M71 Scythe: Difference between revisions

The M71 Scythe is a powerful pneumatically powered, air-cooled anti-aircraft weapon that performs reliably against many hostile aircraft. It is specifically designed to fire the powerful [[Wikipedia:High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition|20x102mm high-explosive incendiary/armor piercing cartridge]] from a 100,000-round drum; using its six barrels, the Scythe can fire at a rate of 6,000 rounds per minute,<ref name="EVG"/> though some Scythes are fed by 1,000-round drums and consequently maintain lower rates of fire.<ref name="SB"/> This high rate of fire allows the Scythe to strip away the armor of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] aircraft with relative impunity, especially when the craft fly at low altitudes, such as the [[Type-25 Spirit]] and [[Type-52 Phantom]] and the [[Type-26 Banshee]].<ref name="EVG"/><ref name="SB"/> The Scythe can even quickly disable the shields of low-flying [[Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter|Seraph fighters]].<ref name="LNoS">'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level, ''[[Long Night of Solace]]''</ref> Scythe emplacements are also armed with an [[M41 rocket launcher launcher]] to complement the main cannon.<ref name="SB"/>

Several Scythe turrets were placed around the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Sword Base|Sword]] and [[CASTLE Base]]s on [[Reach]].<ref name="SB"/><ref name="EVG"/> One such turret was located at [[Airview Base]], just outside Sword Base. On [[2552#July|July 26, 2552]], [[Catherine-B320]] and [[SPARTAN-B312]] of [[Noble Team]] were ordered to Airview Base to reactivate this turret, which assisted in repelling the Covenant's raid on the base.<ref name="SB"/> [[2552#August|A few weeks later]], a group of M71s was later used to defend the [[Sabre Program Launch/Research Range]] on [[Farkas Lake]] from Seraphs and Spirits.