Hatamoto-Chi

Description
A melding of the popular Star League era Thug and the poorly regarded Charger, the samurai-themed Hatamoto-Chi was the first post-Succession Wars Draconis Combine BattleMech constructed utilizing recovered LosTech.

Tasked by Kanrei Theodore Kurita to reverse engineer examples of the advanced Star League Defense Force BattleMechs provided by ComStar in 3035 for future production, Luthien Armor Works secretly mated the weaponry of the Thug to the form of the maligned Charger. While initially unable to mass-produce the advanced Endo Steel chassis required to match the Thug, the appearance of the early Hatamoto-Chi and their endless variations born of the Charger's spacious torso sent the combined Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth into confusion during the War of 3039. Originally manufactured on idle Wells Technologies production lines that had produced the Charger on the Combine capital, the design soon earned its place as the light assault 'Mech of choice in the Combine military. Using the cover name of the Maltex Corporation to throw off MIIO investigations, in an attempt to rebuild and upgrade after the Battle of Luthien, LAW sold the production rights to Independence Weaponry and Yori 'Mech Works located on the (then safer) FedCom border.

Weapons and Equipment
Constructed with an Earthwerks VOL Endo Steel chassis, fitted with CASE protected ammo bins and clad in fifteen and a half tons of Mitchell Argon armor, the Hatamoto-Chi shared the features which made its parent design a nearly indestructible zombie 'Mech. The main area that Combine was unable to replicate the Thug was the older design's advanced Double Heat Sinks, eighteen standard Heat Sinks giving the Hatamoto-Chi a high heat curve in heavy combat.

While short-cuts were taken in other areas, the Hatamoto-Chi matches the Thug's armament, twin arm-mounted Tiegart PPCs supported by a pair of torso-mounted Bical-6 SRMs to pose a deadly threat no matter the era. Both SRMs have a ton of ammo each, more than adequate for their role as close-range support weaponry.

Variants

 * HTM-26T : The original version produced during 3039. Though lacking the LosTech of the HTM-27, the single production run of the original field-test Hatamoto-Chi completed on the verge of the War of 3039 came as a total shock to the attacking Lyran and Davion Forces. Since it was built on a standard chassis, the 26T had less armor, one less heat sink, and single ton of SRM ammunition in a standard ammo bin. BV (2.0) = 1,536


 * HTM-27U : The 27U, also known as the Hatamoto-Hi, is almost identical to the 27T. The differences in the designs come in with the removal of the two SRM-6 launchers and the addition of four Medium Pulse Lasers and an additional heat sink to help with the additional heat burden. BV (1.0) = 1,251, BV (2.0) = 1,627


 * HTM-27V : The 27V, known within the Combine as the Hatamoto-Kaze, is a variant focused on long range combat. The 'Mech removes both of the SRM-6 launchers and replaces them with a pair of LRM-5 launchers, giving the Hatamoto-Kaze the ability to stay back from the battlefield and provide indirect fire. BV (1.0) = 1,302, BV (2.0) = 1,595


 * HTM-27V2 : This Dark Age refit of the 27V replaces the missile launchers with MML racks and adds a C3 Slave.


 * HTM-27W : The 27W, also known as the Hatamoto-Ku, removes both of the SRM-6 launchers and replaces them with an Autocannon/5. The 'Mech has a powerful direct fire capability. BV (1.0) = 1,285, BV (2.0) = 1,563


 * HTM-27W2 : Developed in 3115, this Hatamoto-Ku variant removes the weapons of the 27W and replaces them with two ER PPCs and a Light AC/5. Two tons of ammunition are carried in a CASE II protected bay. This variant is most notable for its incorporation of a Boosted C3 Slave. Sixteen double heat sinks keep the heat under control. BV (2.0) = 1,699


 * HTM-27Y : The 27Y, known as the Hatamoto-Mizo, removes both of the SRM-6 launchers and replaces them with a single ER Large Laser. This 'Mech is a powerful long range combat 'Mech and can keep an enemy at range and slowly take the armor off of a 'Mech. By the time an enemy is able to close with the Hatamoto-Mizo it can usually be taken out in physical combat. BV (1.0) = 1,311, BV (2.0) = 1,675


 * HTM-28T : A 3059 upgrade of the 27T model, the 28T exchanges the two PPCs for two ER PPCs. The 'Mech also upgrades the two SRM-6 launchers to Streak SRM-6 launchers. Finally, the 'Mech is armed with two ER Medium Lasers and carries a C3 Slave unit to allow it to share targeting data with other friendly units. The 'Mech achieves this by reducing its top speed to 54 kph and makes up for some of the 'Mech's lost maneuverability by adding three jump jets, giving it a jumping distance of ninety meters. BV (1.0) = 1,754, BV (2.0) = 2,039


 * HTM-28Tr : A simple Jihad-era refit, this version places a Guardian ECM Suite in the torso by reducing the Streak SRM systems to their four tube versions. BV (2.0) = 2,034


 * HTM-C : A further variation of the Hatamoto-Hi, the C variant is identical to the 27U with the exception of the removal of a single heat sink. The HTM-C also carries a C3 Slave unit into battle. The 'Mech is an excellent sniper 'Mech because of the ability to share targeting data with friendly units. BV (1.0) = 1,237, BV (2.0) = 1,627


