Cougar

This article is about the 35-ton BattleMech. For the Union-class DropShip, see Cougar (Individual Union-class DropShip).
Cougar
Cougar
Production information
Manufacturer Ironhold Alpha Complex[1]
Production Year 3058[2]
Model Prime[1]
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

BV (1.0) 1,227[3][4]
BV (2.0) 1,485[1][5][6]


Description[edit]

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.[5][1][7]

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.[5][1][7]

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.[5][1][7] 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.[8]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

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.[5][1][7]

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.[5][7]

Alternate Configurations[edit]

  • 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.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,564;[3][11] BV (2.0) = 1,774[1][12]
  • 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.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,442;[3][13] BV (2.0) = 1,785[1][14]
  • 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.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,088;[3][15] BV (2.0) = 1,309[1][16]
  • 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;[17] BV (2.0) = 1,442[18]
  • 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[20]
  • 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[24]

Custom Variants[edit]

  • 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[31]

Apocryphal Configurations[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.

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

From MechWarrior Online:

Apocryphal Content Ends

Design Quirks[edit]

The Cougar has the following Design Quirk:[32]

Notable Pilots[edit]

See Category:Notable Cougar Pilots

Related OmniMechs[edit]

  • 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[edit]

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

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, pp. 22–23: "Cougar". Previously featured in Technical Readout: 3060
  2. MUL online date for the Cougar
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Combat Operations, p. 115
  4. Record Sheets: 3060, p. 83
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Technical Readout: 3060, p. 147: "Cougar Profile"
  6. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 213
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 The Battle of Coventry, pp. 63–64: "Cougar"
  8. The Wars of Reaving Supplemental, p. 17
  9. Record Sheets: 3060, p. 84
  10. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 214
  11. Record Sheets: 3060, p. 85
  12. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 215
  13. Record Sheets: 3060, p. 86
  14. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 216
  15. Record Sheets: 3060, p. 87
  16. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 217
  17. Record Sheets: Upgrades, p. 53
  18. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 218
  19. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 219: F Configuration for Cougar from RS3060u
  20. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 220: G Configuration from the RS3060u
  21. Record Sheets: Upgrades, p. 54
  22. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 221
  23. Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades, p. 94
  24. Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 19, p. 12
  25. Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I, p. 42
  26. Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades, p. 95
  27. Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I, p. 43
  28. Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades, p. 96
  29. Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I, p. 44
  30. Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades, p. 97
  31. Experimental Technical Readout: Clans, p. 3
  32. BattleMech Manual, p. 91: BattleMech Quirk Table - Cougar Entry

Bibliography[edit]