Phoenix Hawk IIC

Description
Though in many ways it resembles the combat prowess of the Inner Sphere's Charger, the Phoenix Hawk IIC is a fixture of many second-line Clan Clusters and front-line Successor State regiments during the Word of Blake Jihad.

During the reign of the lackluster Khan Jacob Masters, Clan Steel Viper entered a period of stagnation in all areas, including technological development. In a rare fit of innovation at the time, though one many observers considered oddball at best, the Steel Viper Scientist Caste decided to base a new assault-class BattleMech on the venerable 45-ton Phoenix Hawk chassis. At 80-tons, the resulting design was almost twice as heavy as the original, though it is severely under-gunned for an assault 'Mech due its incredible speed for a 'Mech its size. Following the introduction of the OmniMech by Clan Coyote just three years later however, the Phoenix Hawk IIC largely saw itself relegated to second-line status.

The Phoenix Hawk IIC would gain a new vitality following Clan Jade Falcon's ejection of the Steel Vipers from the Inner Sphere in 3061. Seeking to rapidly rebuild their weakened touman, Khan Perigard Zalman approached Clan Diamond Shark offering captured Heavy Laser technology and the plans for the ancient design in return for the production of a new variant for the Steel Viper's second-line clusters. Initially observers were curious why the Sharks dealt so fairly with such a weakened "customer", but the rapid development of even more deadly variations not included in the deal agreed with the Vipers provided some explanation, with production of the visually reworked chassis initiated at both Auxiliary Production Site #5 on Babylon and the rebuilt Trellshire Heavy Industries of Twycross.

By 3078 six variations of the Phoenix Hawk IIC were walking off Trellshire's production lines for the garrison forces of Diamond Shark as well as for sale to both Clan and Inner Sphere buyers. While some among the Clans opposed such sales to Spheroids, the focus on designs like the Phoenix Hawk IIC that are considered mediocre by Clan warrior but are still outstanding by Inner Sphere standards appears to be a conscious choice by the Sharks. Many of the variants also utilize ammunition-hungry weapons, a decision Clan observers wryly note ensures Inner Sphere buyers either make steady munitions purchases or are forced to more frequently buy replacement parts from the accelerated wear caused by using inferior Spheroid ordnance, both ensuring frequent repeat business for the Diamond Sharks.

Weapons and Equipment
Built around the Type 79 400 XL Engine mounted on an Endo Steel skeleton fitted with five Jump Jets, the Phoenix Hawk IIC features as close as possible ground speed and agility to the original Phoenix Hawk as can be reasonably achieved on an 80-ton assault 'Mech, making it an effective fast interdiction unit. Ten and half tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor provide eighty-one percent of the maximum possible protection at its weight class, while ten Double Heat Sinks are sufficient for weapons array. The main armament of the Phoenix Hawk IIC is the paired Ultra Autocannon/10s, each of which has a three-ton ammunition bin it can draw on. Both cannons are mounted in twin pods on either side of torso to the rear, a feature allowing technicians easy access to the weapons and reducing maintenance time both at base or in the field. A pair of Machine Guns provide extra firepower that is most useful against unarmored infantry. Despite the Clans disdain for it, the 'Mech's weaponless arms are almost ideal for physical combat.

Variants

 * Phoenix Hawk IIC 2 : Developed in 2852, this variant transforms the Phoenix Hawk IIC into a missile boat. It removes all the weapons and a ton of armor to mount four LRM-20s and eight tons of ammunition. BV (1.0) = 2,568 BV (2.0) = 2,892


 * Phoenix Hawk IIC 3 : First appearing in 3062, the IIC 3 was designed by Clan Steel Viper following their ejection from the Inner Sphere and is produced for them by Clan Diamond Shark. Based upon the original, the IIC 3 makes use of two Heavy Large Lasers, a Medium Pulse Laser, and two Small Pulse Lasers; all of which are linked to a Targeting Computer. Twenty-two double heat sinks keep all the heat generated by the weapons under control. BV (1.0) = 2,259 BV (2.0) = 2,448


