Wasp

Wasp
Production information
Manufacturer	General Mechanics Achernar BattleMechs Defiance Industries Detroit Consolidated MechWorks Hellespont Industrials Irian BattleMechs Unlimited Kali Yama Weapons Industries Taurus Territorial Industries General Motors
Production Year	2464
Model	WSP-1A
Class	Light
Cost	1,646,640 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	20 tons
Chassis	1A Type 3
Armor	Durallex Light
Engine	GM 120
Communications System	Duotech 65
Speed	95.1 km/h
Jump Jets	Rawlings 52
Armament	1xMedium Laser 1xSRM-2
BV (1.0)	335
BV (2.0)	384

Description

The revolutionary Wasp BattleMech was introduced in 2464 as an attempt to create a fast and maneuverable recon BattleMech. The Wasp was revolutionary because of its prototype jump jet system. However, the system was not perfected for most of the next decade.

With improvements in production and jump jet technology, the modern Wasp began production in 2471. Centuries later, the Wasp is still considered a valued asset for recon work. The classic 1A has a ground speed that was considered lackluster when compared to most modern light 'Mechs but the slow ground speed was offset by the Wasps capability to jump up to 180 meters. While carrying heavier weapons than 'Mechs like the Locust, the Wasp will generally only engage other light 'Mechs, using its jumping capabilities to avoid conflicts with larger foes when it can. The Wasp was also known to be used in the role of a raider because of its abilities to hit and fade in rough terrain.

The Wasp is one of the Unseen Mech designs.

Armament

The 1A Wasp carried a light weapons payload meant primarily for self-defense against other light 'Mechs and was not meant to be used to engage heavier 'Mechs. The primary weapon is a Diverse Optics Type 2 Medium Laser. This is backed up by a Bical SRM-2 launcher which can use standard and Inferno rounds, making it useful against either enemy 'Mechs and a good deterrent against infantry and vehicles.

Variants

• WSP-1 - Developed by General Mechanics on Mars in 2464, the prototype Wasp used several primitive components. The primitive engine reduced the top speed to 85km/h and meant that only a single Medium Laser was carried and the prototype jump jets could only cover 150 meters in a jump. The primitive armor provided much less protection than the Succession Wars-era Wasps, even though it carried three and a half tons of armor.

• WSP-1D - This House Davion variant exchanged the SRM-2 launcher for two Small Lasers and a Flamer while retaining the Medium Laser. BV (1.0) = 327, BV (2.0) = 403

• WSP-1K - House Kurita's 1K Wasp carried a Medium Laser and a Machine Gun. The saved weight was used to upgrade the armor by a half ton. BV (1.0) = 330, BV (2.0) = 376

• WSP-1L - The 1L variant of the Wasp produced by House Liao replaced the Medium Laser and SRM-2 launcher with a single SRM-4 launcher. BV (1.0) = 290, BV (2.0) = 335

• WSP-1S - The Federated Commonwealth's model of choice, the Defiance of Furillo manufactured 1S Wasp upgraded the chassis to Endo Steel and the armor to Ferro-Fibrous. This variant carried a Medium Pulse Laser, two Small Lasers, and a Flamer. BV (1.0) = 336, BV (2.0) = 423

• WSP-1W - Produced exclusively for Wolf's Dragoons, the 1W Wasp replaced all of the weapons with six Small Lasers . BV (1.0) = 316, BV (2.0) = 373

• WSP-3A - Developed by the Outworlds Alliance, the 3A was armed with a single Medium Pulse Laser. While using a smaller engine, its reduced ground speed was off-set by enough Improved Jump Jets to rocket 240 meters at a time. Also includes a Full-Head Ejection System. BV (2.0) = 401

• WSP-3L - Developed by Vicore Industries from Word of Blake plans, manufactured by Hellespont of Sian, the 3L variant used the Confederation's new Stealth Armor and an Endo Steel chassis. The 'Mech carried a Guardian ECM Suite, a Diverse Optics ER Medium Laser, and a Death Bloom Rocket Launcher 10. It's also equipped with a Full Head Ejection System. BV (1.0) = 441, BV (2.0) = 610

• WSP-3M - The post-Helm Memory Core House Marik variant, the 3M Wasp upgraded the chassis to Endo Steel and the armor to Ferro-Fibrous. This variant carried a Intek Medium Pulse Laser and a single Irian Weapons Works SRM-2 launcher. BV (1.0) = 346, BV (2.0) = 394

• WSP-3S - The Lyran Alliance's Project Phoenix rebuild, the 3S variant of the Wasp upgraded the structure to an Endo Steel version, replaced the heat sinks to double heat sinks, and carried two ER Medium Lasers, a Full-Head Ejection System, a Guardian ECM suite, and a TAG target designator. BV (1.0) = 584, BV (2.0) = 595

• WSP-3W - Manufactured by Achernar for Wolf's Dragoons, the Clan Invasion era 3W upgraded the armor to Ferro-Fibrous and carried two Small Pulse Lasers and four Small Lasers. BV (1.0) = 276, BV (2.0) = 342

• WSP-7MAF - This variant used an XL Engine on a Hellespont Type W Endo Steel frame to propel the Wasp up to 129 km/h. It also mounted enough jump jets to match, with a maximum range of 240 meters per jump. It had to use this speed to good effect, as it was only protected by three tons of Jolassa 328 armor. The right arm laser was upgraded to a Diverse Optics ER Medium Laser and the design used ten double heat sinks to dissipate waste heat. Finally, a Doombud MML 5 with two tons of ammunition gave it a decent punch at all ranges. In order to make room for these upgrades, a small cockpit and XL Gyro are also used. Despite the unit designation, the design was manufactured by all three members of the Trinity Alliance at Hellespont Industries, Taurus Territorial Industries, and Detroit Consolidated MechWorks. BV (2.0) = 488

• WSP-8T - Manufactured by Hellespont and Detroit Consolidated, the 3T carried a single MML-3 and Light PPC to increase the Wasp's effective range. The increased size of the weaponry forced designers to use a Small Cockpit and XL Engine. BV (2.0) = 439

• WSP-2A Super Wasp - Although it carried the designation WSP-2A, this is actually a new 25-ton 'Mech design based on the regular Wasp in a similar fashion to Clan -IIC evolution of existing designs. Besides being slightly heavier, it was considerably faster and has some extra armor compared to its parent design.

Notes

In Marik Zabielski's dossier from MechWarrior: Dark Age game set Counter Assault, the file cites a unknown variant of the Wasp. The only given information is its serial number: DA4350-11L. This wasp has been equipped with Endo Steel, 120 rated XL Engine, Jump Jets, an Extended Range Medium Laser and an LRM 10 launcher.

Gallery

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  WSP-1 Wasp

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  WSP-3M Wasp

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  Wasp internal schematics view

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  WSP-3L Wasp

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  WSP-3S Wasp

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  WSP-8T Wasp

Bibliography

• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Project Phoenix
• Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: Project Phoenix
• Technical Readout: 3085
• Total Warfare Style Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades
• Solid Periphery Machinery
• MWDA's Confederation Reserve Cavalry - Marik Zabielski's dossier
• Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 2