Talon (BattleMech)

This article is about the BattleMech. For other uses, see Talon.

Talon
Production information
Manufacturer	Blackstone BattleMechs, Ltd.
Production Year	2760
Model	TLN-5W
Class	Light
Cost	6,034,275 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass	35 tons
Chassis	Blackstone QTS Light
Armor	Kallon Light Shield A
Engine	Edasich Motors 280 XL
Communications System	Lockheed/CBM Comset 100
Targeting Tracking System	Sturmfeur Highlight with BlindFire Radar
Heat Sinks	11 double
Speed	129 km/h
Armament	1x ER PPC 2x medium laser
BV (1.0)	1,030
BV (2.0)	1,175

Description

The Talon was first deployed in 2670 to provide light BattleMech companies much needed long-range firepower and punch. Star League High Command was so impressed by the Talon during its combat trials in 2669, they immediately ordered the 'Mech into full production. The BattleMech was so wildly successful that sales to the Star League Defense Force quickly surpassed all other light BattleMechs.

Upon introduction of the ER PPC around 2750, the Talon was one of several BattleMechs to be upgraded with the technology, resulting in the TLN-5W in 2760. The initial production runs of the upgraded Talon were reserved for Royal units. Both the TLN-5V and TLN-5W saw their deployment expanded during the Amaris-Kerensky Civil War, with the TLN-5V distributed widely, and the TLN-5W assigned to regular SLDF units for the first time. The success of the Talon outlived the first League by a few decades. Every Successor State acquired the 'Mech as quickly as it could be manufactured, but production was never able to overcome the alarming rates of attrition during the First Succession War. When its last production facility was nuked in 2815, the fate of the Talon was sealed; the last Talon was cannibalized for parts during the first year of the Second Succession War, 2830.

The technological renaissance of the Inner Sphere allowed production to begin on Inarcs once again in 3056.

Weapons and Equipment

The Talon is intended to act as a long-range sniper for light 'Mech units. To carry out this mission, the upgraded TLN-5W Talon was equipped with a Lord's Light 2 ER PPC that gives it a reach of just under 700 meters. For defense at close ranges, the Talon has two ChisComp 39 medium lasers that give it enough protection to defend itself from most other light 'Mechs.

Talon BattleMechs are also fleet of foot, with a top speed of 129.6 km/h, allowing it to keep up with almost any light 'Mech in existence, and is able to reach this speed through the use of an Edasich Motors 280-rated XL engine. The 'Mech is armored with seven and a half tons of Kallon Light Shield A standard armor, which provides the highest amount of protection against enemy fire possible with standard, combat-grade armor. It also has 11 double heat sinks to handle the high heat load from its weapons payload.

Variants

• TLN-5V 

  The original variant of the Talon can be simply modified to the TLN-5W; this variant mounts a standard PPC instead of the upgraded ER PPC. This 'Mech is able to fire remain cool firing all weapons and running; even after losing a small amount of engine shielding, the 'Mech can still remain cool by not using a single medium laser. BV (2.0) = 1,075

• TLN-5W-EC

  A Clan Ice Hellion refit that trades the standard PPC for an enhanced ER PPC. (Note: EC is an abbreviation used by historians to designate "Early Clan" designs.) BV (2.0) = 1,364

• TLN-5Z 

  This variant replaces the engine with a light engine that can only propel the Talon up to 119 km/h, but is cheaper and more durable. The 5Z also makes use of an endo steel chassis and ferro-fibrous armor to make up the difference in mass. The armament is replaced with a pair of arm-mounted ER large lasers, though the loss of a heat sink forces the MechWarrior to carefully manage their heat. A C3 slave unit is included so that the Talon can be incorporated into a C3 lance. This variant proved unpopular in the Lyran Alliance, so Blackstone exports it to the Draconis Combine and Federated Suns. BV (1.0) = 939; BV (2.0) = 1,168

• TLN-6W 

  The chassis is modified to carry a heavy PPC. The armor was replaced by heavy ferro-fibrous while the chassis was replaced by an endo steel model. BV (2.0) = 1,341

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 Scorched Earth:

• TLN-5VND 

  Suggested as a downgraded Succession Wars era version of a lance or less of Talons from the SLDF's 22nd Royal Infantry Division left behind when the 22nd was deployed and destroyed during the Periphery Uprising, the so-called TLN-5VND was supposedly used by the New Oslo Militia in July 3050 during their failed defense of the Gorton, Kingsley, and Thorpe Enterprises plant at Lilihammer on New Oslo against Clan Wolf during the Clan Invasion. This downgraded variant used a standard GM 210 engine, reducing its ground speed down to a maximum of 90 km/h with seven and a half tons of standard armor. It has a single PPC in the right arm for ranged combat, backed up pair of medium lasers in the left arm. This design has no lower arm actuators allowing it to flip its weapons into the rear arc. BV (2.0) = 977

Apocryphal Content Ends

Design Quirks

The Talon has the following Design Quirks:

• Rugged (1)
• No/Minimal Arms

Notes

• In German products, the unit's proper name was altered to Fang, which in German designates the whole foot of a bird of prey. The model code was accordingly changed to FNG-5W.

Gallery

• 

  Original Talon from TRO:3058

Bibliography

• Field Manual: SLDF
• Master Unit List
• Record Sheets: 3055/3058
• Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League)
• Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New
• Scorched Earth WWE 2017 (TW & AS)‎‎
• Technical Readout: 3058
• Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: 3085
• Technical Readout: Golden Century