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Warhawk

2023-02-21T00:25:52Z

2607:FB90:6D9D:DCC2:85B:F883:F900:F234: /* Overview */

[[File:WarhawkBT.jpg|thumb|300px|A [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] Warhawk C being prepped for combat.]]
{{topquote|I hate you campers! Everybody bloody hates you!|[[Team Fortress 2|Demoman]] expressing the [[RAGE|feelings]] of everyone who's had to deal with a Warhawk Prime's [[bullshit]].}}

The '''Warhawk''', also known as the '''Masakari''' to the [[Inner Sphere]], is one of [[The Clans]]' premier Assault [[BattleMech]]s. While as an [[OmniMech]] it can be outfitted for a variety of roles, its main configuration is known for being [[Rage|an aimbot sniper]]. Using one to [[cheese]] by camping automatically makes you [[That Guy]].

==Overview==
The Warhawk was originally designed in 2999 by [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] ([[Lulz|ironic that the 'Mech called the Warhawk was made by the clan of war hawks]]) in anticipation of the return to the Inner Sphere, its schematics a jealously guarded secret. Well, until the [[Star League#The Second Star League|Second Star League]] [[Exterminatus|wiped the original Jaguars off the map in an informal Annihilation that left few survivors]]. Nevertheless, even before the original Smoke Jaguars were extinguished as an independent Clan power, the inherent internal conflict of the Clans meant Warhawks got passed around via battle salvage and Trials of Possession to several other clans, such as [[Clan Jade Falcon]] and Clan Ghost Bear (now the [[Free Rasalhague Republic|Rasalhague Dominion]]).

During the actual Clan Invasion, the Warhawk would often be paired with the [[Dire Wolf (BattleTech)|Dire Wolves]] the Jaguars had [[Blood Ravens|"acquired"]] from [[Clan Wolf]]. The "Masakari" moniker was given to it by the [[Draconis Combine]] (like the "Daishi" moniker was for the Dire Wolf), and since they're [[Weeaboo]]s of course it's a type of Japanese axe.

Ironically, the Warhawk became [[LosTech]] in the Inner Sphere due to the [[Word of Blake]]'s douchebaggery cutting off the Invading Clans from the Homeworlds even more than the Wars of Reaving had. Guess the Clannerscum now know what it's like to lose tech to petty conflict, huh? However, the design would be revived outside of the Clan Homeworlds by the [[Scorpion Empire]] repurposing factories on Antwerp to produce it once more.

For technical specs, the 85-ton 'Mech itself is based on a Huntress WH frame powered by a 340 XL engine, giving it a top speed of 64.8 km/h despite its 13.5 tons of Forging X85 ferro-fibrous armor. For heat management, it carries twenty Double Heat Sinks - mainly because many of its configs produce a fuckton of waste heat that'd make the thing an oven otherwise. The infamous Targeting Computer is also standard, which is what gives the Warhawk (especially the Prime configuration) its reputation as the aimbot 'Mech.

It also has the Design Quirk of Improved Targeting (Long), which certainly doesn't dissuade its association with campers scoring cheap kills with aim assist.

