compiled overview of the 35
ton Jenner 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
Along with the
Panther, the
Jenner has long been a favored
front-line light
'Mech in the
Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery and has proven useful in many roles. It can defeat most other light
'Mechs in a
one-on-one battle, and it is fast and maneuverable enough to perform the scouting and screening duties traditionally assigned to a light
'Mech. It was designed as a fast,
hit and run guerrilla fighter. With a maximum speed of 118.8
kph and a
jump capacity of 150 meters, it was hoped that this
'Mech would form the foundation for a new, highly mobile
lance.
The original
Jenner mounted two
Argra 27C medium lasers and a
Diplan HD large laser on a central
turret, but this configuration could easily be disarmed by a direct hit to the turret. The medium
lasers' targeting system was also
plagued with problems. However, because the chassis and mobility subsystems performed well in
trials, designers decided to refit the weapons systems instead of scrapping the whole design.
The
Jenner was then modified to its current configuration, mounting four
Argra 3L medium lasers, two per side, on directionally variable mountings. The Argra 3L replaced the older 27C because it had a better spectral purity and a more rugged
focal system. The
Thunderstroke SRM-4 was installed after additional testing showed the need for increased short range firepower. The resulting
'Mech was the pride of
Kurita forces.
Because the
Argra 3L medium lasers are the
Jenner's main armament, the
'Mech can operate for long periods without running out of ammunition. During long engagements or on deep raids, the twenty-five reloads available to the
Thunderstroke SRM-4 could run out, and so
this missile launcher is mostly used for the finishing stroke or to add extra hitting power in a difficult moment.
Although the
Jenner was designed as a close range fighter, it lacks arms for punching and other physical attacks. The
Jenner's designers felt that because of the
'Mech's low tonnage, it would not be able to make effective physical attacks. The
Jenner has done well without arms, except in
looting raids made on enemy supply depots. During these, it lays down covering fire to allow
'Mechs with hands to gather what they can.
When
Diplan Mechyards was completing the first
Jenners in September 2784, tensions were running high.
War seemed inevitable, more a question of 'when' than of 'if'.
Minoru Kurita took a personal interest in the
Jenner, calling it the "first of a new line". He ordered further design and development on heavier
'Mechs with the
Jenner's mobility.
It was only fitting that
Minoru Kurita's favored
'Mech should avenge his assassination. Waves of
Jenners and other fast
'Mechs entered the cities to carry out
Jinjiro Kurita's directive to
"bathe accursed Kentares in blood". The
Jenner earned itself a place as the standard light
warhorse of the
Draconis Combine.
Despite the outbreak of the
First Succession War, construction continued at
Diplan Mechyards until 2815, when a shortage of raw materials brought the assembly lines to a halt. However, Diplan continued to produce its
'Mech chassis. In 2823, production of
Jenners resumed on
Ozawa, and some three thousand chassis were shipped to a Diplan subsidiary on
Luthien for final fittings and assembly.
Although heavily damaged by naval bombardment, the
Diplan Luthien Corporation retooled its remaining plants for
Jenner assembly. By 2830, Diplan of Ozawa and Diplan Luthien had a combined annual output of 1,350
Jenners.
Throughout the
Second Succession War, the
Jenner continued the
infamous tradition begun during
The Kentares Massacre.. Used singly or in groups, the
Jenner is often
sent behind enemy lines to create confusion and havoc. It was during these terror raids that the other Houses first captured
Jenners. By 2840, the
Federated Suns and the
Lyran Commonwealth both had a number of operational
Jenners. By 2845, the
Jenner was used by all of the
Successor States, although it continues to be primarily a
Kurita 'Mech.
During the War of 3039,
several incidents provided a reason to change the
Jenner's design. At least six times during that war, a lightly damaged
Jenner blew itself to pieces when the missile reloads detonated from a
freak enemy shot. The availability of
Star League-era technology has provided a solution to this problem. Employing lighter
New Samarkand Royal ferro-fibrous armor to achieve almost the same degree of protection with half a ton less weight, engineers at
Luthien Armor Works fitted the
Jenner's right torso with
Cellular Ammunition Storage Equipment to mitigate the effects of an ammunition explosion. Though this model has
only just begun to see service, it appears that
Kurita military planners have enhanced an excellent design with little loss of production capability.
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