Hunter Killers are hybrid 'Mechs that combine the speed of Strike 'Mechs with the firepower of medium Combat 'Mechs. On the battlefield, they live up to their name. Fast enough to chase down Recon 'Mechs and big enough to trade fire with Combat 'Mechs, Hunter Killers can turn the tide of battle in a few minutes. Unlike Recon/Strike 'Mechs, Hunter Killers rely on a single large weapon system that can kill or disable light and medium 'Mechs with one or two shots. The Hollander, which weighs 35 tons and carries only a Gauss rifle, is a perfect example of a Hunter Killer. Due to tonnage limitations, it is impossible to design effective Hunter Killers without Star League technology.

Capabilities

• Tonnage: 30-45
  

• Speed: Hunter Killers posses medium to fast speed: walking speed of 6 to 9 is typical, 10 being within reach of 30 and 35 tonners. As with Recon/Strike 'Mechs, Jump Jets are more effective for slower designs while MASC systems are better suited to faster 'Mechs.
  

• Armor: Often Hunter Killers have only moderate armor because most of their available tonnage is devoted to weaponry. Thus, they are excellent candidates for Ferro Fibrous, Blazer, or Glazed armor.
  

• Weapons: Gauss rifles, autocannon 10, Thunderbolt 10s, -15s, and -20s, and ER PPCs are all appropriate primary weapons. If possible, round out the design with medium or medium pulse lasers to avoid complete dependence on ballistic weapons. Small SRM launchers equipped with special missiles are also good secondary weapons.
  

• Other Equipment: Hunter Killers will generally have little room left over for extra equipment. If the tonnage is available, add an ECM suite or C3 Computer. The ECM will protect the 'Mech from Artimis IV and NARC guided missiles, favorite weapons of many Combat and Strike 'Mechs. Hunter Killers networked via C3 Computers are particularly deadly because they are able to bring 3 or 4 large weapons to bear on a target with excellent accuracy.
  

• Notes: As they carry few weapon systems, most Hunter Killers will not have heat dissipation problems.