Black Hawk-KU

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This article is about the 60-ton Inner Sphere OmniMech. For other uses, see Black Hawk.


Black Hawk-KU
Black Hawk-KU cover
Production Information
Manufacturer(s)Corean Enterprises[1]

Coventry Metal Works[1]

Luthien Armor Works (OmniMech Production Facility)[1]

StarCorps Industries[1]

Victory Industries[1]
Production Year3055[2]
ModelBHKU-O[1]
ClassHeavy
Cost14,595,000 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech typeInner Sphere OmniMech
Mass60 tons
ChassisAlshain 52 Endo Steel
ArmorMitchel Argon
EngineVlar 300 XL
CommsSipher CommSys 4b
TTSMatabushi Sentinel Plus
Heat Sinks14 double
Speed86 km/h
Jump JetsIcarus Standard
ArmamentPrimary Configuration
B.V. (1.0)1,510[3][4]
B.V. (2.0)1,731[1][5]


Description[edit]

The Black Hawk-KU is an Inner Sphere version of the Clan Black Hawk OmniMech.[3] [6]

Following the Battle of Wolcott, the Draconis Combine's best scientists began a crash program to reverse engineer the invaders advanced warmachines and develop their own direct replications, only to encounter technical issues due to the far more compact Clan-grade Ferro-fibrous armor and Endo Steel. Among the spoils of the Battle of Luthien however were numerous examples of the Black Hawk, a design that used standard materials for its chassis and armor which the engineers at LAW quickly realized they could clone much more readily. [3] [6]

The resulting design, though ten tons heavier than its Clan sibling to ensure it could provide comparable performance whilst mounting heavier Inner Sphere weaponry, would prove a swift and flexible 'Mech. The Black Hawk-KU was initially deployed with the Legion of Vega for field tests against Clan Smoke Jaguar which saw the Inner Sphere version compare favourably against its lighter and more advanced cousin, before serving with distinction during Operations BIRD DOG, BULLDOG, the First Combine-Dominion War and Draconis March incursion during the FedCom Civil War.[3] [6]

The Black Hawk-KU was also among those OmniMechs licensed to other manufacturers across the Inner Sphere with production also initiated in both the Federated Suns and Lyran Alliance, with Coventry Metal Works hammering out an initial agreement at the First Whitting Conference. While they vary in exact components as each uses locally sourced equipment, independent analysis of LAW and CWM models in What 'Mech? magazine favour Lyran production, citing superior manufacturing processes and tighter quality control. Curiously even Clan Ghost Bear field a number of Black Hawk-KU, now equipped with Clan weapon pods, in its second line clusters thanks to its various conflicts with the Combine.[3] [6]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

In order to make it possible to copy the Black Hawk, the Black Hawk-KU is built ten tons heavier than its Clan counterpart. The Black Hawk-KU is built on a sixty ton chassis and is powered by a Vlar 300 XL engine which propels it to a top speed of 86.4 km/h. The Black Hawk-KU is armored with twelve and a half tons of Mitchel Argon armor giving it almost the maximum amount of protection for its weight. Mounted on the base chassis are five jump jets giving the Black Hawk-KU a jumping distance of up to one hundred and fifty meters in all of its configurations. The Black Hawk-KU has fourteen double heat sinks allowing it to dissipate the significant waste heat that is common to the configurations that fill the seventeen tons of pod space.[3] [6]

Aping the Black Hawk Prime, the primary configuration of the Black Hawk-KU carries six medium lasers as its primary weapons. These are backed up by four highly accurate Medium Pulse Lasers and two Small Lasers. Additionally, two more double heat sinks have been added over what is carried on the base chassis. This configuration shows the strengths and weaknesses of Inner Sphere weapon systems in the 'Mechs various configurations which replicate the Clan versions, while having reduced range and hitting power, they also generate less heat and are much less likely to suffer heat-triggered shutdowns if performing a Alpha Strike.[3][6]

Alternate Configurations[edit]

