I scoffed. A couple of lasers and some missiles, I thought derisively. Then i got hit by some salvos. Ever since that time, 30 years later, i still shutter when i see a catapult opposing me, whether on the table or in a video game. Thats how strong of an impact that mech had on me. Love it.
Underestimate the Catapult at your peril. :D
Balius cockpit in the bed..."Oh no! My prized Hell Horse!"😂
PlasTech box art immortalized it.
True that.
Why do we love the Catapult? It's just plain cool, and that's all it needs to be.
Operation Bulldog was only possible with my fire support lance of Jagermechs and Catapults behind all my other mechs getting all the glory on Port Arthur.
Glorious.
Ah, a classic. Not one of my machines of choice, but the setting wouldn't be the same without it.
Glad I could give it some attention, then.
That is one of the "Designed for a Beer&Bretzel" wargame mechs.
IRL "cram in as much ammo for the main gun" has been a design philosophy in tanks. Leading to "insteand disintegration of driver" designs with ammo right next to the driver in one of the Leopard tanks.
So a "real world" Cat would likely run with two "last ditch" lasers (or a laser and a MG) and 16 rounds/launcher
And then have a set of variants based on the hull (like the planned and realized variants of the Leopard or Marder(1)). So we likely would get
A "bodyguard" replacing the LRM with two large lasers and four-six extra heat sinks so it can jump and fire at least the main weapons without heat build up. With the rest going into a Guardian ECM suit and/or a command console for a company+ command version
An Arrow IV version with only two lasers and more ammo
A Brawler/Tagger with Guardian, Beagle, TAG and NARC replacing the LRM. Carries either SRM or lasers
End result is a set of base platforms that can form a mobile raiding force with a very limited variety in spare parts between the individual mechs. And the enemy garrison better contains more than Wasps and Stingers...
(1) Fun - Argentine got more of those planned variants than germany
One of my son's favorite Mechs! Just a cool and sturdy design.
“SIR!! THE CATAPULT PILOT HAS GONE CRAZY WHAT SHOULD WE DO?!?”
*inhales a big puff of his cigar* “That’s one Mad Cat……apult” 😂
You must be pun...ished.
I love the Catapult. it was one of those mechs i used to great effect on the table.
I really like the Butter Bee, it reminds me of the body guard Cat i use to use, mine was SRM 4s with a LRM 5 loaded with Smoke or Thunder. I will definitely use the Butter Bee against my little one on the table.
Edit: I WILL be using the MF, it is so right up my alley. I like running a PR mech per Lance, I tend to run two lances at a time, so 4 PR can seriously cook squishies and mechs alike
Another great video
I love the catapult because its such a good fire support mech. In HBS Battletech, I usually always end up with a catapult fire support lance. Fun times.
My first Battletech game that I owned rather than played at a friend's house was Mech Commander. Catapult was the poster boy for that game. Love it.
What a great game...
The amount of personality they crammed into the dozen lines each pilot got was amazing.
Posted my Catapult on your discord. Catapults are legacy machines that stand alongside Warhammers, T-bolts, Marauders and a good dozen other Mechs of BattleTech.
Had good experience with catapults. Surprisingly tough and as you said, pulling their weight when needed.
Absolutely.
Ironically the low Ammo of the Catapult probably explains how it as a type survived the succession wars with just 10 tons of armor and not being in production. After all if it has to RTB to reload the techs can rearmor it while it's there
A fairly solid argument.
Plus less Ammo to get a lucky Crit on when you move in to brawl!
A Classic missile boat definition
My second favorite Mech in the setting. Right after the Marauder. Something about the chicken walkers just drives me wild😂
Finally THE CATAPULT VID! 🥳
Huzzah!
What's amazing about the C1 and the K2 is you have to get pretty far up the tech tree to find anything that's close to a strict upgrade.
They are consistently good enough
Agreed.
the catapult the technical of the BT universe if a weapon exists someone, somewhere has strapped it to a cat.
