Hoplite

Conceived by Martinson Armaments of Terra in Introduction Year::2578 as an infantry support 'Mech, the Hoplite first saw service with the newly formed Star League Defense Force during the Reunification War before being relegated to Terran Hegemony militia units in the twenty-seventh century.

While every Hoplite in the Inner Sphere was destroyed during the Amaris Crisis and the early Succession Wars, Aleksandr Kerensky's SLDF exiles found the simple and rugged design ideal for bolstering their forces in the months prior to the Exodus Civil War. Selected by the Wolf's Dragoons in the belief that the ancient design wouldn't arouse undue attention, it had the complete opposite effect, and only raised more questions as to the Dragoons' origins when they arrived in Reintroduction Year::3005. After the mercenaries cut ties with the Clan Homeworlds in 3020, they also lost access to replacement Hoplites, with attrition bringing the design close to extinction by the Jihad. During the Jihad, when the surviving Dragoons relocated to Arc-Royal, experimental refits were performed on the remaining Hoplites, which continued after the conflict's end.

Intended for infantry support, the Hoplite is slow for a medium 'Mech with a top speed of only 64.8 km/h. However its eleven and a half tons of armor and heavy arsenal, both impressive for a 'Mech of its size, makes the Hoplite a rugged machine able to fight its way out of most situations using superior firepower.

Weapons and Equipment
Refitted by the Dragoons after the Inner Sphere's recovery of the Helm Memory Core, the HOP-4D Hoplite is armed with an impressive Mydron Excel LB-X Autocannon/10, which allows it to fire either standard rounds or cluster rounds, which are similar to the blast from a shotgun, only on a 'Mech scale. As a secondary weapon, the Hoplite carries a Conan/5 LRM-5 launcher, which also allows it to keep the enemy at long ranges. Carrying two tons of autocannon ammunition, one more than the 4C, and one ton of missiles reloads forces the design to remain close to supply lines.

Variants

 * HOP-4A : The original Reunification War era model, save for using an older Dalban Sniper targeting and tracking system, was all but identical to the 4C.


 * HOP-4B : The 4B variant of the Hoplite is an early variant of the 'Mech that attempts to both alleviate the ammunition dependence of its primary weapon and increase its long-range damage potential. This is done by mounting a Magna Hellstar PPC as the primary weapon that is backed up by a massive Mitchell Systems LRM-15 launcher with two tons of reloads, giving it excellent long-range and indirect fire support capabilities. BV (1.0) = 994, BV (2.0) = 1,162


 * HOP-4Bb : Essentially a "Royal" variant in everything but name, the "Double B" Hoplite was put into production at Strana Mechty MechWorks and Eden Weaponry Consolidated just before the death of Aleksandr Kerensky and found its way both into the forces of the Pentagon Powers and the infant toumans of the Clans. Keeping the LRM rack of the 4B, the "Double B" upgrades the Holly LRM-15 launcher with an Artemis IV system, swaps the PPC for an Kinslaughter H-Class ER PPC, and increases the 'Mech's survivability with a Guardian ECM system, CASE in both torsos, double heat sinks, and an anti-missile system. However, the design's speed and armor were not upgraded, enforcing the need to deploy the 4Bb as a fire-support unit. BV (1.0) = ???, BV (2.0) = 1,413.


 * HOP-4C : Effectively identical to the original Hoplite, the 4C carries as its primary weapon a Luxor HV Autocannon/10, which allows it to put a good amount of damage on a target, with a low amount of heat. The 'Mech is also armed with a Conan/5 LRM-5 launcher. Arriving with the Wolf's Dragoons, these were the first Hoplites seen in the Inner Sphere since their extinction during the Succession Wars. BV (1.0) = 836, BV (2.0) = 986


 * HOP-4Cb : A Hell's Horses field refit from Operation KLONDIKE, the 4Cb removes the weapons, electronics suite, and a heat sink in favor of a Gauss rifle, SRM-6, and Ferro-Fibrous armor. BV (1.0) = ???, BV (2.0) = 1,366.


 * HOP-4X : Developed by Arc-Royal MechWorks in the midst of the Jihad, the extensively modified HOP-4X variant utilizes experimental Inner Sphere and Clan technologies. Built on a Composite Internal Structure supplied by Coventry Metal Works, IS grade double heat sinks, CASE and Ferro-Fibrous armor enhance protection and combat ability while an 275 rated Light Fusion Engine boosts the Hoplites speed by 10 km/h. While the body is Inner Sphere tech, the weaponry however is all Clan: the original autocannon and missile launcher combination is replaced by a Clan Rotary AC/5 and Streak LRM-15, supplied with three tons of autocannon ammunition and two tons of Streak missile reloads. A Clan Light Active Probe completes the package. BV (2.0) = 1,946


 * Hoplite C : Developed after the Battle of Luthien, the Hoplite C is a variant exclusively used by the Wolf's Dragoons that uses all Clan technology. Clad in 10 tons of Ferro-Fibrous and fitted with double heat sinks, the 'Mech carries as its primary weapon an Ultra Autocannon/10. This is supported for long-range engagements by an LRM-15 launcher and for close range combat the 'Mech carries two Medium Pulse Lasers and an ER Medium Laser. BV (1.0) = 1,455, BV (2.0) = 1,736