Hellcat (Aerospace Fighter class)

This article is about the original Hellcat design. For other uses, see Hellcat.

Hellcat
Production information
Manufacturer	Mitchell Vehicles Lycomb IntroTechnologies, Inc. Lockheed/CBM Corporation United Outworlders Corporation
Production Year	2671
Model	HCT-213
Class	Medium aerospace fighter
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Cost	2,992,080 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	60 tons
Structural Integrity
Frame	Lycomb 6
Power Plant	240
Armor	SlabPanzer 5
Fuel
Armament	3x large laser 5x medium laser
Communications System	Telecron L50
Tracking & Targeting System	Telecron M75
Heat Sinks	20 single
BV (1.0)	1,079
BV (2.0)	1,262

Description

The Hellcat subscribes to the school of thought that even a brick will fly if it has enough thrust. Designed by Mitchell Vehicles and was originally introduced in 2671, the Hellcat is a product of Mitchell Vehicles' need to diversify from its mainstay armored vehicle production in the wake of the general decline in conflict and arms sales after the Reunification War. However, the design was considered lackluster because of its lack of advanced equipment and the Star League Defense Force did not purchase many of these craft. The Hellcat really made its name being used by mercenary units, security companies, militia forces and others who valued the ease with which the Hellcat could be maintained and resupplied as well as the rugged nature of the design.

Having been proven a sturdy design, the Hellcat found its way into SLDF garrisons and second-line formations. Though production ceased at Mitchell's Graham IV plant, the design has continued to be produced at at least three other facilities by other companies, with Hellcats emerging from such factories as the Lycomb-Davion IntroTech plants on New Avalon and Demeter—although the latter was destroyed by the Capellan Confederation early in the First Succession War—and the Lockheed/CBM Corporation plant on Tharkad for centuries. This, combined with the Hellcat's durability, allowed it to survive the Succession Wars, a feat many Star League-era craft cannot claim.

In addition to these Star League-era production facilities, in the thirty-first century a new Hellcat design would begin production from the United Outworlders Corporation plant on Ramora under the auspices of the Outworlds Alliance and Clan Snow Raven, quickly enjoying success at the hands of Alliance pilots against raiders in 3074, and subsequently entering service in second-line Snow Raven Clusters.

Weapons and Equipment

The Hellcat is armed exclusively with laser weaponry which makes it a superb strafing craft, but it is considered better in zero-G operations. The only real limit faced by the Hellcat is its fuel supply.

Variants

• HCT-213D 

  The HCT-213D Hellcat is an anti-DropShip variant. This craft replaces all three large lasers with two SRM-6s in each wing, four tons of ammo, and an additional single heat sink. BV (2.0) = 1,087

• HCT-213R 

  The HCT-213R Hellcat is used for reconnaissance, and drops the nose-mounted large laser for more fuel. BV (2.0) = 1,181

• HCT-213S 

  The HCT-213S Hellcat is a space-superiority fighter. It replaces the wing-mounted large lasers with PPCs. (All three large lasers are replaced with the two PPCs and an additional ton of fuel.) BV (2.0) = 1,271

• HCT-313 

  The HCT-313 is an upgrade of the Hellcat designed in concert between Clan Snow Raven and the Outworlds Alliance in 3074. The craft upgrades all heat sinks to doubles, the armor to heavy ferro-aluminum, and all of the lasers to Lushann Industrials Limited high-quality ER large lasers and ER medium lasers. This craft is even deployed among Clan Snow Raven's second-line Clusters. BV (2.0) = 1,674

Related Aerospace Fighters

• Hellcat II - The Hellcat II is an extremely radical modification of the Hellcat, which reduces the overall mass by 10 tons.

Notes

• The Hellcat was introduced in AeroTech (1st edition) as one of the six original designs, but lacked model number, release date, or any description beyond its game stats. It was finally given a detailed description in line with that of other aerospace fighters in Technical Readout: 3075.

Gallery

• 

  Original HCT-213 Hellcat from TRO:3057

• 

  A Flight of Hellcats from TRO:3075

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• Combat Operations
• Field Report 2765: AFFS
• House Davion (The Federated Suns)
• Record Sheets: 3075
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War
• Technical Readout: 3057
• Technical Readout: 3075