BattleAxe
Sarna News
| |
| BattleAxe | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Achernar BattleMechs (7K/8D)[1]
|
| Production Year | 2459[2][3][4][5][6] |
| Model | BKX-7K[1] |
| Class | Heavy |
| Cost | 6,384,634 C-bills |
| Technical specifications | |
| 'Mech type | Inner Sphere BattleMech |
| Mass | 70 tons |
| Chassis | Achernar Special Type 4 |
| Armor | StarGuard-X |
| Engine | DAV 280 |
| Communications System | Achernar Electronics HICK-1 |
| Targeting Tracking System | Federated Gatherer |
| Heat Sinks | 15 single |
| Speed | 64 km/h |
| Jump Jets | Rawlings 40-Beta |
| Armament | |
| BV (1.0) | 1,087 |
| BV (2.0) | 1,329[1][3][7][8] |
Contents
Description[edit]
The prototype of the BattleAxe originally appeared in 2459, and relied on the standard armament of the time: lasers and missiles. Over the next fifteen years, the speed was increased by a third and the mass of the cockpit and armor were reduced. In the late 2460s, unsure of the BattleAxe's maneuverability, the introduction of the WSP-1 Wasp inspired designers to mount experimental jump jets onto the upper legs, allowing it to vault over anything it could not run through. Unfortunately, MechWarriors had to go through training for the new jump jets and the landing process, as many died early on. The Federated Suns subsequently switched the Large Lasers in the arms for new Particle Projection Cannons. The BattleAxe only has nine tons of armor, which is comparatively light for a 'Mech of its size. Massive overheating problems, and the introduction of the Hammerhands, eventually ended the operational service of the BattleAxe. The last BattleAxes, considered ancient, were destroyed in a desperate defense of Robinson against conventionally equipped Combat Vehicle formations during the Second Succession War.[3][4][5]
Weapons and Equipment[edit]
The original production variant of this 'Mech, the BKX-7K, utilizes two massive Donal Particle Projection Cannons, which were relatively new at the time. To support the massive cannons, it also has two Federated-5 Shot LRM-5 launchers with one ton of ammo to split between them and a Harpoon-6 SRM-6, giving it something to hit with at all ranges.[3][4]
Variants[edit]
- BKX-1X
- The prototype BattleAxe uses a primitive engine, cockpit and armor. The weapons load is slightly different as well, with Large Lasers in the arms instead of the PPCs of the later variants. A pair of Machine Guns with a half-ton of ammunition defend against infantry units. It carries a single SRM-6 launcher as well as a pair of LRM-5s. The bulky engine is much less efficient than later models, limiting the BattleAxe to a top speed of 54 km/h. In addition, this version of the 'Mech lacks jump jets.[9]
- BKX-8D
- After digging around in their archives, the leaders of Achernar decided to redeem their design in the 3070s. They upgraded the armor to Light Ferro-Fibrous compounds, utilized CASE, and mounted a Light Fusion Engine. They swapped each PPC for a pair of Extended-Range Medium Lasers and the missile racks for three new MML 7. The heat sinks were upgraded to double heat sinks while the jump jets were retained. Rounding out this revamped design is a C3 slave unit.[1] BV (2.0) = 1,592[12][13]
Design Quirks[edit]
The BattleAxe has the following Design Quirk:[14]
The BKX-1X BattleAxe variant is subjected to the following exclusive Design Quirks:[4]
Related BattleMechs[edit]
- Hammerhands - The successor of the BattleAxe.[15]
- Warhammer - The BattleAxe and the Hammerhands influenced the design of the Warhammer.[16]
- BTX-7K Battleax - An apocryphal design that appeared in BattleTechnology magazine. Functionally almost identical to the BKX-7K, it had one less ton of armor and one more ton of LRM ammo; brand names of components are almost entirely different.[17]
Notes[edit]
- In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Streitaxt. The model code was accordingly changed to STX-7T.
Gallery[edit]
Original BattleAxe from TRO:3075
Experimental BKX-1X BattleAxe from XTRO:Primitives II
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Technical Readout: Succession Wars, pp. 126–127: "BKX-7K BattleAxe"
- ↑ TechManual, p. 15
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Technical Readout: 3075, pp. 224-225, "BattleAxe Profile"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 2, p. 7
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Era Digest: Age of War, p. 11
- ↑ MUL online date for the BattleAxe
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 214
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 120
- ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 2, p. 7
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 215
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 121
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 216
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 122
- ↑ BattleMech Manual, p. 90 Design Quirk Table - BattleAxe Entry.
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3075, p. 224-226
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3075, p. 224-226
- ↑ BattleTechnology, Issue #0203, pp. 40–41