==Configurations==
The Warhawk is unique among OmniMechs in that its Prime variant is the super-specialized of the bunch while its alternate configurations try to make it more of an all-rounder in various different ways.
*'''Prime''' - Ever had a bout of [[rage]] against a cheating sniper in a [[Video game|vidya]]? That's the average experience of a [[Mechwarrior]] pitted against a Warhawk Prime. This is due to its main weapons being four Targeting Computer-assisted ER PPCs that are configured to use volley-fire for heat management. So [[Bullshit|you get headshot four times in a row]]. An LRM-10 launcher is also installed as a backup weapon.
*'''Alternate Configuration A''' - the first of the many generalist reworks, a Warhawk A uses two ER Large Lasers, an LB 10-X Autocannon capable of firing both solid and cluster rounds, and an LRM-15 launcher. CQC is done by a Streak SRM-6 launcher that replaces the LRM-10 of the Prime.
*'''Alternate Configuration B''' - generalist #2. Uses a Gauss Rifle as its main gun, while toting 3 ER Medium Lasers, an ER Small Laser, and two SRM-6 launchers for closer engagements. However, the real thing of note is a Narc Missile Beacon, which is essentially a [[Markerlight]] for its mates' missiles to ruin your day using.
*'''Alternate Configuration C''' - Switches two of the ER PPCs for Large Pulse Lasers, meaning 50% less sniper aimbot. It also has a [[Flamer]] for burning infantry alive, though it necessitates three more Double Heat Sinks.
*'''Alternate Configuration D''' - Long range without being a camper. Main weapons are now two ER Large Lasers and an Ultra Autocannon/10, with a ER Small Laser as backup. It also has an ATM-9 launcher meant for use at all ranges, its various missile types having an inverse relationship between explosive payload and range bracket.
*'''Alternate Configuration E''' - Essentially the Warhawk B and C's lovechild. Has an ER PPC, a Large Pulse Laser, and an SRM 6 as backup weapons - but the main star of the show is 3 plasma cannons.
*'''Alternate Configuration F''' - Designed to reduce heat load. Only has two ER PPCs, swapping out the other two with an LRM-20 and LRM-10. The torso mount is now an Ultra AC/2.
*'''Alternate Configuration G''' - Completely flips the Warhawk to prefer close-range instead of long. Its right arm's PPCs are replaced with a single LB 20-X Autocannon with three tons of ammo, while the left's are swapped for two Improved Heavy Large Lasers and a Streak SRM-6 with one ton of reloads. Also has a Supercharger installed to make sure it can get right up close and personal as it wants to.
*'''Alternate Configuration H''' - Another close-range config, though not as much of a hit-and-runner as the Warhawk G. Has an LRM-10 so it's not completely defenseless at long-range, and its main arm guns are now two Large Pulse Lasers and two Heavy Large Lasers. Four double heat sinks are added to manage additional waste heat.
*'''Alternate Configuration I''' - Plays to the original Prime's strength as a sniper, though without the [[cheese]] of 4 PPCs. Utilizes two ER PPCs and two ER Large Lasers as its main guns, with an LRM-5 and SRM-6 in the center torso as secondaries. Said missile launchers have a ton of reloads each, and two Double Heat Sinks are added.
*'''Alternate Configuration L''' - Generalist #3, brawler edition. Its right arm sports an ATM-12 with CASE II-protected ammo, while the left has two ER PPCs with PPC Capacitors and two ER Flamers. A Watchdog CEWS package both conducts and defends from electronic warfare, while a Supercharger is added so the 'Mech can quickly go to whatever range bracket it desires. Scary to deal with but compared to the Prime it's fairer to fight against.
*'''Alternate Configuration T''' - The mixed-technology variant, combining Clan tech with that from the Inner Sphere. The right arm mounts two IS-grade Plasma Rifles while the left mounts two Clantech ER PPCs. As an emergency option, a Rocket Launcher 10 is installed in the torso in case a last-ditch attack is called for. The Plasma has 3 tons of reloads.
[[Category:BattleTech]]
[[Category:BattleMech]]

Pickup Trucks

2023-02-20T22:05:30Z

2607:FB90:6D9D:DCC2:85B:F883:F900:F234: /* IRL */

[[File:Toyota Landcruiser.jpg|thumb|right|Get in loser, we're going hunting!]]

{{topquote|Regrettably, the Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux have effectively become almost part of the ISIS brand!|Mark Wallace}}

This is of course leaving aside the common civilian use of pickup trucks by farmers, construction guys, road crews, other people which need to haul stuff around, country music stars, wannabe country music stars and suburban middle managers who like to LARP as rough and tumble country-folk and tailgate people on the highway.

The Pickup Truck, also known as a Technical, is perhaps one of the greatest weapons of war ever fielded by mankind. And as much as we want to say that is a joke, there is a reason there is a literal war called the "Toyota War".

Yeah when it comes militia vehicles, the Pickup Truck is a tried and tested design. Despite this, you have to remember that for all the memes about the Toyota Hilux the Pickup Truck is literally just that. A civilian Pickup Truck

==In [[Team Yankee]]==

The Pickup Truck is an option for Irregular Militia Groups. And by option, we do mean it's a 1 pt option (2 if you want Machine Guns). The vehicle can help get your militia into position, but bare in mind the rule Resistance. You can already deploy Militia anywhere on the board, so movement isn't that much of a concern. Now granted once the Militia have destroyed their target, they can mount the Pickups to move one. So in that case there may be some advantage to having these things in the unit. But outside of road movement, the Pickup is just barely better than walking.
Before you start suggesting using Pickups as a cheap harassing unit, you have to remember the rules Unit Transport and Passenger Fired. Unit Transport basically means your pickup's leader has to stay near the militia leader if you don't want to lose it. Passenger Fired meanwhile means that unless this vehicle is transporting something, you can't fire the MG. Like the Militia, this unit may be situational. But that can change once the book drops.

