Bear Variants are Back in Business!

HACS-01HG-FS Black Bear

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A straightforward refit of the standard Bear introduced in very small numbers in the TN 1850s, the Black Bear was designed to generally increase the firepower wielded by the Bear. The T-12 mortar unit’s precision was exchanged for the raw firepower of GH-25 85mm back-mounted rocket tubes, while other weaponry remained the same. The Black Bear was used to form some heavy fire-support squadrons, especially in the forces of the Western Frontier Protectorate Army. The Black Bear was largely retired when the Bear began to be slowly decommissioned with the introduction of the Grizzly in the TN 1870s. By the time of the War of the Alliance, the Bear was used most widely in the Badlands and became one of the heaviest machines able to be fielded by the rovers and guerrillas who fought rear-guard actions against the Colonial Expeditionary Force occupiers from TN 1913 to 1916. When Paxton Arms entered the fray and put together its Peace River Army many of these rag-tag forces were refitted with cutting edge weaponry and a new Black Bear configuration was fielded as a heavy assault vehicle, replacing the M225 autocannons with a cutting-edge RFL-2 Soothsayer rapid-fire bazooka.

The Black Bear became one of the Peace River Army’s most important units fielded against CEF hovertanks. Like the Assault Grizzly, Strike Jaguar and Kodiak of the Northern armies, the Black Bear was able to take on the mobile firepower wielded by the CEF. Of course, the Black Bear was still an older system and could not achieve the success rates of the more modern designs. The Peace River Army nonetheless helped tip the balance of the war in favor of the Terranovan defenders and the Gear’s service is fondly remembered by many veterans. The postwar period saw many of the Peace river Army troops fade back into the sands with their weapon systems, and Black Bears can now be found in the arsenals of mercenary units, caravan traders, rovers and homestead defenders around the equator.

HACS-01HG-EW Havoc Bear

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Traditionally, Electronic Warfare Gears are small, agile and mobile machines. This allows them to quickly infiltrate enemy areas, act as forward observers and jam frequencies in multiple zones. Fire support Gears are large, ponderous and somewhat clumsier. The two categories seldom intersect. One of the very few exceptions to this rule is the Havoc Bear, a somewhat unusual variant of the Den Mother which was developed in the 1800s as a temporary solution to the Northern military’s shortage of electronic warfare units. Surprisingly enough, the Havoc Bear proved popular with its pilots, and still has its place in some more unusual Heavy Gear units. Technicians felt that by equipping a Gear that already had an excellent communication system with an electronic warfare system, it would give this design supremacy or at least even the odds on unfamiliar battlefields. Pilots found the concept intriguing and, after a few tries in actual combat, agreed that the idea had merit. It was quickly determined, however, that the Havoc Bear would have to be accompanied by a complement of quicker machines to compensate for its own clumsiness.

The variant’s versatility made it an attractive teammate for Northern support units. Even today, observers occasionally sees a Havoc Bear fighting alongside a squadron of Hunters and Cheetahs, or serving as backup to multiple squadrons of heavier machines (such as Grizzlies), keeping communications clear or sending out interference as needed. During the War of the Alliance, at a time when the only ECM machine available was the Wild Ferret, the Havoc Bear provided reliable communication, good ECM, sturdy armor and solid offensive capabilities. While its maneuverability would normally have been an issue, it mattered little against the CEF hovertanks. The Havoc Bear’s overall excellent performance was more than instrumental in the success of many delicate operations. The machine definitely has value, although the current trend in Northern military to invest in new specialized Gears leaves little room for a cross-breed concept as the Havoc Bear, many pilots are still fond of their old war friends.

Bear Variants in Heavy Gear Blitz!

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The Black Bear and Havoc Bear are Bear variants added to the 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	HT
Black Bear	9	SK, FS	W/G:6	7	4/2	1	4+	4+	6+	MBZ (AP:2, Burst:1), LVB, HMG (Auto)	MRP, MAR	Hands	Gear	2"
Havoc Bear	12	SK, FS	W/G:6	7	4/2	1	4+	4+	4+	HAC, LVB, HMG (Auto)	MRP (Link), LGM	Hands, ECM, ECCM	Gear	2"

Note: A Havoc Bear with the Den Mother upgrade will remain EW4+.

Making your own Bear Variants

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The Black Bear has a unique weapon, a medium rapid-fire bazooka. Currently there is no part made for this. Fortunately a member of the community who goes by Smight has sculpted one in 3d, so if you have access to a 3d printer you can make one yourself. Barring that, there are a few other ways you could go about making your own, either by modifying a spare MBZ part, using a variety of different pieces (mine is a MBZ with a stowage box for a vertical magazine). Instead of mounting a LGM to the back though, you’ll be using a set of Medium Artillery Rockets (like those found on a Cobra). In my example above I scratch built my bazooka using various bits of plastic card and brass tube, which I wouldn’t recommend for the faint of heart.For the Havoc Bear, I’d suggest starting with a Den Mother’s shoulders, and the electronics components from the Iguana Chatterbox. I’ve attached the chest part from the Chatterbox to the front of the shoulder, while putting the ECM module flat on the top (after clipping off the mount). The finished result is a decent looking shoulder-mounted electronics package.