Sarna News: Bad 'Mechs - Icestorm

Editing Land-Air BattleMech

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{{Update Needed|[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]|[[Technical Readout: 3085]]|[[Era Report: 2750]]|[[Objective Raids]]|[[Invading Clans]]|[[Handbook: House Kurita]]|[[Interstellar Operations]]}}
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{{Update Needed|[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]], [[Technical Readout: 3085]], [[Era Report: 2750]], [[Objective Raids]], [[Invading Clans]], [[Handbook: House Kurita]], [[Interstellar Operations]]}}
  
 
Originally conceived during the [[Star League]] era, the '''Land-Air BattleMech''' (or more commonly the '''Land-Air 'Mech''' and abbreviated '''LAM''')<ref name=IOAEp100>''Interstellar Operation: Alternate Eras'', pp. 100-109: "Land-Air BattleMechs (Multiple Eras)"</ref>  is a hybrid military unit capable of transforming between [[BattleMech]] and [[aerospace fighter]] forms. This ability conveys great speed and flexibility at the cost of power and protection. LAMs are a preferred recon and raiding unit but their fragility and rarity made them uncommon in the original [[SLDF]] and increasingly so in the [[BattleTech eras|Succession War]] era. Save for a brief revival during the final years of the [[Word of Blake]], the Land-Air 'Mech has been relegated to museums.
 
Originally conceived during the [[Star League]] era, the '''Land-Air BattleMech''' (or more commonly the '''Land-Air 'Mech''' and abbreviated '''LAM''')<ref name=IOAEp100>''Interstellar Operation: Alternate Eras'', pp. 100-109: "Land-Air BattleMechs (Multiple Eras)"</ref>  is a hybrid military unit capable of transforming between [[BattleMech]] and [[aerospace fighter]] forms. This ability conveys great speed and flexibility at the cost of power and protection. LAMs are a preferred recon and raiding unit but their fragility and rarity made them uncommon in the original [[SLDF]] and increasingly so in the [[BattleTech eras|Succession War]] era. Save for a brief revival during the final years of the [[Word of Blake]], the Land-Air 'Mech has been relegated to museums.
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Produced in limited numbers by only a handful of factories, the majority of LAM manufacturers were among those factories lost to the maelstrom of the early Succession Wars. Some of the most pyrrhic objective raids in the Succession War era saw whole regiments of conventional BattleMechs and aerospace fighters heavily damaged or lost to capture a few LAMs or LAM spare part stores. By the [[Third Succession War]], the high cost and rarity of LAMs had made military commanders increasingly wary of committing these prized relics to battle and most had turned to replacing them with more plentiful conventional counterparts in their TOEs.
 
Produced in limited numbers by only a handful of factories, the majority of LAM manufacturers were among those factories lost to the maelstrom of the early Succession Wars. Some of the most pyrrhic objective raids in the Succession War era saw whole regiments of conventional BattleMechs and aerospace fighters heavily damaged or lost to capture a few LAMs or LAM spare part stores. By the [[Third Succession War]], the high cost and rarity of LAMs had made military commanders increasingly wary of committing these prized relics to battle and most had turned to replacing them with more plentiful conventional counterparts in their TOEs.
  
