Hellcat II

First introduced in 2710, the Hellcat II is one of the least-known or recognized fighters, in part because it was one of the last additions to the SLDF before the Amaris Civil War. The craft is intended as a heavy aerospace scout, a task for which it carries a Beagle Active Probe, providing the ability to pierce normal ECM at much longer ranges than other scanning devices. Though produced by the same company and bearing a similar name to the Hellcat, the Hellcat II possesses little or no resemblance to that older fighter, instead using a flying-wing pattern to minimize its emission footprint.

Originally protected by fifteen tons of standard armor, three tons were removed to improve the handling characteristics of what test pilots called a "flying tank." However, commanders felt that the weaker protection meant that the fighter would be unable to accomplish its primary mission. The problem was solved with replacing the standard armor with Ferro-Aluminum which, though more expensive, provided superior protection for less weight, and improved heat dissipation.

The Hellcat II would only see full deployment by the 2750s, after which the civil war saw the destruction of its factories on Graham IV during General Kerensky's campaign to liberate the Terran Hegemony. Most Hellcat IIs left with Kerensky in the Exodus Fleet, and with the creation of the Clans would occasionally serve in second-line formations. The few left in the hands of the Great Houses would see their capabilities degrade as their advanced technology became lostech, though ComStar maintained secret stocks of Hellcat II fighters for use by its Com Guards. The return of the Clans saw ComStar upgrade its Hellcat IIs to the superior 215 models, some of which would fall into the hands of the Word of Blake.

Weapons and Equipment
With an armament consisting entirely of laser weaponry, the Hellcat II excels at strafing. The fighter also has very good maneuverability and heavy armor for a 50-ton craft. This, combined with the Beagle Probe, mean that the Hellcat II can pick its dogfights judiciously.

Armament of the craft include two wing-mounted Diverse Optics/A Large Lasers and a rear-facing Starflash Medium Laser. Both large lasers are linked directly to the Beagle, which allows for greater accuracy at any range.

Variants

 * HCT-212 Hellcat : Armed with two Large Lasers, co-axed with a pair of Medium Lasers, with one set of each type of laser mounted in wings. The craft has 16 Heat Sinks. It does not have the Beagle mounted in it, and the craft is prone to overheating if all weaponry is fired at once . BV (2.0) = 1,212


 * HCT-213C Hellcat : This variant carries a Large Pulse Laser in each wing and a pair of Medium Pulse Lasers in the nose. To discourage pursuit, it carries a single rear-firing Medium Laser. The targeting system is tied into a Beagle Active Probe mounted in the nose. Two heat sinks have been removed, but the remaining thirteen are double strength models. BV (2.0) = 1,308


 * HCT-214 Hellcat: The craft is configured with Beagle Active Probe mounted in nose. The craft is armed with two ER Large Lasers with pair of Medium Lasers in each of the wings. It has also been fitted with 14 Double Heat Sinks . BV (2.0) = 1,375


 * HCT-215 Hellcat : Based on the 214 variant, the 215 retains the Beagle-Probe. The Large Lasers are replaced with Five Light PPCs, two mounted in each wing together with an ER Medium Laser and the fifth mounted up front. Heat management has improved, with the number of Double Heat Sinks increased to 15.  Armor and internal structure have also been reinforced on this variant . BV (2.0) = 1,686

Custom Variants

 * HCT-213BC Hellcat Herman : Developed by Herman Boyle, a Rim Worlds Republic officer, this Hellcat functioned as a fast minelayer. These fighters had all their weaponry removed and replaced with a pair of nose mounted Medium Lasers. The engine was swapped out for an extralight model, and seven and a half tons of armor was removed. This freed enough space to add two Mine Dispensers to the fighter's tail and a Command Console to the cockpit. The Hellcat Herman also carried eleven tons of fuel. BV (2.0) = ?

Related Aerospace Fighters

 * Hellcat - The Hellcat II was designed as a radical redesign of the Hellcat, which is 10 tons heavier.

Design Quirks
The HCT-213BC Hellcat Herman variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:
 * Easy to Maintain
 * Improved Communications
 * Obsolete/2776