First designed in 3048 by Akula Corporate Engineering, 
the BW7-A Black Widow is one of the most unique 
Battlemechs in the Inner Sphere.  While the 'mech 
appears gangly and unstable, in test after test it has 
proven to be an effective and versatile medium 'mech.  
What really sets this 'mech above others in its class is its 
surprising simplicity.  Utilizing a standard fusion engine, the 
designers managed to make the mech affordable, durable, 
and easy to repair.


The Black Widow has benefited from the new technology 
that came with the Clan Invasion.  Now using materials 
such as Endo Steel internals and Ferro Fibous armor, the 
Black Widow has evolved from a garrison quality medium 
'mech into a a truly versatile line mech.  A.C.E. designers 
seem to have picked a winner with the design of the 
Black Widow.  

Capabilities:

The Black Widow can serve any number of combat roles, 
but serves best as a harrasser or heavy scout.  It's Magna 
Firestar erPPC gives the Black Widow a considerable 
punch out to long range, and to supplement the erPPC, 
A.C.E. included a pair of Victory 23R Medium Lasers and 
a Starflash Small Laser.  This makes the Black Widow 
even more deadly as it closes range.


With it's 300 Vlar engine, the Black Widow can reach 
speeds in excess of 95 KPH.  This combined with its 6 
Chilton 420 jump jets gives the Black Widow a 
considerable edge in combat manueverability.  This 
manueverablity combined with its impressive weapons 
load makes the Black Widow a very dangerous opponant.


As for armor, the Black Widow is not lacking.  Utilizing 8 
tons of A.C.E. Type 3 Medium Ferro Fibrous armor, the 
Black Widow can take a severe pummeling and still 
remain operational.  A.C.E. also opted to use Endo Steel 
interanl structure for the chasis, which gives the Black 
Widow a much stronger skeleton at the cost of reduced 
internal space.

Variants:

There is an upgraded variant of the Black Widow, known 
as the BW7-A2.  This variant upgraded the small laser with 
extended range technology, replaced the medium lasers 
with pulse technology, and replaced the erPPC with an er 
Large Laser.  While this upgrade did substantially increase 
the Black Widow's short range firepower, the loss of the 
erPPC proved to be an unpopular modification.  Only 40 
BW7-A2's were produced before production was halted.  
Production of the BW7-A, the orginal design, continues at 
a steady pace at A.C.E.'s Outreach manufacturing site.

Deployment:

While the Black Widow has seen very few deployments in 
the armies of the Great Houses, it has become very 
popular with the numerous mercenary units and Periphery 
Kingdoms found in the Inner Sphere.  Rumor also has it 
that a large number of Black Widows were recently 
ordered by the Federated Commonwealth, but this rumor 
has yet to be substantiated.


Black Widow lances are generally deployed to support 
other heavier units of the regiment they are assigned to.  
Used mostly in quick hit and fade attacks, or to scout in 
force, the Black Widow has time and again proven itself 
up to any task it has been assigned.