Cougar

This article is about the 35-ton BattleMech. For the Union-class DropShip, see Cougar (Individual Union-class DropShip).

Cougar
Production information
Manufacturer	Ironhold Alpha Complex Olivetti Weaponry
Production Year	3058
Model	Prime
Class	Light
Cost	6,065,438 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Clan OmniMech
Mass	35 tons
Chassis	JF 3 Light Endo Steel
Armor	Compound JF Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	175 JF XL
Communications System	JF Integrated
Targeting Tracking System	Series JFVIII KITT
Heat Sinks	10 double
Speed	86 km/h
Armament	Primary Configuration 2x large pulse laser 2x LRM-10
BV (1.0)	1,227
BV (2.0)	1,485

Description

Based on the Adder, the Cougar is a powerful Clan Jade Falcon light OmniMech.

After the Refusal War with Clan Wolf, the Falcons' newly vested Khan Marthe Pryde strove to rebuild her shattered touman, reaping the benefits of efforts by her predecessor Elias Crichell to step up the pace of the Falcon breeding program and to bring new and deadly OmniMechs into service. With regards the latter, the successful introduction of the Fire Falcon, Black Lanner, Night Gyr, and Turkina pleased her, but Pryde desired the symbolic goal of a complete Star of new 'Mechs.

Recognizing that she'd stretched her Clan's scientists to the limit to produce those four designs already, Khan Pryde directed her scientists to modify an existing design into an even more deadly machine for the fifth member. The design selected was the Adder, and in using an existing design the Falcon scientists were able to field a virtually new 'Mech in roughly half the time normally required to construct and test a new OmniMech.

First seeing service during the fighting on Coventry in 3058, the Cougar quickly spread to other Clans, most notably Clan Smoke Jaguar's defenders during Operation BULLDOG. The visual similarity to the Adder caught the Inner Sphere forces who faced it on Coventry and Port Arthur off-guard, incorrectly assuming it was the older design and being shocked by the greater firepower the Cougar was capable of unleashing. Remaining popular with the Falcons, the Ironhold facility that produced the Cougar was destroyed by Clan Steel Viper in 3071 during the Wars of Reaving.

Weapons and Equipment

Though the two 'Mechs are visually similar and share the same weight, the Cougar is slower and better armed than the Adder, replacing its progenitor's 210-rated XL engine with a lighter 175-rated XL model and mounting just five and a half tons of ferro-fibrous armor on an endo steel frame to boost the available pod space to 19 tons. Though some Clan MechWarriors complained that the loss of speed was damning for a light 'Mech, the overall consensus was the increased firepower made up for this deficiency.

The Jade Falcon scientists continued to closely mimic the Adder in the Cougar's weapon systems, the greater pod space allowing them to enhance them while adhering to original's philosophy of ranged combat. The primary configuration is a good example, mounting a pair of LRM-10s and large pulse lasers for a combination of direct and indirect fire support.

Alternate Configurations

• Alternate Configuration A 

  The most popular alternate configuration, the Cougar A is built around a pair of LRM-20s, each with an Artemis IV FCS. This configuration is supported by a pair of ER medium lasers and a small pulse laser. BV (1.0) = 1,429; BV (2.0) = 1,697

• Alternate Configuration B 

  Similar to the Adder Prime, the Cougar B uses a pair of ER PPCs for direct fire support and has an ER medium laser for close range. Six additional double heat sinks help to dissipate the heat these weapons generate. BV (1.0) = 1,564; BV (2.0) = 1,774

• Alternate Configuration C 

  A configuration that has more of a mixture of long- and short-range weapons, the C is built around a single Gauss rifle. It is complemented by five ER medium lasers that allow the Cougar C to stay on the field for a long time. BV (1.0) = 1,442; BV (2.0) = 1,785

• Alternate Configuration D 

  The final original configuration which uses an ER large laser and UAC/10 for sniping, and a pair of SRM-4s to finish off its opponents at close range. BV (1.0) = 1,088; BV (2.0) = 1,309

• Alternate Configuration E 

  This configuration uses ATM missile technology, with two ATM-6s as its main weapons with three tons of ammo for each launcher. A trio of ER medium lasers round out this variant's arsenal to finish off its opponents at short range, with three additional double heat sinks to help with the heat. BV (1.0) = 1,351; BV (2.0) = 1,442

• Alternate Configuration F 

  Introduced during the Jihad, this configuration was geared for anti-infantry/battle armor combat, with eight heavy machine guns, divided between two Machine Gun Arrays, all of which are fed from a single half ton of ammunition. It also sports a pair of B-Pods to further its role. Its other weaponry includes three medium pulse lasers, and a single Streak SRM-4 launcher with one ton of reloads. Five jump jets improve the design's mobility. BV (2.0) = 1,401

