TMHK-2T Tomahawk
Mass: 65 tons
Chassis: Heavy Mk 2
Power Plant: Magna 260
Cruising Speed: 43.5 kph
Maximum Speed: 66.2 kph
Jump Jets: Lifter 50s
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: Hoyt StarPlate 6
Armament:
1 Taurus WarWorks Particle Projection Cannon
2 Delta Dart Long Range Missile-5 Racks
1 Delta Bolt-4 Short Range Missile Rack
2 Taurus WarWorks Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: Taurus WarWorks
Primary Factory: Taurus
Communication System: Pinard-Dicolais ComAlpha
Targeting & Tracking System: VeraTech MechTnT XVT75R
Type: Tomahawk
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 65 tons
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 6.5
Engine 260 13.5
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 4
Heatsinks 13 3
Gyro 3
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor 208 13
IS Armor
Head 3 9
CT 21 30/11
LT/RT 15 24/6
LA/RA 10 20
LL/RL 15 29
Weapons & Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
PPC RA 3 7
LRM 5 RT 1 2
Ammo (24) RT 1 1
LRM 5 LT 1 2
Ammo (24) LT 1 1
SRM 4 LT 1 2
Ammo (50) LT 2 2
2 Medium Lasers LA 2 2
Jump Jets RL 2 2
Jump Jets LL 2 2
Overview:
In 2502 the Taurian Concordat sought a new heavy battlemech for its forces. Having focused most of its efforts on building large numbers of Toro battlemechs, the TDF was a light force compared to that of the Federated Suns. The new mech was intended to allow the TDF to meet the Federation forces on an equal footing. Taurus WarWorks, the main mech manufacturer in the Concordat was tasked with the project. The design team started by studying captured Federation and Capllan battlemechs. Among the designs they studied were the Battleaxe, Hammerhands and Thunderbolt. Combining the best features of those designs, along with the lessons learned from the Toro, the design team developed the Tomahawk. The Tomahawk entered production in 2505 and was the first modern battlemech deployed by the TDF.
Capabilities:
The Tomahawk was designed to counter the heavy mechs of the Federated Suns and Capellan Confederation. While the Federation designs featured heavy firepower and good mobility, the Capellan Thunderbolt emphasized armor protection over mobility and firepower. After studying several different configurations, the Taurian design team settle on a design that had the mobility to keep pace with Battleaxe, while mounting enough armor to be able to slug it out with the Capellan Thunderbolt.
The resulting design had only limited firepower when compared to the powerful batteries of the Battleaxe and Hammerhands, but with 50% greater armor then the Battleaxe, the designers felt the design could survive in a one on one fight. The main gun of the Tomahawk was the newly developed PPC. Supporting this were several Long Range Missile racks, a short range missile rack and a pair of medium lasers. Unlike many Inner Sphere designs the Tomahawk is equipped with generous ammo bays for its missile launchers. Not only does this ensure that the design has sufficient ammunition for extended campaigns, the Tomahawk is capable of carrying both standard high explosive warheads and other specialized rounds. It is not uncommon for the Tomahawk's SRM launcher to be supplied with 100 high explosive missiles for use against enemy mechs and 100 inferno rounds for use against vehicles and soft targets.
Unfortunately the design is not able to take advantage of all of it's weapons. The heat dissipation system is woefully inadequate for the large numbers of weapons that are carried. This problem is further compounded if the pilot makes heavy use of the designs jump jets. As a result mechwarriors are taught to carefully select their weapons and cycle between the PPC and the supporting weapons to keep the heat levels manageable.
Deployment:
The Tomahawk is one of the most commonly deployed mechs in the TDF, only the Toro and Talos appear in greater numbers. This design formed the backbone of the Taurian heavy forces and could be found in almost every regiment of the TDF. When the Reunification War began the Tomahawk was still in production, it did not end production until after the surrender of the Concordat. Even with the heavy losses suffered by the TDF during the fighting, large numbers of Tomahawks survived the war and continued to serve with the remenants of the TDF during the Star League era and the Succession Wars.
Variants:
Despite its long history, only 1 variant was ever developed. The TMHK-3T was developed in the final years of the Reunification War and incorporated Star League technology which had been reverse engineered by the Taurians. Featuring an Endo Steel frame, the design featured an improved heat dissipation system. The new Tomahawk added an additional heatsink to the mech and switched to double strength models, removing most of the complaints regarding heat management.
With so much ammunition, explosions have always been a problem for the Tomahawk. To help protect the few remaining mechwarriors the new model mounted a CASE in each torso to protect against an ammo explosion. Lastly the 4 tube SRM launcher was upgraded to a 6 tube model.
Only a limited number of the TMHK-3Ts were built before the Concordat surrendered. Most of these were hidden away in caches on Taurus, rather then being turned over to the SLDF. During the Uprisings the TMHK-3Ts were returned to service and fought against the SLDF. Only a handful survived the campaign.
Notable Pilots:
Brigadier Casey Jordan: Brigadier Jordan was assigned to the Concordat's Calderon Red Hand. She commanded the regiments 3rd Battalion during the campaign on Diefenbaker in 2585. Her battalion was equipped entirely with Tomahwaks and Brigadier Jordan used her mobility to out maneuver the SLDF III Corps forces in the hilly terrain of Diefenbaker. Using their jump jets, the 3rd Battalion would appear from unexpected quarters, inflicting heavy damage on the SLDF units before retreating. During the Battle of Lost Valley, Brigadier Jordan and her lance were some of the few survivors of the orbital strikes against the Calderon Red Hand. Brigadier Jordan managed to escape off world and return to Taurus where she was tasked with rebuilding the Calderon Red Hand. She was also assigned the first TMHK-3T that came off of the production line. Following the end of the war, Brigadier Jordan retired from the TDF and hid her mech away from the Star League occupation forces. During the Uprisings her mech was returned to service by one of her descendants and it continues to serve in the TDF to this day.
