Tomahawk (Aerospace Fighter class)

Revision as of 09:56, 10 August 2014 by Doneve (talk | contribs) (added Design Quirks section)
This article is about the aerospace fighter. For the BattleMech prototyped by Clan Wolf in 3063, see Tomahawk (OmniMech).
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Tomahawk
Production information
Manufacturer Wangker Aerospace
Production Year 2680[1]
Model THK-63
Class Light AeroSpace Fighter
Tech Base Star League
Cost 2,523,132[2]
Technical specifications
Mass 45 tons
Structural Integrity
Frame Shipil 35-B
Power Plant PlasmaStar 270 Fusion Engine
Fuel
Armament
Communications System Telestar Fortran
Tracking & Targeting System IMB 5000
Heat Sinks 12 (Double)
BV (1.0) 1,021[3][4]
BV (2.0) 1,038[5][6][7]

Description

The Tomahawk was designed as a dogfighter, with a good combination of maneuverability and armament. With 6Gs of thrust, five tons of fuel, and weapons that lack ammunition stores, the Tomahawk excels in patrol and escort duties, while ten tons of Ferro-Aluminum armor provides superior protection to other designs of its weight class. Early models suffered from a poor heat dissipation system, a fault that would be largely rectified with the release of the THK-63 model in 2680, with most earlier models similarly upgraded.[5][8]

The Tomahawk would remain in service with the Star League Defense Force for over a hundred years as a key part of its aerospace forces. However, the destruction caused by the Amaris Civil War and the resulting exodus of the SLDF would see the loss of a significant number of Tomahawks, with many more destroyed in the Succession Wars that followed. ComStar was able to maintain a secret stock of Tomahawk fighters, a few of which were donated to the DCMS and FWLM, while the Clans maintained some for their second-line units. The rest of the few surviving Tomahawk fighters could be found in private collections and museums. The Clan Invasion however prompted ComStar to restart production of the Tomahawk with the activation of the Wangker factory on Mars and began upgrading them to advanced models, some of which fell into the hands of the Word of Blake.[5]

Weapons and Equipment

With an armament consisting entirely of laser weaponry, the Tomahawk is a capable air-to-ground combatant as well as a dogfighter. Two Maxell SR Large Lasers give the Tomahawk good firepower, while the single Exostar Small Laser was largely added because the designers feared pilots would balk at a craft without a nose armament.[5][8]

Variants

  • THK-33 
    Prototype first released in 2642. Featured only ten single heat sinks and used standard armor. BV (2.0) = 1,069[9]
  • THK-53 
    The THK-53 Tomahawk was the initial attempt to control the unusual heat difficulties. This variant replaces each wing-mounted Large Laser for a trio of Medium Lasers and two additional heat sinks. The nose-mounted Small Laser is replaced with additional armor.[12] BV (1.0)= 1,078[13] , BV (2.0) = 1,105[6][14]
  • THK-63b 
    The THK-63b Tomahawk, deployed exclusively among SLDF Royal commands, replaces the PlasmaStar 270 Fusion Engine with an XL Engine, using the extra tonnage to upgrade the Small Laser to an ER PPC and adding armor. BV (2.0) = 1,481[15]
  • THK-63CS 
    ComStar variant of the Tomahawk THK-63, standard lasers are replaced by Extended Range Lasers. However, the additional strain placed on the heat dissipation system has led to the return of pilot complaints regarding heat management.[16] BV (2.0) = 1,204[6][17]
  • Tomahawk
    First Clan upgrade of the THK-63, the standard lasers are replaced by Clan versions of ER Laser technology, with the freed-up space used for a superior internal structure supporting additional armor and double heat sinks. Suffers less from heat management problems than the THK-63CS.[18] BV (2.0) = 1,648[6][19]
  • Tomahawk CH 
    The Clan's Heavy Laser variant of the Tomahawk C. Armed with two Heavy Large Lasers, each mounted on one wing, and a Heavy Small Laser mounted in the nose for point-defense purposes. Armor, Internal Structure, and heat sinks are carried over from the first Clan variant.[20] BV (2.0) = 1,589[6][21]

Design Quirks

The Tomahawk CX-11 variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:[22]

References

  1. MUL online date for the Tomahawk (Aerospace Fighter class)
  2. Combat Operations, p. 107
  3. Combat Operations, p. 107
  4. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 76
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, pp. 234-235, "Tomahawk Fighter Profile"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Master Unit List: Battle Values, pp. 188-189
  7. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 336
  8. 8.0 8.1 Technical Readout: 2750, pp. 68-69, "Tomahawk Fighter Profile"
  9. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 333
  10. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 285
  11. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 334
  12. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 286
  13. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 77
  14. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 335
  15. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 39
  16. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 288
  17. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 337
  18. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 289
  19. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 338
  20. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 290
  21. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 339
  22. 22.0 22.1 Experimental Technical Readout: ComStar, p. 13

Bibliography