  • Alternate Configuration A 
    The A configuration of the Black Hawk-KU is intended for long-range combat. The primary weapons are two ER PPCs giving the 'Mech a powerful long range punch. For protection from missile attacks, the A configuration carries two anti-missile systems.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,508[3][7], BV (2.0) = 1,770[1][8]
  • Alternate Configuration C 
    Configured for long-range sniping, the C configuration carries as its primary weapon a Gauss rifle which can strip a ton of armor off an enemy 'Mech at extreme ranges. For close-range defense, the C configuration has a medium laser.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,485[3][11], BV (2.0) = 1,597[1][12]
  • Alternate Configuration D 
    A long range fire support variant, the D configuration carries an LRM-20 launcher, allowing it to provide indirect fire support. The 'Mech also carries an ER Large Laser to allow it to provide long range direct fire support.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,430[3][13], BV (2.0) = 1,539[1][14]
  • Alternate Configuration E 
    A more direct translation of the Black Hawk, the E configuration carries twelve ER medium lasers giving it a powerful close range punch. The 'Mech has an additional five double heat sinks to dissipate the massive amounts of waste heat.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,710[3][15], BV (2.0) = 1,982[1][16]
  • Alternate Configuration F 
    Developed during the Jihad, this version carries a C3 slave to share targeting data. Its firepower comes from a pair of Light PPCs and a single Heavy PPC. BV (2.0) = 1,759[17]
  • Alternate Configuration R 
    Formerly known as the Bulldog variant, this configuration is a field upgrade developed in the midst of Operation Bulldog. It utilized captured Clan Smoke Jaguar weapons to help bolster the SLDF forces in later waves. A mix of arm-mounted short and long range weapons, this configuration mounts two Clan-tech ER Large Lasers mounted in the right, with two Clan Streak SRM-6 launchers in the left. Carrying a ton of reloads of each Streak Missile Launcher, a C3 Slave unit further enhances its abilities. [19] BV (2.0) = 2,193[20]
  • Alternate Configuration U 
    This variant has replaced the left arm ER medium lasers with a Hatchet and a ton of Liquid Storage. The BHKU-OU is intended to support boarding operations against enemy WarShips and DropShips. The improved Liquid Storage capacity allows its jump jets to function much longer periods of time. BV (2.0) = 1,687[21]
  • Alternate Configuration X 
    This variant carries seven medium lasers in each arm and a C3 Slave next to the cockpit. To keep the BHKU-OX cool, it carries an experimental Coolant Pod in the left and right torsos. BV (2.0) = 2,022[22]

Custom Configurations[edit]

  • Albert 
    The custom configuration used by Tai-i Albert Benton of Sorenson's Sabres during his famed unit's action on Luthien in the early Jihad, Black Hawk-KU Albert features a mixture of Clan and Combine technologies. A Clan-tech ER PPC in the left torso is supported by two Clan-tech ER medium lasers in each arm, offering suitable defensive ability to protect the C3 master computer in the right torso. Two additional heat sinks are carried to enhance Albert's heat dissipation. BV (2.0) = 2,377 [23]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Black Hawk-KU has the following Design Quirk:[24][25]

Related OmniMechs[edit]

  • Nova (Black Hawk) - Designers at Luthien Armor Works based the design of the Black Hawk-KU on Nova OmniMech salvage. Because the Nova used few Clan structural components, designers found the Nova the easiest of the Clan OmniMechs to reverse engineer.[26]

Notable Pilots[edit]

See Category:Notable Black Hawk-KU Pilots

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Schwarzfalke-Ku. The model code was accordingly changed to SFKU-O.[citation needed]

Gallery[edit]

  • Original Black Hawk-KU from TRO:3058

  • Black Hawk KU from TRO:3058 Upgrade

  • BHKU-O Black Hawk-KU in combat CCG

  • BHKU-OC Black Hawk-KU in battle from CCG

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, pp. 140–141: "BHKU-O Black Hawk-KU"
  2. ↑ MUL online date for the Black Hawk-KU
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, pp. 140–141: "Black Hawk-KU Profile"
  4. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 250
  5. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 255
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Technical Readout: 3058, pp. 90-91:"BHKU-O Black Hawk-KU"
  7. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 251
  8. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 256
  9. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 252
  10. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 257
  11. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 253
  12. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 258
  13. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 254
  14. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 259
  15. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 255
  16. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 260
  17. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 261
  18. ↑ Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades, p. 134
  19. ↑ The Dragon Roars, p. 6
  20. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 262
  21. ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New, p. 87
  22. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 263
  23. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 13
  24. ↑ BattleMech Manual, p. 90 Design Quirk Table - Black Hawk-KU Entry.
  25. ↑ BattleMech Manual Errata (Version 6.01), p. 9
  26. ↑ Technical Readout: 3058, p. 90

Bibliography[edit]

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