Raven

The Raven is a light-weight electronic warfare BattleMech which, when it first debuted after the end of the Third Succession War, was one of the first truly original 'Mech designs produced in centuries. Originally the Capellan Confederation attempted to recreate the sophisticated technology once common during the Star League era, specifically the Guardian ECM Suite. While the resulting electronic warfare device was a technical success, it proved too large and bulky to be installed on any existing 'Mechs. Desperate for any force multiplier, the Capellans decided to build an entirely new 'Mech around the electronics, creating the first prototype Ravens.

At first these experimental Ravens were meant as stand-off support units for 'Mech companies, designating targets for artillery and scrambling enemy sensors, but in most cases they were assigned at the battalion level as a temporary fifth member of the command lance. When it finally saw battle however the Raven did not meet its lofty expectations; it simply could not provide a sufficient advantage to influence combat. Many were captured by the Federated Suns during the Fourth Succession War, and the design would languish as just another light 'Mech until the recovery of the Helm Memory Core allowed Hellespont to create a production version, the RVN-3L, equal to the prototype's ambitiousness.

While heavily associated with House Liao, the Capellans also sold a number to the Free Worlds League and Draconis Combine, the larger share going to the former. The Federated Suns and Lyran Alliance also acquired smaller numbers of Ravens through other means including salvage, and a large number of variants were eventually created.

Weapons and Equipment
The Raven carries a small weapons array that was nevertheless respectable for its size. The primary weapons are a pair of Ceres Arms Medium Lasers carried in the right arm, backed up by a Harpoon-6 SRM-6 mounted in the right torso, with one ton of SRM reloads placed within the CASE-protected left torso. Generally though, the Raven was kept out of direct firefights as much as possible, since it was more valuable as a recon or electronics warfare asset than as a front-line combatant. Indeed, any mission in which the 'Mech was forced into combat was seen as a failure.

At the time of its introduction the Raven carried the most advanced electronic warfare equipment in the Inner Sphere, all produced by Apple Churchill. A Guardian ECM mounted in the left torso blanketed friendly units with electronic jamming, Target Acquisition Gear mounted in the right torso and a Narc Missile Beacon in the left arm, with two tons of reloads in the left torso, helped call down accurate artillery fire. A Hermes 210 XL Engine and four and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor helped save on weight, provided good armoring and a respectable cruising speed of 64.8 km/h - features which allowed the 'Mech to survive combat encounters until reinforcements could arrive. It also carries a Beagle Active Probe in the center torso to help locate enemy targets.

Variants

 * RVN-1X : The original Introduction Year::3024 prototype of what became the RVN-3L Raven, this was the unit that was pressed into service against the Federated Suns during the Fourth Succession War. With XL engine technology not yet available, the 'Mech mounted a standard Omni 175 fusion engine, giving it a maximum speed of 86 km/h, and was protected by four tons of standard armor. The EW Equipment at the time that this 'Mech was built consisted of a massive 7.5 ton experimental electronic warfare suite that did not live up to expectations. The equipment also had the unfortunate side-effect, when damaged, of disrupting other systems, though normally communications and targeting only. BV (1.0) = 674, BV (2.0) = 589


 * RVN-2X : Many of the Ravens captured by the Federated Suns in the Fourth Succession War were refit in 3030 to the 2X standard. This variant replaced the EW equipment with a Large Laser and added an additional two and a half tons of armor. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 887
 * RVN-3Ld (Drone) : A Capellan experimental unit in 3071 based on the RVN-3L, the cockpit weight was increased to 5 tons to accommodate the robotic drone control; the TAG and 1 heat sink were removed. These 'Mechs were operated by an AI controller known as The Broken. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = ??


 * RVN-3M : This 3053 variant, based on the 3L variant, removed the SRM-6 launcher, the medium lasers, and the electronic warfare systems and TAG laser in order to turn the Raven into a long range fire support unit. This fire support is provided by a single 15-tubed Long Range Missile launcher. Additionally, the 'Mech sports two Small lasers and a Small Pulse Laser in the event any enemies get under the minimum range of its missile launcher. This version retains the Narc Beacon used by the 3L, and also includes two ammunition bins for the missile launcher so that the Raven can maintain its fire support role far from supply lines. BV (2.0) = 659


 * RVN-3X : The RVN-3X uses, despite its sabotaged nature, the original Triple Strength Myomer, the plans for which were captured in the Fourth Succession War on Bethel by Warrior House Imarra. Since the Raven is not intended for direct combat, the fact that it can catch on fire if subjected to the catalyst gas is (in theory) outweighed by the additional speed. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 640 However, Prototype TSMs do not increase movement speed under any circumstances.


