Editing Kanazuchi

{{InfoBoxBattleArmor
| image = Kanazuchi.jpg
| Name = Kanazuchi
| Manufacturer = [[Luthien Armor Works]] <ref>''Technical Readout 3058 Upgrade'' p. 39 </ref>
| production year=3058
| year reference=<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4430/ MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
| Use = Defense
| Weight Class = Assault
| Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]
| Cost = 550,000
| Introduced = [[3058]]
| Mass = 2,000
| Top Speed = 10.8
| Armament = 
*1x [[Medium Laser (Battle Armor)|Medium Laser]]
*2x [[SRM-2 (Battle Armor)|SRM-2]]
*2x [[Anti-Personnel Weapon Mount]]s
| Armor Type = Standard
| BV (1.0) = 61
| BV (2.0) = 72<ref>''Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', pp. 70-72</ref> 
}}

==Description==
The '''Kanazuchi''' (Japanese: "hammer") is a [[Draconis Combine]] [[battle armor]] design, one of the heaviest to come from that realm. It also saw the most trouble getting approved.  Development of the suit began in July [[3053]] as soon as the [[Raiden]] reached its prototype stage and its designers began working on a suit which would carry more weapons and armor.  Originally it was to be called the "Komodo" but when the popular ''[[Komodo]]'' [[BattleMech]] was introduced that same year the name was changed.  Progress proceeded smoothly until the summer of [[3054]] when [[DCMS]] High Command severely reduced the project's budget due to lack of faith in its design.  Undeterred, the team continued their work, often with little or no pay, in order to finally reach the prototype stage in November [[3055]].<ref name=FMDC>''Field Manual: Draconis Combine'', p. 156</ref><ref name=LOS>''LosTech: The MechWarrior's Equipment Guide'', p. 90</ref><ref name=TRO3058u>''Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade'', p. 38</ref>

Unfortunately the first trials were a disaster for the ungainly suit, weighed down with one ton of armor and a dizzying array of weapons: a medium laser, two small lasers, two SRM-2 racks, a flamer and a submachine gun.  Not only was the Kanazuchi slow to move, it was exhausting to wear, and several times its test pilots suffered serious injury from feedback or excessive torque.  High Command nearly killed the project again, but the design team had faith in their ability to build a suit which would meet expectations and for the next year worked round-the-clock with no pay on a redesign.  When the second prototype was demonstrated before the [[Coordinator]] and High Command, it performed well enough to warrant a tripling of the team's budget.  Within eighteen months the suit was ready for its final test, when a captured ''[[Timber Wolf]]'' was brought in to fire its [[ER PPC]] at it.  While the direct hit virtually destroyed the Kanazuchi, the test pilot inside remained alive and the suit was still functional enough to respond with a couple of shots from its main weapon.  Mass production of the suit began in December [[3058]], although relatively few were built at first.  This changed after the [[Combine-Ghost Bear War]] and the Kanazuchi soon became a common sight to the citizens of the Combine.<ref name=FMDC>''Field Manual: Draconis Combine'', p. 156</ref><ref name=LOS>''LosTech: The MechWarrior's Equipment Guide'', p. 90</ref><ref name=TRO3058u/>

==Weapons and Equipment==
The Kanazuchi is armed with a standard [[Medium Laser (Battle Armor)|Medium Laser]] in its right arm.  The weapon is powered by two [[military power pack]]s carried in the back of the suit, although the immense power drain of the weapon still means it's normally reserved for battlefield targets. Supporting the main weapon are two [[SRM-2 (battle armor)|SRM-2]] racks on either side of the cockpit-like section where the pilot sits.  Each launcher has enough reloads to fire twice, although they can only shoot targets within a forward 90° firing arc.<ref name=LOS/><ref name=TRO3058u/>

The suit is also equipped with multiple [[Anti-Personnel Weapon Mount]]s on both its arms and torso.  While only two can be utilized at any one time, the wearer can chose which ones in any combination: both torso mounts, one torso and one arm mount, or both arm mounts.  Using the torso mounts allows for twice as many rounds to be carried but the weapon can only fire at targets within a forward 90° firing arc.  Using the arm mounts gives a greater range of motion but the weapon only carries its standard number of rounds.  Finally the Kanazuchi is equipped with a [[Heavy Battle Claw]] in its left arm.  This claw can be swapped out for other manipulators, such as an [[Industrial Drill]] or [[Salvage Arm]], as mission parameters dictate.<ref name=LOS/>

The 750kg of armoring it carries makes the Kanazuchi one of the best-protected suits built, as demonstrated during its final test.  However due to the nature of its construction the Kanazuchi cannot make anti-'Mech attacks or ride on [[OmniMechs]] like other suits.  Combined with a lack of [[jump jet]]s and top speed of 10.8 km/h, the suit is best utilized in an urban defense role.<ref name=TRO3058u/>

==Variants==
*;Upgrade : A newer version of the Kanazuchi was introduced in [[3070]] to address some of the problems of the original.  It replaces the right-arm laser with two [[Support PPC (Battle Armor)|Support PPCs]], split between the left and right arm, and the SRM launchers with two [[MRM-1|single-tube Medium Range Missile launcher]] and eight reloads.  The heavy claw and AP mounts are retained, as is its heavy armoring. BV (1.0) = 59, BV (2.0) = 67<ref>''Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', p. 73</ref>

*;Support : Introduced in the [[Dark Age]], this version strips out the original armor for more advanced armor protection. This frees enough space to allow the suit to carry ten [[SRM]] tubes.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3150'', p. 222</ref>

===Custom Variants===
*;"Cyclops" : This experimental version introduced in [[3076]] keeps the anti-personnel weapon mounts under the chin, but removes the rest of the weaponry. In its place, a [[Detachable Weapon Mount]] was placed over the right shoulder. This carries an [[Experimental Technology|experimental]] [[Clan]]-made [[Extended Range Medium Pulse Laser|ER Medium Pulse Laser]]. A second [[Heavy Battle Claw]] allows the user to attack light tanks. BV (2.0) = 103<ref>''Experimental Technical Readout: Gladiators'', p. 15</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:kanazuchibattlearmor.jpg|Kanazuchi battle armor
Image:Kanazuchi BA.jpg|Dark Age Kanazuchi battle armor
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
*''[[Experimental Technical Readout: Gladiators]]''
*''[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]]''
*''[[Master Unit List]]''
*''[[Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League)]]''
*''[[Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrade]]''
*''[[Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade]]''
*''[[Technical Readout: 3150]]''

[[Category:Battle Armor]]
[[Category:Assault Battle Armor]]
[[Category:Inner Sphere Battle Armor]]
[[Category:MekTek Battle Armor]]