Raven

This article is about the Capellan Confederation BattleMech. For other uses, see Raven (disambiguation).
Raven
Raven
Production information
Manufacturer Hellespont 'Mech Works
Production Year 3048[1]
Model RVN-3L
Class Light
Cost 5,701,725 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 35 tons
Chassis Hellespont Type R
Armor Hellespont Lite Ferro-Fibrous
Engine Hermes 210 XL
Communications System Ceres Metals Model 666 with Guardian ECM suite
Targeting Tracking System C-Apple Churchill
Heat Sinks 11 single
Speed 97.2 km/h
Armament
BV (1.0) 592
BV (2.0) 710[2]


Description[edit]

The Raven is a light-weight electronic warfare BattleMech which, when it first debuted after the end of the Third Succession War, was one of the first truly original 'Mech designs produced in centuries.[3] Originally the Capellan Confederation attempted to recreate the sophisticated technology once common during the Star League era, specifically the Guardian ECM suite. While the resulting electronic warfare device was a technical success, it proved too large and bulky to be installed on any existing 'Mechs. Desperate for any force multiplier, the Capellans decided to build an entirely new 'Mech around the electronics, creating the first prototype Ravens.[4]

At first these experimental Ravens were meant as stand-off support units for 'Mech companies, designating targets for artillery and scrambling enemy sensors, but in most cases they were assigned at the battalion level as a temporary fifth member of the command lance. When it finally saw battle however, the Raven did not meet its lofty expectations; it simply could not provide a sufficient advantage to influence combat. Many were captured by the Federated Suns during the Fourth Succession War, and the design would languish as just another light 'Mech until the recovery of the Helm Memory Core allowed Hellespont to create a production version, the RVN-3L, equal to the prototype's ambitiousness.[4][2]

While heavily associated with House Liao, the Capellans also sold a number to the Free Worlds League and Draconis Combine, the larger share going to the former. The Federated Suns and Lyran Alliance also acquired smaller numbers of Ravens through other means including salvage, and a large number of variants were eventually created.[2]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The Raven carries a small weapons array that was nevertheless respectable for its size. The primary weapons are a pair of Ceres Arms medium lasers carried in the right arm, backed up by a Harpoon-6 SRM-6 mounted in the right torso, with one ton of SRM reloads placed within the CASE-protected left torso. Generally, the Raven was kept out of direct firefights as much as possible, since it was more valuable as a recon or electronic warfare asset than as a front-line combatant. Indeed, any mission in which the 'Mech was forced into combat was seen as a failure.[2]

At the time of its introduction the Raven carried the most advanced electronic warfare equipment in the Inner Sphere, all produced by Apple Churchill. A Guardian ECM suite mounted in the left torso blanketed friendly units with electronic jamming, a Beagle active probe in the center torso helped locate enemies, Target Acquisition Gear mounted in the right torso and a Narc missile beacon in the left arm, with two tons of reloads in the left torso, helped call down accurate artillery fire. A Hermes 210 XL engine and four and a half tons of ferro-fibrous armor helped save on weight, provided good armoring and a respectable cruising speed of 64.8 km/h - features which allowed the 'Mech to survive combat encounters until reinforcements could arrive.[2][5]

Variants[edit]

