Kuma

Intended as a symbol of Inner Sphere/Clan unity, the Kuma (Japanese for "Bear") is a fast if lightly armed Ghost Bear Dominion heavy cavalry BattleMech.

With increasing tensions between Clan Ghost Bear warriors and former members of the KungsArmé after the merger of the Free Rasalhague Republic into the Dominion, the Ghost Bear Khans asked both groups of warriors to collaborate on a 'Mech design. Almost unanimously both sides wanted a fast and highly mobile heavy design free of ammunition concerns, with firepower a secondary consideration. While derisively referred to by some as the Charger IIC, the specialist Kuma was a heavy cornerstone to light Stars in the post-Jihad Dominion Touman.

Built on an Endo Steel frame, powered by an enormous 360 Type II XL Fusion Engine and equipped with a large number of Improved Jump Jets, the Kuma is one of the most mobile Heavy 'Mechs ever built, with a ground speed equal to the medium weight Phoenix Hawk and a jump distance as high as the light weight Spider. Clad in ten and half tons of standard armor, eleven Double Heat Sinks are barely able to cope with the design's weaponry and jump jets.

Weapons and Equipment
The price paid for the Kumas impressive speed and mobility, the design carries a relatively anemic array consisting of a single left-arm mounted Series 4D-2 Heavy Large Laser supported by a pair of right-arm mounted Series 2f ER Medium Lasers. While its all energy weapons array provided it a level of independence from supply lines, the Kumas level of firepower was barely equal to that of depleted Succession Wars era technology medium 'Mechs.

Variants

 * Kuma 2 : A slightly less mobile but more heavily armed variant developed in Introduction Year::3083, the Kuma 2 replaced the heavier Improved Jump Jets with standard versions which reduced its jump distance to 180 meters. The weight saved allowed the replacement of the Heavy Large Laser with a Plasma Cannon with two tons of ammunition, and a 9-Tubed Advanced Tactical Missile Launcher with four tons of ammunition . BV (2.0) = 2,309


 * Kuma 3 : An even faster proof of concept variant introduced in Introduction Year::3085, the Kuma 3 replaced the standard powerplant with an even larger advanced 420-rated XXL Fusion Engine, and yet more jump jets (ten, specifically). With a ground speed superior to many common combat hovercraft and VTOLs, and a jump distance almost equal to that of a Land-Air 'Mech, the Kuma 3 had minimal armor and a single externally mounted gun pod . BV (2.0) = 625


 * Kuma 4 : This version of the Kuma is based on the original model developed in Introduction Year::3141 . It carries an ER Large Laser backed up by two ER Medium Lasers. Each arm and torso location are equipped with a Harjel II repair system. BV (2.0) = 1,865