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| [[Image:Macstationcairolarge1ki.jpg|thumb|Cairo Orbital MAC Station]] | | [[Image:Macstationcairolarge1ki.jpg|thumb|Cairo Orbital MAC Station]] |
| A '''Magnetic Accelerator Cannon''' (or '''MAC Gun''') is a very large [[Wikipedia:coilgun|coilgun]] in the Halo universe. The cannons fire metal slugs using a system of [[Wikipedia:magnetic field|magnetic field]]s down a long shaft, increasing the projectiles' velocity until they carry an incredible amount of energy. The ship-based models use [[Wikipedia:ferric|ferric]] or [[Wikipedia:ferrous|ferrous]] cores, while station-based versions use either depleted uranium or ferric tungsten rounds. They are the only non-nuclear weapons that the [[UNSC]] possesses that can destroy [[Covenant]] shields.
| | ==Summary== |
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| There are at least two versions of the orbital MAC platforms. The 20 Super MACs at [[Reach]] were designated Mark Vs and could launch 3000 metric ton rounds at four-tenths (40%) the speed of light—that is, 120,000 km/s—giving a kinetic energy of 2.2 x 10<sup>22</sup> joules or 1.6 x 10<sup>22</sup> [[Wikipedia:foot-pound force|foot-pounds force]]. The Mk. V's could also reload in five seconds.
| | The Magnetic Accelerator Cannon or MAC gun is the standard main weapon of all [[UNSC]] cruisers, destroyers and frigates variants. |
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| MACs can also be mounted on ships, such as the destroyer [[UNSC Iroquois]], which had two cannons on board. The cruiser [[Pillar of Autumn]] was outfitted with new MAC technology: Magnetic field recyclers coupled with booster capacitors allowed the cannon to be fired three times per full charge. The ''Pillar of Autumn'' also carried new lighter MAC rounds that had the traditional ferrus core but a harder outer layer of tungsten carbide. Shipborne MAC Cannons draw power from the ship's reactor and require a charge to be fired. The time it takes to bring the MAC's systems to full charge on a UNSC vessel is the deciding force in a conflict. Thus, while a vessel may not run out of ammunition for a long time (depending on the size/weight of the shots and the capacity of the ship), a captain or commander has to carefully analyze the situation of a battle and use his shots strategically.
| | The MAC is a linear acceleration system, comprised of several superconducting coils. When fully charged, the system can accelerate a massive ferric-tungsten (or depleted uranium) projectile to a considerable fraction of the speed of light. The damage inflicted is tremendous, but a major drawback is that the MAC guns requires massive amounts of energy. The accelerating coils are powered by capacitors, which requires a significant time to recharge after firing. This technology is much like the magnetic coils the Covenant use to control plasma |
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| All Magnetic Accelerator Cannons are built ''into'' the structure of a ship or weapons platform. Thus, to aim the cannon, the ship or the platform must maneouver to be facing the target. Both shipboard and platform versions generally require an [[AI]] to aim the cannon, as the slugs fired are unguided. Even taking into account the high speed of the shots and the supreme accuracy with which an AI can aim them, they are highly innaccurate as battles usually take place across an entire system, allowing Covenant vessels to dodge them.
| | This drawback has proven to be significant in combat against Coventant warships, since it has been shown that it requires several ship-scale MAC rounds to penetrate Covenant shields. An experimental version of the MAC gun has been developed, however, that is able to fire three successive rounds on one charge. A prototype of this weapon was mounted on the UNSC [[Pillar of Autumn]]. |
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| Twenty orbital Super-MAC Cannons were used to defend the planet [[Reach]] from Covenant invasion, but they soon fell as the [[Covenant]] destroyed the underground generators that powered them. The planet [[Earth]] had 16, but production was stepped up quickly after [[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], bringing the total up to 300. Some of the more famed Super MAC Orbital Stations above Earth are:
| | MAC guns exist on many different scales, ranging from the Gauss-gun mounted on the [[Warthog|Gauss Warthog]], to the Mark V "Super" MAC guns. One Projectile from a "Super" MAC gun will literally shatter a Covenant ship. |
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| *[[Cairo Station]]
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| *[[Malta Station]]
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| *[[Athens Station]]
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| *[[Nassau Station]]
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| In [[Halo 2]], ''Cairo'' Station is the station where the [[Master Chief]] and [[Sergeant Johnson]] receive awards, along with [[Miranda Keyes]], daughter of the famed [[Captain Keyes]]. When the Covenant come out of Slipspace, they attack [[Cairo Station]], [[Malta Station]], and [[Athens Station]] . At one time in the middle of the battle, ''Malta Station'' seems to have won the fight, as they report: "I don't believe it. They're retreating! We've won!" However, the Covenant soon demonstrates their new technique for dealing with the orbital MAC Cannons; using boarding parties to place a large bomb within the station. The ''Athens Station'' explodes shortly thereafter, as does the ''Malta'' and those aboard the ''Cairo'' come to horrifying conclusion that there must also be a bomb on ''Cairo Station''. The Master Chief runs to find it and defuses it with [[Cortana]]'s help. The Master Chief manually places the bomb in a nearby Covenant capital ship and detonates it. The explosion propels the Master Chief through space to land on the [[UNSC In Amber Clad]], Commander Miranda Keyes' ship.
| | Super MAC guns are loaded on defense platforms orbiting [[Reach]], [[Earth]], and other strategic locations that must be protected, and are much more powerful than normal MACs. The Orbital MAC guns (nicknamed "Super MAC" or "The Big Stick") can reload in five seconds. These weapons are able to destroy a Covenant warship with a single shot, and are commonly placed in geosynchronous orbit around a planet appearently over the location they are named after. |
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| ==Modified MAC Cannon==
| | The one weakness of the orbital MAC guns is that the power stations that power them are located on the surface of the protected planet, and are thus susceptible to attack from Covenant ground forces. The pious nature of Covenant engagements have also presented a problem, since the Covenant are more than willing to sacrifice a number of ships in order to destroy one platform. This tactic was used during The Battle for Reach. |
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| When the Pillar of Autumn is reserviced for the struggling war against the Covenant it receives the latest version of ship based MAC weaponry. This new version of the MAC Cannon has the ability to fire three successive rounds when coupled with power boosters from the ship. The commander of the ship [[Captain Jacob Keyes]] tells us that this will bring great strategic use to him as the first or second shot will down the Covenant ship's shields and the third shot (providing the shot will penetrate the heavily armoured control room located at the center of most Covenant spacecraft) will deliver the 'knockout'. This technology is only possesed by the Pillar of Autumn and is never seen in gameplay.
| | The MAC cannons can be found throughout the Halo universe, and play critical roles in many battles. The use of the MAC gun proved decisive when the Covenant fleet descended to Earth at the beginning of [[Halo 2]], and was used as early on as Master Chief's first encounter with the Covenant, in which it was used to blow a hole into the ship through which Spartans could access. |
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| ==See Also==
| | A smaller version of this technology has been seen on the [[Warthog|Gauss Warthog]] variant's Gauss turret, but on a smaller scale. |
| *[[Gauss Warthog]]
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| ==External Links== | | ==External Links== |
| | *[http://media.putfile.com/Firing-9 "Super MAC"] |
| | *[http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/sloftus_stationsignage/ "Bungie.org - MAC"] |
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| [[Category: UNSC ]] | | [[Category:UNSC]] |
| [[Category: Weapons]] | | [[Category:Weapons]] |
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| *[http://halopedia.porplemontage.com/index.php/Magnetic_Accelerator_Cannon Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]
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