Hatamoto-Chi

Hatamoto-Chi
Production information
Manufacturer	Independence Weaponry Luthien Armor Works Maltex Corporation Yori 'Mech Works
Model	HTM-27T
Class	Assault
Cost	8,236,920 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	80 tons
Chassis	Earthwerks VOL Endo Steel
Armor	Mitchell Argon with CASE
Engine	Pitban 320
Speed	64.8 km/h
Armament	2 x PPCs 2 x SRM-6s
BV (1.0)	1,270
BV (2.0)	1,607

Description

A melding of the popular Star League era Thug and the poorly regarded Charger, the samurai themed Hatamoto-Chi was the first post-Succession Wars DCMS BattleMech constructed utilizing recovered LosTech.

Tasked by Kanrei Theodore Kurita to reverse engineer examples of the advanced SLDF BattleMechs provided by ComStar in 3035 for future production, Luthien Armor Works secretly mated the weaponry of the Thug to the form of the maligned Charger. While initially unable to mass-produce the advanced Endo Steel chassis required to match the Thug, the appearance of the early Hatamoto-Chi and their endless variations bourne of the Chargers spacious torso sent the combined Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth into confusion during the War of 3039 and earned the design its place as the light assault 'Mech of choice in the Combine military. Originally manufactured on idle production lines for the Charger on the Combine capital under the cover name of the Maltex Corporation to throw off MIIO investigations, in an attempt to rebuild and upgrade after the Battle of Luthien, LAW sold the production rights to Independence Weaponry and Yori 'Mech Works located on the (then safer) FedCom border.

Constructed with an Earthworks VOL Endo Steel chassis, fitted with CASE protected ammo bins and clad in fifteen and a half tons of Mitchell Argon armor, the Hatamoto-Chi shared the features which made its parent design an nearly indestructible zombie 'Mech. The main area that Combine was unable to replicate the Thug was the older design's advanced Double Heat Sinks, eighteen standard Heat Sinks giving the Hatamoto-Chi a high heat curve in heavy combat.

Armament

While short-cuts were taken in other areas, the Hatamoto-'Chi matches the Thugs armament, twin arm mounted Tiegart PPCs supported by a pair torso mounted SRM-6s a deadly threat no matter the era. Both SRMs have a ton of ammo each, more than adequate for their role as close-range support weaponry.

Variants

• HTM-26T - Though lacking the LosTech of the HTM-27, the single production run of the original field-test Hatamoto-Chi completed on the verge of the War of 3039 were a total shock to the attacking Lyran and Davion Forces. Since it was built on a standard chassis, the 26T had less armor, one less heat sink, and single ton of SRM ammunition in a standard ammo bin. BV (2.0) = 1,536

• HTM-27U - The 27U, also known as the Hatamoto-Hi, is almost identical to the 27T. The differences in the designs come in with the removal of the two SRM-6 launchers and the addition of four Medium Pulse Lasers and an additional heat sink to help with the additional heat burden. BV (1.0) = 1,251, BV (2.0) = 1,627

• HTM-27V - The 27V, known within the combine as the Hatamoto-Kaze, is a variant focused on long range combat. The 'Mech removes both of the SRM-6 launchers and replaces them with a pair of LRM-5 launchers, giving the Hatamoto-Kaze the ability to stay back from the battlefield and provide indirect fire. BV (1.0) = 1,302, BV (2.0) = 1,595

• HTM-27W - The 27W, also known as the Hatamoto-Ku, removes both of the SRM-6 launchers and replaces them with an Autocannon/5. The 'Mech has a powerful direct fire capability. BV (1.0) = 1,285, BV (2.0) = 1,563

• HTM-27Y - The 27Y, known as the Hatamoto-Mizo, removes both of the SRM-6 launchers and replaces them with a single ER Large Laser. This 'Mech is a powerful long range combat 'Mech and can keep an enemy at range and slowly take the armor off of a 'Mech. By the time an enemy is able to close with the Hatamoto-Mizo it can usually be taken out in physical combat. BV (1.0) = 1,311, BV (2.0) = 1,675