Back before I properly understood what Battletech was, I saw 4 mech trailers for Mechwarrior Online. The Centurion, the Jenner, the Atlas, and finally, the Catapult. I knew which spoke to me immediately. Good old missile spam. Let it rain high!
:) Let it rain... and rain...
The Kraken 3 might be the pinnacle of stompy missile spam, but you never forget your first.
I love the lego Catapult! That's awesome
Frank Duarte is amazing with those. It is so great to see him post them in the Discord server.
Which one? I noticed at least two.
@@Brigand231 the first one, I didn't see another one. Looks like I'll have to watch it again to see
@@Maezhughes The first one I saw looked like a missile boat, the second one I saw was likely a PPC variant.
Peek fire support mech right here, a bit fragile for its weight class but having this much flexibility and mobility on a 60 tonner is nothing to ignore especially well into the time line. If any mech would or should have gotten an Omni refit it's this one
Iconic silhouette and one of the first true missile boats a player may have encountered. Many a mid-tier mercenary company has earned their coin off the backs of Catapults. Cheers!
A classic for a reason.
One of my favourite fire support mechs.
It might not have as many LRM tubes as an archer, but thanks to its jumpjets it can basically get everywhere, get into better firing positions or escape landbound enemies quickly. The base version with its 4 med lasers also has a decent close quarters punch. Its rugged, decently sturdy and has enough speed for a fire support mech.
The only downside it has is its hunger for LRM ammo, wich isnt that much of a downside unless youre stuck behind enemy lines and cut off from supplies perhaps.. but that never happens, right? So protracted fights might not be exactly its forte. Needless to say the catapult should not enter melee fights against its own tonnage or those heavier then itselfe.. though a swift kick to a light or medium can still do alot of damage. And if all else false: 65 tons of death from above are no joke either.
I prefer the catapult over the archer simply because of the jumpjets.. wich can be a life saver when it comes to hilly terrain or swampy terrain and gives this dedicated fire support unit a great amount of tactical and strategical flexibility that the archer does not have.
Be it on the table, in harebrained battletech or in mechwarrior 5, the catapult wont dissapoint you and will perform
Since Mechassault was my first taste of Battletech I cant help but love every mech from those games
So very cool.
The OG Omni. "If is fits, it works. If it works, do it. Don't tell me what to do, you aren't my mom." - The Good Professor.
We all have asked the same question many times, Archer or Catapult? Thing is, both are the correct answer. Another banger, my amphobian friend.
Thanks a ton. I'd happily take either of them.
So A friend of mine is working on a cat varriant that takes advantage of crit splitting to mount a long tom on the back similar to the bullshark. The idea is it will move into location, deploy a tripod to stabilize and just act as an artillery piece that can be anywhere, at any time as it still has those jump jets. Down side, is he says it will only have the long tom and 2 small lasers.
@@warbrand2 I’m guessing it’s going to be called the Tomcat?
Catapult. My favourite mech since I first read the 3025 TRO. Had a bunch of fun back in MWO running Splat-/streakcats and my "Garden Hose" Cat-A1 (6lrm5's and as much ammo as I could fit.) Thanks to the ridicolus realod speed of the 5's I could pump out a near constant stream of lrms.
Of the classic bunch, it is a very solid choice.
FEAR THE LRM 5'S!!!
The Catapult is my absolute favorite 'mech, especially the C1
Great video...i did not know there was a ppc version. 😊
Ah the Catapult, the agile brawler cosplaying as a fire support mech. I do love it so.
It's a solid pick.
The CAT before it went MAD
Catapult is probably the best generalist mech you can get IMO.
the C1 rocks even into the eras where fancy tech is all the rage.
A C1 refit with double heat sinks and improved jump jets is deadly.
The catapult is a great mech. Thank you for making this video!
Great video and so many impressive contributions. Loved the painted mechs, the original art and the Lego catapults. 👏
I have been waiting for this.
I feel like the Catapult is as iconic as it is because we all saw it when we first played Mechwarrior 2: Mercs.
