Because I like this mech too much to let the Clanners keep it. And yes, I know there are things that should not be available in the Succession Wars on here (Small Cockpit for example), but I allow them in my games.
Pack Hunter PKH-1A
Mass: 30 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Production Year: 2824
Cost: 2,116,140 C-Bills
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: GM 180 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 64.5 km/h
Maximum Speed: 96.75 km/h
Jump Jets: Various
Jump Capacity: 180 meters
Armor: Standard Armor
Armament:
7.0 tons pod space
Manufacturer: Various
Primary Factory: Various
Communications System: Various
Targeting and Tracking System: Various
Overview:
The Pack Hunter was developed during the hectic days of the First Succession
War as a low-tech but highly mobile fire support platform intended to work
alongside other light designs to fill an intermediary role, providing heavy
firepower to lighter mech groups or greater manoeuvrability to those mainly
utilizing heavier designs. Though lacking in versatility, the PKH found itself
performing well in skirmishes against other light battlemechs, where its
greater weapon range allowed it to heavily damage approaching battlemechs
before they could effectively return fire.
Capabilities:
The Pack Hunter is intended mainly as mobile fire support and quick strikes at
the flanks of enemy formations, a role that it is well at home with thanks to
the mobility granted to the battlemech by its GM 180 rated fusion plant and the
maximum number of jump jets. Through the use of a in modular mount derived
from
that of the Mercury in the right shoulder, technicians can quickly swap out the
base model's medium particle cannon for other loadouts.
Deployment:
Since its inception the Pack Hunter has been widely purchased by both mercenary
and private companies, where its simplicity and ease of maintenence have made
it popular.
Loadouts:
The PKH-1AA's only weapon is the venerable Particle Projection Cannon mounted
over its right shoulder. Though powerful and capable of striking at ranges
most other light battlemechs can not hope to return fire from, the PPC also
produces almost more heat than the Pack Hunter's cooling system can handle and
prolonged use while running or jumping will cause the battlemech to overheat.
The AB was intended as a mobile sniper and anti-air platform, replacing the
PPC with a class-2 autocannon fed by a single ton of ammunition. Though it
loses much of its punch, this variant can strike without fear of reprisal.
The AC is designed for Mechwarriors who prefer to keep cool, with a class-5
light autocannon and a medium laser providing similar firepower at greatly
reduced heat.
The AD mounts a pair of five-tube long range missile racks while the AE uses
paired four-tube short-range missile racks. Both loadouts featuer a pair of
medium laser cannon to provides supporting fire.
The AF replaces the particle cannon with a quarttet of medium lasers while a
trio of heat sinks provide some nescessary additional cooling.
The AG is another close-combat variant which makes use of the large laser as
its main weapon. Backing the heavy laser are four light laser cannon.
The AH mounts a suit of electronics, recon camera, and a single light particle
cannon. A smoke grenade launcher is mounted to aid in escaping from pursuers.
The AI mounts a trio of medium laser cannon and a quarttet of small laser
cannon
in the torso mount while the opposite arm carries a hatchet. One user has
reportedly replaced the small lasers with a shield.
The AS is an unusual design intended for aquatic operations that trades the
original's jump jets for underwater manoeuvring units and the particle cannon
for a large laser and a two-tube short-range torpedo rack.
There exists an unofficial field variant of the design, often used in the event
of battle damage and lack of spare parts, that mounts a pair of light particle
cannons and a single heat sink in place of the damaged PPC.
Upgrades:
As information from the Helm core has spread throughout the Inner Sphere, many
battlemech designs have been upgraded to take advantage the technological
advances. The PKH-1A2 is intended as a refit kit for existing Pack Hunters
already in service. By utilizing the “freezer†double strength heat sinks the
Pack Hunter can easily handle the heat produced by the new Extended Range
energy cannon, allowing the battlemech to strike from greater distances.
Upgraded versions of non-energy variants are also in the works.
Variants:
The PKH-1B is a factory variant that trades the jump jets and some of
the original's armour and pod space to upgrade the engine to a 240-rated
fusion plant, greatly increasing the design's ground speed at the cost of
mobility,protection, and firepower. It's only armament consists of a single
heavy laser cannon. This variant of the PKH has a single refit that trades the
heavy laser and a ton of armour for jumpjets and a pair of medium laser cannon.
The PKH-2A is an entirely new battlemech that began to walk of assembly lines
in 3053. Built around a 240 rated extra-light fusion plant and an endo-steel
frame, it possesses both greater speed and greater manoevrability than the
PKH-1A.
===============================================================================
=
Equipment Type Rating Mass
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Internal Structure: Standard 51 points 3.00
Engine: Fusion Engine 180 7.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 6 Standard
Jump Jet Locations: 3 LT, 3 RT 3.00
Heat Sinks: Single 10 0.00
Heat Sink Locations: 3 RT
Gyro: Standard Gyro 2.00
Cockpit: Small 2.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 96 6.00
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 8
Center Torso 10 15
Center Torso (rear) 5
L/R Torso 7 10
L/R Torso (rear) 4
L/R Arm 5 10
L/R Leg 7 10
===============================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pod Space RT 7.00
Free Critical Slots: 39
Was not really going for an omni (it was not built under the rules as one anyway), more a way to show different loadouts while using the Easy Maintenance / Modular Weapons design quirks localized in the single location as opposed to covering the whole mech. Despite the fluff bit about the modular mount, it still costs the same the modify as a standard battlemech and you're not going to be swapping them out on the fly like you would omnis. Your technician rolls for just the right torso get a bonus, which I felt was offset by the downsides of the small cockpit.
