Editing Falcon

{{otheruses|the BattleMech|other uses|Falcon (disambiguation)}}
{{InfoBoxBattleMech
|image=3050U Falcon.jpg
|name=''Falcon''
|manufacturer=
[[Blackwell Industries]]
----
[[Stormvanger Assemblies, Light Division]]
|production year=3050
|year reference=<ref>''[http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/1027/falcon-flc-4p MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
|model=FLC-4P
|cost= 2,307,890 [[C-bill]]s 
|Tech Base=Inner Sphere
|mech type=BattleMech
|feet=biped
|mass=30
|chassis=[[Duralyte 296]]<ref name="TRO:3039"/>
|armor=[[StarGuard Type II]]<ref name="TRO:3039"/>
|engine=[[GM 180]]<ref name="TRO:3039"/>
|comsys=[[Garret T20C]]
|T&T=[[Dynatec 150A]]
|heat sinks=12 [[single heat sink]]s
|speed=97<ref name="TRO:3039"/>
|jumpjets=[[PRS-60]]<ref name="TRO:3039"/>
|armament= 
* 1x [[Medium pulse laser]]<ref name="TRO:3039"/>
* 2x [[Small laser]]s<ref name="TRO:3039"/>
* 1x [[Anti-missile system]]<ref name="TRO:3039"/>
|BV (1.0)=561
|BV (2.0)=649<ref name="TRO:3050U">''Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade'', p. 15</ref>
}}

==Description==
Originally developed as an anti-[[infantry]] and [[Bug 'Mech|bug hunter]] [['Mech]], the '''''Falcon''''' is a highly popular light recon and skirmisher 'Mech.<ref name="TRO:3039">''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 248, "FLC-4N ''Falcon''"</ref>

Initially created for the newly formed [[Star League Defense Force]]'s use in the [[Reunification War]], the popular design remained in production until the destruction of Stormvanger's [[Hesperus II]] ''Falcon'' line during the [[Third Battle of Hesperus II]] in [[Production Ceased::2789]], becoming all but extinct until the arrival of [[Wolf's Dragoons]] in [[Reintroduction Year::3005]].<ref name="TRO:3039"/> Well regarded by the mercenaries, the Dragoons upgraded their dwindling number of ''Falcon''s in the early [[3050]]s before eventually commissioning Blackwell Industries to restart production of the design in early [[3060]] to produce advanced [[Clan]]-tech versions for their exclusive use, as well as more mundane and affordable versions for the general mercenary market.<ref name="TRO:3050U"/> 

While originally sporting a weapons array similar to the ''[[Locust]]'', ''[[Stinger]]'', and ''[[Wasp]]'' it was charged to defeat, the ''Falcon'''s six tons of [[StarGuard Type II]] armor provided it with vastly superior protection, allowing it to outlast them and remain combat effective longer. When it was originally developed, the 'Mech's top speed of 97.2 km/h and a jumping distance of 150 meters allowed it to keep up with other light recon 'Mechs. But by the 3060s, the ''Falcon'' was outclassed by newer and faster designs, only its use of a cheaper standard [[fusion engine]] rather than a more expensive and fragile [[light fusion engine|light]] or [[XL engine]] kept buyers interested.<ref name="TRO:3039"/><ref name="TRO:3050U"/>

==Weapons and Equipment==
Originally developed as a field upgrade before becoming Blackwell's standard production model, the 4P ''Falcon'' carries a light arsenal that is primarily based around energy weapons. While the two [[Omnicron 1000]] [[small laser]]s were retained, the original standard [[medium laser]] was swapped for a short-ranged but highly accurate [[Magna 400P]] [[medium pulse laser]]. Finally, for protection from missiles, the rear-facing [[machine gun]]s were dropped for a forward-facing [[SureFire 444]] [[anti-missile system]] and a single ton of ammunition.<ref name="TRO:3050U"/>

==Variants==
*; FLC-4N : The original ''Falcon'' designed in [[Introduction Year::2582]], the 4N model has a lighter arsenal more akin to 'Mechs 10 tons lighter. The primary weapon is a [[SunGlow Type 1]] [[medium laser]] with two [[Omnicron 1000]] [[small laser|Light Lasers]] as secondary weapons. To deter infantry attacks, the 'Mech carries two rear-mounted [[Reginald Mark VI]] [[Machine Gun]]s with a shared single ton of ammo. The 4N was equipped with a [[Garret T20C]] communications system and a [[Dynatec 150A]] targeting and tracking system.<ref name="TRO:3039"/><ref name=TRSWp18f>''Technical Readout: Succession Wars'', pp. 18–19</ref> Stormvanger's production line was destroyed in 2789.<ref name=TRSWp18f /> BV (1.0) = 523<ref>''Combat Operations'', p. 106</ref>, BV (2.0) = 610<ref name=TRSWp18f /><ref>''Record Sheets: 3039'', p. 70</ref> 

*; FLC-4Nb : Built for the [[Star League Defense Force Royal Divisions|Royal SLDF Divisions]] at the captured [[Roe Weapon Systems]] plant on [[Apollo (planet)|Apollo]] during the [[Amaris Civil War]], the so-called Royal ''Falcon'' carried an experimental [[Parti-Kill]] [[snub-nose PPC]] backed up by two [[medium laser]]s. It was also equipped with [[double heat sink]]s, and was built on a [[Duralyte 300]] [[endo steel]] chassis. All known examples and design specs were taken with the [[Exodus Fleet]]. BV (2.0) = 947<ref name=HOP163>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 163</ref>

