This one is a short and snappy one - but it is a compound construct. Originally posted by CoyoteWarDog on July 31st, 2003 (!), reposted and elaborated by yours truly on July 31st, 2009 (in green) and finally slightly elaborated on this day (in green + italics).This week, we'll discuss the Bushwhacker. Right off the bat, I'd like to say that this thing has one of the most deliciously silly names of any 'mech in the BT universe. In fact, it probably gets the award for silliest name among the canon 'mechs (In non-canon territory, the Ventilator is a competitor).
On the other hand, it is one of the genuinely most iconic Inner Sphere 'Mechs of the post-invasion era. Parts of that has to do with its very early introduction in the Somerset Strikers Holo-Soap, parts with it gracing the cover of TRO: 3058(U); however, the most obvious reason for its high visibility is its great looks. Indeed, this war machine, with its aircraft-like fuselage, its gun-pod missile mounts and its functional weapon arms as well as sleek "chicken-walker" legs presents one heck of a sexy package.
Another point that is implied here: forget TRO: 3058 (the Bushwacker's TRO home). This thing is also genuinely one of the first post-TRO: 2750 "lvl2" 'Mechs - remember thast Somerset Strikers also introduced the first non-standard BA suits. This beast appeared early, early in the modern era of BattleTech.
It is small wonder that a design which originated in the very public entertainment medium TV has its forte in aesthetic aspects...Now, on to more serious analysis, starting with the origonal BSW-X1: What we have here is a rather slow 'mech at the top of the medium 'mech weight scale. It's obviously designed for ranged fighting, but the two LRM 5s really aren't veru useful for that purpose. The choice of an AC/10 when the LB-10X has been available for years is very odd, especially since special ammo types hadn't been introduced yet in 3058 and it doesn't have a big enough ammo bin to use them anyway (You only get 5 shots if you use special AC rounds
), but when you remember the context of its origin...
Armour? The Bushwacker is deeply flawed. While 9 tons of ferro fibrous armour provide more protection than one would have been used to coming from the classic 55-ton trio, its allocation is quite wacky (no pun intended). Its protection on all locations is almost maximised... except for the arms which carry the biggest weapon. Please, can anyone explain why it could possibly seem a good idea to provide a limb with 9 internal structure points with 11 points of armour?!?
2011 addition: This is basically an archetypal offense against smart armour doctrine.
Add to this the fact that the AC10 actually has a mediocre range when fielded on modern battlefields and that the LRM launchers are small, heavy and have a huge minimum range and you get a design that lacks real punch or focus. After this harsh assessment, it comes as no surprise that its two variants should be actual improvements.
2011 addition: Before delving into the true variants, let's quickly have a look at a sub-variant that saw the light of day with the release of the TW-style RS: 3058U. The BSW-X2 is a contemporary of the BSW-X1 that swaps the ERLL for 2x MPL and adds a 3rd LRM5 (at the expense of a DHS). What this does is two-fold: increase the capability of the indirect fire-support that was stated upon the original 3058's release; and also increase close-range defense to slightly more credible levels. Ammo is now also short for the LRM launchers and punch is even more unfocused, but I would probably rate it slightly higher as a cavalry unit.
Of course, what this variant really does is canonise the MechWarrior/MechCommander Bushwacker layout...The BSW-S2 is, IMO, an improvement over the original model
(s). It packs the LB-10X the Bushwhacker should have had all along (Saving weight for an additional ton of ammo in the process), does away with the useless machine guns, and abandons the long-range fighter idea by replacing the LRM 5s with much more effective SRM 4s.
Small tweaks sometimes add up to more than their sum. This variant does away with the pretense that it "is first and foremost a long-range combat BattleMech." (TRO: 3058U, p. 136) Its punch is improved and so is, strangely, the range of its effective guns. It also makes up for any lack of staggering punch by providing its pilot with a fairly impressive crit capacity through its SRMs and LB-X.
Unfortunately, it retains the poor armour choice of the X1 and hence, I cannot fully condone it.
2011 addition: TRO 3085's Old is the new New gave us the BSW-S2r which swapped the ER Large Laser and one SRM4 for a Plasma Rifle. While ostensibly an upgrade, it once again reduces the range of the Bushwacker, after the -S2 just upgraded it vs the -X1. It also reduces short-range firepower and crit capacity (though arguably, the Plasma Rifle's punch vs vehicles is so much better than the ERLL's that this is moot). Adding insult to injury, with 1 ton of ammo, it creates new endurance problems that again were originally remedied by the -S2 vs the -X1.
But no, strike that. The true added insult to injury is that yet again... yes, it has the same old heinous armour...The BSW-L1 is so different from the previous variants that it's almost a new design. The Light Engine and improved armor protection make this Bushwhacker a much tougher machine than its brethren. The -L1 had a radically revised weapons load, including one of House Steiner's beloved giant guns (An LB-20X with three tons of ammo) and a single ER Large Laser. This Bushwhacker is probably the best of the three, although IMO it loses most of the earlier models "flavor".
Regardless of the model, the Bushwhacker is still a 55-ton 'mech with a relatively poor mobility (compared to modern cavalry units only). It has Steiner written all over it (Rather slow, big gun, etc). I wouldn't put this 'mech in a lance of medium 'mechs, since it will probably be left behind. Instead, I'd use it as a complement to fast heavies like the Argus and Rakshasa.
Comments?
edit: when adding the -X2, I should also be adding the -S2r... #P