 * RVN-3X Raven X : This version uses experimental systems to increase battlefield performance. The standard skeleton is traded for a Composite Internal Structure and the electronic systems are replaced with a Bloodhound Active Probe, Angel ECM Suite, and an Apollo FCS for the MRM-20 system that replaces the SRM launcher. The remaining weaponry has been replaced by a Laser AMS and two Medium X-Pulse Lasers. An XL Gyro provides weight savings for this equipment. BV (2.0) = 1,050


 * RVN-4L : This early 3060s variant of the Raven incorporates the Confederation's new Stealth Armor. The 'Mech carries six tons of Stealth Armor and also uses ten double heat sinks for greater heat dissipation capabilities. The 'Mech is armed with two ER Medium Lasers and an SRM-6, and also carries the complete electronic warfare package carried by the 3L model. BV (1.0) = 667, BV (2.0) = 873


 * RVN-4Lr : This variant removes the Narc and SRM, replacing them with an MML-7 equipped with Artemis IV guidance. The Capellans added a third medium laser, making this variant of the Raven an effective scout hunter. It can set easy ambushes because its Stealth Armor gives it an advantage against scouts. BV (2.0) = 989


 * RVN-4LC : This variant allows the Raven to integrate with a C3 network by removing the 4L's active probe. It is replaced by a C3 Slave Unit and an ER Small Laser. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 884


 * RVN-4X : A Capellan variant of the original prototype, with the battlefield failure of the -1X, the -4X was an attempt to reuse the chassis as a more combat orientated unit. It removes the EW equipment and is outfitted with five jump jets and two Machine Guns with a ton of ammunition. The armor was increased to the chassis' limit of seven tons. Used as a substitute in lances that normally used a JR7-D but needed more anti-infantry capability. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 820


 * RVN-SR : This variant is a field upgrade made by Capellan March forces who captured many Ravens during Operation Sovereign Justice. This modification of the -3L replaces the lasers and TAG with four Machine Guns linked to a Machine Gun Array to protect it from the infantry assaults that resulted in the capture of the 'Mechs to begin with. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 601


 * RVN-SS : Another modification of the -3L by Capellan March troops, the -SS removes the NARC and missile launcher. This makes room for an additional pair of Medium Lasers, a Small Laser, a Streak SRM-6, and an additional heat sink. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 904


 * RVN-4N : Appeared with MechWarrior: Age of Destruction figures.


 * RVN-4R : Appeared with MechWarrior: Age of Destruction figures.


 * RVN-5L : Introduced in 3125 to operate alongside the Raven II and uses the Raven IIs engine and the Raven Xs XL Gyro. It carries two ER Medium Lasers in the right arm, with an iNarc launcher in the left arm. Three tons of iNarc ammo are carried as well. Electronic support for the Stealth Armor is provided by an Angel ECM Suite. A TAG system allows it to designate for artillery fire. Finally, three Improved One Shot SRM-2s are carried in the right torso. BV (2.0) = 1,035

Apocryphal Variants
These variants were introduced in various apocryphal sources, and thus far have not appeared in any canonical media.

From MechWarrior Online:
 * RVN-H Huginn : Named for one of the mythical ravens that aided the Norse god Odin and piloted by Sergeant Odin Sigurd of the Free Rasalhague Republic, the Huginn Hero 'Mech is built around 280 rated XL engine and an Endo Steel frame, fitted with two jump jets and clad in near maximum Ferro Fibrous armor. The Huginn is armed for close range combat, mounting paired Machine Guns in each arm in support of right torso SRM-6 and left torso Streak SRM-2. Two tons of machine gun and SRM reloads are carried along with a single ton of Streak munitions.

From Solaris VII Boxed Set - German Edition:
 * RVN-1XL DC : This variant of the 1X version was used as an arena fighter in the Solaris Games. Two heat sinks were removed to allow for the installation of a Dual Cockpit and an additional ton of armor. The ECM 3025 is mounted in the left torso while two heat sinks are mounted in the center torso; together with the seven heat sinks installed in the engine this curiously leaves one heat sink unaccounted for although plenty of free critical slots are available. (The canonicity of this design is questionable, as it was only published in the German edition of the Solaris VII Boxed Set.) BV (1.0) = 1.157, BV (2.0) = ??

Design Quirks
The Raven has the following Design Quirk:
 * No/Minimal Arms

Related 'Mechs

 * Men Shen - Impressed by the Raven BattleMech, and eager to promote the Xin Sheng spirit of Capellan nationalism, the Capellan Confederation increased the weight by 20 tons and redesigned the chassis to be Omni-capable. The result is the Men Shen OmniMech.


 * Raven II - The Raven II is the next generation of the Raven, developed from the RVN-3X Raven X model. It weighs five tons more and has greatly improved speed and weaponry.


 * Sha Yu - The success of the RVN-4L Raven variant as a test-bed for the introduction of Stealth Armor led to the introduction of the Sha Yu based around a slightly heavier version of the Raven's chassis.