Hunter Light Support Tank

The Hunter Light Support Tank is popular with planetary militias and second-line units. It was designed by Defiance Industries as a cheap, reliable and effective combat vehicle to provide covering fire support for combat units withdrawing from the front lines.

The vehicle found wide acceptance and licenses were sold to three other manufacturers:
 * United Outworlders Corporation - Mitchella
 * Taurus Territorial Industries - Sterope
 * Vandenburg Mechanized Industries - New Vandenburg.

Weapons and Equipment
Its low profile and twenty-tube FarFire Maxi-Rack LRM-20 allows the tank to exploit sheltering terrain and supply indirect fire support. While the close range rearward facing Zippo Flamer provides close anti-infantry work in case of emergencies, it is more commonly used to provide a burning smoke cover for retreating units. With 2 tonnes of ammunition it can provide long-range fire support for a prolonged period of time. The Flamer is hardly ever used in direct combat.

Variants
This version should not confused with the apocryphal HNT-3R Hunter Assault Tank, an altogether different 20-ton wheeled tank.
 * Battledroids version : In what may or may not be a variant (or alternatively just the same vehicle under a different game ruleset), Battledroids featured a 'HNT-3R Hunter' tank with the usual movement profile for Battledroids tanks (4 MP, or 3 if a weapon was to be used on the same turn, i.e. somewhat slower than the classic Hunter), no flamer, and 18 shots for the LRM (3 tons of ammo). It also followed the uniform armor layout for Battledroids tanks of 20 points to the front, 10 to the sides, and 8 to the back.


 * Ammo : This 2960 variant drops the flamer for an additional ton of ammunition. BV (2.0) = 675


 * LRM-10 : This 2954 variant downgrades to a LRM-10 with two tons of ammo. The space left over is filled two forward facing medium lasers and two machine guns in each side. BV (2.0) = 645


 * LRM-15 : This 2956 variant is similar to the LRM-10 variant, but does not include the medium lasers. BV (2.0) = 599


 * Hunter (3054 Upgrade) : This redesigned variant removes all mounted weapons and replaces them with two Coventry Star Fire LRM-15 racks, each with their own Artemis IV fire control system and 2 tonnes of ammunition to provide even greater accuracy and firepower. To make room from the additional weapons the engine was downgraded to a Doorman 140 Fusion engine giving it a maximum speed of 64 kph. The StarSlab/5.5 Standard armor was replaced with Star Slab/4 Ferro-Fibrous to save weight, but this also reduced its armor by a significant amount, making it a much easier target to destroy. BV (2.0) = 641


 * Hunter (Assault) : An unusual and rare variant which is based on the Hunter (3055), it removes all weapons and mounts a close range heavy striking Ultra AC/20 with 3 tonnes of ammunition. This variant proved quite unpopular with its crews. BV (1.0) = 500, BV (2.0) = 670


 * Hunter (ER LL) : Also based on the Hunter (3055) variant and similar to the Hunter (LPL) this 3059 model uses an ER Large Laser instead. With the weight saved additional heat sinks were added to reduce heat output. BV (1.0) = 499, BV (2.0) = 662


 * Hunter (LPL) : Based on the Hunter (3055) variant, this 3061 model removes one Coventry Star Fire LRM-15 rack, and replaces it with a Large Pulse Laser to make use of the heat reduction capabilities of the Fusion engine while also enabling the tank to carry an additional 2 tonnes of ammunition for the remaining LRM-15 rack. BV (1.0) = 450, BV (2.0) = 610


 * Hunter Amphibious Tank : Defiance Industries bought the rights to produce the Sea Hunter tank. In their hands the Combat Vehicle Escape Pod was removed and the XL Engine was replaced with a Fuel Cell engine. The twin Mine Dispensers on the rear of the hull remain, as do the LRT-10 and Enhanced LRM-10. Five tons of Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor protects the crew. BV (2.0) = 639

Custom Variants

 * Sea Hunter : Produced by Andrea County Armor Yards, this Hunter variant is fully amphibious. This allows it to patrol shorelines and support amphibious assaults. Equipped with Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor for protection, the Sea Hunter uses a LRT-10 launcher and twin Mine Dispensers to attack submarines and surface ships. To attack ground, air, or sea targets, it uses a single Enhanced LRM-10 missile launcher. For additional crew protection, the Sea Hunter is equipped with a Combat Vehicle Escape Pod. BV (2.0) = 570

Design Quirks
The Hunter Amphibious Tank variant is subject of the following Design Quirks:
 * Accurate Weapon (Enhanced LRM 10)
 * Accurate Weapon (LR Torpedo 10)
 * Gas Hog