I have a Catapult K2 from the GDL lance box and it always has a place in my Draconis Combine lances I've even run it as a CPLT-K2-S from the MW5 Mercenaries Dragons Fury dlc which swaps out the Med Lasers & MGs for AC2s and Sml Lasers but still it's a monster when played correctly
Last play through of MW5 I swapped the PPCs in my K2-S for B lasers, surprisingly effective.
When Asked, "Why do we love the Catapult?" I think Professor Tex put it best;
"Name me one weapon system that can endure 500 years of warfare, and be maintained with half a toolbox and a High school level Education"
Any mech that works, after centuries, with limited spare parts, substandard maintenance practices, and a gradual loss of understanding into just how the damn thing works, is better than no mech at all.
Well put.
I really appreciate you making the effort to provide more distinct visuals for the spec sheets for the non-LRM boat variants like the CPLT-K2. Showing different paint schemes is nice, but I really enjoy seeing how different weapon loadouts, equipment, etc. do indeed make different variants look distinct from others. Plus, it can be a bit jarring to listen to a description of a 'Mech with distinct features like an Arrow IV launcher or RAC, see the specs on the screen, but have the accompanying visual be the same image used for other variants which clearly lacks the features being described. So, thank you for taking the time to show that not all Catapults have the same bulky missile boxes on top!
Credit for that goes to WildCat144 who generously offered up her collection of K-2 art.
The Catapult is one of the premier mechs that benefits from doing very little to the original design post Helm Memory Core. What does that mean? Here, let me explain:
My variant shall be called the _CPLT-G1_
Swap the 15 single heatsinks for 10 doubles in the engine. Saves five tons and adds five total cooling per turn.
Use two tons for extra ammunition, one in each side torso. Now has 16 rounds of fire.
Add case to the side torsos.
Add two tons to the overall armor.
It adds longevity to the mech's battlefield endurance, provides protection to mitigate the potential ammunition explosion with a failsafe in the event of an ammunition cookoff, retains the mobility it's known for and, most importantly, keeps refit costs low as it doesn't radically change too much from the base design.
Thoughts?
Looks good, though I'm not sure how big a hassle swapping the Engine Heat Sinks is going to be...
@@DonaldWWitt It's a hell of a lot more difficult to swap the entire structure to Endo Steel or an XL engine and it's a LOT more expensive for either of those.
@@imglidinhere Yeah I know that, but you still have to rip the engine out to fit it with new Double Heat Sinks.
@@DonaldWWitt Obviously, yes, but that's a lot easier done than pretty much any other refit available, save for Ferro, which is middling at best in most cases.
12 shots and only one additional ton of armor traded for a total of 6 ML? Just to enforce a proper keep out zone for LRM usage! Or Upgrade the lasers to ERML and perhaps a SPL to provide emotional support to infantry.
should've know you'd pick the plasma rifles but glad to see you're using SRM-4's
They're a nice little hello at short range.
@@MechanicalFrog oh too true but I'm a snub-nose PPC man myself through and through
A mech so simple in its design that it is elegant. Effective to boot too! The CPLT-C1 is always a solid choice.
Great job on the Catapault! You really showed how the simplicity and the utility of the Catapault stays fresh in all eras. two LRMs or two PPCs/big guns that can relocate easily & quickly will always have a place for company commanders out there! It definitely deserves its place in the main game box. Your guest voiceover were fun too!
Thanks a lot for watching.
one of my favorite go to's for a command and support mech. Wiggly, shooty, and sturdy. Plus chimken leggies
Gotta love the chimken leggies.
@@MechanicalFrog Drumsticks...
I can’t resist the PULTowards this mech! Thanks for doing a video on it
This is my favorite mech. It has a great silhouette, and it looks like it was designed for a clear purpose. And in the games it does its job well, not bloated with unnecessary complexity or loaded up with so many weapons as to be unmanageable. I like the Marauder and the Rifleman for very similar reasons.
The Less Mad Cat.
Less... or more?
"If I Fits, I Sits!"
