BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Hunchback ("Curveball") HBK-5HGS
Designer: ackbar5
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: F
Tonnage: 50
Role: Ambusher
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Civil War / 3065
Rules (Current): Standard
Rules (Era): Experimental
Rules (Year): Experimental
Total Cost: 9,712,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,570
Chassis: Prototype Composite Hunchback Chassis Composite
Power Plant: Nissan 200 XL 200 XL
Walking Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: Ceres Heavy Stealth Stealth
Armament:
1 Defiance Hammerfist Heavy Gauss Rifle
2 Magna Mk VI ER Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: North Star Experimental Weapon Fabrication
Primary Factory: Duluth
Communications: Omicron 4002 Networking Channel with Angel ECM Suite
Targeting & Tracking: TRSS Eagle Eye
================================================================================================
Overview:
BattleMech Intelligence Dossier: HBK-5HGS Hunchback
Author: Adept Mu Conrad Eisner
First observed in the field in December of 3065 during an engagement between elements of the
2nd North Star Free Company and the 32nd Lyran Guards RCT on New Kyoto, what is now known as
the HBK-5HGS, callsign "Curveball," appears to be a one-off derivative of the Hunchback.
While my subordinates were unable to infiltrate the mercenary's technician cadre, we were
able to ascertain the following details from analysis of several engagements where our
forces were present in pursuit of other objectives. While all available information
indicates that final assembly was handled by the North Star Experimental Weapons Fabrication
facility on Duluth, the multitude of advanced technologies contained within this BattleMech
strongly suggests that they had extensive outside assistance in putting this design
together.
Capabilities:
The HBK-5HGS Hunchback is a Stealth Armored Heavy Gauss Rifle platform. Monitoring its
movements was understandably a difficult affair given its sensor disrupting capabilities,
but visual observation suggests that the unit is no faster than a standard Hunchback. The
weight of the equipment that would be necessary to manage its observed characteristics all
but confirms the use of an XL engine, most likely a Nissan 200XL given the North Star
Experimental Weaposn Fabrication facility's preferences for Free Worlds League Manufacturers
for its components where possible.
Ascertaining the exact model of Heavy Gauss Rifle mounted in the Right Torso proved to be
difficult given the BattleMech's ECM capabilities. Analysis of the EM spectrum from the one
time it fired its main gun while the ECM suite was malfunctioning suggests that it's either
a Defiance Hammersmith Heavy Gauss Rifle, or a pre-production prototype of the Blackwell
Arms Thunderfist, with the assessment leaning towards the former explanation. The weapon
was observed to have been fired 14 times during a protracted engagement, some of which were
against LAAF Light BattleMechs. This suggests that it has 4 tons of Heavy Gauss Rifle
ammunition, most likely in the Left Torso, and that the mercenary units ammo supply is
probably secure enough that they can afford to waste gauss slugs on Light Battlemechs. This
means that they either have contacts who can siphon off resources from the Lyran Alliance,
or they have contacts who can manufacture the heavy gauss slugs themselves.
As for the secondary weapons, it appears to be a pair of two ER Medium Lasers, one in each
arm. Assessing the models of the lasers was significantly easier. A simple spectral
analysis of light diffracted from the laser beams confirms that they're most likely Magna
Mark VI ER Medium Lasers, and are definitely of Inner Sphere origin.
The ECM suite, on the other hand, is a more interesting affair. A Lyran FS9-S1 attempted to
use its Guardian ECM to expose the Hunchback to missile fire from an LRM Carrier. The
missiles showed no improvement in performance, and the Lyran Mechwarrior was rewarded for
his valor with a direct hit to his BattleMech's Center Torso, destroying his undamaged
BattleMech in a single hit. This incident, combined with what limited spectral analysis was
able to be performed by our field assets indicates that the BattleMech's ECM suite is an
Angel ECM rather than a Guardian ECM.
Observations of the BattleMech firing its ER Medium Lasers while having its Stealth Armor's
signature reduction features activated and showing no adverse effects on performance
suggests that the BattleMech's cooling systems are upgraded to Double Heat Sink standards.
They probably reduced the number of heat sinks to 10 over the 13 Single Heat Sinks used by
the standard models.
Given the immense spatial constraints imposed on the interior it is all but certain that the
Heavy Gauss Rifle is partially mounted in the Center Torso, with a Compact Gyro being used
to free up the necessary interior space. Analysis of material fragments left behind after
it sustained internal damage confirms that its internal structure is a composite structure
as opposed to Endo-Steel or a standard internal construction. Mathematical analysis of the
tonnage suggests that they increased the armor to 11 tons over the standard 10 tons of armor
on a Hunchback HBK-4G.
In conclusion, a lot of advanced technology was pulled in to fit an exceptionally powerful
weapon into a Medium BattleMech, with outside technology being brought in from the Lyran
Alliance (possibly), the Federated Commonwealth, the Capellan Confederation, and either the
Draconis Combine or the apostates who call themselves ComStar. This is an extensive supply
chain for an outfit of lesser renown, even given their state backing. It would be surprising
for them to have more than a single unit and a supply of replacement parts given the
manufacturer typically retrofits existing BattleMechs for special purpose roles rather than
manufacturing new machines outright.
Deployment:
The HBK-5HGS Hunchback "Curveball" is fielded by the 2nd North Star Free Company, 3rd Lance,
and thus far has only been observed .
The North Star Free Companies blur the line between a state military force and a mercenary
outfit due to their ward's long standing practice of hiring out its military to other
parties, so long as the contracts are not directly counter to their interests or the wider
interests of the Free Worlds League. While they are technically mercenaries since the
Military Reorganization Act of 3046, all members hold FWLM ranks prior to their induction to
the Free Companies. The tumultuous nature of the League's internal politics mean that the
HBK-5HGS will almost certainly be used against other minor states within the League, and
possibly major ones.
The current pilot has been identified as Julian Whitfield, a MechWarrior transferred to the
2nd Free Company from the 1st North Star Federal Regiment in June 3065. His FWLM file notes
that he is a particularly cautious MechWarrior. Ordinarily, aggression is preferred in
Hunchback pilots, but the improved range of the Heavy Gauss Rifle in comparison to an AC/20,
its fragility once the armor has been breached, and its stealth capabilities all call for a
MechWarrior different from the typical Hunchback driver.
Variants:
This design is all but certain to be a one-off, so there shouldn't be any variants until
they manage to acquire yet another advanced Gauss Rifle derivative that would otherwise be
out of reach for a mercenary force. However, it is highly probable that any Great House
military save for the Lyran Alliance having requested the schematics as a condition for
their materiel sold to the North Stars given the sheer diversity of the technology involved
in the creation of this BattleMech.
Notable MechWarriors:
MechWarrior Julian Whitfield. 2nd North Star Free Company, FWLM.
================================================================================================
Equipment Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Composite 2.50
Engine: 200 XL 4.50
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks (Double): 10 [20] 0.00
Gyro: Compact 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 169 11.00
Type: Stealth
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 16 26
Center Torso (rear): 6
R/L Torso: 12 20
R/L Torso (rear): 4
R/L Arm: 8 16
R/L Leg: 12 24
================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heavy Gauss Rifle CT/RT 11 18.00
Angel ECM Suite LT 2 2.00
Heavy Gauss Rifle (Ammo 16) LT 4 4.00
ER Medium Laser RA 1 1.00
ER Medium Laser LA 1 1.00
================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 31
TP: BM, SZ: 2, TMM: 1, MV: 8"
Damage: (S) 3 / (M) 3 / (L) 1, OV: 0
Armor (A): 6, Structure (S): 1
Specials: AECM, STL
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