Sunder SD1-OA

       Like the Avatar, the Sunder was an attempt to re-engineer captured Clan equipment to make it compatible with Inner Sphere technology. The Sunder used captured Loki and Thor chassis as its basis. Unfortunately, this ‘Mech’s development process was plagued with false starts and technological failures. The first problem to crop up involved the chassis design and weight allocation – the Sunder was intended to carry twenty more tons of equipment than the Clan Loki and Thor OmniMechs on which it was based. The engineers at Luthien Armor Works believed they could easily add this extra weight, and it is true that the additional stress did not cause catastrophic failures in the skeleton. However, the Sunder’s actuators wore out at an alarming rate and had to be replaced with larger and more robust versions.
       The upper torso was redesigned to accept a bulkier Inner Sphere engine. This change meant rearranging the ‘Mech’s internal spaces, and so the designers moved the torso weapons bay above the cockpit. This reconfiguration posed no problems when the weapon pods were loaded with energy weapons, but firing missiles sprayed caustic gasses all over the cockpit canopy and sensor arrays. The engineers eventually fixed the problem, but the delays made the Sunder one of the last DCMS OmniMechs to be authorized for full-scale production.

       When compared to other Inner Sphere assault ‘Mechs, the Sunder is an extremely capable machine. However, the inferior quality of its Inner Sphere weapons technology makes it no real match for the Clan Masakari and Gladiator assault ‘Mechs. The Sunder’s bay can accept an equivalent weapon load, but Inner Sphere weapons tend to be bulkier and less efficient than their Clan equivalents.
       One configuration of the Sunder, intended to serve as a company command vehicle in a C3 network, is equipped with two C3 master units – one for the company commander’s lance and the other to coordinate the activities of the remaining two lances. The prevalence of C3 systems in other DCMS OmniMechs offers a real hope that the Draconis Combine’s technological innovation may turn the balance of power back to the Inner Sphere when the conflict with the Clans resumes.

         The SD1-OC configuration of the Sunder takes advantage of the new DCMS missile systems to deliver withering firepower at close and medium ranges. For maximium efficiency this weapon load should be used in a C3 network that includes one or two faster ‘Mechs, such as Owenses or Striders. The SD1-OC relies on ballistic and missile weapons, but carries an ample supply of ammunition.

       The Sunder is being deployed with DCMS assault lances along the border with the Clan occupied zones.