  • RVN-1X 
    The original 3024 prototype of what became the RVN-3L Raven, this was the unit that was pressed into service against the Federated Suns during the Fourth Succession War. With XL engine technology not yet available, the 'Mech mounted a standard Omni 175 fusion engine, giving it a maximum speed of 86 km/h, and was protected by four tons of standard armor. The Ceres Arms Electronic Warfare X-1 Equipment at the time that this 'Mech was built around consisted of a massive seven-and-a-half-ton experimental electronic warfare suite that did not live up to expectations. The equipment also had the unfortunate side effect, when damaged, of disrupting other systems, though normally communications and targeting only. The communications system was a CeresCom Model 22-A[6][4] BV (1.0) = 674; BV (2.0) = 589[7] or N/A[6]
  • RVN-2X 
    Many of the Ravens captured by the Federated Suns in the Fourth Succession War were refit in 3030 to the 2X standard. This variant replaced the EW equipment with a large laser and added an additional two and a half tons of armor.[6][4] BV (2.0) = 887[8]
  • RVN-3Ld 
    A Capellan experimental unit in 3071 based on the RVN-3L, the cockpit weight was increased to five tons to accommodate the robotic drone control; the TAG and one heat sink were removed to fit this. These 'Mechs were operated by an AI controller known as The Broken.[9] BV (2.0) = ??
  • RVN-3M 
    This 3053 variant, based on the 3L variant, removed the SRM-6 launcher, the medium lasers, and the electronic warfare systems and TAG laser in order to turn the Raven into a long range fire support unit, provided by a single LRM-15. Additionally, the 'Mech sports two small lasers and a small pulse laser in the event any enemies get under the minimum range of its missile launcher. This version retains the Narc missile beacon used by the 3L, and also includes two ammunition bins for the missile launcher so that the Raven can maintain its fire support role far from supply lines. BV (2.0) = 659[10]
  • RVN-3X 
    The RVN-3X uses, despite its sabotaged nature, the original Triple Strength Myomer, the plans for which were captured in the Fourth Succession War on Bethel by Warrior House Imarra. Since the Raven is not intended for direct combat, the fact that it can catch on fire if subjected to the catalyst gas is, in theory, outweighed by the additional speed.[6][4] BV (2.0) = 640[11] However, Prototype TSM does not increase movement speed under any circumstances.[12]
  • RVN-4L 
    This early 3060s[14] variant of the Raven incorporates the Confederation's new stealth armor. The 'Mech carries six tons of this advanced armor and also uses 10 double heat sinks for greater heat dissipation capabilities. The 'Mech is armed with two ER medium lasers and an SRM-6, and also carries the complete electronic warfare package carried by the 3L model.[2] BV (1.0) = 667; BV (2.0) = 873[15]
  • RVN-4X 
    A Capellan variant of the original prototype, with the battlefield failure of the -1X, the -4X was an attempt to reuse the chassis as a more combat orientated unit. It removes the EW equipment and is outfitted with five jump jets and two machine guns with one ton of ammunition. The armor was increased to the chassis' limit of seven tons.[6][4] BV (2.0) = 820[18]

Apocryphal Variants[edit]

Apocryphal Content Starts

The information after this notice comes from apocryphal sources; the canonicity of such information is uncertain.
Please view the reference page for information regarding their canonicity.

From Solaris VII Boxed Set - German Edition:

  • RVN-1XL DC 
    This variant of the 1X version was used as an arena fighter in the Solaris Games. Two single heat sinks were removed to allow for the installation of a dual cockpit and an additional ton of armor. The ECM 3025 is mounted in the left torso while two heat sinks are mounted in the center torso; together with the seven heat sinks installed in the engine this curiously leaves one heat sink unaccounted for, although plenty of free critical slots are available. (The canonicity of this design is questionable, as it was only published in the German edition of the Solaris VII Box Set.)[23] BV (1.0) = 1,157; BV (2.0) = ??

From MechWarrior Online:

Apocryphal Content Ends

Design Quirks[edit]

The Raven has the following Design Quirk:[26]

Related 'Mechs[edit]

  • Men Shen - Impressed by the Raven BattleMech, and eager to promote the Xin Sheng spirit of Capellan nationalism, the Capellan Confederation increased the weight by 20 tons and redesigned the chassis to be Omni-capable. The result is the Men Shen OmniMech.[27]
  • Raven II - The Raven II is the next generation of the Raven, developed from the RVN-3X Raven X model. It weighs five tons more and has greatly improved speed and weaponry.[28]
  • Sha Yu - The success of the RVN-4L Raven variant as a testbed for the introduction of stealth armor led to the introduction of the Sha Yu based around a slightly heavier version of the Raven's chassis.[29]

Notable Pilots[edit]

See Category:Notable Raven Pilots

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Rabe. The model code was accordingly changed to RAB-1X.
  • The 'Mech is named after the US Air Force EF-111A Raven electronic warfare aircraft, with the mechs beaked nose and cockpit drawing inspiration from the airplane.[citation needed]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Raven
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 31
  3. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 222
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 224
  5. Technical Readout: 3050, p. 78
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Technical Readout: Succession Wars, pp. 44–45: "RVN-1X Raven"
  7. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 88
  8. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 89
  9. Necromo Nightmare, p. 22
  10. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 61
  11. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 90
  12. Interstellar Operations, pp. 103–104
  13. Experimental Technical Readout: Liao, p. 3
  14. Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 30
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 143
  16. Technical Readout: 3085, p. 190
  17. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New, p. 66
  18. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 91
  19. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 64
  20. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 65
  21. Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 6, p. 13
  22. Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 6, p. 15
  23. Arena-Planet Solaris VII: "German-language edition of the boxed set Record Sheets Booklet"
  24. "Huginn" Raven Hero Mech Now Available!
  25. Patch Nummer: 1.3.279 Change log
  26. BattleMech Manual, p. 94: Design Quirk Table - Raven Entry
  27. Technical Readout: 3060, p. 102
  28. Technical Readout: 3145 Capellan Confederation, p. 34
  29. Technical Readout: 3067, pp. 60-61: "SYU-2B Sha Yu"

Bibliography[edit]