Mobile Long Tom
| Mobile Long Tom | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Class: | Tank | |
| Faction | Inner Sphere | |
| Ticket cost: | 11 upon destruction | |
| Tier: | 16 | |
| Tonnage: | 95 tons | |
| Speed: |
48 km/h (56 km/h with boost) | |
| Turret rotation: | 140° | |
| Turret pitch: | +7° to +80° | |
| Variant Armament | ||
| Variant | Weapons | Equipment |
| Prime: Price: 105 800 CBills Total armor: 21 846 Engine: Robel 110 I.C.E. |
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| A: Price: 105 800 CBills Total armor: 21 846 Engine: Robel 110 I.C.E. |
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| B: Price: 105 800 CBills Total armor: 21 846 Engine: Robel 110 I.C.E. |
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| Armor Points Distribution | ||
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All stats current as of release 0.16.1
The Long Tom Artillery Tank (abbreviated LT or LTA) is an Inner Sphere mobile artillery platform that brings to bear the deadliest weapon in the game: its namesake, Long Tom Artillery. Despite having very low acceleration, weak armor, and a somewhat high price, it is capable of inflicting devastating damage from far behind friendly lines.
LT users should generally stay behind the front line, covered by an AA unit when required, firing upon high-value targets such as Assault Mechs, any groups of enemy units or LRM campers. Because of the significant projectile flight time it is often necessary to lead the target by a few seconds, although direct hits are not required to do crippling damage due to the significant splash of its shells. To aim the weapon, one may use the Distance to the Target indication displayed below the enemy damage readout, and the Turret Rotation indicator visible above the radar.
Long Toms need to be deployed in order to fire. To do so, the pilot must stop the vehicle on flat ground and when HUD indicator on the minimap shows up press the crouch/deploy key - [Left Ctrl] by default. A Long Tom won't deploy on bumpy terrain or a slope, or while the tank is still moving. In order to move again, the pilot will need to undeploy it using the same key.
Perhaps the greatest threat to Long Toms are Aerospace Fighters. Because of their very slow acceleration, low armor, immobility while firing, and inability to defend themselves from air threats, the Long Toms must rely upon other units for air defense, or hope to remain undetected by using passive radar. When dealing with hostile LT when Aerospace is not an option, other tactics needs to be applied. Approach on passive radar while concealed; a close-range unit can quickly destroy a Long Tom, especially when focusing on its very weak back armor. Alternatively, the LT can be carefully engaged with long-range options. For example, closing to within 1000m with a Trebuchet Vulture and loosing a full barrage of missiles can destroy or heavily damage the LT. Yet in most cases small, hard-hitting units with high speed can take down the Long Tom alone, most notable killer being the Shadowcat which mixes very high speed (utilizing its MASC) with significant firepower.
Contents
Variants
Three different Mobile Long Tom variants are available, only differing in Range and heat produced per shot.
Note: All variants of this asset has both C3 Master and GECM, meaning there is no benefit to using passive radar except when covered by allied AECM.
Prime
The Standard range variant is capable of shelling targets at / in 2250m range with 300 heat per shot.
Variant A
The Short range variant can reach up to 1500m and one shot causes 200 heat.
Variant B
The Long range variant can hit targets in 3000m range in exchange for 400 heat.
Countermeasures
Equipped with a dual Smoke Launcher, which is primarily used to mask the player's movements or while retreating, as well as blocking enemies' sight. When fired, 2 Smoke Grenades are jettisoned approximately 10 meters in front of the Mobile Long Tom. Within seconds a large billing cloud starts to form, obscuring you from view for approximately 1 minute. Unfortunately they can only be fired while being be deployed and it would seem each Launcher carries 5 shots of which only two can be fired off (a glitch maybe?).
Terrain
Terrain can become an important factor when piloting a Long Tom. A map that consists of rolling hills like TSA_Marshes is one where the terrain will not pose as much of a problem, whereas a map like TC_Mirage will be much more challenging. There are benefits to terrain differences. For example, The range of the Long Tom Artillery is listed as 1500m, though it can commonly reach longer. If a Long Tom is positioned at a higher elevation than where its rounds would land, this effectively, increases the round's maximum range.
