View source for Avenger (DropShip class)

{{InfoBoxDropShip
| image = Avenger TRO3057r.png
| name = ''Avenger''
| manufacturer = [[Aldis Industries]]{{cn}}
----[[Defiance Industries]]<ref name=DS&JSp15>''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary'', p. 15, "JumpShip and DropShip Manufacturers"</ref>  
----[[Dynamico Limited]]<ref name=DS&JSp15/>
----[[Rashpur-Owens Incorporated]]<ref>[https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=69911.0 Line Developer Ruling on Andurien Industries]</ref>
| production year=2816
| year reference=<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/3765/ MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
| Use = Military Aerodyne 
| Type = Assault
| Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]
| Mass = 1,400
| Structural Integrity = 12
| Length = 50.5
| Width = 42
| Height= 11.9
| Drive System = [[GM 9800i]]
| Safe Thrust = 3.5 g
| Maximum Thrust = 5.5 g
| Fuel (tons) = 160 tons
| Fuel (days) = 87 days
| Armament = <span></span>
* 2x [[PPC]]
* 1x [[AC/20]]
* 6x [[AC/5]]
* 1x [[AC/2]]
* 4x [[LRM-20]]
* 2x [[large laser]]
* 8x [[medium laser]]
| Armor = 48 tons [[Armor (Small Craft & DropShips)|standard]]
| Crew = 15
*3 Officers
*8 Enlisted
*4 Gunners
----
(Base Crew Type Requirement)<ref name="BSr63">''BattleSpace'' rulebook, p. 63</ref><br/><ref name=DS&JSp41>''DropShips and JumpShips: Operations Manual'', p. 41</ref>
*2 Pilots <br />
*4 Engineers <br />
*9 Secondary Engineers
----
Marines: 15<ref name=DS&JSp44-45/>
| Escape Pods/Life Boats = 2/0
| Heat Sinks = 70 [[heat sink|single]]
| BV (1.0) = 4,320<ref name=TRO:3057Rp8-9>''Technical Readout: 3057 (Revised)'', pp. 8-9, "Avenger Profile"</ref>
| BV (2.0) = 5,203{{cn}}
}}

==Description==
One of the smallest [[DropShips]] in use throughout the Succession Wars, the '''''Avenger''''' class features firepower rivaling that of a ''[[Union]]''-class, armor almost the equal of an ''[[Overlord]]''-class, and speed and maneuverability surpassing both, despite its size. 

The disk-shaped hull gives the class enhanced aerodynamic stability. When viewed from a distance, it can be confused with the TR-7 ''[[Thrush]]'' aerospace fighter, which has surprised enemy pilots to their detriment.<ref name=DS&JSp44-45/> Presumably, it also visually resembles the Kuritan ''[[Sholagar]]'' fighter, though it is unknown if the disk wing is a danger on atmospheric reentry, similar to those fighters.

Found mostly in the navies of the [[Successor States]], ''Avenger''s are typically reserved for major planetary assaults, forming the vanguard of the initial attack and clearing the path for the transport DropShips that follow it. Given its position at the forefront of the largest battles, its attrition rates are quite high. The Federated Suns was the only nation to be able to keep production up to offset losses through the [[Third Succession War]],<ref name=DS&JSp44-45>''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary'', pp. 44-45, "Avenger Class DropShip"</ref><ref name=TRO:3057Rp8-9/><ref name=TRO:3057p10-11>''Technical Readout: 3057'', pp. 10-11, "Avenger Profile"</ref> with Rashpur-Owens only able to produce a single DropShip every other year.<ref name=OR143>''Objective Raids'', p. 143: "Produced Rashpur-Owens Incorporated Components on Capella"</ref> To support troops on the ground, they can also be used for strafing and bombing runs.<ref name=TRO:3057p10-11/> A special bomb bay beneath the engineering compartment in the ship's rear is inconsistently mentioned.<ref name=DS&JSp44-45/>

The ''Avenger'' is also notable for being one of the few aerodyne craft built for planetary operations that doesn't feature a secondary transit drive, just the single rear maneuvering drive. On the ground this means "up" is toward the vertical stabilizer, while under thrust "up" is towards the nose. This requires an exotic layout, with long corridors on the ground becoming lift shafts in space, and each room and its furniture being designed to be quickly switched between orientations within 20 minutes.<ref name=DS&JSp44-45/><ref name=TRO:3057Rp8-9/><ref name=TRO:3057p10-11/>

