Bearhunters Bear Arms
HACS-01MG-FU/A BEARHUNTER
Ever since the arrival of the Armored Hunter, the armorers of the 33rd HG regiment had been trying to tackle the problem of the high pilot casualty rate. Their Armored Hunters were performing poorly, and more than one mission was scrubbed because of “sudden equipment failure.” Most officers just shrugged; relieved at not having to send men out to die in underpowered tin cans, they just grabbed the nearest requisition sheet and tried to get new machines for the umpteenth time. The Armored Hunter was just far too heavy for its S-V950B engine. The powerplant performed well with the recalibrated actuators, but just could not provide enough power for fast, agile move- ments. Without the extra power, the Armored Hunter was a suicidal machine to pilot, so slow that it could be picked off by enemy Gears despite increased armor and could barely mount a counter-attack. As is often the case with military design flaws, the solution to the problem was discovered by coincidence and in the field.
During a brief exercise with another unit, one of the technicians of the 33rd happened to work on a Bear fire support Gear. He was startled to discover that the engine, while a bit larger, had a very similar layout to the S-V950B. Power lines were close by and drive shafts at about the same diameter. After talking it over with the chief tech, the 33rd’s commander, Allan Gutarn, arranged to have an S-V790T powerplant requisitioned. The physically larger but more efficient engine, stripped from a decommissioned Bear, was hastily bolted into one of the 33rd’s Armored Hunter. The consequent improvement in performance was startling, and the Bearhunter was born. The S-V790T is larger than the engine compartment would permit, so new engine cowlings had to be designed. Many Bearhunters go around the problem by using the entire Bear backpack assembly. Unfortunately, the new Armored Hunters now suffer from the same engine shutdown problems as their Bear predecessors. Bearhunter pilots consider this a minor flaw. The modified machines of the 33rd HG regiment are now prized by their pilots.
Bearhunters in Heavy Gear Blitz!
These profiles replace the Bearhunter entry North model list in Heavy Gear Blitz!. These additional profiles are Extended Content.
| Model | TV | Roles | MR | Arm | H/S | A | GU | PI | EW | React Weapons | Mounted Weapons | Traits | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearhunter | 8 | GP, SK, FS | W/G:7 | 7 | 5/1 | 1 | 4+ | 4+ | 6+ | LAC, LVB | LRP, HIM | Hands, Vuln:H | Gear | 1.5" |
| Bearhunter Gunner | 9 | GP, SK, FS | W/G:7 | 7 | 5/1 | 1 | 4+ | 4+ | 6+ | MAC, LVB | LRP, HIM | Hands, Vuln:H | Gear | 1.5" |
| Assault Bearhunter | 9 | GP, SK, FS | W/G:7 | 7 | 5/1 | 1 | 4+ | 4+ | 6+ | MSC, LVB | LRP, HIM | Hands, Vuln:H | Gear | 1.5" |
| Rabid Bearhunter | 9 | GP, SK, FS | W/G:7 | 7 | 5/1 | 1 | 4+ | 4+ | 6+ | LGL, LVB | LRP, HIM | Hands, Vuln:H | Gear | 1.5" |
| Headhunter Upgrade | +1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5+ | - | - | +Comms | - | - |