 * Phoenix Hawk IIC 4 : Manufactured by Clan Diamond Shark from 3065 on after they acquired the design specifications from the Vipers, the IIC 4 mounts four CC ATM 9s along with seven tons of ammunition, giving it flexible long and short-range firepower. Only the standard ten double heat sinks are included, so MechWarriors must watch their heat carefully. BV (1.0) = 2,157 BV (2.0) = 2,483


 * Phoenix Hawk IIC 5 : Clan Diamond Shark began fielding a variant armed with the newest in Gauss rifle technology in 3069. While some intelligence suggests that the Star Adders were the original developers of this variant, Variant 5 has been seen commonly with the Diamond Sharks and sold to other Inner Sphere Clans such the Ghost Bears. In later years some have been reported with Inner Sphere units as well. It mounts two HAG 20s and four AP Gauss Rifles. The resemblance to the original is uncanny, though the HAGs must make the best of four tons of ammunition between them. BV (2.0) = 2,350


 * Phoenix Hawk IIC 6 : Introduced in 3070, the IIC 6 carries a pair of Zeta-series X Plasma Cannons and two Series 2D-2 Heavy Medium Lasers, all of which are tied into a Targeting Computer. Trellshire Long Lifters Improved Jump Jets enable the 'Mech to leap up to 240 meters. BV (2.0) = 2,490


 * Phoenix Hawk IIC 7 : First built in 3078, this version has a lower top speed (64km/h) from Type 81 320-rated XL Engine, but uses Improved Jump Jets to keep mobility. It carries a pair of Type KOV LB 10-X ACs in the torso, supplemented by twin Mk 3 ER Medium Lasers and Series-4 Streak SRM-4s. Clan Diamond Shark sells this variant to any interested buyer, including Inner Sphere powers, proving increasingly popular among mercenary units. BV (2.0) = 2,219


 * Phoenix Hawk IIC 8 : An experimental variation first sighted in 3086, the Phoenix Hawk IIC 8 benefits from the Model 53b XXL engine first developed for the Dasher II, freeing up nine extra tons over the more common Type 79 400-rated XL Engine. A shell of standard armor wrapped around an Endo Steel frame, the 8 Variant mounts an ER PPC and two Small Pulse Lasers in each side torso, an ECM Suite and five Improved Jump Jets making it agile and deadly. BV (2.0) = 2,881

Related BattleMechs

 * Phoenix Hawk- First introduced by the Terran Hegemony in 2568 the 45-ton Phoenix Hawk is one of the most well known BattleMechs in the Inner Sphere.
 * Phoenix Hawk L - With similar weapons, movement profile, and appearance to the standard Phoenix Hawk, the Phoenix Hawk L is ten tons lighter and is used extensively by the Draconis Combine.
 * Phoenix Hawk LAM - Land-Air Mech version of the original Phoenix Hawk, which can transform from Mech to Aerospace Fighter.
 * Bakeneko - Based off of the Phoenix Hawk 3K chassis, this 55-ton Clan-tech design is produced by Clan Nova Cat and the Draconis Combine.

Trivia

 * According to the author who submitted the initial statistics to FASA at the time, the 'Mech design that would later be the Phoenix Hawk IIC was originally called the Matador, and was not intended to be related in any way to the Phoenix Hawk.
 * The original TRO:3055 Phoenix Hawk IIC was built with Fractional Accounting, mounting only a single machine gun with the remaining weight used instead to boost the armor to a rounded up 11 tons.
 * The Phoenix Hawk IIC's original image was produced by outside media company known as Victor Musical Industries, Inc. Due to legal concerns, FASA company designated the original image as Unseen, thus no longer officially used. No replacement image for the original version of the Phoenix Hawk IIC have been created as of this writing.