By [[3025]] only a single factory remained in the [[Inner Sphere]] that could produce LAM parts and possibly assemble whole new LAMs: LexaTech Industries on the [[Draconis Combine]] planet of [[Irece]]. It was specialized in the ''Stinger LAM''s, however circumstantial evidence suggests many spare parts from that design could be used on the ''[[Wasp]] LAM'' as well. Irece was captured by [[Clan Nova Cat]] in [[3050]]. The strict Clan system has no place for LAM pilots, mainly because their unique position blurs the distinction between [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] and aerospace pilot, and evidence supports the common belief that the Nova Cats have dismantled or refitted that facility. Other sources claim it was razed to the ground. As a result of that action, new repair parts are no longer available for LAMs - forcing those using them to rely even more heavily upon the salvage mentality of the Succession Wars to keep them in operation, as the replacement parts were said to be as scarce as the 'mechs they came from.<ref name=TRO3085-286>''Technical Readout: 3085'', pp. 286–288: "LAMs"</ref><ref>''Yesterday's Enemy''</ref>
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By [[3025]] only a single factory remained in the [[Inner Sphere]] that could produce LAM parts and possibly assemble whole new LAMs: LexaTech Industries on the [[Draconis Combine]] planet of [[Irece]]. It was specialized in the ''Stinger LAM''s, however circumstantial evidence suggests many spare parts from that design could be used on the ''[[Wasp]] LAM'' as well. Irece was captured by [[Clan Nova Cat]] in [[3050]]. The strict Clan system has no place for LAM pilots, mainly because their unique position blurs the distinction between [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] and aerospace pilot, and evidence supports the common belief that the Nova Cats have dismantled or refitted that facility. Other sources claim it was razed to the ground. As a result of that action, new repair parts are no longer available for LAMs - forcing those using them to rely even more heavily upon the salvage mentality of the Succession Wars to keep them in operation, and the pieces were said to cost almost as a duchy.<ref name=TRO3085-286>''Technical Readout: 3085'', pp. 286–288: "LAMs"</ref><ref>''Yesterday's Enemy''</ref>
  
 
It thus came as a shock to many when the Word of Blake introduced three brand-new LAM designs during the final days of the Blakist control of both [[Gibson]] and [[Terra]]. However not even the Word was able to overcome the same limitations as the Star League, using more compact and efficient Clan-Tech weaponry and the advantages of elite [[VDNI]]-equipped [[Manei Domini]] pilots to make them viable combatants on the modern battlefield. Produced in only limited numbers, with the destruction of the factories for these so-called [[Spectral LAM]]s during the [[Operation SCOUR|Liberation of Terra]] and the [[Principality of Regulus|Regulan]] sterilization of Gibson, the Land-Air 'Mech is once again destined for the museum.<ref name=JFR-139>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 139: "Legacies of the Word - Spectral LAMs"</ref>
 
It thus came as a shock to many when the Word of Blake introduced three brand-new LAM designs during the final days of the Blakist control of both [[Gibson]] and [[Terra]]. However not even the Word was able to overcome the same limitations as the Star League, using more compact and efficient Clan-Tech weaponry and the advantages of elite [[VDNI]]-equipped [[Manei Domini]] pilots to make them viable combatants on the modern battlefield. Produced in only limited numbers, with the destruction of the factories for these so-called [[Spectral LAM]]s during the [[Operation SCOUR|Liberation of Terra]] and the [[Principality of Regulus|Regulan]] sterilization of Gibson, the Land-Air 'Mech is once again destined for the museum.<ref name=JFR-139>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 139: "Legacies of the Word - Spectral LAMs"</ref>
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It should be noted that these LAMs are typically somewhat heavier than the BattleMechs they are based on (by 5 tons in the case of the ''Phoenix Hawk LAM'', and by 10 tons otherwise). Although some components from the 'Mechs may have been used, the LAMs are entirely different machines and look distinctively different from their respective conceptual parent designs. In that respect, their names are somewhat misleading.
 
It should be noted that these LAMs are typically somewhat heavier than the BattleMechs they are based on (by 5 tons in the case of the ''Phoenix Hawk LAM'', and by 10 tons otherwise). Although some components from the 'Mechs may have been used, the LAMs are entirely different machines and look distinctively different from their respective conceptual parent designs. In that respect, their names are somewhat misleading.
  
