Storm Raider

Storm Raider
Production information
Manufacturer	Coventry Metal Works
Production Year	3106
Model	STM-R3
Class	Light
Cost	5,658,660 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass	35 tons
Chassis	MatherTech 750 endo steel
Armor	Lexington Ltd. Medium Grade with CASE.
Engine	GM 210 XL
Communications System	Cyclops 12
Targeting Tracking System	Cyclops 9
Heat Sinks	10 single heat sinks
Speed	97 km/h (129 km/h with MASC)
Armament	1x Rotary AC/2 1x Mace
BV (2.0)	791

Description

Designed by Defiance Industries, the Storm Raider was intended to be an alternative to the Hollander light 'Mech. Unfortunately for Defiance, the Storm Raider was 50 years too late for the market, and the various prototypes were poorly received - so poorly received, in fact, that Defiance licensed all of the designs to Coventry Metal Works.

Coventry Metal Works was manufacturing four different variants of the Storm Raider on Coventry by 3145, intended for use in urban defense roles or for small-scale surgical strikes, but the Storm Raider was a poor performer in both roles, outgunned by contemporaries and slower than most. Despite that, the Storm Raider proved an able fighter in the arenas at Solaris VII, where it became a fan favorite.

Weapons and Equipment

The Storm Raider carried two weapons mounted using the Coventry Cast Off system, a modular weapons system that allowed the weapons to be quickly replaced in the field and jettisoned in combat without posing a risk to the MechWarrior. The Storm Raider mounted a mace on the right arm and a Thor 40mm RAC/2 on the left arm, fed by a single ton of ammunition in the left torso.

Equipped with MASC and powered by a GM 210 XL extralight engine, the Storm Raider could reach speeds of almost 130 km/h in brief bursts, and was protected by seven tons of Lexington Ltd. Medium Grade standard armor with CASE protecting the ammunition.

Variants

• STM-R1 

  The -R1 stripped out the MASC and RAC/2 of the original, instead mounting an Mydron Model B AC/10 in the left arm with a single ton of CASE-protected ammunition stored in the left torso. This 'Mech is also known as Solaris Special. BV (2.0) = 593.

• STM-R2 

  The -R2 replaced the RAC/2 of the -R3 with a General Motors Nova-5 UAC/5. BV (2.0) = 671.

• STM-R4 

  The -R4 is identical to the -R3 with two exceptions; rather than standard armor, the -R4 mounts impact-resistant armor and has CASE II. BV (2.0) = 732.

• STR-M3 

  This variant was first designed by Defiance Industries of Hesperus II, and produced by both Defiance and Coventry Metals in the late 3090s. The 'Mech was designed as a close quarters melee machine and premiered in Solaris VII's arena matches and as such its weapons configuration was modified on a customer by customer basis. The 'Mech was later seen in action on the battlefield after the crash of the HPG Network of 3132. The -M3 was armed with a single left arm mounted Defiance Disintegrator UAC/5, while its right arm permanently grasps its signature mace.

Design Quirks

The Storm Raider is subject to the following Design Quirks:

• Jettison-Capable Weapon (Mace)
• Jettison-Capable Weapon (RAC/2)

Notes

• The STR-M3 variant of this design was introduced by WizKids as part of their MechWarrior: Dark Age collectible miniatures game during its "Falcon's Prey" game release. As of this writing the only stats for this 'Mech are seen in various dossiers published by WizKids and no canon BattleTech record sheets exist for this design.

Gallery

• 

  STR-M3 Storm Raider

Bibliography

• MWDA Dragon's Fury dossier of Cyril Schielka
• MechWarrior: Dark Age
• Record Sheets: 3145 Unabridged
• Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth