The Kanazuchi is a Draconis Combine assault design based on captured Clan BattleArmor.
         Originally dubbed the Komodo, development of the BattleArmor design progressed smoothly until the summer of 3054, when the Draconis High Command displayed its lack of faith in the project by severely reducing its budget. Only the hard work and dedication of the project scientists - many of whom worked for little or no pay - enabled the design to reach the prototype stage.
         Early trials of the prototype went poorly. Loaded with more than a ton of armor plating and a massive arsenal that included an arm-mounted medium laser, two arm-mounted small lasers, two torso-mounted SRM 2 racks, a torso-mounted anti-infantry flamer and a torso-mounted SMG, the Komodo proved nearly immobile. Unable to turn quickly enough to effectively use its weapons, the prototype was little more than an easy target. Additionally, the suit proved difficult and exhausting to control, and on more than one occasion Komodo test pilots suffered serious injuries from feedback or excessive torque. As a result of its poor performance, the DCMS nearly killed the project once again.
         After extensive redesign work, a second Komodo prototype made its debut when a volunteer lab assistant took the battle suit out on the proving grounds before Theodore Kurita and the High Command. This time, the ungainly looking machine performed so well that the High Command immediately tripled the project's funding to accelerate final design work on the Komodo. After a bit more refinement, the design entered production under the name Kanazuchi, or "hammer" (the name Komodo had been assigned to a popular BattleMech design during the development of the battle armor).        

         The squat, thick Kanazuchi features large, stumpy legs, thick arms, and a foreward leaning "head" that contains a cockpit-like section where the pilot sits. The Kanazuchi's arsenal consists of twin back-mounted SRM 2 launchers, a 'Mech-sized medium laser, and a pair of pod-mounted secondary anti-infantry weapons. The design also features an impressive amount of armor. During the Kanazuchi's final field demonstration, in fact, the DCMS produced a captured Clan Mad Cat that unleased a PPC blast directly at the battle suit. Though the blast virtually destroyed the power armor, the pilot inside survived the hit relatively unhurt and even managed to return fire with two medium laser bursts, much to the delight of the assembled observers.

         The Kanazuchi fought well during the Jihad and wars with the Dominion, both on the sides of the Luthien government and those loyal to the Kurita family. Even the Nova Cats still use the powerful design, where it often fights against Dominion BattleArmor in raids.