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Falcon

Falcon
Falcon
Production information
Manufacturer Blackwell Industries
Stormvanger Assemblies, Light Division
Model FLC-4P
Class Light
Cost 2,307,890 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 30 tons
Chassis Duralyte 296
Armor StarGuard II
Engine GM 180
Speed 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets PRS-60
Armament
BV (1.0) 561
BV (2.0) 649[1]


Description

Originally developed as a anti-infantry and Bug Hunter 'Mech, the Falcon is a highly popular light recon and skirmisher. [2]

Initially created for the newly formed Star League Defense Force's use in the Reunification War, the popular design remained in production until the destruction of Stormvanger's Hesperus II Falcon line by a House Marik raid in 2789, becoming all but extinct until the arrival of Wolf's Dragoons in 3005. [2] Well regarded by the mercenaries, the Dragoons upgraded their dwindling number of Falcons in the early 3050s before eventually commissioning Blackwell Industries to restart production of the design in early 3060 to produce advanced Clan-tech versions for their exclusive use, as well as more mundane and affordable versions for the general mercenary market.[1]

While originally sporting a weapons array similar to the Locust, Stinger and Wasp it was charged to defeat, the Falcons six tons of StarGuard Type II armor provided it vastly superior protection allowing it outlast them and remain combat effective longer. When it was originally developed the 'Mech's top speed of 97.2 kph and a jumping distance of one hundred and fifty meters allowed it to keep up with other light recon 'Mechs, but by the 3060's the Falcon was outclassed by newer and faster designs, only its use of a cheaper standard Fusion Engine rather than a more expensive and fragile Light or XL Engine kept buyers interested. [2] [1]

Armament

Originally developed as a field upgrade before becoming Blackwell's standard production model, the 4P Falcon carries a light arsenal that is primarily based around energy weapons. While the two Omnicron 1000 Small Lasers were retained, the original standard Medium Laser was swapped for a short-ranged but highly accurate a Magna 400P Medium Pulse Laser. Finally, for protection from missiles, the rear-facing machine guns were dropped for a forward facing Sure Fire 444 Anti-Missile System and single ton of ammunition. [1]

Variants

  • FLC-4N - The original Falcon, the 4N model has a lighter arsenal more akin to 'Mechs 10 tons lighter. The primary weapon is a SunGlow Type 1 Medium Laser with two Omnicron 1000 Small Lasers as secondary weapons. To deter infantry attacks, the 'Mech carries two rear mounted Reginald Mark V Machine Guns with a shared single ton of ammo. [2] BV (1.0) = 523[3], BV (2.0) = 610[4]
  • FLC-4Nb - Built for the SLDF at the captured Roe Weapon Systems plant on Apollo during the Amaris Civil War, the so-called Royal Falcon carried a experimental Parti-Kill Snub-Nose PPC backed up with two medium lasers. It was also equipped with double heat-sinks, and was built on an Duralyte 300 Endo-Steel chassis. All known examples and the design specs were taken by the Exodus Fleet. BV (2.0) = 947[5]
  • FLC-4Nb-PP - Used by various Pentagon World factions during the Exodus Civil War, the PP variant replaced the advanced snub-nose particle cannon of the Royal Falcon with a standard PPC. The increased weight, however, required the removal of the medium laser mounted in the right arm. BV (2.0) = 881 [6]
  • FLC-4Nb-PP2 - Another Exodus Civil War era modification of the Royal Falcon, the PP2 replaced the snub-nose PPC with an ER Large Laser. The saved ton allowed the left arm laser to be upgraded with pulse technology. BV (2.0) = 947[7]
  • FLC-5P - An upgrade of the 4P 3065, the 5P drops a ton of armor to add a MASC system that kicks the Falcons speed up to 129 km/h in bursts. The Small Lasers are upgraded to ER Medium Lasers and a Targeting Computer guides all three medium-class lasers. To make all of this possible, a Light Fusion Engine was included and the anti-missile system was removed. [1] BV (2.0) = 945[8]
  • FLC-6C - This variant was used exclusively by Wolf's Dragoons as it features Clan-tech. It simply upgrades the armament of the 4P to Clan standards, including an ER Large Laser that replaced the pulse laser. Each arm carries an ER Small Laser, and Targeting Computer aids the accuracy of all three lasers. The ammunition bin of the anti-missile system was also upgraded to the Clan version, which carries twice as many rounds. [1] BV (2.0) = 1,290[9]

Custom Variants

BattleMech Gallery

  • FLC-4Nb Falcon

  • The original picture of the Falcon from TRO:3050

  • FLC-4P Falcon in Combat

  • FLC-4

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 15
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 248
  3. ↑ Combat Operations, p. 106
  4. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 70
  5. ↑ Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 24
  6. ↑ Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 25
  7. ↑ Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 26
  8. ↑ Calculated in Solaris Skunkwerks
  9. ↑ Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 92
  10. ↑ Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 27

Bibliography

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