compiled overview of the 80
ton Awesome 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
The AWS-8Q
Awesome is one of the most
feared vehicles on the battlefields of the
Succession Wars. First built in 2665 by the
Technicron Manufacturing Conglomerate under license from the
Star League, it soon became a popular assault
'Mech in many
regimental
lances. Based on the design of the STR-2C
Striker, the original assault
'Mech, the
Awesome soon superseded that aging vehicle as the main assault
'Mech in almost all
the
Successor States.
The
Awesome is widely used as an initial
penetration vehicle. Massed
Awesome lances are sent to destroy a point in the enemy defenses, allowing units that follow to exploit the breach. The
Awesome is also used in many defensive situations, where it is usually responsible for the most
threatened or important areas of a perimeter.
When seen ponderously approaching in battle formation, these
'Mechs strike fear in the hearts of even seasoned
MechWarriors. Designed for
ranged combat against opposing heavy
'Mechs, the
Awesome carries out that assignment well. Its three
Kreuss Particle Projection Cannons can heavily damage or destroy many opposing
BattleMechs with one
salvo. The head-mounted
Diverse Optics Type 10 Small Laser and the heavy left-arm battle
fist can cause heavy damage at point-blank ranges where the
PPC weapons are less effective.
To achieve the
Awesome's superb offensive and defensive capabilities, however, the designers sacrificed maneuverability. With its heavy structure, the
Awesome is
slow and cannot
react to attacks from the rear as well as can
BattleMechs with a greater number of weapons. It is also susceptible to damage in its legs, which could easily immobilize it or make it topple.
The
Awesome is effective when used for the purposes its designers had in mind. If the
'Mech is mis-handled or poorly screened from flanking enemy units, however, it will not be able to fight off lighter
'Mechs quickly enough to keep from being surrounded.
The
Awesome's designers have proved reluctant to modify a design so well liked. The AWS-9M version, however, represents a real improvement over the earlier AWS-8Q
Awesome. The new Hermes 320 XL engine, for example, provides the new
Awesome with a top speed of 65.6 kpha full 28% increase over the AWS-8Q's top speed.
Additionally, the AWS-9M features several new weapon systems that greatly enhance the versatility of the
Awesome. The design features three
Fusigon Longtooth extended range particle projection cannons, which extend the
Awesome's striking range, and a torso-mounted
Magna 400P medium pulse laser. For short range fighting, the AWS-9M retains the head-mounted small laser of earlier
Awesomes, and adds a pair of
Hovertec Streak SRM-2 pods.
When massed in their own assault
lances, with screening
recon units and good intelligence about enemy intentions, these
'Mechs are the
dominant factor on most battlefields. The assessment by
MechWarriors throughout the
Successor States is that "The only defense against an
Awesome is another
Awesome."
In late 2928, two assault
lances of
House Marik's Fifth Brigade of the
Fusiliers of Oriente conducted a raid on the
'Mech repair yard and storehouse of the planet
Solaris. Equipped with six
Awesome assault
'Mechs and two
Javelin recon
'Mechs, these
Marik troopers successfully pushed aside the feeble defense put up by an
ad hoc lance of damaged and barely mobile
Steiner 'Mechs. With four
Awesomes on guard and the rest of the
raiders
shooting up anything that moved, the Fifth Brigade was able to make off with a large
booty of supplies and spare parts before the defenders could call in reinforcements. The raid was one of the most successful ever conducted by
House Marik forces.
During the Third Battle of
Harrow's Sun in July 3002, the
Awesome assault lances of the
Davion Heavy Guards Regiment engaged defending lances of
Kurita's Eighth
Sword of Light Regiment and
Fourth Proserpina Hussars. In the ensuing attack, the Heavy Guards rolled over the forward positions of the defenders but were not supported by their following troops, composed of
'Mechs of the mercenary
Illician Lancers. Under combined attack from flank and rear,
Davion's
Awesome lances were forced to fall back with moderate casualties. Two weeks later, however, the
Kurita forces evacuated
Harrow's Sun and did not return to that system until 3020.
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