Sand Hornet SN-1HT
IS Introductory Box Set
25 tons
BV: 553
Cost: 1,976,875 C-bills
The Sand Hornet was developed in the aftermath of the Reunification War as a light weight, low cost general service battlemech targeted towards the Periphery Market. The war saw the destruction of most of the Periphery's military power, and while many within the SLDF might have preferred the periphery states completely disarmed, allowing them to retain some measure of military capabilities was one of many carrots extended to the League's newest, mostly unwilling members. Even so, the League hoped to keep such recent enemies at least somewhat in check.
The Sand Hornet was thus built to be able to handle most roles a small peacetime military could expect to face, while also being weak enough so as to not present much of a threat to the SLDF in the event of a general uprising. By design the Sand Hornet is essentially an enlarged Wasp, featuring heavier armor and weaponry while retaining the same mobility of its predecessor. It's generalist mindset is reflected in its weaponry, designed to be able to engage targets at all ranges with at least some proficiency, though this armament is far better suited to chasing off raiders using light equipment than joining the battle line. Anti-personnel weaponry was lacking, though the laser array was deemed entirely adequate for dealing with small insurgent groups or scattering protestors.
However, while the design was a capable alternative to such classic "Bug Mechs" as the Wasp and Locust, it was rejected for service by every Periphery Power, who regarded the lightweight generalist as a blatant attempt to restrict their own military power and through that, their independence. Ironically, those same periphery powers would become increasingly dependent on even lighter and weaker designs during the succession wars.
The designs for the Sand Hornet remained in limbo until the mid 28th century, when Stephan Amaris had the design put into production to supplement the Secret Army. Thousands of Sand Hornets would see action during the subsequent Periphery Uprising, where they served primarily as scouts or command mechs for groups of Locusts, Stingers, or Wasps. Most, if not all, of these would be destroyed during the fighting. The Sand Hornet would also see action during the SLDF invasion of the Rim Worlds Republic, where it fared little better than the rest of the badly outnumbered Rim Worlds Army. League forces were able to take the factory intact, and Kerensky ordered it to continue production at full capacity, with hundreds more built for the use of the SLDF. As many as two hundred survived the war to accompany the exodus. Following the Lyran invasion of the Rim Worlds and its subsequent collapse, the factory was inherited by the short lived Finmark Free Republic, which relied on the Sand Hornet as a key element of its military forces. A brutal strike by the Lyran Commonwealth in 2792 eliminated the factory, Finmark's army, and Finmark itself in a barrage of nuclear fire.
Today, the design is all but extinct, the sole example known to exist is an heirloom recovered from an old Rim Worlds cache by the Knights of Randis in the near periphery.
Movement: 6/9/6
Engine: 150
Heat Sinks: 10
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 43
Armor: 64/89
Internal Armor
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Head 3 7
Center Torso 8 9
Center Torso (rear) 2
Right Torso 6 7
Right Torso (rear) 2
Left Torso 6 7
Left Torso (rear) 2
Right Arm 4 6
Left Arm 4 6
Right Leg 6 8
Left Leg 6 8
Weapon Loc Heat
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Medium Laser LA 3
Small Laser LA 1
Small Laser LA 1
LRM 5 RA 2
Ammo Loc Shots
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LRM 5 Ammo RA 24
