Stoat

Descended from an exploration vehicle, the Stoat scout car's Demiter-Campbell fusion plant gave it a basically unlimited fuel endurance and the vehicle's design is well suited to operating in rough terrain. External hardpoints on the six wheeled design allowed the crew to extend the normal one week duration of supplies.

After the passage of the Ares Conventions, the increased use of maneuver warfare placed a premium on the performance of reconnaissance assets. This had the predictable effect of accelerating development of improved scout units, leaving older designs like the Stoat behind in the Inner Sphere, largely a museum relic. Ultimately, the last service of the Stoat was in the hands of the Periphery states. The Taurian Concordat notably used Stoats to great effect in keeping tabs on the Star League's forces during the Reunification War, helping to turn what had been expected to be a short war into a bloody twenty year conflict.

Equipment
The Stoat's armament is limited in keeping with its purpose and age. A single machine gun in a turret mount provides enough firepower to deal with small infantry units but dissuades crews from engaging heavier targets. Basic fire control enhances accuracy while a ton of communications gear (basically equivalent to modern combat vehicles) allows a Stoat to tie into remote sensors when dealing with static situations. Two tons of armor provides protection basically comparable to modern designs like the Swift Wind or Darter, although the armor's performance against heavy penetrators is worse.

Variants
None are known presently.