Warhammer WHM-11S

Overview:
Developed in the midst of the Jihad to take advantage of new advances in PPC 
technology, the 11S Warhammer is a bit of a curiosity. Part field refit, part 
factory model, the 11S Warhammer is the result of the devastation of the Jihad 
as the Great Houses (in this case, Steiner) struggle to recoup their losses and 
throw material into the fray. 

Built from Star Corps' factory on Son Hoa on the 9S framing, the 11S has also 
been seen deployed using older 6R and 7S frames in the field. The requirements 
for modifying these older models to accomodate the 11S characteristics are 
staggering, particularly the engine and structure, but multiple battle reports 
have confirmed this is the case. LIC is too busy trying to infinltrate the Word 
to pay much mind as to where these are coming from, but rumors persist of 
shipments of refits coming and going from a facility on New Kyoto. 


Capabilities:
Regardless of the source, whether factory or refit, the 11S is a no-frills 
version of the Warhammer that seeks to dominate opponents with sheer firepower 
and survivability. The main focus of the latest Warhammer is the main arm 
mounted PPC's. While almost all modern Warhammers carry Extended Range 
versions, the 11S drops them in favor of the hard hitting Donal II Heavy PPC's. 
Providing the same firepower as Clann PPC's or a Gauss Rifle, they easily make 
their presence known on the battlefield and can cut through smaller 'mechs with 
a single strike. 

Backing up the PPC's are the Warhammers standard affair of support weapons, 
kept as straightforward as possible so as to expedite field repair and refit. 
Twin Maxell Medium Lasers provide the main auxilliary firepower with a Harpoon 
Streak-6 launcher in its usual place on the right shoulder. The small lasers 
and machine guns were swapped out for a pair of Maxell Small Pulse lasers, 
fully capable of doing the job of both. A suite of 16 double heat sinks allows 
for the firing of the PPCs or a combination of PPC and support weapons, 
although repeated heavy weapons fire can easily swamp the 'mechs dissipation 
capabilities. Engineers felt that most current Warhammer pilots were well aware 
of this dynamic and so felt little need to tinker with the cooling system 
further.

Making weight and room for these improvements are an Edno Steel chassis and 
Light Fusion Engine, both fairly standard technologies by the 3070s. While easy 
to mount and produce at the factory, it still remains a mystery how older 
Warhammers are seeing these extensive refits outside of an industrial setting. 
Regardless, the 11S retains the Warhammers historic movement profile and is 
sufficient to keep up with most battlefield engagements. The entire package is 
wrapped in over 12 tons of standard Durallex armor, significantly more than 
many Warhammer models enjoy. CASE also protects the ammunition and engine, 
allowing for the loss of a side torso while remaining combat operative.


Deployment:
StarCorps is pushing out 11S Warhammers at full tilt from their Son Hoa 
facility alongside its 8D and 9S bretheren. While these models use the 
"Phoenix" styling, it has become surprisingly common to see the historic 6- and 
7-series Warhammers bearing the same loadout. All of these, no matter the 
source, are immediately snapped up by the LAAF or local mercenaries looking for 
shock troops to anchor their heavy mech formations. 

Of note is the sourcing of the lasers and PPCs, which were originally both 
slated to be sourced from Defiance Industries. With the fall of Hesperus II, 
StarCorps engineers had to scramble for models that were compatible with their 
targeting and power distribution software. They settled on the Maxell line, 
already in use on a number of aerospace fighters and conventional forces. 
Battlefield salvage has also identified that some of the refit 11S' have 
RAMTech lasers instead, leading credence that the source of the refits may be 
based on New Kyoto (as is RAMTech Industries).