Raven RVN-3L |
Task Force Serpent Dossier
Type:Battlemech
Name: Raven
Mech Class:Light
Weight: 35 Tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Description:
The Raven is a technological marvel and employs a large number of advanced electronic warfare systems, possibly making it the most advanced light 'Mech on the field, at least in detection and targeting equipment. It was first built by the Capellan Confederation as an electronics test bed unit that was pushed into combat during the Fourth Succession War, when the Federated Suns made a concentrated effort to destroy the Liao state. Since that time rediscovered Star League technology has allowed the Raven to reach its full potential.
The Raven has a maximum speed of 97.2 km/h, which is respectable for a 'Mech of its weight class. It is armored with four and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor, giving it good protection. To further its survivability, it is outfitted with CASE to protect against any ammunition explosions. The 'Mech is also powered by an XL Engine and carries some of the most advanced electronics warfare equipment in the Inner Sphere.
Armament:
The Raven carries a small weapons array that is nevertheless respectable for its size. The primary weapon on board the Raven is a pair of Ceres Arms Medium Lasers. These are backed up by a Harpoon-6 SRM-6 to finish off any enemy units that it does engage. Generally, the Raven is kept out of direct firefights though, as it is more valuable as a recon or electronics warfare asset than as a front line combat 'Mech.
Electronics Suite:
What made the Raven famous is its ECM suite. Early models carried 7.5 ton of electronic warfare equipment that was noted for lackluster performance.
The recovery of lostech soon made the original ECM equipment obsolete, and later versions of the Raven completely replaced it with a combination of advanced systems, namely an Apple Churchill Beagle Active Probe, an Apple Churchill Guiding Light Narc Missile Beacon, an Apple Churchill Guardian ECM Suite, and finally an Apple Churchill 442x TAG.
Variants:
RVN-2X - Many of the Ravens captured by the Federated Suns in the Fourth Succession War were refitted to the 2X standard. It replaces the EW equipment with a Large Laser and raises the armor to sixth-and-a-half tons.
Captain Nash's Mission #2 Analysis: We received a distress call from a Private Louis Merloni from the 1st Davion Guards - 12th Company. Message was very garbled, and cut off almost immediately. Where our long range communications are still down, it must have come from the Leopard Dropship we saw go down north of us. Message stated he and a Sargent Ramon Garciaparra were on planet and needed assistance. That's all we got. Merloni was last assigned to a Raven RVN-3L, one of the few in the FedComm that hadn't been converted to the 2X variant. Garciparra was assigned a Catapult CPLT-C4. Chances are they are in the area of the Dropship crash, avoiding detection using Merloni's Raven ECM. Working up a Mission Briefing to go and find those guys. Adding that Raven to our ranks would be very helpful in our fight against the Jags.
Tech Readout:
http://www.solaris7.com/TRO/HTMLBattleMech/BattlemechInfo.asp?ID=664