Tsuba is the hand guard on a japanese blade.
This is nothing special, meant to really protect another asset or brute-force its way past something. No fancy armour, a slightly fancy engine, and a volley-fire philosophy. Yes, I could fit in a 16th heatsink, but I prefer having more ammo.
Hatamoto-tsuba HTM-31T
Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Experimental Tech
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-F
Production Year: 3145
Cost: 12,677,400 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,834
Chassis: Earthwerks VOL EC Endo-Composite
Power Plant: Nissan 240 Light Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Mitchell Argon Standard Armor
Armament:
2 Lord's Light 3 Heavy PPCs
2 Shigunga MRM-20s w/ Apollo FCS
Manufacturer: Maltex Corporation
Primary Factory: Unity
Communications System: Colmax 90
Targeting and Tracking System: Garret D2j w/Apollo FCS
Overview:
Somehow, the original fictitious manufacturer of the Hatamoto series gained
access to the Kuritan market and secured the production rights to the 'Mech.
Now, decades later, the Hatamoto is purely owned by Maltex Corporation (of
Unity), buying out Independence Weaponry's and Yori 'Mech Works' production
licenses (originally purchased from Luthien Armor Works) in an attempt to
corner the market on samurai-themed 'Mechs. The advantage failed to last, with
both IW and YMW rolling out their own "japanized" BattleMech designs.
Capabilities:
The HTM-31T is known as the -tsuba model, using a Nissan 240 Light Fusion
Engine to maintain the Assault-class' standard footspeed. Unlike the
Hatamoto-suna or -godai, the -tsuba is not logistically demanding. Wielding two
Lord's Light 3 Heavy PPCs in each arm, while retaining the HTM-30S's MRM racks,
the Hatamoto-tsuba is perfectly suited for the secondline role it was designed
for.
To shake things up, or induce headaches to its technicians, the ammo bay for
the Apollo-guided MRM launchers is now located in the CASE II-protected left
torso instead of the right as on the -suna.
The arms carefully house paired double heatsinks in its "biceps" giving the
heavy particle cannon a different look and layout that what one would suspect
from a lack of a lower arm actuator. Instead of flipping over, like on a
Rifleman or JagerMech, the arms swivel around, allowing the Hatamoto-tsuba to
track 'Mechs attempting to circle it.
Deployment:
Unlike the rushed -suna models, the HTM-31T can safely pass quality assurance
tests.Maltex's engineers even improved the 'Mech's handling (by simplifying the
cockpit controls somewhat) so that newer pilots would have an easier time.
Unfortunately, the damage has already been done to this new generation of
Hatamoto: already the DCMS has begun concentrating the shoddily made 'Mechs
into its own formations to simplify logistics and to make sure that at least
one 'Mech is near working order.
Further complicating Maltex's plans, the HTM-31T is being shipped to replace
the ammo-dependent HTM-30Ss in the field. Suppliers that Maltex Corporation
forced to lower their prices in exchange for a high-demand producing spares are
now quietly circling the tricky corporation's headquarters.
The stolid Hatamoto-tsuba has, already, seen heavy combat.
Design Quirks: Fast Reload, Easy to Pilot, Bad Reputation
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Endo-Composite 122 points 6.00
Internal Locations: 1 HD, 2 CT, 2 LL, 2 RL
Engine: Light Fusion Engine 240 9.00
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 15(30) 5.00
Heat Sink Locations: 2 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 224 14.00
CASE II Locations: 1 LT 1.00
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 25 35
Center Torso (rear) 12
L/R Torso 17 25
L/R Torso (rear) 8
L/R Arm 13 25
L/R Leg 17 26
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MRM-20 RT 6 3 7.00
Apollo FCS RT - 1 1.00
MRM-20 LT 6 3 7.00
Apollo FCS LT - 1 1.00
Heavy PPC RA 15 4 10.00
Heavy PPC LA 15 4 10.00
@MRM-20 (36) LT - 3 3.00
Free Critical Slots: 2
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 7 Points: 18
3 4 5 3 0 4 1 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: CASEII, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
