Hetzer
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Hetzer | |
Production information | |
Manufacturer | Quikscell Company |
Mission | Close Range / Urban Combat |
Type | Wheeled |
Cost | 664,000[1] |
Technical specifications | |
Mass | 40 |
Armor | StarSlab/6 |
Engine | 140 CitiCide ICE |
Speed | 65.8 km/h |
Crew | 3 |
Armament | |
BV (1.0) | 376[1] |
BV (2.0) | 565[2] |
Description
The Hetzer was designed as a cheap, self-propelled artillery-piece to be stationed on worlds deemed worthy to defend, but not valuable enough to station a complete garrison force or even BattleMechs. As it mounts its primary, and only, weapon in its front, thus lacking a turret, it is difficult to employ in other roles than a defensive one. Also, its wheeled chassis restricts its mobility. Due to its decent protection of six tons of standard armor and its Crusher SH Cannon, combined with its low price, the Hetzer is still a valuable asset for poor commands and popular especially throughout the Periphery. However, Quikscell Company is largely known for its poor manufacturing standards, resulting in many Hetzers being shipped with only half their components installed or even completely lacking some of them. Crews reportedly refused new Hetzers meant to replace their older ones, because they could be sure that the older models worked properly.[3][4]
Armament
Drawing all firepower from a massive Autocannon/20, the Hetzer can easily blast through thick armor, whether it's mounted on a BattleMech or vehicle. Also, the tank carries four tons of ammunition, enabling it to obliterate a number of enemies before forced to reload. On the downside, the limited firing-arc, its complete dependence on a short-range weapon, lack of back-up weaponry and mediocre speed severely limits the tank's usefulness in battle.[3][4]
Variants
- Laser - Quickscell produced no variants, but that did not stop commands who fielded the Hetzer from modifying it. The "Laser" variant replaced the autocannon with four Medium Lasers and an additional ton of armor. This gave it greater survivability and better longevity. BV (2.0) = 520[5]
- LRM - The "LRM" variant turned the Hetzer into a long-range support vehicle. It mounted a pair of LRM-15s and four tons of ammunition. BV (2.0) = 657[5]
- SRM - Instead of the autocannon, the "SRM" variant utilized five SRM-6s and three tons of ammunition. BV (2.0) = 630[6]
- LB-X - Introduced during the FedCom Civil War, the original Assault Cannon is replaced by a LB-X 20 variant with five tons of ammo. BV (2.0) = 767[7]
- Sealed - This Hetzer variant uses Environmental Sealing to protect the Protectorate Militia crew from toxic threats on the battlefield. To make the vehicle independent from fuel the I.C.E was replace with an fusion engine. The standard autocannon is replaced by a Rotary AC/5 with 3 tons of ammo, and a C3i system allows it to share targeting data with its colleagues.[8] BV (2.0) = 775[9]
Custom Variants
- Jagdpanzer II - This is a Experimental Technology variant of the Hetzer which was introduced during the Jihad. The vehicle features six tons of Vehicular Stealth Armor and a Guardian ECM to help protect and hide the Jagdpanzer from its opponents. The original Assault Autocannon is removed in favor for a Ultra version with four tons of ammo. The vehicle has two Machine Guns, each mounted on a Sponson type turret on either side of the vehicle. Lastly, the vehicle's engine is exchanged for an Extra Light Fusion Engine, which allows the vehicle flank up to 80 km/ph. BV (2.0) = 1,009[10]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Combat Operations, 120
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, 28
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, 46
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Technical Readout: 3039, 56
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Record Sheets: 3039, 29
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, 30
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere) p. 85 - LB-X variant of the Hetzer.
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3085, p. 191
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New, p. 34
- ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Boondocks pp. 9, 21 - Hetzer experimental Variant.