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BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Shadow Hawk (Streethawk) SHD-2U
Designer: IronRaven Special Projects Group
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: D
Tonnage: 55
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Star League / 2675
Rules (Current): Introductory
Rules (Era): Introductory
Rules (Year): Introductory
Total Cost: 3,608,865 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,092
Chassis: Lang T1
Power Plant: VOX 165
Walking Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: Pitban LFT-50
Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor: Maximillian 43
Armament:
1 Armstrong Buster Series Autocannon/10
1 Holly Short Range Missile Six-Pack SRM 6
1 Martell Model 5 Medium Laser
1 Bical Twin-Rack SRM 2
2 Martell Model 2 Small Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: O/P 300 COMSET
Targeting & Tracking: O/P 2000A
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Overview:
When the Star League put out it's request for quotes for an urban defense mech, they had a
number of specifications. While the SLDF ended up adopting the Urbanmech, there were other
entries. One of those is the Lang "Streethawk", a Shadow Hawk variant.
Some of the specifications were that it be use common components, ammunition and a little to
no advanced technology for price purposes. (This reflected the importance that the SLDF
placed on this mission.) There were also specifications for minimum armour, speed, and
armament that would not be useful for crowd control so much as for urban defense against
mechs and vehicles. Looking at that, Lang's engineers decided the ubiquitous Shadow Hawk
would be perfect starting point.
The speed could be low. So they took the opportunity to reduce cost and reallocate mass by
going with a 165-rated engine. While an unusual engine, that and the gyro were the only odd
parts. This gives a maximum speed of 54kph, which in an urban environment is sufficient. It
is augmented by the three Pitban jump jets found on most Shadow Hawks. Protected by 11.5
tons of Maximillian armour, or a full fifth of the mech's total weight, it is remarkably
robust. Particularly if you remember that is as much or more protection than a Warhammer,
Marauder or many assualt mechs carry.
The SLDF had specified an AC/10, based on the balance of range, weight, heat, and oddly
enough the decision that a ballistic rather than energy weapon would be less intimidating to
the populace. So Lang did go with a Armstrong Buster autocannon and two tons of ammo. The
the collar mounted SRM-2 and the arm mounted medium laser were kept from the basic model,
while the LRM rack is replaced with an SRM-6 with two tons of ammo. The combination of SRM
launchers was intended to tailor the ammunition loadout of a garrison's mechs, and proposed
a mix of tear gas and fire suppression foam, along with a ton of regular HEDP missiles. For
anti infantry purposes, a pair of Martel small lasers are mounted in the left arm. With 13
heatsinks it is possible to overheat this mech through recklessness, but an experienced
pilot can manage the heat of the weapons and movement without difficulty.
When it went to the urban defense trials the Streethawk performed well- honestly, better
than the UrbanMech in many ways. They were the final two candidates, having survived where
the collection of 20 and 25 ton entries had proven to lack survivability and combat
endurance. In the end, the SLDF went with the Urbie, siting it's lower profile and lighter
weight which more buildings and bridges would be able to support. They had also polled
opinion groups made up of urban planners, community organizers, and school board members
from sample communities across the Star League, whom nearly all felt the Urbie was less
threatening. Specifically that it would be less likely to terrify children But maybe the
real cost was price- twice as much armour, twice as much firepower, almost twice as much
mech, for twice the cost. It would also be worth mentioning that the trials started ten
after the UrbanMech was introduced to the market by Orgus as a speculative measure. With
sales to the Great Houses, the SLDF saw something they wanted and had to hold a trial to
prove they'd found the best candidate, so they used the UrbanMech's design as the trial
specs.
Lang would not rest on its defeat. Dubbed the Streethawk, they offered the design to city
guards and reservist base garrisons, planetary militias, and metropolitan police forces.
They had some sales, but many of their potential customers felt it was too big, too tall,
too heavy to fill this roll well. And too expensive for something so slow- many of them
could get older yet still perfectly suitable for militia and police duties from their
respective Great Houses and even the SLDF at a better cost. While the Streethawk would be a
better choice, when those agencies could get early production light and medium mechs with
more primitive armour and engines for costs little higher than a new UrbanMech, they did so.
It most cases it was as much a financial decision, but also police mechs frequently can
describe their mission as "stand there and look mean". And while the Streethawk could do
so, second and third hand machines including first generation Wolverines and Shadow Hawks
with lots of years left in them and a price that fit. And being near museum pieces calmed
fears of the pilot of a police Mech "snapping" and "going on a killing spree". For other
agencies that hadn't been able to secure the SLDF's certification for full mechs for police
use, they were too heavy and too well armed to be considered SecurityMechs, which also
slammed the hatch on any sales to corporate security.
