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M71 Scythe (edit)

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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
<center>''Were you looking for the ''[[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]'', which is sometimes called the Vulcan?''</center>
{{Center|Were you looking for the ''[[M85 Scythe]]'', which was first introduced in ''[[Halo 4]]''?}}
{{Weapon
{{Weapon infobox
|name=M71 Anti-Aircraft Gun
|image=[[File:Reach-M71Scythe-AAGT.png|300px]]
|image=[[File:Reach-M71Scythe-AAGT.png|300px]]
|name=M71 Anti-Aircraft Gun
|manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=166}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=182}}
|manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]<ref name="SB">'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]''</ref><ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 166''</ref>
|series=Scythe anti-aircraft cannons
|type=Anti-aircraft turret
|type=Automated [[Wikipedia:Rotary cannon|rotary cannon]] turret
|size=*Height: 31 feet (9.4 meters)<ref name="EVG"/><br/>
|cost=
*Length: 27.9 feet (8.5 meters)
|variant=
|damage per hit=Very high
|service=[[2406]] - present{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|magazine=100,000 rounds;<ref name="EVG"/> 1,000 rounds<ref name="SB"/>
|length={{Convert|27.9|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|maxammo=
|width={{Convert|20|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|fire=Automatic
|height={{Convert|31|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|ammotype=20x102mm [[Wikipedia:High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition|high-explosive incendiary/armor piercing ammunition]]
|weight={{Convert|10|MT|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|operation=Electrically powered
|ammotype=M175 20x102mm [[Wikipedia:High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition|high-explosive incendiary/armor piercing ammunition]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Site|Id=Enc22Glossary|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/the-new-halo-encyclopedia-is-out-today|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The Halo Encyclopedia is Out Today|D=19|M=03|Y=2023}}
|rate of fire=6,000 rounds per minute<ref name="EVG"/>
|capacity=
|accuracy=High
|feed=Belt-fed drum consisting of 100,000 rounds{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} or 1,000 rounds{{Ref/Game|Id=Model|HR|Scythe in-game model}}
|range=Long
|operation=Pneumatically powered, air-cooled rotary cannon{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|era=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|rate=6,000 rounds per minute{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|counterpart=[[Shade|Anti-aircraft Shade]]
|velocity=
|counterwep=
|optics=
|affiliation=[[UNSC Defense Force]]
|range={{Convert|2000|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=SoR16|HSoR|Chapter=16}}
}}
}}
The '''M71 Anti-Aircraft Gun''' is a self-targeting anti-aircraft weapon manufactured by [[Misriah Armory]] and utilised by the [[United Nations Space Command]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} It is one of two major production variants in the '''Scythe''' line of air defenses alongside the [[M85 Scythe|M85 design]] mounted on [[human starship]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
==Overview==
===Design details===
The M71 Scythe consists of a pneumatically powered, air-cooled anti-aircraft [[Wikipedia:Rotary cannon|rotary cannon]] mounted inside a rotating turret mechanism, typically situated atop a modular tetrapodal mount (also compatible with the [[M95 Lance]] guided missile system). The Scythe's main rotary weapon is a six-barrelled cannon designed to fire M175{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} [[Wikipedia:High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition|20x102mm high-explosive incendiary/armor piercing cartridge]] from a 100,000-round drum with a rate of fire around 6,000 rounds per minute.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} Some Scythe models may instead use a lower 1,000-round drum and consequently maintain lower rates of fire.{{Ref/Reuse|Model}}


The '''M71 Anti-Aircraft Gun''', nicknamed the '''Scythe''', is a stationary rotary cannon emplacement used by the [[UNSC Defense Force]]. It is produced by [[Misriah Armory]].<ref name="EVG"/>
The M71's tetrapodal base allows the emplacement to be deployed on varied types of terrain. When deployed, they can be pre-programmed with a set field of view and use an automated tracking system (usually linked to full-range sensors, relay triggers or even defense-control [[Dumb AI|non-volitional]] [[artificial intelligence]]s) to sweep the sky for hostile targets and shoot them down.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} The weapon's control panel is located on the body of the platform; this panel allows an operator to activate or deactivate the weapon, as well as to modify targeting parameters.{{Ref/Reuse|Model}}


