Wolfhound

Wolfhound
Wolfhound
Production information
Manufacturer	TharHes Industries Arc-Royal MechWorks
Production Year	3052
Model	WLF-2
Class	Light
Cost	3,141,180 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	35 tons
Chassis	Arc-Royal KH/3
Armor	Durallex Medium
Engine	GM 210
Speed	97.2 km/h
Armament	1xER Large Laser 4xMedium Lasers
BV (1.0)	903
BV (2.0)	1,061

Description

A light, rugged, and dependable design; the Wolfhound made its first appearance in 3028. The 'Mech is built to be a direct counter to the Panther used by the Draconis Combine. The 'Mech's payload consists entirely of energy weapons, which means that if not careful, a poorly trained MechWarrior can easily overheat the machine, although the 'Mech does use double heat sinks in an attempt to mitigate its heat build-up. The Wolfhound is heavily armored for its size with seven and a half tons of armor and has a maximum speed of 97.2 kph. Because it does not use an extra-light engine and carries no explosive ammunition, the Wolfhound can potentially weather severe amounts of damage before being forced to retreat off of the field. The Wolfhound also includes the same Full-Head Ejection System as the Hatchetman.

Armament

The Wolfhound has a very basic weapons array. The primary long-range weapon is a Cyclops XII ER Large Laser, which allows the Wolfhound to strike at ranges of up to five hundred and seventy meters. As secondary weapons for close combat, the Wolfhound is armed with four Defiance B3M Medium Lasers, one of which is rear mounted, giving it a powerful short-range punch.

Variants

• WLF-1 - The original Wolfhound model, produced from 3028 until the introduction of the WLF-2 variant in 3052. The pre-Helm Memory Core WLF-1's primary weapon is a standard Setanta Large Laser, making its striking distance shorter than that of the later model, while its ten standard heat sinks did not dissipate as much waste heat as the newer double heat sinks used on the WLF-2. BV (1.0) = 736, BV (2.0) = 949

• WLF-1A - This model simply removes the rear mounted Medium Laser and adds an extra Heat Sink. BV (2.0) = 967

• WLF-1B - This model has all its Medium Lasers firing forward. BV (2.0) = 967

• WLF-2H - This is a production model of the WLF-2X described below. To ease production, the Actuator Enhancement System has been removed and replaced by an extra heat sink. The Reflective Armor has been replaced by the standard armor available anywhere in the Inner Sphere. The Heavy PPC retains the PPC Capacitor, and the XL Engine retains the Supercharger that allows for impressive speed boosts. A pair of ER Medium Lasers and an ER Small Laser round out the weapons. BV (2.0) = 1,511

• WLF-2X - Developed by Arc-Royal MechWorks in the midst of the Jihad, the extensively modified WLF-2X variant utilizes experimental technology. Using an Endo Steel chassis and an extra-light engine to save weight, the 2X's main weapon is a right-arm mounted Heavy PPC enhanced by both a PPC Capacitor and an Actuator Enhancement System. The torso mounted weapons remain lasers - specifically, two ER Medium Lasers and a single ER Small Laser - while ten double heat sinks allow it to keep their increased thermal output in check. Enhanced defensive protection comes in the form of supercharger-enhanced speed and cosmetically styled Laser Reflective Armor. BV (2.0) = 2,017

• WLF-3M - A post-Jihad field refit of the WLF-3S in use among the states of the former Free Worlds League, the 3M removes two double heat sinks and one half ton of armor to replace the ER PPC and ER Lasers with a right-arm mounted Light Gauss Rifle with a single ton of reloads. BV (2.0) = 786

• WLF-3S - The 3S sacrifices some of the 'Mech's durability for an increase in firepower. The 'Mech is powered by a Light Fusion Engine which frees up space on the chassis for new equipment. The ER Large Laser has been removed and replaced with an ER PPC, extending its range even further. The Medium Lasers have been replaced with three forward facing ER Medium Lasers and a rear facing ER Small Laser. Finally, the chassis is now built using Endo Steel and the 'Mech has two additional double heat sinks to help handle the much heavier heat burden. BV (1.0)= 944, BV (2.0)= 1,179

• WLF-4W - The 4W is based on the WLF-2 model and is intended as a mid-range harasser. The 4W has an Endo Steel chassis and carries three Light PPCs mounted in the torsos, as well as an ER Medium Laser and an ER Small Laser in the right arm.

• WLF-4WA - An electronic warfare variant of the WLF-4W model, the 4WA retains the trio of torso mounted Fusigon Longtooth Light PPCs, but exchanges the arm-mounted lasers for a Guardian ECM Suite. BV (2.0) = 1,050

• WLF-5 - A post-Jiahd variant produced on Arc-Royal alongside the WLF-4W, the WLF-5 is built on an Endo Steel frame and is powered by larger 245 rated XL Engine to increase its ground speed by 20 km/h, capable of almost 150 km/h in short bursts due to the inclusion of MASC. Replacing the armament of lasers with an array of PPCs; a right-arm mounted Hound's-tooth Snub-Nose PPC is supported by a pair of torso-mounted Defiance 1002 Light PPCs. BV (2.0) = 1,290

• Wolfhound IIC - Phelan Kell and his Wolfhound, nicknamed "Grinner", were captured by the forces of Clan Wolf during Operation Revival. When Phelan was inducted into the Wolf Clan as a Warrior, Khan Ulric Kerensky ordered his 'Mech be upgraded using Clan technology. BV (1.0) = 1473, BV (2.0) = 1,176

Custom Variants

• WLF-1 Allard - BV (2.0) = 1,941

Related Battlemechs

• Wolf Trap - The Draconis Combine designed the medium Wolftrap specifically to counter the Wolfhound. It shares the Wolfhound's movement profile, but is far more reliant on ammunition-consuming weapons.

Notable Pilots

Famous individuals in the BattleTech universe who piloted Wolfhounds include:

• Daniel Allard, who received one of the prototypes in 3028 after the destruction of his Valkyrie in 3027. Originally a stock WLF-1 model, it was later upgraded to WLF-2 standard and finally with Clan-tech weapons salvaged from the Battle of Luthien. Allard continued to pilot his Wolfhound even after rising to overall command of the Kell Hounds up until his death on Graceland in 3069 during combat against Clan Jade Falcon.

• Phelan Kell, son of Morgan Kell, also piloted a Wolfhound while serving with the Hounds until his capture by Clan Wolf in 3049. After being dissected and studied by Clan scientists, when Phelan was granted full warrior status Khan Ulric Kerensky authorized the reconstruction of his Wolfhound to become the aforementioned Wolfhound IIC variant.

Design Quirks

• The WLF-2H Wolfhound variant is subject of the following Design Quirks:
• Cooling System Flaws
• Easy to Maintain
• Rumble Seat

Gallery

• 

  WLF-1 Wolfhound in Combat

• 

  WLF-1 Wolfhound from the Fourth Succession War

• 

  WLF-2 Wolfhound

• 

  WLF-2 Wolfhound

• 

  WLF-5 Wolfhound

• 

  Experimental WLF-2X Wolfhound

• Battle of Tukayyid (6).jpg

  Wolfhound in combat

Bibliography

• Experimental Technical Readout: Mercs
• Master Unit List: Battle Values
• Record Sheets: 3050
• Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere)
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge
• Record Sheets: Upgrades
• Starterbook: Sword and Dragon
• Starterbook: Wolf and Blake
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
• Wolf's Dragoons
• MechWarrior: Dark Age's Dossier Stormhammer officer Tamara Duke
• MechWarrior: Dark Age's Knight of the Sphere Marcel Thennes
• Technical Readout: Prototypes