After 20 years, Lang sold fewer than two hundred Strethawks, and they'd produced a full, six
month run of five hundred. Most of those that didn't sell were scrapped or retained as test
bed machines where speed didn't matter. A few were even fitted with remote controls and used
as training targets for aerospace fighters (a niche often filled by over annuated Mackies,
Ymirs, and Banshees). The ones that did sell were mostly lost in the Civil War, with the
usual Aramis tactic for dealing with Mech Police was to nuke them from orbit. This technique
would continue during the First Succession War.
There were three variant prototypes made. One removed the SRM-2 to allow the mounting of an
AC-20. The second mounted an LRM-20 in place of the AC-10, with the idea that it could serve
as a fire support element. The third was designed for higher intensity operations, replacing
the autocannon with a PPC and eight more heat sinks. All of these and five normal
StreetHawks were sent to the SLDF's evaluation, and then returned. There is nothing to
suggest that any of these version were ever sold. But they are all simple machines as
Battlemechs go, pocket assault mechs.
Today only two Streethawks are thought to remain. One is only partially functional, having
been seen in Marion space with a pronounced limp and a very mangled left arm. The other,
Oliphant, is the heavy muscle of a city police force on Wallis in the FWL, where it never
engaged military forces, only a few pirate raids. As a result, it's fulfilled the role of
the police mech- stand there and look mean. It's also kicked open a few doors and assisted
with large fires, but the very presence of the white and green 55 ton machine with light
bars, retroreflective highlights, and fusion powered PA system has for centuries kept the
petty crime rate at festivals, fairs, sporting events and large concerts low.
In the long term, the Streethawk would have an legacy. The Royal Shadow Hawk's LB-10X could
be considered a result of this mech.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 5.50
Engine: 165 Fusion 6.00
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 3
Heat Sinks (Single): 13 3.00
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 176 11.00
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 18 23
Center Torso (rear): 10
R/L Torso: 13 18
R/L Torso (rear): 8
R/L Arm: 9 18
R/L Leg: 13 23
================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRM 2 H 1 1.00
Jump Jet CT 1 0.50
Jump Jet RT 1 0.50
SRM 2 (Ammo 50) RT 1 1.00
SRM 6 RT 2 3.00
SRM 6 (Ammo 30) RT 2 2.00
Autocannon/10 LT 7 12.00
Autocannon/10 (Ammo 20) LT 2 2.00
Jump Jet LT 1 0.50
Medium Laser RA 1 1.00
2 Small Lasers LA 2 1.00
================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 31
TP: BM, SZ: 2, TMM: 1, MV: 6"j
Damage: (S) 4 / (M) 3 / (L) 0, OV: 0
Armor (A): 6, Structure (S): 5
Specials: AC1/1/-, SRM1/1
Distribution
Name/Model: Shadow Hawk (Streethawk) SHD-2U
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 55
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
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Left ArmHeadRight Arm
1. Shoulder 1. Life Support 1. Shoulder
2. Upper Arm Actuator 2. Sensors 2. Upper Arm Actuator
3. Lower Arm Actuator 3. Cockpit 3. Lower Arm Actuator
4. Hand Actuator 4. SRM 2 4. Hand Actuator
5. Small Laser 5. Sensors 5. Medium Laser
6. Small Laser 6. Life Support 6. Roll Again
1. Roll Again 1. Roll Again
2. Roll Again 2. Roll Again
3. Roll Again 3. Roll Again
4. Roll Again 4. Roll Again
5. Roll Again 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again
Left TorsoCenter TorsoRight Torso
1. Jump Jet 1. Fusion Engine 1. Jump Jet
2.Autocannon/10 2. Fusion Engine 2. Heat Sink
3.Autocannon/10 3. Fusion Engine 3.SRM 6
4.Autocannon/10 4. Gyro 4.SRM 6
5.Autocannon/10 5. Gyro 5. SRM 6 (Ammo 15)
6.Autocannon/10 6. Gyro 6. SRM 6 (Ammo 15)
1.Autocannon/10 1. Gyro 1. SRM 2 (Ammo 50)
2.Autocannon/10 2. Fusion Engine 2. Heat Sink
3. Autocannon/10 (Ammo 10) 3. Fusion Engine 3. Roll Again
4. Autocannon/10 (Ammo 10) 4. Fusion Engine 4. Roll Again
5. Roll Again 5. Jump Jet 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Heat Sink 6. Roll Again
Left LegRight Leg
1. Hip 1. Hip
2. Upper Leg Actuator 2. Upper Leg Actuator
3. Lower Leg Actuator 3. Lower Leg Actuator
4. Foot Actuator 4. Foot Actuator
5. Heat Sink 5. Heat Sink
6. Heat Sink 6. Heat Sink
Autocannon/10 2. Fusion Engine 2. Heat Sink
3.
Autocannon/10 3. Fusion Engine 3.
SRM 6
5.
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