Originally the Light Hammer was slated to be in prototype by 3055 and in production by 3059. Designed as a front line mech that would also be able to take on the role of a heavy scout or scout command mech the Light Hammer sat shelved due to problems with the mech Light Fusion engine. Also contributing to the Light Hammer being shelved was the lack of available production space at the Blackwell Corporation's plant on Outreach at the time. In the years the Light Hammer sat collecting dust with only models and two prototypes to show for the engineering effort the light fusion engines problems was corrected.

As Katrina began to press her authority with many back door deals and assignations it became clear that civil war was on the horizon. During this period before the Civil War erupted, many mech companies began to expand production expecting to cash in on the upcoming chaos. Blackwell Corp however, stayed out of the rapidity of expansion on the Dragoons order due to their stance on Civil War. The Dragoons have had the position of non involvement in civil wars since their near fatal involvement in the Marik civil war which ended with their "re-supply" run back into clan space. Fearing increased production and selling to one faction or another would create another enemy to the Dragoons, they decided to show neutrality by ordering Blackwell Corp to slow down production and to only expand their spare parts operations. While loosing out on the profits of war the Dragoons did not want to be caught overtly helping either side. However, when Arc-Royal MechWorks offered a deal to Blackwell Corps executives to share in the costs of refining the mech's design and split the production of LH-1 the Dragoons decided to cash in a little on the chaos by allowing it to be produced. Negotiations were conducted by Wolf Net operatives and the deal was for a mech that no one knew until after the FedCom Civil War that the Dragoons had designed. In 3063 the first LH-1 Light Hammer walked off the assembly line into the open market.

Built on a lightened Warhammer chassis the Light Hammer looks very much like its mother design. However, despite the looks the engineers at Blackwell stayed way from some of the problems associate with its parent. Swapping out the PPC's was dual extended ranged Martell large lasers for better range at a slight reduction in heat and firepower. The installation of the Martell lasers also helped to save weight for other critical components such as the mech's dual Holly-6 pack SRM systems. Supported by three tons of ammunition and a case system to protect from ammunition explosions the Holly-6 packs allow the Light Hammer to fight at all ranges.

The real centerpiece of the mechs design is the Blackwell light fusion engine which saves some weight, but does not make a mech as vulnerable to the enemy as a normal XL engine. While more expensive than normal engines, the LH-1's engineers may have another reason for the use of the light fusion engine than just weight savings. It was later discovered by Comstar that the Blackwell Corps light fusion engine has the same mounting points for wiring, bolts, brackets, etc. as clan engines of the same class. The mystery of the same mounting points also leads to the resurfaced rumors that the Wolf's Dragoons have either the technology to produce or a stable access to clan technology in XL engines. The Current theory has the Dragoons upon receiving the LH-1 swapping out the light fusion for clan tech XL engines giving their Light Hammers better speed and weight savings. [Editors Note: See variants LH-wds]

The weight saved from the light fusion engine allows the Blackwell engineers to mount both a guardian ECM unit and jump jets to augment the mechs slow top speed of just under 65 km/h. Because of the slow top speed engineers wisely chose to give the mech a thick hide of armor to allow the LH-1 to stand up to some punishment before having to withdrawal from battle. Thirteen tons of standard plate armor offers the mech a maximum survivability rating from many pilots and also lead to the mech being used in the Solaris arenas where its survivability makes longer more crowd pleasing fights.

While the mech receives much kudos for looks, firepower, and armor the mechs on real problem lays in heat. Despite the LH-1 carrying an additional four double strength heat sinks and not carrying any additional laser based weaponry the Light Hammer can become a hot ride if the pilot does not pay attention.

As noted earlier the Blackwell light fusion engine has the same mounting points for wiring, bolts, and brackets as the clan XL engine of the same rating. The secretive nature of the Dragoon's has lead to many rumors kicked out by the mill concerning the possibilities of the mercenaries having either the technology or a supply of clan tech weaponry but the emergence of the WDs variant seems to seal some of the rumors. In 3067 during a raid on Clan Wolf space the Dragoons showed their personal variant of the Light Hammer. Holographic video footage of the mech dubbed Light Hammer wds, shows a mech moving at a top speed of just over 86 km/h and also having greater jumping capacity than the H-1. So far Comstar efforts to penetrate the Wolf's Dragoons have meet with limited success and achieved an impressive body count without having found anything about the Dragoon's access to clan technologies. Despite ROMs general failure, should a success occur ROM agents have been instructed to uncover any possibility of the Dragoons ability to produce at least some clan level technologies, the holovids point to either access or a lot of saved salvage being used.    

Many commanders have learned the mounting point similarities between the light fusion and clan XL engine making a new market for salvaged clan 240 class XL fusion engines. The price suddenly increases for the 240 by nearly 100% making clan mechs carrying the engine a prime target by IS mechwarriors whom try their best to take the mechs down without damaging the valuable engine. Despite the price, many so called wds clones have been built by private owners and house units. With all outward appearances being similar pilots are cautioned when going against the LH-1 to be careful about higher than normal speed and jumping capacity.

Currently the LH-1 is built at both Arc-Royal MechWorks and Blackwell Corp on Outreach. The design has been on the open market since 63 and remains a strong seller for both plants leading to wide spread deployment among house and mercenary unit alike. The only two houses not currently able to buy the mech is House Liao, and House Marik however, even here a few was captured during the war and may be serving in their militaries. Surprisingly to many, one WDs clone showed up in service with the Jade Falcons. The mech apparently salvaged is assumed to have a clan fusion engine and is known to have its weaponry upgraded as well. Serving with the Falcon Guard the mech maybe the first known salvaged IS designs in service with the clans in a front line capacity and was a surprise to the Midnight Riders mercenary unit that had inadvertently bumped into it.