Lynx (BattleMech)

This article is about the 55-ton BattleMech. For other uses, see Lynx.

Lynx
Production information
Manufacturer	Blue Shot Weapons Telfar BattleMechs (under license)
Production Year	2761
Model	LNX-9Q
Class	Medium
Cost	10,105,741 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass	55 tons
Chassis	RAMTech QWT
Armor	Kallon Unity Weave
Engine	Nissan 275 XL
Communications System	Lynx-shur
Targeting Tracking System	Cyclops Multi-Tasker 10
Heat Sinks	15 double
Speed	86.4 km/h
Jump Jets	Luxor Load Lifters
Armament	1x ER PPC 4x medium lasers 1x large laser
BV (1.0)	1,525
BV (2.0)	1,725

Description

The Lynx was first produced in 2761 by Blue Shot Weapons of Solaris VII for use by the SLDF. One of the first BattleMechs to be designed around an ER PPC, the Lynx possesses a stunning combination of speed, mobility, armor, and firepower for any 'Mech of any weight class. However, Blue Shot Weapons never was able to produce this striker BattleMech in significant numbers. With the decline of technology of the Succession Wars, Blue Shot's production dwindled still, until the factory producing the Lynx was destroyed in 2928 by Marik raiders. The few remaining Lynxes were ultimately cannibalized for whatever could be salvaged.

The Lynx did not see production again until 3056 when Blue Shot was finally able to secure funding and resources to rebuild the manufacturing lines for the 'Mech, but production rates from the rebuilt line were no better than the Star League era. A license agreement with Draconis Combine-based Telfar BattleMechs of Midway provided the means to mitigate this and allowed the 'Mech to regain its former popularity. By 3067 both companies enjoyed brisk sales of the 'Mech and prior to the Word of Blake Jihad several of the best equipped LAAF and DCMS regular or mercenary units employed by either realm fielded at least one or two Lynxes.

Beyond the Inner Sphere, a number of Lynx would accompany the Exodus fleet, serving as an operating partner with the Sling during Clan Smoke Jaguar's involvement in Operation KLONDIKE. The Lynx would remain popular with Jaguar warriors and would even be rebuilt with Clan-technology before being overshadowed by the introduction of the OmniMech. Relegated to second-line garrison troops, the so-called Lynx C would serve in the Jaguars doomed defense of Huntress against the Inner Sphere during Operation SERPENT. The surviving examples of these Clan Lynx would be largely salvaged by Clan Ice Hellion only for the majority to be then destroyed during Operation ICE STORM.

Weapons and Equipment

The Lynx is powered by a Nissan 275 XL extralight engine that allows the 'Mech to reach speeds of up to 86.4 km/h. Adding to its mobility, five Luxor Load Lifters jump jets provide the Lynx with a jumping distance of up to 150 meters. The Lynx is protected by 12 tons of Kallon Unity Weave armor, which almost provides the maximum protection that a 55 ton 'Mech can carry. Finally, to dissipate the waste heat produced by all of its energy weapons, the Lynx has 15 double heat sinks.

The Lynx is intended for long term independent operations as well as protracted combat. To carry out the 'Mech's intended combat roles, it carries a Defiance 1001 ER PPC in its right arm, giving it an effective range of 690 meters. Backing this up is a Defiance B3L large laser mounted in the right torso that gives the Lynx even more firepower in the medium to long range envelope, and for close range combat the Lynx has a quartet of Defiance B3M medium lasers split between the center, left and a pair fitted in the left arm that can eviscerate any enemy that gets too close.

Variants

• LNX-8Q 

  Never produced by the factory, the 8Q was the result of the general decline in technology during the Succession War era. The necessary shift to a standard fusion engine resulted in the loss of a significant amount of equipment, including a ton of armor, the jump jets, and two medium lasers. The loss of available weight also forced the downgrade of the ER PPC to a second large laser. The design retains 15 heat sinks, though they were forced to be swapped out for the single variety. BV (1.0) = 1,027; BV (2.0) = 1,292

• LNX-9C 

  The 9C variant developed by Telfar enhances the 'Mech's short-range firepower. This is done by removing the large laser and replacing it with a pair of Guided Technologies 2nd Gen Streak SRM-2 launchers with two tons of reloads that add to its already devastating short-range arsenal. BV (1.0) = 1,478; BV (2.0) = 1,630

• LNX-9R 

  A variant developed by Blue Shot, the 9R replaces the large laser with an RAMTech 1200X ER large laser which is moved to a mount in the left arm, extending its effective range and making it more complementary to the ER PPC at the cost of greater waste heat. BV (1.0) = 1,529; BV (2.0) = 1,755

• Lynx C 

  Clan Smoke Jaguar's Clan technology rebuild retaining the same ground speed and jump radius as its forebear, but the weapon suite is now an Type 22 ER PPC, Series 7J ER large laser, Kolibri Delta large pulse laser, Series 2a ER medium laser, and Series 1b ER small laser. To offset the increased heat, engineers replaced two tons of armor with double heat sinks, bringing the total to 17. BV (2.0) = 2,712

Design Quirks

The Lynx is subject to the following Design Quirk:

• Multi-Trac

Notes

• In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Luchs. The model code was accordingly changed to LUC-5S.

Gallery

• 

  Original Lynx from TRO:3058

Bibliography

• BattleMech Manual
• Combat Operations
• Record Sheets: 3055/3058
• Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League)
• Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades
• TechManual
• Technical Readout: 3058
• Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: Golden Century