If the terrain of a map includes steep cliffs, this will complicate effective artillery. This has a number of detriments, including cliffs getting in the way of the flight-path of the round being fired, and needing to use the 45+° angles on the LT. The map TC_ThunderRift is a great example of how the role of a Long Tom is severely limited by terrain. For more open maps, consider asking teammates to watch for where your rounds land, to determine if they are getting caught up on a bit of terrain.
Lastly, for 45+° angle shots, the flight time is roughly doubled of an equivalent shot at a sub 45° angle. This limits your minimum range, and complicates the alignment of a target as a small change in rotation of the turret can sometimes lead to a more pronounced effect on where the round will actually land. For this reason, and the reason above, rugged terrain can put a serious damper on Long Tom support, but will not completely rule it out.
When dealing with artillery, it is important to consider a few things:
- An artillery unit cannot effectively engage an enemy that it does not know about. Running primarily under passive radar or with ECM may save your life.
- Conversely, a C3-equipped unit can significantly boost the effectiveness of any in-range, appropriately-positioned allied artillery (as could, hypothetically, a spotter, possibly with a TAG, operating in tandem with an expert artillery operator).
- It is more challenging to hit a rapidly-moving target than a stationary target, especially if the target is moving inconsistently; the greater the range and speed, the greater the challenge.
- Artillery will have a difficult time effectively striking the leeward side of a hill (relative to the trajectory of the artillery), as the slope of the hill will be closer to parallel with the trajectory of a falling artillery round, making the round more likely to strike the top or base of the hill.
- In that same vein, take great caution when approaching a deployed Long Tom over a hill. If it sees you coming, one last desperate point-blank shot will end your attack.
- When lacking a radar signature to target, range to target can also be found by moving the targeting reticle over the target or something nearby.
- Long Tom's are the highest tier assets in game, meaning that ineffective use of them will likely only cause a boost to enemy team economy.
Other Tactics
MRSI
The Long Tom is somewhat capable of "Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact." This technique requires the player to fire a first shot at a high arc with a long travel time. Then the player fires a second shot at a shallow arc with a short travel time aimed at the same target location. The two shots should impact the same spot within seconds of each other. This works most effectively against stationary and slow moving targets that are currently unaware of the Long Tom, or the fact that the player knows where they are.
Some tanks with missiles, where the missiles are mounted on the chassis instead of the turret, can use the MRSI technique by flicking. Other assets can use the MRSI technique with missiles, but require friendly NARC or TAG since they must break line of sight and orient their turret or torso 180° away from the target in order to get the high arc necessary on the first salvo.
History
- The Long Tom was first introduced in version 0.2.0, and was originally a modification of the Partisan tank chassis.
- In version 0.3.0 the Long Tom received the Deploy feature along with a remodel of the entire unit, new texture work, and new animations. Related sounds and HUD effects were also added.
Canon
Mobile Long Tom Artillery was made of six tracked transport working to support, move, and store ammunition for the great cannon. The main cannon transport weighed 55 tons, while the unit as a whole weighed 95 tons. Maximum speed was barely 32 km/h and was often limited to paved roads as on rough terrain it could easily get stuck.
Typically Mobile Long Toms operate in groups of up to six guns and their attendant support craft, heavily guarded by tanks and anti-air units. As the cannon carries only four tons of standard armor it cannot withstand any stronger attack, so extensive security is required. Long Toms are also stationed near the key cities of more important planets, with one or two assigned to garrisons.
The Long Tom is an uncommon weapon with origins reaching the Star League. Many attackers choose to withdraw rather than facing he devastating firepower of multiple cannons working in tandem. One such example took place during a House Marik assault on Loric in 3002. Thinking that they faced 3 Long Tom batteries, the FWL troops withdrew without inflicting damage on the Lyran defenders. Usually even the most damaged Long Toms are repaired instead of being stripped for parts, as happens with many other non-'Mech units.
Notable Pilots - Poplug - MERC, Juffos - MERC, firestorm - MERC, Elf - MERC
Date Introduced 2602 during the Era known as "Star League" (2571 - 2780) - Unit Role: Missile Boat
