Arctic Cheetah (Hankyu)

Arctic Cheetah
Production Information
Manufacturer(s)	Foster MechWorks Facility Beta Mualang Alpha
Production Year	3037
Model	Prime
Class	Light
Cost	7,257,737 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Clan OmniMech
Mass	30 tons
Chassis	Hellion Light Endo Steel V3
Armor	Compound Beta Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	Warrior 240 XL
Comms	HCFA 3001 5.7
TTS	HCFA 3005 4.3
Heat Sinks	10 double
Speed	129 km/h
Jump Jets	Foster Ocelot Mrk. VIII
Armament	Primary Configuration 2x ER medium laser 2x LRM-5 1x flamer 1x TAG
B.V. (1.0)	1,313
B.V. (2.0)	1,334

Description

The Arctic Cheetah was originally designed by Clan Ice Hellion to replace the Mist Lynx OmniMech. Shortly after they began production in 3037, Clan Smoke Jaguar conquered the factory on Foster that produced the design, enabling the Jaguars to replace their Mist Lynx 'Mechs. The design was first encountered by Draconis Combine forces during the Battle of Luthien, leading Inner Sphere analysts to initially speculate that the Arctic Cheetah was a Clan Smoke Jaguar creation, and was given the reporting name Hankyu (Short Bow, in japanese), for its long range missile weaponry. The Ice Hellions subsequently recovered or recaptured Foster MechWorks Facility Beta, but by that point, the majority of the Ice Hellion MechWarriors preferred the Hellion OmniMech.

While proving to be at least equally capable as, if not better than, the Mist Lynx, the Arctic Cheetah did not initially see use in other Clans. Clan Diamond Shark did adopt the design, ensuring that it would outlast its creators, and at least one Arctic Cheetah was used by a Clan Wolf-in-Exile MechWarrior. Clan Nova Cat also produced the Arctic Cheetah at the Mualang Alpha facility on Coudoux before that Clan's annihilation. Afterwards Clan Sea Fox aided the Combine in operating the facility in exchange for some of its output.

As a result, the Arctic Cheetah had been used by three absorbed or annihilated Clans by the mid-thirty-second century, and had seen combat on battlefields as far apart as Marik in 3137 and on Irece in 3142, where ironically it was used by DCMS forces against Clan Nova Cat.

Weapons and Equipment

The Arctic Cheetah uses all the weight-saving materials that were available to the Clans in the 3030s: an endo steel structure, an XL engine, and four tons of ferro-fibrous armor. It maintains enough jump jets in the base chassis to leap up to 180 meters at a time.

Almost every variant of the Arctic Cheetah mounts a modular flamer somewhere on the 'Mech as an anti-infantry weapon. The most common configuration to Clan Smoke Jaguar and Clan Nova Cat uses a pair of LRM-5s and ER medium lasers, which enable it to provide long range fire support in light formations, as well as defend itself if an enemy closes. The Primary configuration is a very capable scout as well, due to the active probe, ECM suite, and TAG that it carries.

Variants

• Alternate Configuration A

  The most popular configuration in Clan Steel Viper adds a small pulse laser and a pair of Streak SRM-6s to the flamer. BV (1.0) = 1,148; BV (2.0) = 1,117

• Alternate Configuration B

  Appealing to patient warriors, the B configuration uses an LB 2-X AC, a medium pulse laser, an ER medium laser, and a flamer. BV (1.0) = 1,094; BV (2.0) = 1,076

• Alternate Configuration C

  This configuration excels in urban combat and scouting thanks to its active probe. A hunter-killer, the C makes use of four ER medium lasers and a pair of medium pulse lasers, in addition to the standard flamer. BV (1.0) = 1,627; BV (2.0) = 1,840

• Alternate Configuration D

  A capable long-range missile boat, configuration D mounts a pair of LRM-10s in each arm with a flamer mounted in the right torso. BV (1.0) = 1,295; BV (2.0) = 1,080

• Alternate Configuration E

  Designed for anti-infantry work, this configuration carries two Machine Gun Arrays populated with three light machine guns each as its primary weaponry. These are backed up by a single flamer, and battle armor troops are threatened by the twin B-Pods mounted on the torso. For harder targets, it carries two medium pulse lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,084

• Alternate Configuration F

  This configuration is equipped with two Streak LRM-5 launchers and two improved heavy medium lasers. It also carries a light TAG and a Watchdog CEWS. BV (2.0) = 1,394

• Alternate Configuration H

  This configuration uses a heavy medium laser a pair of heavy small lasers, and a flamer for short-range firepower. For long range, it has an ER large laser. Three additional double heat sinks keep heat levels in check. BV (1.0) = 1,148; BV (2.0) = 1,264

• Alternate Configuration I

  A Dark Age era incendiary striker config, Arctic Cheetah I carryings a Plasma Cannon in its right arm as its primary weapon, supported by an SRM-4 launcher in each side torso, a flamer in the left torso and a Improved Heavy Medium Laser in its left arm. A ton of ammo is carried for the plasma canon and each SRM launcher. BV (2.0) = 1,299

• Alternate Configuration J

  A Dark Age era sniper config, the J configuration carries a ProtoMech AC/2 with a single ton of reloads in the right arm and ER large laser in the left arm as its primary weaponry, supported by a flamer in right arm and an ER small laser in its left arm. BV (2.0) = 1,179

• Alternate Configuration T

  A Dark Age era take on the Prime, the Arctic Cheetah T features an ER medium laser and Streak LRM-5 in each arm fed from single ton of Streak missiles, supported by a Flamer and TAG in its torsos, carrying additional jump jets to maximize its mobility. BV (2.0) = 1,429

Apocryphal Variants

Apocryphal Content

This box contains information derived from apocryphal sources, which may not be considered canonical for the BattleTech Universe.

These variants were introduced in various apocryphal sources, and thus far have not appeared in any canonical media.

From MechWarrior Online:

• ACH-SH Shard

  A customized variant of the Arctic Cheetah piloted by Eva Hordwon, the Shard carries two ER medium lasers in each arm, supported by twin heavy machine guns in the right torso and a left torso-mounted Streak SRM-4. A single ton of Streak missiles and a ton and a half of HMG ammo give the Shard good endurance.

From MechWarrior 5: Clans - Trials of War Expansion Pack:

• ACH-P

  Essentially a more conventional version of Alternate Configuration E, this variant is armed with three Machine Guns in each arm, a Medium Pulse Laser in each side torso, and a Flamer in the left torso.

Design Quirks

The Hankyu has the following Design Quirks:

• Protected Actuators

Notable Pilots

See Category:Notable Arctic Cheetah (Hankyu) Pilots

Gallery

• 

  Original appearance of the Hankyu from Invading Clans
• 

  Original Arctic Cheetah from TRO:3058
• 

  Arctic Cheetah from RG:iClan v21
• 

  Arctic Cheetah Prime in battle from CCG
• 

  Arctic Cheetah C in combat from CCG
• 

  Model of Arctic Cheetah from MWO
• 

  Arctic Cheetah miniature from BattleTech: Clan Support Star

Bibliography

• Master Unit List
• MechWarrior Online Clan Heroes II Sale Page
• Invading Clans
• Luthien (scenario pack)
• Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 21
• Record Sheets: 3055/3058
• Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League)
• Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades
• Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades
• Record Sheets: Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3058
• Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: Clan Invasion