Hatchetman

Hatchetman
Production information
Manufacturer	Defiance Industries of Hesperus II, Johnston Industries
Model	HCT-3F
Class	Medium
Cost	3,129,390 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	45 tons
Chassis	Chariot Type II
Armor	Durallex Medium
Engine	GM 180
Speed	64.8 km/h
Jump Jets	Luxor 2/Q
Armament	1xAutocannon/10 2xMedium Lasers 1xHatchet
BV (1.0)	769
BV (2.0)	854

Description

Introduced in 3023 during the Succession Wars, the Hatchetman was a very unique 'Mech because, as its name suggests, it carries a 'Mech sized Hatchet. The first new BattleMech produced in the Inner Sphere in over a century, the Hatchetman was designed by Dr. Banzai and is an excellent close combat machine. The Hatchetman has a top speed of 64.8 km/h, which is enhanced with a jumping capability of up to one hundred and twenty meters. The Hatchetman's heavier than usual weapons payload and Hatchet, combined with its jumping capability, makes the Hatchetman a monster within the confines of a city. Following the integration of the Lyran Commonwealth with the Federated Suns, Defiance Industries could not keep up with production and licensed the design to Johnston Industries to keep up with demand.

Armament

Aside from its Hatchet, the Hatchetman carries a Defiance Killer Autocannon/10 as its primary ranged weapon, which allows the 'Mech to be effective in both stand up fights in front line combat and in the concrete jungle of a city. As secondary weapons, the Hatchetman carries two Defiance B3M Medium Lasers.

Notes

Rumours claiming that the Hatchetman was produced on Perdition, in the Taurian Concordat, as early as 3025, were based on faulty intelligence and have since been proven as false.

Several early BattleTech products, most notably the Technical Readout: 3025 and Objective Raids, erroneously stated the Taurians produced the Hatchetman and the Rommel tank. This has since been stated to be plainly wrong, and an error in the earlier products, by the line developers.

Variants

• HCT-5D - The Hatchetman 5D is a rugged and deadly variant of the 'Mech. The 5D uses an extralight engine for power and is armed with an Ultra Autocannon/10 as its primary weapon and carries a single ER Medium Laser as a back up weapon. This destructive power is harnessed by adding a targeting computer to allow the 'Mech to use its weapons with deadly accuracy. BV (1.0) = 981, BV (2.0) = 1,012

• HCT-5K - The Draconis Combine captured many HCT-3Fs, but could not convince their samurai to pilot a 'Mech that wielded a "barbaric" ax. It would be many years before Combine engineers developed the Sword, and even more until they modified their Hatchetmen to utilize it. The 5K is protected by nine tons of armor and swaps out the signature Hatchet for a more elegant and accurate Sword. Like the 5S, the 5K utilizes an XL Engine and upgrades the arm-mounted Medium Lasers to pulse models, though it swaps out the torso laser for an extended-range version. The autocannon is replaced with a cheap and deadly MRM-30. The 5K also carries a C3 Slave Unit to feed targeting data back to lancemates. The 5K makes use of double heat sinks. BV (2.0) = 1,070

• HCT-5S - The 5S is an upgrade of the 3F model. The 5S replaces the fusion engine with an extralight engine. The weapons have also been stripped from the chassis and upgraded. The Autocannon has been replaced with a Defiance Disintegrator LB-X Autocannon/10 and the Medium Lasers have been replaced with three Defiance P5M Medium Pulse Lasers. Finally, the Hatchetman has been re-armored with eight and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor and also includes CASE to protect itself in the event of an ammunition explosion. BV (1.0) = 826, BV (2.0) = 1,039

• HCT-5DD - The 5DD is similar to the 5D, but can move up to 86.4 km/h and instead of an Ultra Autocannon/10 it carries a Rotary Autocannon/2 and an ER Medium Laser, both of which are linked to a targeting computer. BV (1.0) = 1,002, BV (2.0) =1,112

• HCT-6D - The 6D Hatchetman is a variant with a decidedly Davion flair. The 'Mech is powered by an extralight engine that propels the 'Mech up to speeds of up to 86.4 km/h and can jump up to one hundred and fifty meters. The 'Mech is armed with a Mydron Tornado Rotary Autocannon/5 as its primary weapon. This is backed up by a trio of Diverse Optics ER Medium Lasers and, for protection against electronic warfare systems, it has a Guardian ECM Suite. BV (1.0) = 1,424, BV (2.0) = 1,611

• HCT-6S - Created during the FedCom Civil War, the 6S replaces the XL Engine of the 5S with a Light Engine. The pulse lasers are replaced with ER models and the heat sink are upgraded to double-strength versions. In addition, the magazine for the autocannon is doubled. BV (2.0) = 1,174

Custom Variants

• HCT-3F Hatchetman Austin - Originally assigned to the NAIS Training Cadres, it was selected as a NAIS technology test bed before being assigned to Fox's Teeth member Austin Vorster in the lead-up to the War of 3039. Mounting a NAIS Mk. 1 LB 10-X Autocannon prototype saved enough weight to add a third medium laser, moving all three to the left arm to avoid inhibiting use of the 'Mechs hatchet.

• HCT-5S Hatchetman Austin - Receiving a 3050s era 5S model after the Fox's Teeth's faced Clan Jade Falcon on Wotan in 3051, Austin Vorster had it refitted in the lead-up to the FedCom Civil War. Almost identical to the 6S created by the Lyran Alliance in the conflict, the only significant difference is the placement of all ER Medium Lasers in the 'Mechs left arm.

Notable Pilots

• Kai Allard-Liao was piloting a Hachetman during his stunning victory over the Falcon Guard at the Great Gash on Twycross in 3050.

Gallery

• 

  HCT-5S Hatchetman

• 

  HCT-3F Hatchetman in Motion

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  HCT-5S Hatchetman in Combat

Bibliography

• Starterbook: Sword and Dragon
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3025 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: 3050 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
• Record Sheets: 3025 & 3026
• Record Sheets: 3039
• Record Sheets: 3050
• Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere)
• Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I
• MWDA Bannson's Raiders' dossier of Dianna "Dagger Di" Jones
• MWDA Dragoon's Fury's dossier of Tomoko Nagasawa