Phoenix Hawk LAM

Description
The Phoenix Hawk LAM was the largest Land-Air 'Mech produced during the Star League. Allied Aerospace reworked their designs for conversion equipment and the size of the LAM, learning from their mistake with the Shadow Hawk LAM and the success of the Stinger LAM. The resulting LAM was the largest LAM ever constructed capable of remaining in AirMech mode. Unfortunately, large Land-Air 'Mech conversion technology was not fully researched before the fall of the Star League, and the Phoenix Hawk LAM frequently met its end due to the occasional glitch. The end of the Star League and destruction of the Allied Aerospace facilities at the beginning of the Production Ceased::First Succession War prevented further development and refinement.

Weapons and Equipment
The basic configuration of the Phoenix Hawk LAM is armed with a torso-mounted One Amsterdam 120 Large Laser, and tandem Maxum 50 Medium Laser-Sperry/Browning Machine Gun in each arm. Despite the increased size of the Land-Air 'Mech relative to the original Phoenix Hawk, the Phoenix Hawk LAM remains poorly armored. Worse, the Phoenix Hawk LAM is vulnerable to being crippled during conversion.

Variants

 * PHX-HK1 : Developed for the Star League Defense Force Royal Divisions in Introduction Year::2692, this variant of the Phoenix Hawk LAM used four Medium Lasers and a single ER Large Laser as its main firepower. Twelve double heat sinks kept the heat curve low, but the limited fuel, armor, and maneuverability made the Phoenix Hawk LAM easy prey for AeroSpace Fighters of the same weight. It could maneuver fast enough to evade heavier foes however. BV (2.0) = 1,942


 * PHX-HK1R : This version was created before the introduction of the PHX-HK2, in 2695. It removed the ER Large Laser, a Medium Laser, and two heat sinks, replacing them with an experimental Snub-Nose PPC, Beagle Active Probe, and an additional half ton of armor. BV (2.0) = ????


 * PHX-HK1RB : This version was apparently created by the Word of Blake, as it removes the Beagle Probe and a Medium Laser from the PHX-HK1R and replaces that equipment with an Improved C3 Computer. The Snub-Nose PPC remains and the two remaining lasers are extended-range models. BV (2.0) = ????


 * PHX-HK2M : House Marik produced a variant of the Phoenix Hawk LAM which replaces the Large Laser and Machine Guns with a Holly LRM-10.

Related 'Mechs

 * Phoenix Hawk - Allied Aerospace based their Phoenix Hawk LAM on the successful Phoenix Hawk medium BattleMech.


 * Munin LAM - Apparently based off the Phoenix Hawk LAM to the point where it could arguably be regarded as a variant, this LAM design seems to have only been built in tiny numbers, probably a single prototype production run.
 * SCR-1A Screaming Hawk - Conceived in 3019 as retrofit combining design elements from the Shadow Hawk, Phoenix Hawk and Phoenix Hawk LAM (and said to be based on the latter), this 55-ton BattleMech mounts a PPC, two Medium Lasers and a modular missile rack that can be either a LRM-5 or a SRM-4. It is not a LAM.

Notable Pilots

 * Jeremiah Youngblood was a Phoenix Hawk LAM pilot with the Crescent Hawks and the Kell Hounds. Following his capture in a Kurita attack, his LAM was found parked in a Star League bunker on Chara III.
 * Clay Moretti, long-time member of Sorenson's Sabres, was killed when the gyroscope of his Phoenix Hawk LAM seized in mid-flight in 3035.
 * Brian Seagroves owned and piloted a Phoenix Hawk LAM as a vanity asset. The 'Mech was lost to the Inner Sphere in a misjump to Kaetetôã in November 3056, where it was later destroyed.