• HTM-28T - An upgrade of the 27T model, the 28T exchanges the two PPCs for two ER PPCs. The 'Mech also upgrades the two SRM-6 launchers to Streak SRM-6 launchers. Finally, the 'Mech is armed with two ER Medium Lasers and carries a C3 Slave unit to allow it to share targeting data with other friendly units. The 'Mech achieves this by reducing its top speed to 54 kph and makes up for some of the 'Mechs lost maneuverability by adding three jump jets, giving it a jumping distance of ninety meters. BV (1.0) = 1,754, BV (2.0) = 2,039

• HTM-28Tr - A simple Jihad-era refit, this version places a Guardian ECM Suite in the torso by reducing the Streak SRM systems to their four tube versions. BV (2.0) = 2,034

• HTM-C - A further variation of the Hatamoto-Hi, the C variant is identical to the 27U with the exception of the removal of a single heat sink. The HTM-C also carries a C3 Slave unit into battle. The 'Mech is an excellent sniper 'Mech because of the ability to share targeting data with friendly units. BV (1.0) = 1,237, BV (2.0) = 1,627

• HTM-CM - The HTM-CM is also based on the Hatamoto-Hi variant and carries a C3 Master Computer into battle, allowing it to coordinate an entire C3 lance. This is done by removing two of the Medium Pulse Lasers and a heat sink. BV (1.0) = 1,238, BV (2.0) = 1,573

• HTM-35X Hatamoto-Kaeru - A Jihad era Experimental prototype variant that was produced in an attempt by Maltex Corporation of Unity to produce a mass-produce Amphibious Assault 'Mech. Based on the HTM-27T, the original model has its Endo Steel internal structure swapped for a Composite Internal Structure. Its short missile launchers are replaced by a pair of 15-Tubed Long-Range Torpedo Launchers and a pair of 4-Tubed Short Range Torpedo Launchers. The LRTs have two tons of ammo, while SRT has only one. Its PPCs are replaced by Snub-Nose PPCs in each of its fully actuated arms. Its also been given secondary surface weapons, in the form of five Medium Lasers. To handle its heat issues, the 'Mech been given 10 Double Heatsinks. The 'Mech employs number of experimental innovations for handling the underwater environment, which includes use of several Underwater Maneuvering Units, MASS, and a Full-Head Ejection System. BV (1.0) = ????, BV (2.0) = 1,961

Custom Variants

• HTM-27T Hatamoto-Chi Daniel - Personally awarded by Coordinator Takashi Kurita to Sorenson’s Sabres commander Daniel Sorenson in the lead-up to the War of 3039, the 'Mech Daniel received was a bridging design between the early field-test HTM-26T and the later production HTM-27T. Dropping two tons of armor and outfitted with a bulkier and less refined Endo-Steel chassis, enough weight was saved to mount a pair of experimental Luthien Armor Works developed LB 10-X AC prototypes in it arms and a pair of Telos SRM-4 launchers in its chest. A ton of reloads for each SRM launcher and four tons of autocannon reloads in its CASE protected side torsos kept the 'Mech in the thick of battle.

• HTM-27T Hatamoto-Chi Daniel II - Refitted in the relative quiet of the Sabres guard duty years on Luthien after the initial Clan Invasion, the prototype chassis and autocannons were swapped for now refined production grade components, while the power-plant was swapped for a lighter model. Though reducing the 'Mech's maximum ground speed to 50 kph, this frees up the weight to increase the armor to fifteen and half tons, add a C3 Master Computer and swap the SRM-4s for a pair of Streak SRM-6 launchers, while retaining the same volume of missile and autocannon ammunition.

Related BattleMechs

• Charger - Based on the Charger - see above.

• Thug - The venerable Star League assault 'Mech served as part of the inspiration for the Hatamoto-class of BattleMechs. Despite some differences in appearance, the Hatamoto-Chi is built on the same chassis as the Thug, and is armed very similarly.

BattleMech Gallery

• 

  HTM-27T Hatamoto-Chi

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  HTM-27T Hatamoto-Chi in combat

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  HTM-35X Hatamoto-Kaeru

Bibliography

• Combat Operations
• Experimental Technical Readout: Kurita
• Heir to the Dragon
• Record Sheets: 3039
• Record Sheets: 3050
• Record Sheets: 3060
• Record Sheets: Upgrades
• Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere)
• Starterbook: Sword and Dragon
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: 3050 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: 3085
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New