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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Hunchback (Rifleback) HBK-4AA
Designer:           IronRaven Special Projects Group
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  D
Tonnage:            50
Role:               Juggernaut
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Star League / 2774
Rules (Current):    Introductory
Rules (Era):        Introductory
Rules (Year):       Introductory
Total Cost:         3,328,375 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,029

Chassis:              Crucis Type V 
Power Plant:          Nissan 200 
Walking Speed:        43.2 kph  
Maximum Speed:        64.8 kph  
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                Starshield
Armament:             
    1 Diverse Optics Type 30 Large Laser
    1 Imperator-A Autocannon/5
    1 Hellion V Medium Laser
    1 Hellion-V Medium Laser
    1 Diverse Optics Type 10 Small Laser
Manufacturer:         Kali Yama Weapons Industries
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Omicron 4002 Networking Channel
Targeting & Tracking: Garret D2j

================================================================================================
Overview:
    The Rifleman is a classic mech, one of the first mission specific machines. Optimized for
    air defense with a secondary role of fire support, the Rifleman is known to every
    mechwarrior. The key to these capabilities is the Garrett D2j synthetic aperture radar
    array. Unfortunately, the Rifleman lacks armour and endurance, and when pressed into direct
    combat, it suffers. Then dies.
    
    Kali Yama had a simple, modest proposal- send in a Hunchback. While others were developing
    such dubiously effective mechs as the Quickdraw and the JaegerMech to replace and supplement
    the Rifleman, the engineers at Kali Yama just bought some spare parts. Mounting the search
    radar at the top of the left shoulder, the right torso was rebuilt. The "boombox" was
    modified to become an elevation mechanism for a box containing a Imperator-A medium
    autocannon with a then brand new Diverse Optics Type 30 Large Laser mounted immediately
    under it. And the HBK-4AA was born.
    
    While it has half the firepower of the Rifleman, the "Rifleback" carried two tons of
    ammunition for the single cannon. This increased endurance and the ability to carry both
    flak and conventional ammunition would have given Rifleback the flexibility to engage both
    mechs and vehicles, and fighters and VTOLs. Of course, against infantry in light body
    armour, air bursting shells' shrapnel would have been highly effective past the range of the
    small laser. Fourteen heatsinks would have been able to manage the heat of the medium and
    large lasers in an actual firefight. With the usual ten tons of armour, it was also more
    survivable than a Rifleman.
    
    Kali Yama submitted the -4AA in trials that adopted both the JaegerMech and the Quickdraw.
    It performed well in both trials. It even offered the advantage of using off the shelf parts
    in ready supply. The elevation mechanism was even controlled with the lateral wrist ring
    actuators that give the Hunchback's hands their range of motion combined with a small parts
    kit. The only new item was the DO T30, a choice made by Kali Yama only because they had no
    business relationship with Magna. But in both cases, the SLDF wanted a heavy mech. The
    JaegerMech's adoption was a pro-forma, with it having been predetermined that a Kallon
    product would replace a Kallon product. And the Quickdraw was faster. Second place in two
    trials. Then the Star League officially fell apart, the SLDF ran off and hurled themselves
    into a star or a black hole, and the Succession Wars started.
    
    There is nothing stopping people from making Riflebacks other than the scarcity of the fire
    control systems. When they're available, the modifications sometimes happen. An example of
    one of these is this month's This Old Mech. Built from salvage after it's owner, who's asked
    their name not be disclosed, was able to disable a Hunchback with a series of cockpit shots,
    but not without losing most of their own mech. Rebuilt with parts of the surviving arm in
    place of the damaged Kali Yama autocannon, this specimen actually uses part of the
    Rifleman's shoulder actuator instead of Hunchback wrist parts. While not quite as fast as
    the Rifleman's waist, the waist actuators of this Rifleback traverse swift enough to engage
    aerial targets. The two tons of ammo for the cannon has apparently surprised more than a few
    VTOLs that, having identified the Garret air search radar then counted, only to discover
    that no, it's not out of ammunition. It fills the intended mission of the Rifleback,
    supplementing the company's JaegerMech.
    
    While similar to the Hunchback -4N in many ways conceptually, the -4AA could come back. Like
    most of what has become LosTech, it's just one or two little pieces that would be needed.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                          Standard                  5.00                     
Engine:                                     200 Fusion                 8.50                     
    Walking MP:                                 4                                               
    Running MP:                                 6                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Single):                            14                     4.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  2.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  160                    10.00                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      16             26       
    Center Torso (rear):                               5       
    R/L Torso:                         12             20       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  4       
    R/L Arm:                            8             16       
    R/L Leg:                           12             20       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small Laser                                               H                 1          0.50             
Autocannon/5                                              RT                4          8.00             
Large Laser                                               RT                2          5.00             
Autocannon/5 (Ammo 40)                                    LT                2          2.00             
Medium Laser                                              RA                1          1.00             
Medium Laser                                              LA                1          1.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 28
TP: BM,  SZ: 2,  TMM: 1,  MV: 8"
Damage: (S) 3 / (M) 3 / (L) 1,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 5,  Structure (S): 4
Specials:
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:52:21-04:00)