*; FLC-4Nb-PP : Used by various [[Pentagon Worlds|Pentagon World factions]] during the [[Exodus Civil War]], the PP variant replaced the advanced [[snub-nose PPC]] of the Royal ''Falcon'' with a standard [[PPC]]. The increased weight, however, required the removal of the [[medium laser]] mounted in the right arm. BV (2.0) = 881<ref name=HOP163></ref>

*; FLC-4Nb-PP2 : Another Exodus Civil War era modification of the Royal ''Falcon'', the PP2 replaced the [[snub-nose PPC]] with an [[ER large laser]]. The saved weight allowed the left arm [[medium laser]] to be upgraded with [[Pulse Laser|pulse technology]]. BV (2.0) = 947<ref name=HOP163></ref>

*; FLC-5P : A [[3065]] upgrade of the 4P, the 5P drops a ton of armor to add a [[MASC]] system that kicks the ''Falcon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s speed up to 129 km/h in bursts. The [[small laser]]s are upgraded to [[ER medium laser]]s and a [[targeting computer]] guides all three. To make all of this possible, a [[light fusion engine]] is included and the [[anti-missile system]] was removed.<ref name="TRO:3050U"/> BV (2.0) = 945<ref name=MUL5P>[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/1028/falcon-flc-5p Master Unit List: "Falcon FLC-5P"]</ref> 

*; FLC-6C : This variant was used exclusively by [[Wolf's Dragoons]] as it features [[Clan]]-tech. It simply upgrades the armament of the 4P to Clan standards, including an [[ER large laser]] that replaced the [[medium pulse laser]]. Each arm carries an [[ER small laser]], and a [[targeting computer]] aids in the accuracy of all three lasers. The ammunition bin of the [[anti-missile system]] was also upgraded to the Clan version, which carries twice as many rounds.<ref name="TRO:3050U"/> BV (2.0) = 1,290<ref>''Master Unit List: Battle Values'', p. 92</ref>

===Custom Variants===
*; FLC-4Nb ''Saho'' : Personally modified in the field by a MechWarrior from [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]], the ''Falcon Saho'' replaced the right arm weapons of the Royal ''Falcon'' with a [[large pulse laser]] salvaged from a Royal ''[[Wyvern]]''. BV (2.0) = 774<ref name=HOP163></ref>

== Design Quirks ==
The ''Falcon'' has the following [[Design Quirk]]:<ref>[[BattleMech Manual]], p. 91 Design Quirk Table - Falcon Entry.</ref>
* [[Narrow/Low Profile]]

==Related Designs==
* '''[[Drift Shag]]''': [[Clan Ice Hellion]]'s first BattleMech to use Clan tech exclusively was based on the ''Falcon''. Starting production in [[2827]]<ref name=DS>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/7605/drift-shag-standard MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>, thirty-ton<ref name=TROGC>''Technical Readout: Golden Century'', p. 13</ref><ref name=DS/> ''Drift Shag'' used a 210 XL engine to reach speeds of 118 km/h. Protected by six tons of armor and capable of high speed and 180 meter jumps, the biggest weakness was the 11 [[double heat sink]]s which couldn't dissipate all the heat of the weapons. The ''Drift Shag'' carried an [[ER large laser]] in the right arm, a [[medium pulse laser]] in the right torso, but the main close in firepower was provided by a quartet of [[ER small laser]]s in the left arm.<ref>''Technical Readout: Golden Century'', p. 12</ref> It has the following [[Design Quirk]]s: [[Bad Reputation]] and [[Narrow/Low Profile]]. BV 2.0 = 1,512<ref name=TROGC/>

==Notes==
* In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to '''Falke'''. The model code was accordingly changed to '''FLK-4E'''. 

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Falcon-4N.jpg|FLC-4N ''Falcon'' from [[BattleTechnology#Issue 0101|''BattleTechnology'', Issue #0101]]
File:Falcon_WolfsDragoonsSB.jpg|Original FLC-4N ''Falcon'' from ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]''
Image:3050_Falcon.jpg|''Falcon'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3050|TRO:3050]]''
File:3050U Falcon.jpg|''Falcon'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade|TRO:3050 Upgrade]]''
Image:FLC-4NFALCON.png|FLC-4N ''Falcon'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3039|TRO:3039]]''
Image:FLN-4NB Falcon.jpg|FLC-4Nb ''Falcon'' from ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]''
Image:CCG Unlimited Falcon.jpg|FLC-4P ''Falcon'' in combat from ''[[BattleTech Trading Card Game|CCG]]''
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* ''[[BattleMech Manual]]''
* [[BattleTechnology#Issue 0101|''BattleTechnology'', Issue #0101]]
* ''[[Combat Operations]]''
* ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]''
* ''[[Master Unit List: Battle Values]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3039]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3050]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League)]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere)]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: Golden Century]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3039]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3050]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Revised]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade]]''
* ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]''
</div>


[[Category:Star League BattleMechs]]
[[Category:Wolf's Dragoons BattleMechs]]
[[Category:German renamed units]]