==Overview==
The Scythe's high rate of fire allows the Scythe to strip away the armor of [[Covenant]] aircraft with relative ease, especially when flying at low altitudes.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Model}} The Scythe can even quickly disable the shields of low-flying aircraft such as the [[Seraph|Seraph fighter]].{{Ref/Level|Id=LNoS|HR|Long Night of Solace}} Scythe emplacements are also armed with an [[M41 rocket launcher]] to complement the main cannon.{{Ref/Reuse|Model}}
===Design===
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 Troop Carrier|Spirit]] and [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Phantom dropships]] and the [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshee attack aircraft]].<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 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon|M41 missile launcher]] to complement the main cannon.<ref name="SB"/>


The M71's tetrapodal base allows the emplacement to be deployed on varied types of terrain. It is usually synchronized with an automated tracking system or a defense-control [[artificial intelligence]].<ref name="EVG"/> The weapon's control panel is located on the body of the platform; this panel allows an operator to activate or deactivate the weapon, as well as to modify targeting parameters.<ref name="SB"/>
Unlike its larger [[M85 Scythe|M85 cousin]], the M71 Scythe is predominantly designed for terrestrial usage inside an atmosphere. As such, it cannot be used in [[space warfare]] mounted on [[UNSC starship]]s.{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Page=76}} This role is instead the domain of the M85 Scythe and other forms of [[point-defense gun]].


===Operational history===
===Operational history===
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.
Scythe turrets were introduced into UNSC service in [[2406]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} They proceeded to serve in the UNSC for over a century throughout the [[Insurrection]] and [[Human-Covenant War]], seeing heavy usage during the [[Fall of Reach]] in the war's final year. By this time, Scythes were employed as the primary air defence system around the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[SWORD Base|SWORD]] and [[CASTLE Base]]s on [[Reach]].{{Ref/Level|Id=SB|HR|ONI: Sword Base}}{{Ref/Reuse|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/Reuse|SB}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} [[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.{{Ref/Reuse|LNoS}}


