Snow Fox

This article is about the 20-ton BattleMech. For the creature from Hector, see Snow Fox (species).
Snow Fox
Snow Fox
Production information
Manufacturer Hector MechWorks Facility Beta[1]
Production Year 3015[2]
Model Standard
Class Light
Introduced 3015[3]
Cost 1,826,200 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type Clan BattleMech
Mass 20 tons
Chassis Hellion Slopeback V1 (Quad)
Armor Compound Alpha Ferro-Fibrous
Engine 160-rated fusion engine
Communications System HCFA 3035 2.0
Targeting Tracking System HCFA 3047 1.5
Heat Sinks 10 single heat sinks
Speed 127 km/h (172 km/h with MASC)
Armament
BV (1.0) 627[4]
BV (2.0) 807[1][5]


Description[edit]

The Snow Fox was designed by Clan Ice Hellion as a fast 'Mech that is capable of fulfilling a number of roles. Its primary weapon is its speed, which it uses to quickly close with enemies, swiftly damage them, and get out before repeating the process; this allows the design to work well as a battle armor hunter. The Hellions scientists were also gauging warrior interest in a quad design and saw the Snow Fox as a testbed for a future quad OmniMech, but the interest was not there; not only are bipedal 'Mechs more intuitive to operate, the fast quad takes getting used to and lacks hands. Finally, it is protected as well as it can be by four tons of ferro-fibrous armor.[citation needed]

While its original version has been discontinued and retired, the OmniMech version of Snow Fox was developed by Clan Goliath Scorpion and remains in production and service.[6][7]

The aesthetics of the Snow Fox were based on a predator common to the icy plains of the Ice Hellion world of Hector, the Snow Fox.[1]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

Armed with only a head-mounted Series 2f ER medium laser and a pair of Series 1-s ER small lasers, the Snow Fox excels at making high-speed passes. Though the 'Mech uses single heat sinks, it takes an extremely bad pilot to cause the Snow Fox any overheating problems.[1]

Variants[edit]

  • Snow Fox
    The first known variant of the Snow Fox introduced 3015[3] during the Succession Wars era or Golden Century. This variant replaces the lasers with an LRM-10, creating a very mobile support 'Mech. It is also incapable of building any noticeable amount of heat before it starts taking damage. BV (1.0) = 484,[4] BV (2.0) = 604[8]
  • Snow Fox
    A Jihad-era variant, introduced in 3072[3], this design makes room for improvements by replacing the standard fusion engine with an XL model. Additional improvements to the design include increases to the mech's speed and armor, and upgrade weaponry includes an ER medium laser, an ATM-3 launcher with 2 tons of ammunition, and a pair of AP Gauss rifles with one ton of ammunition dedicated to them. BV (2.0) = 903[9]

Alternate Configurations[edit]

  • Snow Fox (Omni) Alternate Configuration A 
    This configuration carries three LRM-5 launchers, one in each side torso and one in the head. The two side torsos also carry two flamers each, for a total of four. A single ton of LRM ammunition is carried in a CASE protected bay in the center torso. BV (2.0) = 831[11]
  • Snow Fox (Omni) Alternate Configuration B 
    This direct fire configuration mounts a single ER large laser in the head, supported by a medium pulse laser in the center torso. BV (2.0) = 1,249[12]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Snow Fox has the following Design Quirks:[13]

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper Clan name was slightly altered to Gletscherfuchs, which literally means "Glacier Fox."

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Technical Readout: 3060, pp. 134–135: "Snow Fox 'Mech Profile"
  2. MUL online date for the Snow Fox
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Master Unit List - "Snow Fox"
  4. 4.0 4.1 Combat Operations, p. 115
  5. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 200
  6. MUL online date for the Snow Fox
  7. MUL online date for the Snow Fox
  8. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 201
  9. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 202: "Snow Fox's Jihad era variant and BV 2"
  10. Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade, p. 35
  11. Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade, p. 36
  12. Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade, p. 37
  13. BattleMech Manual, p. 94: BattleMech Quirk Table - Snow Fox Entry

Bibliography[edit]