Grasshopper

Grasshopper
Production information
Manufacturer	Lantren Corporation Jalastar Aerospace Arc-Royal MechWorks LexaTech Industries
Introduced	2780
Model	GHR-5H
Class	Heavy
Cost	6,024,574 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	70 tons
Chassis	Mingh z33/7
Armor	Maximillian 100
Engine	VOX 280
Communications System	Allet-C308
Speed	64.8 km/h
Jump Jets	Lexington Lifters
Armament	1xLarge Laser 4xMedium Lasers 1xLRM-5
BV (1.0)	1,268
BV (2.0)	1,427

Description

Originally intended as a stealthy hunter-killer of light and medium 'Mechs, the Grasshopper entered service in 2780, after hostilities had wound down in the Amaris Civil War. With the SLDF demobilizing, much of the Grasshopper's original high-tech systems were stripped before production. What was left was a heavy BattleMech with great mobility and a predominately shorter-ranged, energy-based weaponry. The 'Mech's ground speed of 64.8 km/h is augmented with a jumping capability of one hundred and twenty meters. The Grasshoppers weapons systems allow the Grasshopper to perform a variety of roles other than that of a light 'Mech hunter, and its low dependence on ammunition allows the Grasshopper to operate away from established supply lines for extended periods of time.

Armament

The Grasshopper carries a Diplan HD Large Laser as its primary weapon. The Large Laser's firepower is augmented at long range with the Conan/S LRM-5 launcher. For close range combat, the Grasshopper carries four Diplan M3 Medium Lasers, giving it a great deal of close range firepower.

Variants

• GHR-5J - An upgrade of the Grasshopper using Star League technology, the 5J upgrades the Large Laser to an ER Large Laser and replaces the LRM-5 launcher with a Streak SRM-2 missile launcher and an Anti-Missile System. Finally, the 'Mech has reduced the number of Medium Lasers from four to two. BV (1.0) = 1,217, BV (2.0) = 1,354

• GHR-5N - the 5N is a very basic upgrade of the Grasshopper. The LRM-5 and the Large Laser have both been removed from the design. In their place, a PPC has been added, as well as an additional Medium Laser. BV (1.0) = 1,316, BV (2.0) = 1,511

• GHR-6K - The 6K variant of the Grasshopper upgrades the design by using an Endo Steel chassis and the 'Mechs heat sinks have been upgraded to double heat sinks. The LRM-5 launcher has been replaced with a Guided Technologies 2nd Generation Streak SRM-4 missile launcher and the 'Mech carries five Medium Pulse Lasers for close range combat. For long-range situations, the Grasshopper carries an ER Large Laser. The 'Mech also carries a C3 slave unit to allow it to share targeting data with friendly units. BV (1.0) = 1,484, BV (2.0) = 1,597

• GHR-7K - An upgrade of the 6K, the 7K removes the weapons with an eye toward making the Grasshopper independent of supply concerns. Two Light PPCs provide long-range firepower, while short-range firepower is provided by twin Snub-Nose PPCs. An ER Medium Lasers takes the place of one of the 6K's heat sinks. The addition of a Guardian ECM Suite makes this a difficult to detect guerrilla fighter. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 1,806

• GHR-C - A very basic modification of the 5J model, the Grasshopper C is modified to carry a C3 slave unit to allow it to be integrated into a C3 lances and allow it to share targeting data with friendly units. To accomplish this, the Streak SRM-2 ammunition has been reduced by one ton. BV (1.0) = 1,219, BV (2.0) = 1,366

• GHR-7P - The production version of Arc-Royal MechWorks GHR-7X prototype, uses a Torso Mounted Cockpit, Endo Steel skeleton and VOX 280 Light Fusion Engine, and mounts six Leviathan Enhanced Improved Jump Jets as well. The Type VI Bloodhound Active Probe was also retained. The main difference between the prototype 7X and production 7P is its weaponry, instead of Medium Pulse Lasers and problematic Bombast Lasers, the GHR-7P carries a Maxell X-pulsion Large X-Pulse Laser and an RAMTech 1500Z ER Medium Laser in each arm while another ER Medium Laser fills the head. BV (2.0) = 1,806

Custom Variants

• GHR-7X - A Jihad era experimental prototype developed on Arc-Royal, this version used a Torso Mounted Cockpit, Light Engine, and Endo Steel skeleton as the frame to carry six Improved Jump Jets. The standard weaponry is replaced with a head mounted Medium Pulse Laser and a Bombast Laser in each arm. To find its opponents, the head also carries a Bloodhound Active Probe. Even after the refined GHR-7P entered production, ARM still produced a small number of GHR-7X in response to customer requests. Even with this demand, less ten GHR-7X's were ever manufactured, with the two original prototypes lost on Rochelle. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 1587

Gallery

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  GHR-5H Grasshopper in combat

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  GHR-5J Grasshopper in battle

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  GHR-5J Grasshopper

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  Mercenary Grasshopper

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  GHR-7X Grasshopper jumping

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  GHR-5H Grasshopper

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  GHR-5H Grasshopper

Bibliography

• Combat Operations
• Master Unit List: Battle Values
• Introductory Record Sheets
• Record Sheets: 3025/3026
• Record Sheets: 3039
• Record Sheets: 3050
• Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere)
• Record Sheets: 3060
• Record Sheets: Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: 3050 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
• Experimental Technical Readout: Mercs
• Technical Readout: Prototypes