Tomahawk (Aerospace Fighter class)

This article is about the aerospace dogfighter. For other uses, see Tomahawk.
Tomahawk ASF TRO3050U.png
Tomahawk
Production information
Manufacturer Wangker Aerospace
Production Year 2680[1]
Model THK-63
Class Light aerospace fighter
Tech Base Star League
Cost 2,523,132 C-bills[2]
Technical specifications
Mass 45 tons
Structural Integrity
Frame Shipil 35-B
Power Plant PlasmaStar 270 fusion engine
Armor Fiber 10 Ferro-Aluminum
Fuel
Armament
Communications System Telestar Fortran
Tracking & Targeting System IMB 5000
Heat Sinks 12 double heat sinks
BV (1.0) 1,021[2][3]
BV (2.0) 1,038[4][5][6]

Description[edit]

The Tomahawk was designed as a dogfighter, with a good combination of maneuverability and armament. With six Gs of thrust, five tons of fuel, and weapons that lack ammunition stores, the Tomahawk excels in patrol and escort duties, while 10 tons of ferro-aluminum armor provides protection superior to other designs of its weight class. Early models suffered from a poor heat dissipation system, a fault that would be largely rectified with the release of the THK-63 model in 2680, with most earlier models similarly upgraded.[4][7]

The Tomahawk would remain in service with the Star League Defense Force for over a hundred years as a key part of its aerospace forces. However, the destruction caused by the Amaris Civil War and the resulting exodus of the SLDF would see the loss of a significant number of Tomahawks, with many more destroyed in the Succession Wars that followed. ComStar was able to maintain a secret stock of Tomahawk fighters, a few of which were donated to the DCMS and FWLM, while the Clans maintained some for their second-line units. The rest of the few surviving Tomahawk fighters could be found in private collections and museums, however the Clan Invasion prompted ComStar to restart production of the Tomahawk with the activation of the Wangker factory on Mars and began upgrading them to advanced models. Some of these eventually fell into the hands of the Word of Blake.[4]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

With an armament consisting entirely of laser weaponry, the Tomahawk is a capable air-to-ground combatant as well as a dogfighter. Two Maxell SR large lasers give the Tomahawk good firepower, while the single Exostar small laser was largely added because the designers feared pilots would balk at a craft without a nose armament.[4][7]

Variants[edit]

  • THK-63b 
    The THK-63b Tomahawk, deployed exclusively among SLDF Royal commands, replaces the PlasmaStar 270 with an XL engine, using the extra tonnage to upgrade the small laser to a PPC and adding a half-ton of armor to the wings and rear. BV (2.0) = 1,481[16]
  • THK-63b2 
    The THK-63b2 Tomahawk was an SLDF update of the first Royal Tomhawks to the latest weapons specifications, following the introduction of the ER PPC in 2751.[17]
  • Tomahawk
    The first Clan upgrade of the THK-63, the standard lasers are replaced by Clan versions of ER laser technology, with the freed-up space used for a superior internal structure supporting additional armor and double heat sinks. This model suffers less from heat management problems than the THK-63CS.[20] BV (2.0) = 1,648[5][21]
  • Tomahawk CH 
    The Clan's heavy laser variant of the Tomahawk C, this version is armed with two heavy large lasers mounted on the wings, and a heavy small laser mounted in the nose for point-defense purposes. Armor, internal structure, and heat sinks are carried over from the C variant.[22] BV (2.0) = 1,589[5][23]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Tomahawk CX-11 variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:[24]

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was altered to Francesca. The model code was accordingly changed to FRC-63. Presumably, this was done to prevent a mix-up with the BattleMech Hatchetman, which was renamed in German products to Tomahawk.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Tomahawk (Aerospace Fighter class)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Combat Operations, p. 107
  3. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 76
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, pp. 234–235: "Tomahawk Fighter Profile"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Master Unit List: Battle Values, pp. 188–189
  6. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 336
  7. 7.0 7.1 Technical Readout: 2750, pp. 68–69: "Tomahawk Fighter Profile"
  8. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 333
  9. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 285
  10. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 334
  11. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 286
  12. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 77
  13. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 335
  14. Technical Readout: Golden Century, p. 62
  15. Technical Readout: Golden Century, p. 135
  16. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 39
  17. MUL page notes for the 63b2 model ofTomhawk
  18. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 288
  19. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 337
  20. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 289
  21. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 338
  22. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Clan & Star League), p. 290
  23. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 339
  24. 24.0 24.1 Experimental Technical Readout: ComStar, p. 13

Bibliography[edit]