In a previous Field Operations Manual, we referred to the disadvantage suffered by Light and Medium 'Mechs in the field. It follows therefore that if you are obliged to use a Light or Medium 'Mech in a Unit engagement you are not going to get a lot of kills - with the emphasis on NOT. Your role is to help your team mates do better. There are two ways of approaching this role - one providing close-in harassment, the other sniping from cover.

If you decide to harass the enemy your job is to annoy your opponent until they attempt to shoot you. Once you achieve this, in the words of Monty Python - "Run Away!" Move on, pick another opponent, do the same, move on. While the enemy 'Mechs are shooting you your heavier team mates are bombarding them. If you are sufficiently accurate to do the enemy real damage, all well and good. Aim for the centre torso if you can, since this is the fastest way to kill a 'Mech.

Remember two things in the harassment role: 1) You are in a Light or Medium 'Mech or you wouldn't be doing this - which means Heavy or Assault 'Mechs can kill you very quickly - KEEP MOVING. 2) Turn Radar off - this keeps you out of sight of the long range sniping Heavies.

The second strategy for effective use of Light and Medium 'Mechs is sniping. Clearly, you need long range weapons, e.g. ER Large and/or Gauss. The best way to use a 'Mech set up for sniping is to take advantage of speed and terrain. Your 'Mech can go much faster than the opposition. So…stay out of range, dip in range, fire, move away. This takes considerable skill, and patience. You do not have the fire power of a Heavy 'Mech, so, as stated above - don't expect a lot of kills. But remember, every bit of damage you do adds to the damage your team mates are doing, and if you are concentrating on one opponent as you should be, that enemy 'Mech'll come down a lot quicker. Again, as in the harassment role, it helps to turn Radar off. If you can keep the enemy guessing as to where the shots are coming from, which you will if you are moving around, they are going to take that much longer to select their own targets.