Warhammer

Warhammer
Production information
Manufacturer	StarCorps Industries
Model	WHM-6R
Class	Heavy
Cost	6,070,984 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	70 tons
Chassis	StarCorp 100
Armor	Leviathon Plus
Engine	VOX 280
Speed	64.8 km/h
Armament	2xPPCs 1xSRM-6 2xMedium Lasers 2xSmall Lasers 2xMachine Guns
BV (1.0)	978
BV (2.0)	1,299

The internal schematics of a Warhammer, please notice the pilot on the right.

Description

The Warhammer was designed and built for the very specific and narrowly defined mission of "destroy or severely damage any 'Mech of the same weight class or lower." In the mission it was designed for, the Warhammer is a very capable 'Mech. The design itself centers on the concept of long-range mobile fire. Because of this, and in order to mount a large enough arsenal to carry out its mission, the Warhammer carries only ten tons of armor, which is less than most 'Mechs of its own weight class. Adding to this is the fact that, although it is based on the concept of "Fire and Maneuver," it has a top speed of 64.8 km/h, which allows faster 'Mechs to close to ranges where the Warhammer's primary weapons are ineffective and its thin armor can be exploited.

Armament

Warhammer from the cover of the original box set

The primary weapons on the Warhammer 6R are a pair of arm-mounted Donal PPCs, which use highly charged accelerated particles to cause significant amounts of damage to enemy 'Mechs at long ranges. Together, both PPCs provide the combined firepower of an Autocannon/20 with a much longer range bracket. For close combat situations, the Warhammer carries two Martell Medium Lasers and two Magna Small Lasers, which provide respectable close range firepower. To exploit any weak points in an enemy's armor, a Holly SRM-6 is also carried and two Sperry Browning Machine Guns act as an effective deterrent to infantry attacks.

Variants

• WHM-4L - The 4L variant of the Warhammer is one of the newest variants of the 'Mech. It completely strips the armor, the engine, and heat sinks from the 'Mech. The 'Mech is powered by an XL Engine that weighs half as much as the original VOX power plant. The 'Mech also carries double heat sinks to vent the excess from its new weapons and its Stealth Armor. The 4L Warhammers primary weapons are two ER PPCs for long-range combat. These are backed up by four Medium Pulse Lasers and a Streak SRM-6 launcher for close range combat. BV (1.0) = 1,321, BV (2.0) = 1,820

• WHM-6D - An alteration of the 6R model, the 6D removed the Machine Guns and the SRM-6 launcher to add an additional four tons of armor to the design to increase its protection in case an enemy is able to close to short ranges with the Warhammer. It also adds a pair of heat sinks. BV (1.0) = 1,169, BV (2.0) = 1,471

• WHM-6K - Another basic modification to the Warhammer, the 6K removes the Machine Guns and their volatile ammunition and replaces them with two heat sinks to allow the 6K model to more easily dissipate waste heat from its PPCs. BV (1.0) = 1,022, BV (2.0) = 1,305

• WHM-6L - The 6L is a very basic weapons swap of the 6R model. The two Machine Guns have been removed and in their place there have been two Flamers added for anti-infantry use. There are no other modifications or alterations on the 6R. BV (1.0) = 943, BV (2.0) = 1,311

• WHM-6Rb - This upgrade of the 6R was used by the SLDF Royals. The use of seventeen double heat sinks allows an Artemis IV Fire Control System to be added to the SRM-6. Ferro-Fibrous armor increases protection.

• WHM-7M - The 7M variant of the Warhammer removes the two Small Lasers and one of the Machine Guns and replaces them with an Anti-Missile System. Additionally, the 7M upgrades the heat sinks to double heat sinks and replaces the PPCs with ER PPCs. BV (1.0) = 1,238, BV (2.0) = 1,487

• WHM-7S - The 7S Warhammer upgrades most of the 'Mechs weapons and also upgrades the cooling system to double heat sinks. The 'Mech carries two ER PPCs, two Small Lasers, two Medium Pulse Lasers, and two Streak SRM-2 launchers. BV (1.0) = 1,236, BV (2.0) = 1,477

