Morning Glory Heavy Tank

Overview
Developed to help the Lyran Alliance war effort during the Federated Commonwealth Civil War, the Morning Glory heavy tank was designed with peak technologies of the time in mind to provide the LAAF with a long-range fighting vehicle that also packed enough speed and armor to remain viable if surrounded by enemy forces. Though the long range potential of the Morning Glory could not be questioned, the fact that it lacked any sort of short range firepower meant that it failed at the last goal military command had set for it, dooming most crews to destruction if it did have the misfortune to be surrounded or swamped by hostile forces.

Capabilities
A still blossoming technology out of the Free Worlds League, the main gun on the Morning Glory was a 12 ton Light Gauss Rifle situated in a classic turret configuration. A single ton of ammunition allowed this weapon to fire up to 24 times before being spent, while two LRM 5s offered additional support and harassment capabilities, also fed by a ton of ammo. A 400 XL engine took up half of the tank’s total weight but gave it a top speed of 86.4 kph. Eight and a half tons of Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor typically offered plenty of protection for the Morning Glory to do its job effectively.

Deployment
Exclusively built for the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces, the Morning Glory was deployed to frontline battles against Federated Commonwealth forces, as well as in conflicts with Clan Jade Falcon along House Steiner’s border with the clan’s occupation zone. Plenty of Morning Glory tanks were also placed in defensive units as well, ready to help keep opponents at bay. Newer variants of the Morning Glory would see more widespread use throughout the Inner Sphere and even the Periphery.