Woodsman

Woodsman
Woodsman
Production information
Manufacturer

Wolf Clan Site 2


Earthwerks Incorporated[1]

Production Year 2865[2]
Model Prime
Class Heavy
Technical specifications
'Mech type Clan OmniMech
Mass 75 tons
Chassis WOD-1 [endo steel]
Armor Durallex Heavy
Engine Wolf 300
Communications System WolfCom 3-4
Targeting Tracking System CW3
Heat Sinks 17 Double Heat Sinks
Speed 64 km/h (86 km/h with MASC)
Jump Jets by configuration
Armament

Primary Configuration

BV (2.0) 2,623[3]


Description[edit]

The first heavy OmniMech developed by Clan Wolf, the Woodsman was one of the most heavily tested weapons ever produced by the Clan. Every last detail was considered and problems were eliminated before production began. This resulted in a chassis that would not only function well in the Clan's front line forces for nearly a century, but also inspire the Timber Wolf, Gargoyle, and Naga OmniMechs.[3][4][5][6][7]

Heavy armor provided excellent protection, while a standard fusion engine improved longevity on the battlefield. The light Endo Steel chassis allowed the Woodsman to devote 27 tons to pod space, allowing many mission specific loadouts and prototype weapon configurations. The permanently installed MASC system allowed a pilot to briefly exceed 80 km/h to either withdraw or capitalize on breaches in enemy ranks. Though it served the Wolf Clan well, it was eventually surpassed by newer designs. The Woodsman was relegated to second-line units, and then eventually phased out of service completely by the time of Operation Revival. There are some rumors that a few Dark Caste bandits may have a Woodsman, but these reports remain unconfirmed.[8]

In 3149 the Woodsman was returned to production in the Wolf Empire to quickly rebuild the touman.[1]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The primary Woodsman configuration would be mirrored in the default Timber Wolf weapon load. Each arm carried an ER Large Laser and an ER Medium Laser, and a pair of LRM-15s rounded out the configuration in each side torso. To provide anti-infantry capability, a pair of Machine Guns were mounted in the center torso. Five additional pod mounted double heat sinks brought the total up to seventeen, allowing the Woodsman to fire most of its weaponry without worrying about heat overloads.

The Woodsman was so versatile that it was often used by Wolf scientists to test new weapons and weapon configurations. The Naga's dual Arrow IV launcher configuration, for example, was tested on the Woodsman chassis.

Alternate Configurations[edit]

  • Alternate Configuration A 
    The most common alternate configuration in the Woodsman's long career mounted two ER PPCs, two Medium Pulse Lasers, and a Large Pulse Laser and ER Small Laser for backup. It keeps the same number of double heat sinks as the primary configuration, but relocates them across the torso. BV (2.0) = 2,741[9]
  • Alternate Configuration C 
    In this configuration, the Woodsman carries two Improved Heavy Large Lasers in the left arm to remove large amounts of armor from opposing units. An LB 10-X autocannon in the right arm allows cluster shot to capitalize on armor breaches and immobilize vehicles. Electronic warfare support comes from a Watchdog CEWS, and six additional double heat sinks are installed to handle the laser heat. BV (2.0) = 2,230[10][12]
  • Alternate Configuration D 
    More of a support configuration, the D loadout carries a pair of Mech Mortar/4s in each of the side torsos. Four tons of mortar ammo sit in each side torso. Each arm carries a pair of ER Medium Lasers. The Watchdog CEWS carried in the C configuration is also found here. BV (2.0) = 1,902[10][13]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Woodsman and variants, unless specified otherwise, are subject to the following Design Quirk:[14]

Related OmniMechs[edit]

  • Timber Wolf - The Timber Wolf was one of three OmniMech chassis designed as replacements for the Woodsman OmniMech. The Timber Wolf was meant to be a direct upgrade of the original, while the Gargoyle and the Naga OmniMechs were designed with more specialized roles in mind.[3][6]
  • Gargoyle - By increasing both the size and engine of the Woodsman chassis, Clan Wolf engineers were able to create the Gargoyle Clan OmniMech. The Gargoyle's armor protection and top speeds are virtually identical to that of the Woodsman without requiring a temperamental MASC system. The drawback to removing the MASC was a 6-ton reduction in pod space.[4][3][7]
  • Naga - In regards to appearance, the Naga is strikingly similar to the Woodsman chassis. However, the role of the Naga is very different from the very flexible Woodsman; the Naga was adapted into a dedicated fire support/artillery unit, with fixed Arrow IV systems in each side torso. This left only enough pod space for pilots to customize the Naga's secondary weapons, ammo load, or point defense.[3][4][5]
  • Naga II - Refit of the Naga mech derived from the Woodsman[15]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Technical Readout: Golden Century, p. 36
  2. Era Digest: Golden Century, p. 21, "Random Assignment Tables"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Era Digest: Golden Century, p. 25
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Technical Readout: 3055, p. 140
  5. 5.0 5.1 Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, p. 92
  6. 6.0 6.1 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 136
  7. 7.0 7.1 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 138
  8. Era Digest: Golden Century, p. 25 "WOODSMAN"
  9. Era Digest: Golden Century, p. 34
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Technical Readout: Golden Century, p. 37
  11. Technical Readout: Golden Century, p. 114
  12. Technical Readout: Golden Century, p. 115
  13. Technical Readout: Golden Century, p. 116
  14. BattleMech Manual, p. 95 - Design Quirk Table - Woodsman Entry.
  15. Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 26

Bibliography[edit]