In [[2553|March 2553]], it was discovered that the [[Insurrectionist]]s on [[Venezia]] had a couple Scythes protecting [[New Tyne]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 444''</ref>
In [[2553|March 2553]], it was discovered that the [[Insurrectionist]]s on [[Venezia]] had at least two Scythes protecting [[New Tyne]].{{Ref/Novel|HGla|Chapter=18}} In [[2559|October 2559]] M71 Scythes were used by the [[Viery Militia]] during [[Operation: WOLFE]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR16|HSoR|Chapter=16}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*In concept art, the weapon was known as the Vulcan, in reference to the [[Wikipedia:M61 Vulcan|M61 Vulcan Gatling gun]].<ref>[http://danp.us/ ''Dan Phillips' art portfolio'']</ref> This weapon is also the source of the [[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]'s nickname.
*In concept art, the weapon was known as the Vulcan, in reference to the [[Wikipedia:M61 Vulcan|M61 Vulcan Gatling gun]].{{Ref/Site|URL=https://ennogames.com/portfolio/halo-reach/vulcan-turret/Halo-Reach-Vulcan-Turret-1|Site=Dan Philips portfolio|Page=Halo Reach Vulcan Turret 1|D=19|M=03|Y=2023}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://ennogames.com/portfolio/halo-reach/vulcan-turret/Halo-Reach-Vulcan-Turret-2|Site=Dan Philips portfolio|Page=Halo Reach Vulcan Turret 2|D=19|M=03|Y=2023}} This weapon is also the source of the [[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]'s nickname.
*The initial design for the turret had four Gatling-style cannons, while the final design only incorporates a single cannon. The weapon's design was inspired by the [[Wikipedia:GAU-8 Avenger|GAU-8 Avenger cannon]] mounted on the [[Wikipedia:Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10 Thunderbolt]].<ref>[http://www.isaachannaford.com/2011/04/initial-anti-air-turret-design-with.html '''Isaac Hannaford''': ''Big guns'']</ref>
*The initial design for the turret had four Gatling-style cannons, while the final design only incorporates a single cannon. The weapon's design was inspired by the [[Wikipedia:GAU-8 Avenger|GAU-8 Avenger cannon]] mounted on the [[Wikipedia:Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10 Thunderbolt]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.isaachannaford.com/2011/04/initial-anti-air-turret-design-with.html|Site=Isaac Hannaford|Page=Big guns|D=19|M=03|Y=2023}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/dyb1K|Site=ArtStation|Page=Assorted Turrets for Halo: REACH|D=19|M=03|Y=2023}}
*Though the M71 is designed to be a rapid-firing rotary cannon, in-game, it possesses a low rate of fire, producing deep "booms", and the barrels do not spin until a burst has been fired. Realistically, the weapon should fire much faster, the barrels should spin while firing, and the weapon should emit a loud buzzing noise. Furthermore, the Scythe's ammunition drum is stated to hold only 1,000 rounds, which is impractical for such a weapon. ''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'' reveals that the inconsistencies between the weapon's appearance and function are errors, and that it actually operates like a traditional Gatling-style rotary cannon; thus, it is likely that the Scythes encountered on ''ONI: Sword Base'' maintain low rates of fire to conserve their ammunition.
*Though the M71 is designed to be a rapid-firing rotary cannon, in-game, it possesses a low rate of fire, producing deep "booms", and the barrels do not spin until a burst has been fired. Realistically, the weapon should (like the GAU-8 upon which it was based) fire much faster, the barrels should spin while firing, and the weapon should emit a loud buzzing noise. ''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'' reveals that the inconsistencies between the weapon's appearance and function are errors, and that it actually operates like a traditional Gatling-style rotary cannon; thus, it is likely that the Scythes encountered on ''ONI: Sword Base'' maintain low rates of fire to conserve their ammunition (as the only time one is seen, it is firing on a single Phantom).
*In rare instances, the rotating turret can fall from the rest of the weapon and continue to fire at enemy aircraft. When detached, it rolls around and can be pushed with a vehicle.{{Citation needed}}
*In rare instances, the rotating turret can fall from the rest of the weapon and continue to fire at enemy aircraft. When detached, it rolls around and can be pushed with a vehicle.{{Citation needed}}
*For unknown reasons, the Scythe's optics package is labeled "[[M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon|SPNKr M41 SSR]]".


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Vulcan_1.jpg|An early design of the turret.
File:HR_M71Scythe_Concept_1.jpg|An early design of the turret.
File:Vulcan_2.jpg|A near-final concept of the M71 Scythe AA turret.
File:HR_M71Scythe_Concept_2.jpg|A near-final concept of the M71 Scythe AA turret.
File:Vulcan_turret.jpg|A turnaround concept of the turret.
File:HR_M71Scythe_Render.jpg|A turnaround render the turret.
File:HR M71Scythe HiPoly Render.jpg|A render of the hipoly model of the ''Halo: Reach'' asset.
File:HReach-M71Scythe-AAGT.png|Another render of the M71 Scythe AA turret in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HReach-M71Scythe-AAGT.png|Another render of the M71 Scythe AA turret in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Unscaagun.jpg|The M71 Scythe AA turret on the level ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]'' in ''Halo: Reach''
File:HR ONI Sword Base M71 Scythe.jpg|The M71 Scythe AA turret on the level ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]'' in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HR AirviewBattle.jpg|[[Catherine-B320]] and [[SPARTAN-B312]] fighting near the Scythe turret at Airview Base.
File:HaloReach - M71 Scythe.png|The M71 Scythe Turret seen in the level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]'' in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Reach Seraphs.png|A Scythe shooting down a Seraph fighter at Farkas Lake.
</gallery>
</gallery>


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*''[[Halo: Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
[[Category:Autocannons]]
[[Category:Autocannons]]
{{UNSC heavy weapons}}
{{UNSC heavy weapons}}
[[Category:Artillery]]
[[Category:Artillery]]
[[Category:UNSC ground weapons]]
[[Category:UNSC ground weapons]]
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