• Alternate Configuration G 

  A second Jihad era configuration, the Cougar G carries a Class 20 Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle with two tons of ammunition in its right arm, and a pair of LRM-5 launchers with one ton of reloads in its left. This configuration's only energy weapon is an ER large laser mounted in the head. BV (2.0) = 1,453

• Alternate Configuration H 

  This configuration was introduced during the 3060s and was equipped with four jump jets and an ECM suite. It is armed with an Ultra Autocannon/5 for long distance and a trio of heavy medium lasers for when any opponent tries to close range. It also has three additional double heat sinks to deal with heat the trio of heavy lasers produce. BV (1.0) = 1,286; BV (2.0) = 1,323

• Alternate Configuration I 

  This configuration appeared in the Dark Age. It carries two improved heavy large lasers and two LRM-10 launchers. For anti-infantry work, a micro pulse laser is included. An engine supercharger allows it to move at 100 km/h in brief bursts. BV (2.0) = 1,738

• Alternate Configuration T

  Similar in appearance to the Prime, the T carries more advanced equipment. It carries two ER medium pulse lasers, made even more accurate by a targeting computer, and two Streak LRM-10 launchers. A Watchdog CEWS gives this Cougar powerful electronic warfare capabilities. An engine supercharger allows this variant to move at 100 km/h in brief bursts, overcoming the Cougar's traditional slow speed. BV (2.0) = 1,748

Custom Variants

• X 

  This version that dates to the Jihad or later uses experimental technology. It uses improved jump jets to attain a 210 meter jumping capacity. Two Streak LRM-10s provide withering firepower at all ranges, while twin ER medium lasers back them up. BV (1.0) = 1,676; BV (2.0) = 1,516

• X2 

  Another version of the Cougar that uses experimental technology, the X2 can jump up to 240 meters. It also adds two tons of armor for added protection. Offensively, it can call upon a Streak LRM-15 and an ER medium pulse laser. BV (1.0) = 1,465 BV (2.0) = 1,335

• X3 

  This experimental-tech upgrade has the same armor protection as the X2, though it lacks any jumping ability. It mounts a Streak LRM-10 with an ER large pulse laser and ER medium pulse laser to back it up. Both lasers benefit from a targeting computer. BV (1.0) = 1,280 BV (2.0) = 1,410

• Cougar-XR 

  This variant is apparently an attempt by the Jade Falcons to use experimental technology in a combat unit. Originally mistaken for a LAM, the Cougar-XR uses a partial wing to extend its jump range to 210 meters. An LRM-15 launcher equipped with Artemis V FCS is located in each side torso, while an ER medium pulse laser provides direct fire. To make room for these systems and the wing, the Cougar-XR uses a small cockpit, sourced from the Inner Sphere, an endo steel chassis, and an extralight engine. For protection, the 'Mech uses seven tons of glazed armor. As of 3077 it appears that the Cougar-XR is a standard BattleMech instead of being an OmniMech like its progenitor design. BV (2.0) = 1,783

• Cougar Yukinov

  This prototype variant was captures by Wolf's Dragoons on Pandora and it was assigned to Collin Yukinov. This variant mounts only two Clan ER PPC, but mounts seven Improved Jump Jet and ten double heat sinks.

Apocryphal Configurations

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.

These variants were introduced in various apocryphal sources, and thus far have not appeared in any canonical media.

From MechWarrior Online:

• COU-BA Blood Adder 

  The Cougar Hero 'Mech, the Blood Adder mounts an ATM-9 in each arm, supported by a heavy machine gun in each side torso. Fitted with only the standard 10 double heat sinks, the Blood Adder carries four tons of ATM reloads and one and a half tons of HMG ammo, with a head-mounted anti-missile system and a single ton of reloads.[1]

Apocryphal Content Ends

Design Quirks

The Cougar has the following Design Quirk:

• Ubiquitous

Notable Pilots

See Category:Notable Cougar Pilots

Related OmniMechs

• Adder - In order to speed development and production, the Cougar OmniMech was derived from the powerful Adder OmniMech, the wildly successful testbed and training design constructed by Clan Star Adder in the early thirty-first century.
• Pouncer - A testbed made into a full-fledged production OmniMech, the Pouncer shares the Cougar's lineage with the Adder.

Notes

• In German products, the unit's proper Clan name was translated to Silberlöwe.

Gallery

• 

  Original Cougar from TRO:3060

• 

  Cougar from RG:ilClan v19

• 

  Experimental Cougar-XR from XTRO:Clans

• 

  Cougar "Black Condor" from Shrapnel #10

• 

  Cougar from MWDA FFE dossiers

• 

  Model of Cougar from MW4:Mercenaries

• 

  Model of Cougar from MWO

• 

  Cougar miniature from BattleTech: Clan Fire Star

Bibliography

• The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)
• Combat Operations
• Experimental Technical Readout: Clans
• Master Unit List
• Record Sheets: 3060
• Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged
• Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades
• Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I
• Record Sheets: Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3060
• Technical Readout: Clan Invasion
• The Wars of Reaving Supplemental