Designed to meet the Clans' need for mobile artillery, the Huitzilopochtli (better known as the "Huey") is a descendent of the Padilla artilley tank. The Star League Defense Forces who joined Kerensky in the Exodus included few artillery pieces in their armament, and most of those were destroyed in the Clan's civil war, leaving the Clans woefully lacking in support weapons. Equipping 'Mechs with Arrow IV launchers proved moderately effective but was considered a misuse of 'Mechs, and assignment to such a hybrid machines was not highly regarded. As a result, Kerensky was forced to concede the need for a new tank-based artillery platform, and thus was born the Huitzilopochtli.

Twin Arrow IV box launchers dominate the center section of the tank, each capable of hitting a target more than three kilometers away. The tank also carries several layers of secondary weapons for defense.