Raider (BattleMech)

(Redirected from Raider Mk II)
This article is about the 50-ton BattleMech. For the JumpShip, see Raider (Individual Merchant-class JumpShip).
Raider (BattleMech)
Raider
Production information
Manufacturer Bannson Universal Unlimited[1]

Simcox Industrials[1]

Production Year 3134[2]
Model JL-1
Class Medium
Introduced 3134
Cost 3,397,000 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 50 tons
Chassis BUU Standard Medium
Armor BUU MechStandard
Engine Bannson Spark 200 Internal Combustion
Communications System BUU FarSweep Comms
Targeting Tracking System BUU AccuTrack 3000
Heat Sinks 2 single
Speed 64.8 km/h (86.4 km/h with TSM)
Jump Jets None
Armament
BV (2.0) 817[3][4]


Description[edit]

The Raider was an unusual experimental medium BattleMech, which was the brain child of a Republican Industrialist named Jacob Bannson. The design was created as a means to skirt around Republic of the Sphere restrictions on military hardware under the project name "Jacob's Ladder," and Bannson's technical and engineering teams would utilize whatever technology they could access to reach their goal. By 3132, weapon systems and hardware began to come together, however the power plant would prove to be Bannson's engineers' biggest obstacle; two years' worth of failures would delay the Raider's production at Bannson's two factories on Tybalt and St. Andre. Despite these engineering setbacks, the resulting design turned out to be not necessarily a failure, with the Raider proving to be a commercial success when it first appeared on the battlefields by 3134. The design's most noted usage would be through Jacob Bannson's personal mercenary force, Bannson's Raiders.[5]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The Raider is an ICE-powered BattleMech, while its internal construction is similar to contemporaries of its tonnage. Its Bannson Spark 200 Internal Combustion engine gives the 'Mech a modest maximum speed of 64.8 km/h, but if the MechWarrior piloting it is able to manage the 'Mech's heat output correctly, they should be able to engage the Raider's military-grade Triple Strength Myomer to move the Raider to a faster top speed of 86.4 km/h and become more effective in close range combat. To help it survive the rigors of the battlefield, the Bannson Universal Research & Development team was able to develop its own standard-grade BattleMech armor for the company's use. These engineers fitted out the Raider with seven tons of this armor to give the Raider protection most IndustrialMechs would envy.

Its arsenal of weaponry is limited to a pair of BUU Quarrel-10 MRM-10 launchers mounted in the right torso, with single ton of ammunition, and a BUU SuperCutter dual saw mounted on its left arm actuator.[5][1]

Variants[edit]

  • JL-2 Raider Mk.II 
    The Mark II variant of the Raider owes its development to Bannson Industries R&D team's success with the development of the BUU Straightshooter RAC/2. Though not included in the original design due to weight issues, the weapon design was too good to drop completely. The autocannon gives the Mk. II more accurate firepower at long ranges, while the standard model was forced to use a modest ranged and slightly inaccurate weapon for ranged attacks. The installation of the autocannon and its two tons of ammunition would necessitate the removal of the original MRM-10 and associated ammunition, as well as downgrading the engine to a 150-rated engine. This thus reduced the Mech's maximum speed of 50 km/h, while however under certain conditions, it would be able to reach the original design's standard maximum running speed while using TSM. However, the engine reduction would prove to be a boon to the variant's armor protection, where its protection was bolstered to 10 tons of standard armor. BV(2.0)=883[6][7]
  • Multiple local variants 
    The Raider is relatively easy to produce and has spread across the Inner Sphere. These variants usually remove the dual saw and replace it with heat sinks, power amplifiers, or additional armor. These variants have been tagged as JL-3A, JL-3B, etc. by The Republic of the Sphere.[1]

Design Quirks[edit]

The JL-1 Raider is subject to the following Design Quirk:

The JL-2 Raider Mk.II is subject to the following Design Quirks:

Notes[edit]

  • The Raider and the Raider Mk.II was first created by WizKids' MechWarrior Dark Age Collectable Miniatures game as a part of its Counter Assault expansion set. The both figures were used as general use unit for most of the CGC game factions featured in Counter Assault. The 'Mech would later be adapted by Catalyst Game Labs and redefined in the tabletop game once the company advanced the franchise's timeline to 3145. It was eventually released in the PDF-only Era Digest: Dark Age and later featured in Technical Readout: 3150.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Technical Readout: 3150, p. 152: "JL-1 Raider"
  2. MUL Profile for the JL-1 Raider - Introduction year.
  3. Era Digest: Dark Age, pp. 41, 46: "JL-1 Raider" - BV2
  4. Technical Readout: 3150, p. 153
  5. 5.0 5.1 Era Digest: Dark Age, pp. 40–41, 46: "JL-1 Raider"
  6. Era Digest: Dark Age, pp. 40–42, 47: "JL-2 Raider" - Background, Stats, and Battle value
  7. MUL Profile for the JL-2 Raider Mk.II - Introduction year.

Bibliography[edit]