WHM-8D Warhammer

• WHM-8D - The 8D shows some of the weapons exchanges that have taken place during the period of relative peace on the Federated Commonwealth and Draconis Combine border. The 'Mech is built using an Endo Steel chassis and has eighteen double heat sinks to dissipate its massive amounts of heat. The 'Mech carries two ER PPCs in traditional Warhammer fashion. For close range work, the 'Mech has two ER Medium Lasers, two ER Small Lasers, and a Streak SRM-6 launcher. Finally, to allow it to share targeting telemetry with other friendly units, the 8D carries a C3 Slave. BV (1.0) = 1,396 (C3: 247), BV (2.0) = 1,744

• WHM-8K - A field refit undertaken by the Combine during the Jihad, the 8K is an upgrade of the Warhammer that strips out the weaponry of the 8D. It is protected by Valiant Ringmail Light Ferro-Fibrous armor, giving it slightly more protection than the 8D and additional mass to use. It puts this to work with paired Lord's Light 3 Heavy Particle Beam Weapons. The only backup weapon is a Guided Technologies Streak SRM-4, which has a CASE-protected ammunition bin. Sixteen double heat sinks provide adequate heat-dissipation capabilities, while a C3 Slave Unit enable the 8K to share targeting telemetry with other like-equipped units. BV (2.0) = 1,748

• WHM-8M - The Warhammer 8M focuses on long range combat. The 'Mech has two ER PPCs, giving it a powerful long range punch, as well as a Light Gauss Rifle that allows the 'Mech to engage an enemy at extreme ranges. For close combat, the 'Mech has two ER Medium Lasers. For heat dissipation, the 8M has a meager twelve double heat sinks and carries thirteen tons of armor protection. BV (1.0) = 1,326, BV (2.0) = 1,631

• WHM-9D - Taking the concept of the 6D even further, the 9D is built on an Endo Steel chassis and uses an XL Engine to upgrade the maximum speed to 86 km/h. The 'Mech carries thirteen and a half tons of armor and is armed with two ER PPCs and two ER Medium Lasers. The 'Mech's weapons are all linked to an advanced Targeting Computer, allowing the Warhammer to direct its firepower with uncanny accuracy. The 9D also has the additional advantage of being able to jump up to ninety meters with three jump jets added to the 'Mech. BV (1.0) = 1,841, BV (2.0) = 2,152

• WHM-9S - The 9S Warhammer utilizes one of the latest pieces of technology from the Lyran Alliance. The 'Mech is built using a Light Fusion Engine, which weighs seventy five percent of the weight of a normal fusion engine. The 'Mech uses this saved weight to add two additional heat sinks and upgrades the heat sinks to double heat sinks. The 'Mech carries two ER PPCs and two ER Medium Lasers and a Streak SRM-6 launcher. The 'Mech is also clad in thirteen tons of armor. BV (1.0) = 1,433, BV (2.0) = 1,653

• Dual Cockpit refits: In the Draconis Combine and the Capellan Confederation, the Warhammer is one of the preferred 'Mechs to install Dual Cockpits on. Standard refits usually install the Dual Cockpit on a WHM-6R (Draconis Combine, removing two small lasers), a WHM-6L (Capellan Confederation, removing a flamer), or a WHM-7M (both, removing a medium laser).

Related BattleMechs

• BattleAxe - One of the mechs that influenced the design of the Warhammer.
• Hammerhands - The other mech that influenced the design of the Warhammer.
• Warhammer IIC - The SLDF's respect for the original Warhammer is reflected by their descendants the Clans, who have produced a ten ton heavier IIC version of the classic design.
• Defiance - Described as a "Warhammer on steroids", the five ton heavier namesake design of Defiance Industries closely apes the visual style and weapons layout of the classic WHM-6R model.

Notable Pilots

• Natasha Kerensky piloted a jet black Warhammer while still serving with Wolf's Dragoons.
• Tai-sa Yorinaga Kurita was a House Kurita warrior who gained notoriety for killing Ian Davion and battling mercenary Colonel Morgan Kell.

References

• Combat Operations
• Old Made New Again
• Record Sheets: 3025/3026
• Record Sheets: 3050
• Record Sheets: 3067
• Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: 3075
• Technical Readout: Project Phoenix