You and so many others in the BattleTech and MechWarrior community are a godsend! Growing up, my first game was MechWarrior 2 on PC, and I stayed with the series till MechWarrior 4: Mercs and MechCommander 2. I'd heard a few years later a MW5 was in development, and 2 years ago I got it on PS5.
Now, October 3rd is a trip back to childhood. Hope you're having a great night!
Thanks so much for giving the video a go. I am just very glad I can do my part to be a BattleTech booster.
You're most certainly welcome! My current favorite Catapult variant is the Otomo in MW5: Mercs. I usually run with the Mauler Otomo, but when it's in the shop? This dragon breathes blue bolts of ER-PPCs and AC-2s, at the highest grade.
AC-2s might not be the strongest, but when lights and mediums wanna get up close? These and small lasers get the job done.
Because you can put anything in the boxes! If it fits, it sits.
The Catapult, when you want an Archer AND mobility. Unless you like the K2, which is a Warhammer-lite, and with DHS you can put the jump jets back in. The mobility plays well with ELRMs. And few mechs owe so much of their fame to Harmony Gold.
How dare you forget one of the most important parts: the sideways ejection system!
I’m kidding, obviously, but it would be nice to see that represented with a zero-point Design Quirk.
No regerts.
CATAPULT GO BRRRRRRRRRRR 😈😌
The Catapult was the first ‘Mech I played on tabletop, it was just so cool to me as a kid, and my love for it has endured. It’s got the right mix of mobility, firepower, and armor, I think it’s the best fire support ‘Mech in Battletech. The stock variant not your cup of tea? Try one of like 50 others, or make your own! If it fits, it’s a Catapult.
(I am the world’s top Catapult fan, nobody can beat me, it’s just so awesome)
In my Inner Sphere MegaMek campaign, I straight up have a full company of these. They’re split into two variants: One with 2 SRM6’s and 4 Medium Lasers, the other with 2 Large Lasers and 4 Mediums. They all move 4/6/4 and are max/near max armor, also having the heat to fire most of the weapons. With 3050 era tech, they all get Dbl Heat Sinks, the Large Lasers get upgraded to Large Pulses, Mediums stay standard, and I think they all get a speed boost to 5/8/5 or maybe 5/8/4 with XL engines. I know XL engines are a risk, but when fighting in formation, they’re able to take down most ‘Mechs before they can even be effective against the Catapults.
Considering switching some (I have it split 6-6 rn) to a custom LRM boat variant for longer range, maybe I’ll use Clan tech LRMs?
Ah yes the catapult, or as I like to occasionally refer to it as:
Stalker Junior.
Are you sure it isn't just a fat Owens?
I’ve grown fond of the energy hero variant in MW5.
How they justified making the "Royal" Catapult configuration I'll never know, given the history of the design. lol
But we needed it listed here, Frog! We needed it! :P
All jokes aside, fun times. And I'm glad to have helped contribute.
Royal headache.
Another one of the original 3025 TRO mechs that just "clicked." Of course, grognards being grognards, there was always going to be some tinkering. My favorite was to replace the two LRM 15s with six LRM 5s. This resulted in the exact same throw weight, but left you with an additional two tons to play with. Usually I would simply double the LRM ammo as this ensured that the Catapult could bombard foes for a much longer period without having to retire to resupply. I should note that one member of our battletech group back in the 90s (who shall remain nameless) called his Catapult "Boing, Boing, Boom, Boom."
Its the first thing to pop in my head when i think mech
I always forget it's got jumpies
"If I fits, I sits!"
Much luv for the Cat in near all its variants. Some of my best and most memorable battles were in this mech.
Always fun to have guest voices. And it's the K-Series Catapults that inspired customized Timberwolf variant that I came up with.
Good times.
It's a classic for a reason!
Also as someone who's fought against mechs with dual plasma + Inferno SRMs
I can confirm it is terrifying against all but TSM melee mechs
And the chance of someone bringing one of those is quite low.
It's a solid one for sure. The plentiful neat variants and classic look. This is what other mechs should seek to emulate.
