Mark IX Hawk

Mark IX Hawk

Mark IX Hawk
First appearance	"War Games"
Affiliation	Moonbase Alpha
General characteristics
Registry	Earth
Maximum speed	0.22c, 30% Speed of light
Armaments	3 Laser Batteries, 16 Space-to-Space Missiles, 2 Fusion Torpedoes
Propulsion	Compressed Hydrogen
Power	2 Nuclear Power Packs
Length	61.52 ft (18.75 m)
Width	19.52 ft (5.95 m)
Height	7.21 ft (2.2 m)

The Mark IX Hawk is a fictional spacecraft in the Space: 1999 television series. They are apparently designed specifically for combat, and are fast, maneuverable, and well-armed. The Hawks were featured in only one episode of the entire series, "War Games", but they made such an impression that they are still recognizable to many fans of science fiction.

History

The Mark IX Hawk was designed as a defense against extraterrestrial attack. Testing began in 1996 and the Hawk was commissioned in 1997 by the Global Defense Command. To help with response time to invasionary forces, the Hawk fleet was stationed aboard the orbiting Centauri Space Station.^[1]

Plans to build a Hawk base near or on Moonbase Alpha were scrapped in mid-1999. It was believed to be a gross waste of limited space funding, as no extraterrestrial attacks had occurred after the UFO incursions of the early 1980s had ceased. The existing Hawks were believed to be destroyed when the Centauri station blew up due to gravitational forces when the moon was blown out of earth orbit.^[1]

Design

The Mark IX Hawk is essentially a two man cockpit (pilot and gunner) and life support system mounted on a single fusion engine and fuel tank. Strap on boosters provide acceleration of up to 20g. The Hawk is modular like its Eagle cousin, consisting of a Command Module, Service Module, and engines.^[1]

Weapons

Dual weapon pods house computer targeted laser batteries, 16 independently activated missile silos, and two self guiding torpedoes housing fusion warheads. An additional laser battery is located on the underneath portion of the forward Command Pod. All weapons are operated manually by a gunner, or are programmed to follow a predetermined attack plan. In an emergency, the weapons pods and engine assembly can be jettisoned and the command module can be used as a lifeboat.^[1]

The Hawk can be fitted with ship to ship missiles and different bombs and rockets depending on the type of mission. These weapons can be fitted on the forward wings.^[1] The Hawk is usually painted a burned orange color and thus is easily recognizable. The Hawk can be a devastating weapon; in the episode War Games a number of Hawks from an alien planet attack Moonbase Alpha without warning. The moonbase sends a squadron of Eagle Transporters to stop the Hawks; in the ensuing battle all but one of the Eagles are destroyed and Moonbase Alpha suffers severe, crippling damage from the Hawks' weapons.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Starlog Magazine, Mark IX Hawk Plans, March 1980, p. 52-53

External links

• Martin Bowers Model World — Creator of the original model, along with other spacecraft from Space: 1999
• Space 1999 Catacombs - Hawk — Extensive profiles on all models created of the Mark IX Hawk