Federated Commonwealth-built ''Avengers'' were rare among the defense industry, who normally import the cheapest or most numerous weapons systems they can find from across their area. [[Dynamico Limited|Dynamico Limited's]] [[Delavan]] site instead built the lasers found on Federated Suns-made ''Avengers'' itself, shipping the recovered technologies to other contractors found throughout the Federated Commonwealth while it existed.<ref name=OR93D>''Objective Raids'', p. 93: "Produced Dynamico Limited Components"</ref>

==Armament==
Given its first strike role, the ''Avenger'' is impressively armed on all angles. In the nose weapons bay are two [[AC/5]]s, an [[AC/20]], an [[LRM-20]], two [[Large Laser|large]] and two [[medium laser]]s. In each wing are a single [[PPC]], a pair of AC/5s, an LRM-20 rack, and two medium lasers. Facing the rear are an [[Autocannon/2|AC/2]], an LRM-20, and two medium lasers. The ''Avenger''&#39;s large ammo bays, especially for its LRM racks, allow it to keep up a steady rate of fire.<ref name=DS&JSp44-45/><ref name=TRO:3057Rp8-9/><ref name=TRO:3057p10-11/>

==Cargo==
The ''Avenger'' features a single cargo bay, mounted near the drive to the rear of the craft. This dual-purpose bay can also be used as a bomb bay during planetary bombing and strafing runs totaling 20 tons of ordinance and is generally split between this purpose and carrying 15 Marines.<ref name=DS&JSp44-45/><ref name=TRO:3057Rp8-9/><ref name=TRO:3057p10-11/>

*Bay 1: Cargo (126 tons), 1 door

==Variants==
*; Upgraded Version : The ''Avenger'' class was the first Inner Sphere DropShip design to be refitted with rediscovered [[Star League]] technology as a result of the rediscovery of the [[Helm Memory Core]], and the only one in actual production before the [[Clan Invasion]] disrupted similar upgrades for other classes. The first upgraded vessel slipped its mooring at Dynamico Limited's yards at Delavan in [[3048]], and in partnership with Defiance Industries of [[Hesperus II]] in [[3055]]. The primary changes are a switch to [[Double Heat Sinks]] and an updating of its weaponry. Each set of twinned AC/5s in the nose and wings have been replaced by a single [[Poland Model A]] [[Gauss rifle]], the large lasers have been upgraded to [[ExoStar]] [[ER Large Laser|extended range variants]] and the medium lasers have been switched for [[Martell]] [[Medium Pulse Laser|new pulse counterparts]]. The LRM launchers have all been upgraded with [[Artemis IV FCS]], the only weapon removed completely being the sole rear-facing AC/2.<ref name=TRO:3057Rp8-9/><ref name=TRO:3057p10-11/> BV (1.0) = 5,501<ref name=TRO:3057Rp8-9/>, BV (2.0) = 6,154{{cn}}

==Named Vessels==
(See [[:Category:Individual Avenger-class DropShips]])

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Avenger.png|Original illustration of the ''Avenger'' from ''[[DropShips and JumpShips|DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary]]''
Image:Avenger TRO3057r.png|Upgraded ''Avenger'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3057|TRO:3057]]''
</gallery>

==Notes==
* ''Technical Readout: 3057, Revised'' dropped the observation found in previous sources (namely, ''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary'' and ''Technical Readout: 3057'') that the ''Avenger'' can provide ground support in the form of strafing and bombing runs, presumably due to changes in the game rules. However, the earlier, unrevised book remains fully canonical. [[Line Developer]] [[Herbert A. Beas]] had expressly clarified that an omission like this in a follow-up product would not automatically constitute a retcon or decanonisation.

* In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to '''Rächer'''. 

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[BattleSpace]]''
* ''[[DropShips and JumpShips]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3057]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3057 Revised]]''


[[Category:DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Aerodyne DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Assault DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Inner Sphere DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Military DropShip classes]]
[[Category:German renamed units]]