A
Japanese
helmet.
Part of the traditional
Feudal Era suits of
armor worn by the highest military class. Each
kabuto was a unique work of
art with a style and
personality all its own.
Characteristically designed to make the wearer look fierce,
animal horns were often used to enhance the total visual effect.
compiled overview of the 20
ton Kabuto 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
For many decades, the
Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery lacked
'Mechs in the 20-35ton category. During this time,
Bushido and single
'Mech-on-
'Mech combat were considered the only
honorable ways of fighting. Because most light
'Mechs cannot stand
toe-to-toe against larger
'Mechs, light
'Mechs had no place in the DCMS.
The arrival of
the Clans changed all that. Also believers in single combat,
the Clans had superior training and technology, with which they defeated the DCMS at almost every turn. Combine warriors could defeat Clan opponents only by putting the honor of the
Draconis Combine before each individual warrior's honor and using all available military
assets in combination. The Combine made use of light
'Mechs for fast recon, lighting raids and other attacks. New Combine light
'Mech designs, perfectly suited for these rediscovered tactics, quickly made their way onto the battlefield. The most recent addition is the
Kabuto, named for the elaborate "
helmet" of armor that encases the
'Mech’s head/
cockpit assembly.
The
Kabuto is patterned after the highly successful
Hitman BattleMech design. The
Hitman quickly became a mainstay of the DCMS, being exceptionally fast, armed with impressive firepower for a
'Mech of its class. and loaded with specialized electronics. Even the
Hitman's hefty
price tag could not detract from its
success on the battlefield. Eager to repeat that success, the design teams at
Diplan 'Mechyards were ready to begin field-testing the
Kabuto by late 3059. The thorough testing of the
Hitman by the students of the
Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy on
New Samarkand had so impressed
Diplan 'Mechyards that they arranged to test the
Kabuto in the same fashion.
In creating the
Kabuto,
Diplan 'Mechyards fulfilled their goal of developing a light
'Mech with exceptional
speed, armor and firepower at a low price. Built around 2
Guided Technologies 2nd Gen Streak SRM-4 Launchers in it's breast, sheilded by 4.5tons of
Starshield A Armor, and with a top speed of well over 110 kph, the
Kabuto is a prime example of superior DCMS design and manufacturing. Even the price tag (just under 2.5 million
C-bills) is a bargain considering this
'Mech's battlefield performance.
The
Kabuto has finished its testing, though it has yet to see combat. The DCMS has begun to issue the
'Mech to units that lost light
'Mechs during
Operation Bulldog.
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