Inner Sphere Designation for Clan BattleMechs
Sarna News
When the Inner Sphere first encountered Clan OmniMechs (and later second-line BattleMechs) they were not privy to the designations each machine was known by among the Clans. They assigned code names, often based on the appearance or perceived capabilities, in order to define the units encountered. Even a century later after the Inner Sphere learned the proper name for these units, the initial designations continue in common use. Also, the Inner Sphere would occasionally continue to assign code names to Clan BattleMechs even beyond the initial Clan Invasion.
Certain Inner Sphere designations would be adopted by the Clans; for example, Clan Diamond Shark would use the Mad Cat designation for their Inner Sphere-marketed Mad Cat Mk II and Mad Cat III 'Mechs, while Clan Ghost Bear would develop the Ryoken II. In certain cases, as with the Cauldron-Born, Grendel or Roadrunner, the Clan designation would be abandoned entirely in favor of the Inner Sphere code name.