15 replies to this topic

[Atheris]

Hi!

I have a question but I am not sure if this is the right place to ask it.

I was wondering this:

How do the pilots actually get into/out of a mech in the battletech universe?

I mean do they need a kind of support structure where they climb a ladder/use an elevator to reach the top of the mech and then enter a hatch or similar?

How does a pilot get out of an (for instance) Atlas and onto the ground if the mech is disabled on a battlefield?

Are there ladder rungs bolted on its side?

Would the cockpit of (for instance) a Raven actually open up like a jet fighters cockpit? Or do they all have entry hatches or something?

Thanks!

[Ghostrider45]

no you start in your mech an go from there!!!!

[Adridos]

Support structures.

If you get disabled in teh field and must get out, you must eject, or wait and hope.

Edited by Adridos, 19 October 2012 - 04:40 AM.

[Atheris]

Ah thanks! Hmm so that means mechs could never be fielded without a big support infrastructure? I mean you couldn't just drop some light mechs of for a few weeks guerilla warfare in the middle of nowhere since your pilots could never leave the cockpit?

[Adridos]

Atheris, on 19 October 2012 - 04:45 AM, said:

Ah thanks! Hmm so that means mechs could never be fielded without a big support infrastructure? I mean you couldn't just drop some light mechs of for a few weeks guerilla warfare in the middle of nowhere since your pilots could never leave the cockpit?

Not sure, it would depend on the mech, I think.

If it were some piece of junk, then it could be very well possible. However, a top of the line machine probably wouldn't have such a feature.

[Pest]

I do not think he is asking about the actual game.
I some illustrations I have seen, there are flexible ladders. On mechs with "bird legs" such as the Raven, the mech can settle down close to the ground like a bird in a nest. Then there are probably foot and hand holds such as on the side of some fighter planes. Also perhaps there are mech bay ladders.

[McManti]

Mostly its discribed in the books with static lifts or such a thing. but sometimes there are some sort of rope ladders or the mechwarrior is climbing his mech from limb to arm. there are many books about guerilla warfare in the battletech universe

[Atheris]

Yes I wasn't speaking about in game. That why I asked how they get out in the battletech universe.

The raven being able to bend low is pretty obvious I guess, I didn't think of that.

But the mechs can be huge, climbing down with hand/foot holds and such would probably be pretty awkward.

I am just trying to picture what it would be like if such mechs were real, but I guess there wouldn't be much info about such impracticabilities like getting in and out of a towering 100 ton battlemachine.


edit

Didn't see the last post, would you know the name of one of those books that describe entering and exiting a mech? Thanks!

Edited by Atheris, 19 October 2012 - 04:58 AM.

[Randodan]

Walking behind an Awesome, I saw a hatch in the back of his "head" and a couple of ladder rungs. So, I guess there's a support structure that allows you to get up there and then enter a hatch on the bigger 'Mechs, and probably -- like you said -- cockpits that open on the smaller 'Mechs.

[SHORTZ]

yeah i reckon itd definately depend on the mech, for instance the guy gets into the mad dog like a fighter jet by opening the cockpit canopy.


and i would say something like a catapault would be able to open some of the canopy. it also has rungs on the legs if you look closely at the mech. some i think you would get into through a hatch and maybe go up through the internals, like the atlas for instance.

http://t3.gstatic.co...RSs_lt54aRfegxQ

It really would depend on how the chasis is built. so yeah i think you could deploy a bunch of lights and just climb up the side and jump in, but for like assaults and stuff you'd definately need a support scaffolding sorta thing, like you see in the MW:O teaser tralier

Edited by SHORTZ, 19 October 2012 - 05:11 AM.

[siLve00]

Atheris, on 19 October 2012 - 04:57 AM, said:

edit

Didn't see the last post, would you know the name of one of those books that describe entering and exiting a mech? Thanks!

in the older books there were stuff like getting in and out of the mech...
mostly when it came down to streetfights and so on..
thats such a long time ago.. i did read those books.. phew.

but when they ever talked about it.. it were mostly metal ladders or corded ladders.

Edited by siLve00, 19 October 2012 - 06:00 AM.

[wanderer]

Normally, a 'Mech is parked at a gantry or the like for easy access, but field entry usually is via a ladder stored in the cockpit when not in use.

[Mister French]

It seems like if you have the technology to make advanced weapons, fold away field ladders are not that far off. Also from a real world standpoint its not uncommon for any military truck/tank/equipment operator to not leave his vehicle for days or even weeks in the field.

[Paladin1]

Adridos, on 19 October 2012 - 04:40 AM, said:

Support structures.

If you get disabled in teh field and must get out, you must eject, or wait and hope.

This isn't actually true. All `Mechs have access ladders for field access and despite what the MW4 video shows, most actually have a hatch either at the back or on top of the head where the pilot enters the cockpit instead of a canopy like the Mad Dog. Also, not every `Mech has an ejector seat. Some eject the entire head instead of just the seat (Hatchetman, Axeman, Battlehawk) while some don't have an ejector system at all (Spider) so if you need to leave the `Mech in a hurry, you have to climb out and down.

[Redshift2k5]

http://mwomercs.com/...deo/OkWhrahs3AQ

[Mechwarrior1426]

like was said earlier when in a full functioning base there are support structures and stuff but every BT novel ive read (by blood betrayed, a call to arms, etc) theres normaly a rope ladder that the pilot can deploy if they want to get out or in if there in the field