Corsair (BattleMech)

This article is about the BattleMech. For other uses, see Corsair (disambiguation).

Corsair
Production information
Manufacturer	Unknown
Production Year"unknown" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation.	unknown
Model	COR-5R
Class	Assault
Cost	8,435,408 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass	95 tons
Chassis	Standard
Armor	Standard
Engine	285
Communications System	unknown
Targeting Tracking System	unknown
Heat Sinks	20
Speed	48.6 km/h
Armament	1x Autocannon/10 1x LRM-15 1x Large Laser 1x SRM-6 3x Medium Laser
BV (1.0)	Unknown
BV (2.0)	1,704

Canonicity

The Corsair is the third BattleMech design introduced by and so-far exclusive to MechWarrior Online (as opposed to designs taken from established Canon for the BattleTech universe).

However, Randall Bills had issued a ruling as Catalyst Game Labs' incumbent BattleTech Line Developer to the effect that all Hero 'Mech background information from MWO is considered canonical for (CGL) BattleTech. Since there is a Corsair Hero 'Mechs, it follows that the Corsair as such must also be considered canon, irrespective of whether CGL themselves have any rights to the design. When this was later brought to the attention of Assistant Line Developer Ray "Adrian Gideon" Arrastia (with Brent Evans having succeeded Bills as Line Developer since), Arrastia did not give a clear answer but did not rescind Bills' ruling either.

Some doubts remain though, and as a precaution the Corsair is tagged as apocryphal although it may actually turn out to be fully canonical after all.

Description

The Corsair is a Periphery term referring to heavy and assault class FrankenMechs cobbled together out of desperation as the Succession War era dragged on. While no specific weight or chassis applies, the most successful of these are ninety-five ton brutes modeled on the Star League weapon equipped Ravager piloted by Jake Kalmar of the Oberon Confederation.

Weapons and Equipment

Weighing in at ninety-five tons, the ramshakle Corsair is built almost entirely out of so-called Succession War era technology. Clad in sixteen tons of armor, a 285-rated standard fusion engine propels the Corsair at 48.6 kph, putting it in the common Succession War assault 'Mech speed range. Twenty standard heat sinks offer effective cooling for its highly varied weapons loadout.

Armed with a grab-bag array of weaponry, the Corsair's primary weapons are an AC/10 and LRM-15 mounted in its right torso, supported by a trio of Medium Lasers split between its left and center torsos and a SRM-6 and Large Laser mounted in its vestigial left arm. Two tons of SRM ammo, two ton of autocannon reloads and one of LRM reloads offer average endurance for a pirate raider 'Mech.

Variants

• COR-6R 

  The 6R is retains the AC/10, LRM-15 and left arm Large Laser, but swaps the SRM-6 for a LRM-10 and drops the Medium Lasers for a center torso Small Laser and a Machine Gun and SRM-2 in the left torso its armor reduced to fifteen tons. The 6R carries two tons of autocannon and LRM reloads and one ton each of SRM and Machine Gun ammo.

• COR-7A 

  The 7A carries an Autocannon/5 in its right torso and left arm, supported by a PPC in the right arm and a Large Laser in the left torso. A Medium Laser in right arm and left torso round out the offensive weaponry. Defensively the 7A carries four Anti-Missile Systems, one in each arm and side torso, fed from a combined four tons of ammo. Carrying two tons of AC/5 refloads, one less heat sink is carried.

• COR-5T 

  The 5T is built to wear its targets down at range, carrying a trio of Autocannon/2s in each arm, supported by just four Medium Lasers spread across it three torso locations. Carrying six tons of reloads for its autocannons, the extra weight required leaves the 5T with just eleven heat sinks.

• COR-7R 

  The 7R is built for close combat, fitted with an Autocannon/20 right torso and twin Large Lasers in its right arm, carrying two Rocket Launcher 10s in its center torso, a Rocket Launcher 20 in its left torso and left arm, with an additional Rocket Launcher 10 in the head. Seventeen and half tons of armor ensure the 7R can close into range to make full use of the five tons of AC/20 reloads and twenty-two heat sinks it mounts.

Custom Variants

• COR-RA Corsair "Ravager"

  Jake Kalmar's infamous "Ravager" is built around a 285-rated XL Engine to save weight to carry eighteen tons of armor and fifteen double heat sinks. Offensively the "Ravager" is armed with a Gauss Rifle in the left arm and a Ultra AC/5 in the right torso, supported by a center torso mounted Large Pulse Laser, a standard Large Laser in the left torso and right arm, rounded out by a Medium Laser in the head and each arm. Two tons each of Gauss and UAC reloads gave it good endurance.

• Second Corsair Hero 'Mech

  The second Corsair Hero 'Mech carries a Gauss Rifle in its left arm and left torso, supported by twin Large Lasers in its right arm, SRM-4s in the head and center torso and single Medium Laser. Carrying three tons of SRM reloads and two tons of Gauss rounds, this Hero 'Mech is powered by a 285-rated XL engine, clad in sixteen tons of armor and fitted with thirteen Double Heat Sinks.

Notable Pilots

• Jake Kalmar - Hailing from the Oberon Confederarion, Kalmar's "Ravager" advanced weaponry ensured him great success but also eventually led to unwanted attention and his demise.

Behind the Scenes

During MechCon, Alexander Iglesias stated that the Corsair FrankenMech was made up of these BattleMech parts he cobbled together:

Thunderbolt - Uses the missile rack for the right torso.

Stalker and King Crab - The legs of both mechs were used for the Corsair.

Bibliography

• MechWarrior Online Corsair Lore and Blueprint
• MechWarrior Online Corsair Store page
• MechWarrior Online Holiday Bonus 2018