Ebon Jaguar (Cauldron-Born)

Ebon Jaguar
Production information
Manufacturer	Huntress Manufacturing Plant DL-6 Manufacturing Plant SFF-CO1
Production Year	3049
Model	Prime
Class	Heavy
Cost	18,283,718 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Clan OmniMech
Mass	65 tons
Chassis	CSJ Type 65.43 Endo
Armor	Composite A-4 Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	Consolidated Fusion 325 XL
Communications System	Hector CC-22E
Targeting Tracking System	Integrated Bravo-7
Heat Sinks	13 double
Speed	86 km/h
Armament	Primary weapons configuration 1x Gauss rifle 1x LB 5-X AC 1x SRM-2 1x LRM-10 1x ER Medium Laser
BV (1.0)	1,769
BV (2.0)	1,952

Description

Introduced in 3049 to address flaws in the venerable Hellbringer, by Operation REVIVAL the Ebon Jaguar had only just started to spread through the Jaguar touman with the Inner Sphere first encountering the design during the Battle of Luthien. Facing it for the first time when engaging the First Jaguar Guards Cluster in the Kado-guchi Valley, the 'Mech's ability to take damage and remain operational led the Inner Sphere warriors who fought it giving it the code name Cauldron-Born after the unstoppable zombies of Irish myth. Unusually, many of the other Clans also used the Inner Sphere Cauldron-Born reporting name, having first learned detailed information of the design from Inner Sphere sources.

By Operation BULLDOG the Cauldron-Born made up a large proportion of the heavy 'Mechs of the rebuilding Smoke Jaguars, and following their Annihilation the design proliferated to the remaining Clans, save for the Jade Falcons, Wolves and Coyotes who continued to favor the Hellbringer. Following the Wars of Reaving the Ebon Jaguar had finally supplanted the Hellbringer in most Home Clans, save for the Coyotes who remained loyal to redeeming the honor of the design.

Following the sundering of links with the Clan Homeworlds, the number of Ebon Jaguar in the Inner Sphere steadily declined decade on decade until the late Dark Age era when Clan Sea Fox chose to revive the design. While appearing in the Sea Foxes various Aimags, the Ebon Jaguar also is naturally sold to external parties and though Khan Alaric Ward declined the offer of the 'Mech for his touman, the Capellan Confederation were more than willing to accept the OmniMech in its efforts against the Republic of the Sphere.

Weapons and Equipment

The primary configuration of the Ebon Jaguar was made to attack from long range. With a mammoth Gauss rifle occupying the entire right arm, a 75 mm LB 5-X AC in the left arm, and an LRM-10 jutting above the birdlike shoulder, it can act as a speedy support 'Mech with a variety of ways to deal damage. An SRM-2 and an ER Medium Laser provide backup for short range work. The thirteen integral double heat sinks are more than enough to keep the OmniMech cool, while its nine and a half tons of ferro-fibrous armor keep the design safe.

Alternate Configurations

• Alternate Configuration A 

  Built around what was once the largest gun in the Clan arsenal, the Cauldron-Born A is capable of dealing blistering damage at a variety of ranges. For long range, the A uses a pair of ER Large Lasers. At close range, the MechWarrior can switch to a 203 mm Ultra Autocannon/20 that carries a fair amount of ammunition, along with a Medium Pulse Laser, and an ER Medium Laser. For anti-infantry work, it carries a pair of Machine Guns and a multipurpose Flamer. Finally, the A variant has a pair of ER Medium Lasers mounted in the rear to discourage lighter 'Mechs from taking advantage of its relatively weak rear armor. The MechWarrior must carefully shepherd their weapons fire, as the variant carries no additional heat sinks. BV (1.0) = 1,860; BV (2.0) = 2,429

• Alternate Configuration B 

  This variant, once called by a DCMS warrior the best forward observer ever built, uses an ER PPC and a Large Pulse Laser mounted in each arm. To supplement this, it carries a pair of Medium Pulse Lasers, as well as an Active Probe, and a TAG spotting laser. This variant is not as prone to overheating as the A, but a MechWarrior must use volley fire if he or she intends to use both the PPCs and Large Pulse Lasers. BV (1.0) = 1,636; BV (2.0) = 2,535

• Alternate Configuration C 

  The Cauldron-Born C is a missile boat and much easier on the heat curve than the other variants. Its primary weapons are paired LRM-15s and 25 mm Ultra Autocannon/2s. Backing these up for short-range work are a pair of SRM-6s. Though this variant carries no energy weapons, it does have ample supplies of ammunition that allow it to stay on the field for long periods of time. BV (1.0) = 1,666; BV (2.0) = 1,831

• Alternate Configuration D 

  Intended as something of a medium-range brawler, the Cauldron-Born D features a pair of Ultra Autocannon/10s and an ER Large Laser. These are supplemented by a pair of ER Medium Lasers. Though the energy weapons appear primarily as backups, the less-than-ample ammunition bins ensure they will see a great deal of use. BV (1.0) = 1,814; BV (2.0) = 2,228