==IRL==
[[File:Hilux.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|What a technical looks like over history, as demonstrated in this meme photoshop<ref>We'll ignore that there's only one actual Hilux in this "ad", for the sheer joy of imagining Toyota advertising in glossy magazines to warlords</ref>.]]
Ok, where to begin. The idea of creating a fast moving ranged attack unit has pretty much been a thing since war existed. Some of the first complex weapons invented were Chariot's as mobile archer and fighting platforms. But for the sake of simplicity, we will say that the first use of improvising a civilian vehicle into a military vehicle began with the use of Tachanka. The Tachanka was a horse drawn carriage used in WW1 with a machinegun on the back of it. The general idea was to mount a machinegun onto a "Vehicle" that permitted quick movement and response. With the Dawn of the Automobile, it was only inevitable that mankind would start mounting guns on the things like the Orks we are.

While WW2 had instances of Guns being mounted onto trucks, the image of the Technical wouldn't be a thing until the Bush Wars of Africa; particularly the Toyota War where the Chadian military used truck’s mounted with machine guns and anti-tank missiles to rout Libyan invaders in T-55’s. And from here, the glory of the Toyota Hilux would be known. The vehicle would become something of the AK47 of combat vehicles. Rugged, simple to maintain, cheap, are all words that can be used to describe the Technical.
So why don't actual armies use the thing?

Well, if you want to be technical (don't laugh) they do. The HMMWV is in essence a pickup truck with a machinegun. A Jeep is a pickup with a machinegun. A BTR is pretty much a pickup with a machinegun. But the thing is these and other vehicles are designed for combat. They have things like dedicated weapon mounts, armor, part familiarity, fuel specifications, ETC. Pickup trucks meanwhile are meant to transport things like lumber or food produce. While they can be used for combat, that's not their main focus.
[[File:Mortar_Technical.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Mortars are such a good fit for trucks even actual armies use them.]]
So why then are these things so popular with militias? Well as stated earlier, these things are rugged, simple to maintain, and generally cheap. They are also widely available to the point any insurgent, drug cartels, or third world warlord can buy them in bulk without international trade officials batting an eye. A Warlord may not have access to things like a M113, BTR, or even a Deuce-and-a-Half. But they might have a pickup. And if they need to transport their buddies around the battlefield, the truck is more than adequate.

The term "Technical" for these kind of improvised fighting vehicles has a couple possible origins. One often repeated source is that in the 80's Human right groups operating in conflict regions were disallowed from hiring private security as protection, so instead they hired locals gunmen and marking there payment as for "Technical assistance". Another possible origin for the name is that the money to make these vehicles often came from extorting members of various Medical Aid and Relief organizations, which would write off the money they were forced to give as "Technical Expenses".

Ironically, in the case of Team Yankee, the Pickup can have a place in a US army list. The US military has a vehicle called the CUCV. Its literally a military pickup. It's meant more as a vehicle for when you need to transport small amounts of cargo (especially since CUCV stands for Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle). Still, it's not impossible for a Commander to provide a local militia with these things in exchange for support.

Now when it comes to armaments, well, you're pretty much only limited by what will fit in the back and how strongly you can bolt something down to the chassis and not have it shake apart on firing. Machineguns may be the most popular choice, but they're by no means the only ones. Mortars? [[Dana_SpGH|It's hard to beat a truck for shoot'n'scoot.]] Want anti-armor? An SPG-9 or M40 recoilless rifle will do the trick. Want air defense? ZU-23-2s will just barely fit on back. Want to spam rockets? Ukraine proves that S-5 Rocket Pods will work (though you'll need to come up with a fire control mechanism since those are intended for aircraft). Got some wealthy nation backing you in a proxy war? You can stick a MILAN, BGM-71 TOW Missile, or the recent L3Harris VAMPIRE rocket launcher on the back to make those tanks and drones think twice (training not included). Some, like the drug cartel and insurgent’s narco tanks, can have weld-on armor applied but that’s only used in urban insurgencies where anti-armor weapons are not prolific and speed isn’t the main consideration. In other cases, most armed pickup trucks are aimed at hit-and-run attacks to avoid being wrecked by heavy weapons or attack aircraft.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:CNCG_Technicals.jpg|"Bolted down and ready!"
File:CNCGRotR_Technicals.jpg|"Our clan is strong."
</gallery>

{{clear}}

{{US Forces in Team Yankee}}

[[Category:Team Yankee]]
[[Category:Vehicles]]