The progenitor for all LAMs was the ''[[Shadow Hawk LAM]]'', a 55 ton variant that featured only two modes instead of the three that later LAMs had. Though it paved the way for later LAMs, the ''Shadow Hawk'' LAM never made it out of the prototype stage and was canceled by the [[SLDF]].<ref>''Technical Readout: 3085'', p. 290</ref> Similarly, the remains of a long-forgotten ''[[Scorpion LAM]]'' project were discovered in a bunker on [[Hesperus II]] in [[3065]], where prototypes were found, but since the project was regarded as "unworkable" and abandoned, it is extremely unlikely that these prototypes were functional LAMs. Another failed prototype was [[Bergan Industries]]' 65-ton ''[[Champion LAM]]'', which, while capable in both fighter and 'Mech modes, demonstrated several dangerous flaws and poor performance that led to the project's cancelation.<ref>''Experimental Technical Readout: Boondoggles'', p. 6: "CPN-1X1 ''Champion LAM'' profile"</ref> The last known Star League era LAM was the ''[[Screamer]]'', built under the orders of the Usurper [[Stefan Amaris]] during his desperate attempts to resist the vengeful SLDF. Only a single prototype of the 55-ton ''Screamer'' was constructed, its pilot crashing mid-conversion in Europe during [[Operation LIBERATION]].<ref name=XTROG-5>''Experimental Technical Readout: Gunslingers'', p. 5: "SCR-1X-LAM Screamer LAM"</ref>
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The progenitor for all LAMs was the ''[[Shadow Hawk LAM]]'', a 55 ton variant that featured only two modes instead of the three that later LAMs had. Though it paved the way for later LAMs, the ''Shadow Hawk'' LAM never made it out of the prototype stage and was canceled by the [[SLDF]].<ref>''Technical Readout: 3085'', p. 290</ref> Similarly, the remains of a long-forgotten ''[[Scorpion LAM]]'' project were discovered in a bunker on [[Hesperus II]] in [[3065]]. Here prototypes were found, but since the project was regarded as "unworkable" and abandoned it is extremely unlikely that these prototypes were functional LAMs. Another failed prototype was [[Bergan Industries]]' 65-ton ''[[Champion LAM]]'', which, while capable in both fighter and 'Mech modes, demonstrated several dangerous flaws and poor performance that led to the project's cancelation.<ref>''Experimental Technical Readout: Boondoggles'', p. 6: "CPN-1X1 ''Champion LAM'' profile"</ref> The last known Star League era LAM was the ''[[Screamer]]'', built under the orders of the Usurper [[Stefan Amaris]] during his desperate attempts to resist the vengeful SLDF. Only a single prototype of the 55-ton ''Screamer'' was constructed, its pilot crashing mid-conversion in Europe during [[Operation LIBERATION]].<ref name=XTROG-5>''Experimental Technical Readout: Gunslingers'', p. 5: "SCR-1X-LAM Screamer LAM"</ref>
  
 
===Clan LAMs===
 
===Clan LAMs===
Though Clans as a whole despised the LAM concept, at least [[Clan Jade Falcon]] ran a program where [[Dual Cockpit|dual-cockpit]] [[Land-Air 'Mech|LAM]]s were being developed, among them a ''Phoenix Hawk'' LAM, though the conflict between the aerospace and MechWarrior pilots and inherent fraility of the LAMs resulted in [[Star Captain]] [[Horse]] later issued a report to Khan [[Marthe Pryde]], recommending the closing of the installation, and canceling its LAM program. There are no more references of more Clan attempts to create LAMs.<ref>''Freebirth'', ch. 15–18</ref><ref>''Freebirth'', ch. 20–37</ref>
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Though Clans as a whole despised the LAM concept, at least [[Clan Jade Falcon]] ran a program where [[Dual Cockpit|dual-cockpit]] [[Land-Air 'Mech|LAM]]s were being developed, among them a ''Phoenix Hawk'' LAM, though [[Star Captain]] [[Horse (Jade Falcon)|Horse]] later issued a report to Khan [[Marthe Pryde]], recommending the closing of the installation, and canceling its LAM program.<ref>''Freebirth'', ch. 15–18</ref><ref>''Freebirth'', ch. 20–37</ref>
  
 
===Word of Blake LAMs===
 
===Word of Blake LAMs===
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* ''[[Technical Readout: 3025]]''
 
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3025]]''
 
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3085]]''
 
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3085]]''
* ''[[Yesterday's Enemy]] in [[Shrapnel#1]]''
 
  
  
 
[[Category:Technology]]
 
[[Category:Technology]]
 
[[Category:'Mech classifications]]
 
[[Category:'Mech classifications]]

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