LoggerMechs like the Crosscut dominate commercial forestry in woodlands across the Inner Sphere, being one of the few vehicles capable of operating effectively in the combination of rugged terrain and the close confines of massive trees. Indeed, the use of crude forestry walkers predates modern ’Mechs by several centuries, with multi-legged versions having been in experimental use since the early twenty-first century.

         Designed to both fell trees and to transport them to a central point for processing, the Crosscut is a hybrid design built for small-scale independent operations rather than the lumber-farming concerns of some worlds that field dedicated felling and transportation vehicles. Initially designed by the Eden Corporation of Terra during the Star League, the   Crosscut was licensed throughout the Inner Sphere and this prevalence allowed the design to survive Eden’s demise in the Amaris Coup and the war that followed.
         Though many BattleMech pilots deride IndustrialMechs and their operators, the Crosscut and its siblings require considerable pilot skill and those who master them have proven to be competent MechWarriors. Indeed, some regional training academies in the Free Worlds League use the Crosscut as a training and familiarization platform before graduating cadet-pilots to dedicated BattleMech trainers like the Chameleon. Furthermore, some worlds have employed Crosscuts in a military role, either using their twin chainsaws as unwieldy weapons or jury-rigging weaponry to the arms and torso. Despite this, the slow and lumbering ’Mech is not well protected-its three tons of armor does cover the design more than the lighter ForestryMechs that are more common, but it is still designed to protect the chassis and drive train from the bumps and scrapes associated with logging rather than defending against hostile action.

         Several dozen factories across the Inner Sphere produce the Crosscut today, each following the original plans closely, though utilizing local components and adding unique (but often cosmetic) touches. The only significant modification to the Star League version is the replacement of the original fusion power plant (found on a few very old   Crosscuts that have escaped military scavenger operations during the Succession Wars) with an IC engine. That the design has remained effective and popular despite this change is a testament to its design and versatility.