In 3051, while the Federated Commonwealth and
Draconis Combine cemented relations, a team from
SearcyWorks approached General Motors about
acquiring the specs for their Marauder. Naturally, GM
wanted to know why. The SearcyWorks team explained
that the Marauder II did not fit the Combine's current
needs, and so they were going to attempt a different
redesign of the original Marauder. SearcyWorks would do
all the design and production work, while GM could have
the licensing fees, and the design if they wanted it. Seeing
no possible downside, GM agreed.
After a swift redesign, a little over three months from start
to finish, SearcyWorks unveiled their new SMAD-3R
Super Marauder. GM quickly retooled a line producing
Marauders at their Kathil plant to build this new 'Mech.

Capablities
The SMAD-3R seems, on paper, to be little different from
the MAD-3R it is descended from. It mounts nearly
identical weaponry, has identical speed, and is not much
larger. The range it can engage with its PPCs is much
greater, of course, but the same could be achieved by
retrofitting a MAD-3R with ER-PPCs.
The difference becomes apparent in extended combats.
The Super Marauder is considerably tougher than its
parent design, mounting 15.5 tons of SearcyWorks
Assault Plate armor. Even with its Ultra autocannon in
double-fire mode it can fire the AC for a longer period of
time, as it carries 60 rounds for the Imperator as opposed
to 20 for the MAD-3R's Whirlwind. Finally, it is far more
heat-efficent, as even continous, all-weapons fire can be
maintained for some time before the 'Mech is threatened
with shutdown.
Perhaps Super Marauder's greatest advantage is that it is
visually IDENTICAL to its parent design. Fake lense arrays
make the medium lasers appear to be in the arms, while
the real medium lasers in the center torso are hidden
behind a sliding panel. It has the same physical
dimensions, and the interior cockpit layout is an exact
copy. Most MechWarriors write off the 5-ton weight
difference their sesmic sensors and/or Magentic Anomaly
Detector detect as a sensor artifact. Thus it is quite
common for an opponent to fail to realize that they are
facing an SMAD-3R.
It should be noted the the SMAD-3R does not mount
hand actuators, but does mount lower arm actuators.

Variants
Several SMAD-3R variants exsist, most of them patterning
the 'Mech after a popular MAD variant. The variants are
surprisingly rare, however, as most pilots are quite pleased
with the standard design.

Deployment
SearcyWorks-built Super Marauders are most common not
in the DCMS, but in the Ghost Regiments. Several are
also on the TO&E of various mercenary units that are or
were in Combine employ.
Of the Kathil-produced Super Marauders, most went to the
LCAF before the Federated CommonWealth's breakup,
with a smattering in the NAIS cadres. Since the Kathil
facility is only now being repaired, it seems likely that the
output from it will be diverted to rebuilding Federated Suns
units.