[quote=@Gunther]
When I was reading up on the Wolverine, I did get the indication that the Wolverine would be up front gathering intelligence on Friendly, Foe, Identification (FFI) and then share that information with the other Mechs in the unit. You appear to confirm that for me.
[/quote]

In a sense, yes, it is a command mech for recon lances. However, the Cicada is extremely fast. The lance has a Catapult, but everything else in there is a pretty fast mover. That Wolverine can shift it in bursts, but the MASC system can be dangerous to use too long. The Phoenix Hawk is also fast and has jump jets, which also makes it a premiere recon unit. The Cicada lacks those, but is designed with raw ground speed in mind. The Catapult is also a jumper, which makes it useful for navigating terrain. 

So in this lance, realistically, Mattlov has the least firepower, Staudinger has the most. Reynard is also high up in the firepower department, and Lott actually has the most longevity, as her weaponry is predominantly energy. In a prolonged engagement, her mech's value shoots up.

Basically, we have a lance designed for heavy recon work; enough firepower to get out of jams and plug gaps in a battle line. A good mobile reserve with enough punch to make a difference but the staying power is not so much there. Medium lances like this are the backbone of most regiments, a mix of weight classes, ranging from a heavier light or lighter medium to a lighter heavy.