THE BEST MECH EVER MADE FINALLY GETS A VIDEO
Yay!
Catapult MF when you are tired of elementals shenanigans
"You talk a lot of smack for being so flammable."
For something that primarily sticks in the popular mind's eye of Battletech because of its two boxes of long-distance fun, the Catapult is mobile and surprisingly versatile at a number of ranges and has a number of curious but effective variants that break from its usual role. I've never had a bad word to say about well-utilized Catapults and I never will.
The Catapult is one of the best all time fire support platforms, the bog standard one is a superior 'mech to the Archer, more ammo, a greater defensive battery, and it can jump. And its tons of variants and weapons mean its just great. As always a magnificent video Mr Frog!
Eh, Archer does have BATTLEFIST...
I've always loved the Catapult. It has that nice mix of firepower, mobility, and durability. It can hold it's own in knife-fighting range. I field one on a regular basis in my tabletop group.
Totally agree. Solid generalist.
I’m a sucker for a classic C1 catapult, I always end up out of position with my crusader or archer just wishing for jump jets or more heat sinks in a vulnerable moment. I still bring a C5A in most of my merc or periphery forces in later eras as a solid upgrade to the C1. It’s not flashy or standout but both are solid additions to a heavy Calvary Lance.
Of all the classic 3025 mechs, the C1 is very solid.
@@MechanicalFrog oh yeah my old light horse heavy Calvary Lance was a Victor, catapult, grasshopper, and a thunderbolt 5SE. An expensive Lance for the era but they are so hard to pin down and they will eat any Lance that can catch them in 3025.
If the catapult was an omnimech then reloading crews could swap out the missile boxes during battle. If the catapult had arms then it could do so itself
Is there a torpedo variant for use on that flooded Earth planet? Just in case the ilclan era ends with us having to liberate earth city by city
When my dad got me into mechwarrior, this was the first mech I ever piloted. It’s pretty thoroughly influenced my view of mechs as a concept ever since
Very nice video, the Catapult is an old favorite. Props for covering the Butterbee variant, which is one of my favorite Introtech mechs. With a ton of Inferno rounds it becomes a nightmare for many undersinked Introtech heavies and assaults.
Few mechs are as close to this dirty Capellan's heart as the subject of this video. When it comes to defending the Celestial Wisdom's rightful domain, accept no substitutes.
Well said!
I was so sad when I realised I'd lost my catapult when I moved house. Sure I can get one printed, but the quality is never quite right
Long time follower, awesome idea cool. See you and tex awesome info on Dire wolf or innissphere Daishi It my favorite mech all time big battle since 1990
The Dire Wolf is in the "soon" category.
Big battle tech fan myself ❤
Use personal build play mechwarrior 4, 2 ac 5 rotary auto ,LRM 15, 6 medium er lazer, she was beast
Thanks for watching. I'll keep working hard to make stuff worth it.
Big fan really enjoying lore video doing great service battle tech 😊
The most iconic fire support mech in the setting, and a personal favorite of mine. The design language is perfect.
I have always loved the CPLT-C1 for its balance. It has decent to good movement, good weapons, a good amount of heat sinks and a decent amount of armor. I think that whoever designed it was actually thinking. It is a well balanced machine. Sergeant Unther made the machine so intimidating (yes in MW2:Mercs it was prone to take headshots). It is not under-sinked like the Archer or some of the Thunderbolt variants.
If you love the Archer but wish it could jump and had those rear lasers pointing the right way, the Catapult is for you!
Excellent point.
top video mate
One of the most mobile and versitile artilery mechs in the game. What's not to love. I run a Daka-Pult with 2 Rotery 2 and 2 Light AC 5 🎉
Plenty of great variants. Classic look. What's not to love?
@@MechanicalFrog yeah a catapult machine gunning light mechs with cannon fire does turn heads 😂
All CATs are mad in the in capellan space
Also thanks for fixing the poor fucking C6
I love "ButterBee" !!!!