• Alternate Configuration E 

  The E configuration is equipped with an ATM 12 launcher, a HAG 20, an ER Medium Laser and a Large Pulse Laser. BV (2.0) =2,391

• Alternate Configuration F 

  Mounting an ER PPC in each arm and an ATM 6 in each side torso the Ebon Jaguar F is a fearsome variant that can tear into its foes at any range. Three tons of ATM ammo split between the side torsos, two in the right and one in the left, allow the full tactical flexibility of the launchers. A Targeting Computer resides in the right torso and makes the PPCs deadly accurate. The left torso carries one additional heat sink while each arm carries two. Eighteen total heat sinks allows the F to fire its primary armament relentlessly. BV (2.0) = 2,681

• Alternate Configuration G 

  The G devotes most of its tonnage to a massive Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle 40 that is spread between the left arm and torso. This weapon is fed from a three-ton ammunition bay in the left torso. An Improved Heavy Large Laser provides heavy secondary fire from the right arm. A right torso targeting computer enhances the accuracy of both weapons. BV (2.0) = 2,849

• Alternate Configuration H 

  The H variant returns to the Ultra Autocannon/20 of the A, though it strips out all of the other weapons. They are replaced by a Heavy Large Laser, a pair of Heavy Medium Lasers, and a single Medium Pulse Laser. All of these weapons are tied to an advanced targeting computer. Even though this variant mounts three additional heat sinks, an inexperienced MechWarrior could still be overwhelmed by the amount of heat this variant can produce. BV (1.0) = 1,815; BV (2.0) = 2,359

• Alternate Configuration T 

  The T variant uses a mix of Inner Sphere and Clan weaponry. A Clan ER PPC is mounted in the right arm, opposite a Clan Ultra Autocannon/5 in the left. A Streak LRM-10 and an Improved Heavy Medium Laser are carried in the left torso with one ton of both LRM and Autocannon ammunition. The right torso mounts twin Thunderbolt 5 launchers and their two tons of ammunition. Both side torsos are equipped with CASE II. BV (2.0) = 2,219

• Alternate Configuration U 

  Intended for use underwater, this variant carries five experimental UMUs. Each arm carries a single Large Pulse Laser and ER Small Laser to capitalize on armor breaches inflicted by the pair of LRT-15s carried in the torso. BV (2.0) = 2,593

• Alternate Configuration X 

  The X variant is equipped with an Angel ECM Suite for protection, and a Targeting Computer linked to the weapon systems. This configuration carries a Rotary AC/5 in the right arm, three ER Medium Pulse Lasers and a single ER Small Pulse Laser. BV (2.0) = 2,435

Custom Configurations

• Ebon Jaguar Samantha 

  A custom configuration used by the 6th Striker Cluster CO Star Captain Samantha Kotare during the Operation Bulldog assault against Luzerne, her OmniMech was armed with an ER PPC and an Ultra AC/20 in its arms, supported by a trio of LRM-10s mounted in its right torso, and an ER Small Laser in its left. Two tons of reloads were carried for both the Ultra Autocannon and the LRM launchers. BV (2.0) = 2,372

Apocryphal Variants

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.

From MechWarrior Online:

• EBJ-EC Esprit de Corps 

  Reportedly piloted by Star Captain Vesper Beckett of Clan Cloud Cobra, the Ebon Jaguar Hero 'Mech mounts an ER PPC and Streak SRM-6 in each arm, supported by a left torso-mounted Ultra Autocannon/5 and a right torso-mounted Medium Pulse Laser. Esprit de Corps carries two tons of Streak missiles and a single ton of Ultra Autocannon rounds.

Apocryphal Content Ends

Design Quirks

The Ebon Jaguar (Cauldron-Born) has the following Design Quirk:

• Narrow/Low Profile

Notable pilots

See Category:Notable Ebon Jaguar (Cauldron-Born) Pilots

Notes

• The unit's proper Clan name was never translated to German. The unit's proper Inner Sphere name was altered to Höllendämon, which literally means Hell Demon. (Hölle = Hell; Dämon = Demon)
• The games MechWarrior 3 and MechWarrior 4: Vengeance use the name "Kesselbrut" (Kessel = cauldron, Brut= Born of) in the German version.

Gallery

• 

  Original Cauldron Born from Luthien

• 

  Cauldron Born from Invading Clans

• 

  Ebon Jaguar from TRO:3058

• 

  Ebon Jaguar from RG:ilClan v16

• 

  Ebon Jaguar Prime in combat from CCG

• 

  Ebon Jaguar A in motion from CCG

• 

  Model of Ebon Jaguar from MW4: Mercenaries

• 

  Model of Ebon Jaguar from MWO

• 

  Ebon Jaguar miniature from BattleTech: Clan Heavy Battle Star

Bibliography

• BattleMech Manual
• Combat Operations
• Historical Turning Points: Luzerne
• Invading Clans
• Luthien
• Master Unit List
• Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 16
• Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League)
• Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New
• Record Sheets: Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3058
• Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade
• The Wars of Reaving Supplemental