 * HTM-CM : The HTM-CM is also based on the Hatamoto-Hi variant and carries a C3 Master Computer into battle, allowing it to coordinate an entire C3 lance. This is done by removing two of the Medium Pulse Lasers and a heat sink. BV (1.0) = 1,238, BV (2.0) = 1,573


 * HTM-35X Hatamoto-Kaeru : A Jihad-era Experimental prototype variant that was made in an attempt by Maltex Corporation of Unity to produce a mass-production Amphibious Assault 'Mech. Based on the HTM-27T, the original model has its Endo Steel internal structure swapped for a Composite Internal Structure. Its short-range missile launchers are replaced by a pair of 15-Tubed Long-Range Torpedo Launchers and a pair of 4-Tubed Short-Range Torpedo Launchers. The LRTs have two tons of ammo, while SRTs have only one. Its PPCs are replaced by Snub-Nose PPCs in each of its fully actuated arms. The 35X also has been given secondary surface weapons, in the form of five Medium Lasers. To handle its heat issues, the 'Mech been given 10 Double heat sinks.  It employs a number of experimental innovations for handling the underwater environment, which includes several Underwater Maneuvering Units, a MASS, as well as a Full-Head Ejection System. BV (1.0) = ????, BV (2.0) = 1,961


 * HTM-35K Hatamoto-Kaeru : This production version of the HTM-35X is nearly identical to that experimental version. The armor, structure, and underwater equipment all remain the same. In fact the only change is the use of standard LRM-15s in the torsos instead of the long range torpedo launchers of the -35X. This allows the -35K to fight on land much more effectively than the prototype. BV (2.0) = 1,961


 * HTM-30S Hatamoto-Suna : This Dark Age variant of the Hatamoto carries a Gauss Rifle, twin MRM-20s enhanced with Apollo FCS, and a single ER Medium Laser. It uses a standard fusion engine to reach a top speed of 54km/h. The Gauss Rifle has three tons of ammunition, and the two missile launchers also draw from a shared three ton ammo bay. The Hatamoto-suna also uses an XL Gyro to save some weight, and is protected by seventeen and a half tons of Reinforced Armor. BV(2.0)=2,086


 * HTM-30Z Hatomoto-Godai : Another post-Blackout variant, this 'Mech is a regimental or battalion commander's unit. It uses the same chassis, engine, and armor layout as the Hatamoto-suna. Its only armament is a pair of Clan-spec ER Medium Lasers and a single Extended LRM-15 with three tons of ammunition. To compensate, the Hatamoto-godai is equipped with a Guardian ECM Suite, Bloodhound Active Probe, two Boosted C3 Master computers, and a Command Console that has been armored. To defend against incoming missile fire, it has a Clan-built Laser Anti-Missile System in the right torso. BV(2.0)=1,899

Custom Variants

 * HTM-27T Hatamoto-Chi Daniel : Personally awarded by Coordinator Takashi Kurita to Sorenson’s Sabres commander Daniel Sorenson in the lead-up to the War of 3039, the 'Mech Daniel received was a bridging design between the early field-test HTM-26T and the later production HTM-27T. Dropping two tons of armor and outfitted with a bulkier and less refined Endo-Steel chassis, enough weight was saved to mount a pair of experimental Luthien Armor Works developed LB 10-X AC prototypes in it arms and a pair of Telos SRM-4 launchers in its chest. A ton of reloads for each SRM launcher and four tons of autocannon reloads in its CASE protected side torsos kept the 'Mech in the thick of battle.


 * HTM-27T Hatamoto-Chi Daniel II : Refitted in the relative quiet of the Sabres guard duty years on Luthien after the initial Clan Invasion, the prototype chassis and autocannons were swapped for now refined production grade components, while the power-plant was swapped for a lighter model. Though reducing the 'Mech's maximum ground speed to 50 kph, this frees up the weight to increase the armor to fifteen and half tons, add a C3 Master Computer and swap the SRM-4s for a pair of Streak SRM-6 launchers, while retaining the same volume of missile and autocannon ammunition.


 * HTM-28T Hatamoto-Chi Shin : A complete rearmament of a HTM-28T, only the C3 Slave remains. A gauss rifle is fitted in the left arm with three tons of ammunition riding in the left torso.  The left torso also holds six medium pulse lasers.  The right arm carries a large sword.  Triple-Strength Myomer greatly increase the damage done by the blade.  Only ten double heat sinks are used, allowing the TSM to remain active.  BV (2.0) = 2,192

Apocryphal Variants
''From MechWarrior Online:
 * HTM-SG Shugo : PGI's Hero 'Mech version of the HTM-27T Hatamoto-Chi Daniel II custom variant listed above, with MWO not featuring the C3 system, the C3 Master is replaced with another ton of Streak missile reloads and four more single heat sinks.

Related BattleMechs

 * Charger - Based on the Charger - see above.
 * Thug - The venerable Star League assault 'Mech served as part of the inspiration for the Hatamoto-class of BattleMechs.

Design Quirks
The HTM-27W2 Hatamoto-Ku variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:
 * Multi-Trac

The HTM-35K Hatamoto-Kaeru variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:
 * Difficult to Maintain
 * Multi-Trac
 * Non-Standard Parts

The HTM-30S Hatamoto-Suna variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:
 * Fast Reload
 * Poor Workmanship