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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Hwacha HCH-8IPD
Designer:           Thunder
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  E
Tonnage:            75
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Star League / 2780
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         12,578,125 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,585

Chassis:              Standard
Power Plant:          225 XL
Walking Speed:        32.4 kph  
Maximum Speed:        54 kph    
Jump Jets:            Standard
    Jump Capacity:    90 meters
Armor:                Standard
Armament:             
    3 LRM 20s
    8 Small Lasers
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown

================================================================================================
Overview:
    As the Reunification War grew more intense, the traditional tactics of the Star League
    Defense Forces began to break down.  Guerrilla action negated the advantage of field
    formation.  Instead the Star league had to rely on smaller independent tactical units with
    only limited support to curtail enemy action.  That and what some would consider terror
    tactics, and others the Legitimate and Legal consequences to a population that refused to
    acknowledge a "Practicable Breach in the Wall" to borrow a Pre Spaceflight concept.
    
    Though the older Hwacha HCH-3IPD was more then adequate for directed actions against urban
    centers, it was inadequate for the new style of warfare the Star League was forced to adopt.
    The newly released HCH-8IPD used advanced technologies to improve the Hwacha's small unit
    capabilities, making it a better fit for the new era of combat.

Capabilities:
    Above all else, the Hwacha is a missile platform.  And this feature was retained when the
    Hwacha was upgraded.  The Massive 60 missile salvo was retained, though the number of
    launchers was consolidated in the remodel.  The main source of this remodel was the
    increased power and efficiency of the advanced engine.  Taking up both more tonnage and
    space, the paired Torso mounted LRM's were removed, In their place a Single larger launcher
    was mounted center-line over the cockpit.  The Arm mounted launchers were also upgraded to
    match the new LRM system.  Additional changes to the weapons suite was the replacement of
    the Medium lasers with Small lasers.  The Primary reason for this change was heat
    management.  Based on Combat experience, pilots would over tax their coolant systems using
    both the Missiles and Laser systems.  Though a lucky few never experienced any problems,
    many other pilots suddenly found themselves kicked out of their cockpit as their mech
    exploded under them.  Replacing the Medium Lasers with Small Lasers both reduced the maximum
    potential heat load, and more clearly defined the firing brackets for the mech.  If a target
    is close enough to be engaged by the lasers, then it's too close for the missiles.

Deployment:
    The Hwacha effectively ceased to exist by the end of the Amaris Coup.  It's manufacturing
    facilities and supply depots with spare parts were destroyed or captured early on.  The Jump
    Jets which gave it excellent tactical mobility also made it a strategically valuable asset.
    It's ability to hot drop as the fire support element of an orbital assault exposed surviving
    Hwacha's to greater risk then more traditional designs such as the Archer.  In dieing the
    Hwacha paved the way for the Star League defense force to successfully invade the rim worlds
    republic.

Variants:
    The Hwacha HCH-8 was the most maneuverable of its class.  Other Hwacha Variants that
    appeared to replace the HCH-3 focused on raw fire support.  The most numerous variant the
    HCH-9 eventually got around the fitting problems in the Torso to mount 4 LRM-20 launchers.
    This variant was of mixed success.  Though the volume of firepower was impressive, it could
    not be sustained.  Insufficient cooling allowed the extra LRM launcher only intermittent
    use.  Also of concern was the suppression of secondary weapons in an attempt to feed the
    ammo requirements of the missile launchers.
    
    
    The other popular Hwacha Variant was the HCH-12. Mounting Twin Arrow IV launchers, the
    HCH-12 was the ultimate word in Long range indirect fire support.  Especially when equipped
    with Davy Crockett munitions.

Notable MechWarriors:
    "Smoking" Joe was quite possibly the most oddly skilled Hwacha Pilots to grace the Star
    league Defense force.  His claim to fame involved a particularly nasty raid that encountered
    the enemy in much greater force then expected.  Though initial contact cost the lance their
    point, Joe's quick response shattered the pursuit.  Salvoing a wall of smoke to cover his
    fallen lance mate he advanced into the maelstrom of cloud deploying mines to break up the
    expected advance of the ambushers.  As he advanced past the broken point mech he encountered
    the enemy at point blank range.  Here the massed laser banks of the Hwacha made their
    presence felt, slagging the lighter mech that appeared out of the gloom.  As another lance
    mate recovered the pilot of the wrecked point mech Smoking Joe continued his dance of
    destruction, Relocating, Drawing his opponents into unseen minefields, and perhaps most
    impressively allegedly taking down 3 enemy units in a single point blank salvo of swarm
    missiles.  Sadly the smoke prevented a clear reel of gun footage to commemorate the event.
    As the raiding lance retreated, "Smoking" Joe continued to cover the retreat.  Additional
    walls of smoke, and indirect salvo's of Swarm rounds targeted with automatic telemetry of
    the wreckage of the point.
    
    Additional:
    Nuts and Bolts
    
    Heavy Phase II
    
    
    8 Points
    
    4 XL
    
    2 DHS
    
    1 Swarm 5 Tons
    
    1 Thunder3 Tons
    
    0 Smoke 1 tons  (Or More Swarm ammo if you're intent on not using smoke...)
    
    
    Authors notes at time of posting on Mordel.Net:
    The upgraded variant of the Hwacha from the Nuts & Bolts competition.  I'm tempted to
    recreate the 9 and 12 variants, since they were never saved.  Though without fluff there is
    an element of why bother.  But I also like stats to be searchable.  I'll decide later.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                          Standard                  7.50                     
Engine:                                       225 XL                   5.00                     
    Walking MP:                                 3                                               
    Running MP:                                 5                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 3                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         10 [20]                   0.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  168                    10.50                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      23             24       
    Center Torso (rear):                               7       
    R/L Torso:                         16             21       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  6       
    R/L Arm:                           12             16       
    R/L Leg:                           16             21       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jump Jet                                                  CT                1          1.00             
Jump Jet                                                  RT                1          1.00             
LRM 20                                                    RT                5         10.00             
LRM 20 (Ammo 6)                                           RT                1          1.00             
Jump Jet                                                  LT                1          1.00             
LRM 20 (Ammo 12)                                          LT                2          2.00             
LRM 20                                                    RA                5         10.00             
LRM 20 (Ammo 6)                                           RA                1          1.00             
4 Small Lasers                                            RA                4          2.00             
LRM 20                                                    LA                5         10.00             
LRM 20 (Ammo 6)                                           LA                1          1.00             
4 Small Lasers                                            LA                4          2.00             
LRM 20 (Ammo 12)                                          RL                2          2.00             
LRM 20 (Ammo 12)                                          LL                2          2.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 38
TP: BM,  SZ: 3,  TMM: 1,  MV: 6"j
Damage: (S) 4 / (M) 3 / (L) 4,  OV: 1
Armor (A): 6,  Structure (S): 3
Specials: IF4, LRM2/3/4
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:52:21-04:00)