MercTech: Battlemechs

General history:
The Battlemech would see its debut in 2439 with the Terran Hegemony's 100 ton Mackie. Essentially a militarized version of the workmech, which was introduced almost a century prior, the Battlemech would prove itself a far more deadly unit than a combat vehicle of comparable weight, with Charles Kincaid, the first mechwarrior in history, destroying a lance of drone tanks with no difficulty during a combat trial on Terra.

As the other great houses would acquire the technology and it would become a staple on the battlefields throughout the Inner Sphere, many different mech designs, ranging from 20 to 100 tons, would be introduced, each suited to specific roles. While a number of these designs would be phased out over the centuries as new, more potent mechs would enter production, and others would become extinct after the fall of the Star League and during the brutal conflicts of the Succession Wars, a number would survive into the 31st Century, where they would be used to great effect during the ever ongoing conflicts throughout the Inner Sphere and the Periphery.

Battlemechs are separated into 4 weight classes:

Light Mechs:
Ranging from 20 to 35 tons, these mechs are cheap, fast and nimble, making them excellent scouts and skirmishers. Most light mechs are able to dictate engagements using their speed, although their light armor can make even the smallest mistake fatal, so a good light mech pilot must have good situational awareness at all times.

20 ton mechs:
Flea

Locust

25 ton mechs:
Commando

30 ton mechs:
Javelin

Spider

Urbanmech

35 ton mechs:
Firestarter

Jenner

Panther

Raven

Wolfhound

Medium Mechs:
Ranging from 40 to 55 tons, these mechs are versatile, combining speed, mobility, armor and firepower. You will find virtually all kinds of roles within this class, from scouts and skirmishers, to fire support and brawlers. The main drawback to medium mechs are their lack of a defined niche, as they often lack the speed to dictate engagements, while lacking the armor and firepower to stand up to heavier mechs.

40 ton mechs:
Assassin

Cicada

Vulcan

45 ton mechs:
Blackjack

Phoenix Hawk

Vindicator

50 ton mechs:
Centurion

Crab

Enforcer

Hunchback

Trebuchet

55 ton mechs:
Dervish

Griffin

Kintaro

Shadow Hawk

Wolverine

Heavy Mechs:
Ranging from 60 to 75 tons, heavy mechs begin to form the frontline of a nation's military, boasting incredible armor and firepower, while still possessing the speed necessary to travel long distances in a timely manner. You will find many specialized mechs within this weight class, which includes anti-aircraft and missile artillery mechs.

60 ton mechs:
Champion

Dragon

Rifleman

Quickdraw

65 ton mechs:
Catapult

Jagermech

Thunderbolt

70 ton mechs:
Archer

Cataphract

Grasshopper

Warhammer

75 ton mechs:
Black Knight

Marauder

Orion

Assault Mechs:
Ranging from 80 to 100 tons, assault mechs are the juggernauts among all the mech classes, with unrivaled armor that can withstand repeated salvos from even heavy mechs and firepower that can bring down lighter mechs in only a few salvos. The primary weakness of assault mechs lie in their low speed and mobility, making them slow to respond to changing battlefield conditions and unable to pursue lighter mechs trying to reposition. To reach their full potential, assault mechs need the support of lighter, faster mechs, or else they can be taken down by lances of headhunting mechs.

80 ton mechs:
Awesome

Charger

Hatamoto-Chi

Victor

Zeus

85 ton mechs:
Battlemaster

Stalker

90 ton mechs:
Cyclops

Highlander

Mauler

95 ton mechs:
Banshee

Nightstar

100 ton mechs:
Annihilator

Atlas

King Crab

Marauder II