B A T T L E T E C H

TECHNICAL READOUT 3025

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WSP-1A WASP

Overview:
   The WSP-1A Wasp was the first recon 'Mech to be mass-produced for the Terran
military.  Since its initial production in 2471, the 'Mech has spread to all
parts of Human-occupied space.  Old Star Leauge records show that thousands of
Wasps were constructed in the four centuries preceding the Succession Wars.
Though many of these have worn out or been detroyed, estimates show that more
than half this total is still in operation.  Further, some Wasp designs are
still being constructed in some areas of the Successor States.  The large num-
ber of Wasps available for use should ensure that it remains among the main
light recon 'Mechs of the Successor States for centuries to come.
   The Wasp design has always been used for general scouting and reconnaissance
duty.  Far too lightly armed and armoured for battle, its speed and maneuverab-
ility can generally keep it out of major confrontations.

Capabilities:
   The WSP-1A Wasp is well-fitted out for its scouting role.  With a maximum
speed of over 95 kph on open terrain, the 'Mech can usually flee from most harm.
With its sophisticated Rawlings 52 jump jets, it can also bypass natural or un-
natural obstacles with ease.  Unless the jump jets are used extenively, heat
buildup is rarely a problem for the Wasp.  It can, it fact, fire its entire
weapons complement continuously with little or no heat problems.
   The Wasp's armor is average for light 'Mechs, which means it cannot stand up
to much punishment.  Usually two hits in the same area are enough damage to
cause the 'Mech major problems.  The Wasp is armed with a Diverse Optics type 2
medium laser placed in its right arm.  A Bical SRM twin-rack is also mounted for
close-in fighting.
   A major design flaw of the 'Mech was discovered during the reunification war
(2575-2597).  During the Battle of Imbros III in March 2580, the tactic of jump-
kicking gained popularity.  With this maneuver, jump-capable light and medium
'Mechs could jump and smash their leg components into the head and upper torso
of opposing units, hoping to cause more damage than they inflicted upon them-
selves.  This tactic was very popular among Wasp warriors as it improved their
offensive potential somewhat.  Practitioners of the tactic soon learned that
most Wasps were only able to use the jump-kick once, even if leg damage was
repaired before another close combat.  After performing the first or second 
jump-kick, the lower leg assemblies would actually rip off the body at the in-
stant of impact, leaving the 'Mech totally immobile in the field.  The problem
was finally traced to the stress bars along the actuator paths in the lower leg
components.  The designers had never dreamed that a tactic such as jump-kicking
would be developed for lighter 'Mechs, and so had not given them the mono-
molecular stress-resistant material used onm newer and heaver 'Mech types.  By
2610, nearly all Wasps and other light 'Mechs were rebuilt with MMSR actuator
bars, alleviating the amputation problem.

Battle History:
   During the Civil War brought on by Stefan the Usurper, loyal Star League 
forces launched an assault at the planet Cylene IV in March 2772.  Massed recon
lances composed mostly of Wasps and other light 'Mechs screened the assault.  
Not waiting for the major forces of the Loyalists to drop onto the planet, the
rebel defenders launched a counter-offensive against the scout units.  Many of
the light 'Mechs simply fell back in good order and awaited reinforcements.
Some, however, were caught in front of impassible terrain, allowing the rebels'
medium and heavy 'Mechs to decimate the units before any support could arrive.
By sacrificing these Wasps and other light 'Mechs, the main Loyalist assault
force was able to drop on-planet unopposed, for the usurper forces were scat-
tered from their many skirmishes with the first wave of Loyalist scout 'Mechs.
The Loyalists made short work of the rebels, and the planet fell to them within
four days.
   In April 2796, the infamous Kentares Massacre occured after Minoru Kurita's
assassination.  Oshita's Recon Lance of the First Sword of Light Regiment
gained the ignominious honor of exacting the most civilian casualties on the
population in that month-long spree.  The Wasps of Oshita's lancd are part-
icularly infamous for their systematic butchery in well-inhabited, hard-to-
evacuate areas such as hospitals and high-rise apartment buildings.  When word
on the atrocities reached House Davion, its leaders placed a high price on the
heads of the MechWarriors in Oshita's recon lance.  By 2801, all four Mech-
Warriors, along with their Techs and support personnel, had been killed in com-
bat or by bounty hunters.

Variants:
   There have been five major variations on the basic Wasp design.  The Davion
variant simply replaces the SRM twin-rack with two small lasers and a flamer.
This increases heat output somewhat, but not to serious levels.  The House
Kurita version increases the Wasp's armor at the expense of some close-range
hitting power.  House Liao has dropped all the standard weaponry, and added one
SRM quad-rack to its Wasp variant.  Finally, many Wasps of the mercenary reg-
iment Wolf's Dragoons are equipped with six small lasers for heavy-hitting close
in fire, at the expense of any medium or long-range capability.

Notable 'Mechs and MechWarriors:

Mechwarrior Ross Malone
   Part of Cushing's Scout Lance of McGee's Cutthroats currently in the service
of House Kurita, Ross Malone is noted as one of the best trackers in the Succes-
or States.  His mission is usually that of shadowing enemy 'Mech forces before
battle, trying to ascertain their strength and intentions.  An expert in 'Mech
camouflage, Malone personally repaints his Wasp, the Nighshroud, after every
campaign.  As a member of the Cutthroats, he has masterminded a number of  eff-
ective ambushes.  Not interested in promotion, Malone intends to comtinue his
career as one the the Succession Wars' best scouts.
 
MechWarrior Jody Okigama
   A member of Smithson's Chinese Bandits, Jody Okigama is well-known for her 
tactic of "backwalking". at which she has become quite adept.  During combat,
Okigama walks or runs her Wasp, the Dobber ]I[, backward while continuing to 
fire her weapons as pursuing targets.  This dexterous use of her 'Mech has
pulled her out of a number of tight situations, and helped her to tally up a
score of eleven kills.  That is quite an acheivement for the pilot of a light 
'Mech.

Mass: 20 tons
Chassis: 1A Type 3
Power Plant: GM 120
Crusing Speed: 66.5 kph
Maximum Speed: 95.1 kph
Jump Jets: Rawlings 52
   Jump Capacity: 180 m
Armor: Durallex Light
Armament:
   1 Diverse Optocs Type 2 Medium Laser
   1 Bical SRM Twin-Rack
Manufacturer: General Mechanics, Incorporated
Communications System: Duoteck 65
Targeting and Tracking System: Tadcom TXX


Type WSP-1A Wasp				Tons
Tonnage:		20 Tons			20
Internal Structure:				2
Engine			120 GM			4
   Walking MPs		6
   Running MPs		9
   Jumping MPs		6
Heat Sinks:		10			0
Gyro:						2
Cockpit:					3
Armor Factor:		48			3
		     Internal	    Armor
		    Structure	    Value
   Head:		3		4
   Center Torso:	6		6/4
   Rt./Lt. Torso:	5		6/2
   Rt./Lt. Arm:		3		4
   Rt./Lt. Leg: 	4		5

Weapons and Ammo:
Type			Loc.	Critical	
Medium Laser		RA	1		1
SRM 2			LL	1		1
Ammo (SRM) 50		LT	1		1
Jump Jets		RL	3		1.5
Jump Jets		LL	3		1.5 