Editing M49 Vulcan

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Weapon infobox
|image = [[File:H5G-Chaingun Turret.png|300px]]
|name = M49 Vulcan
|manufacturer = [[Misriah Armory]]{{Ref/Site|Id=universe|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/chaingun|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Chaingun|D=23|M=01|Y=2016}}
|model = Vulcan
|type = [[Machine gun|Heavy machine gun]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Note|The in-game description states the weapon is an autocannon, though this conflicts with its ''Halo Waypoint'' universe page which claims it is a machine gun chambered in 12.7×99mm, a round not large enough to classify it as an autocannon.}}
|cost =  
|length = 
|width = 
|height = 
|ammotype = [[12.7×99mm Armor-Piercing|12.7×99mm M255 HVE]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p136}} ''or'' <br/>
[[12.7×99mm Armor-Piercing|12.7×99mm M340 HVE]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p136}} ''or'' <br/>
[[High Explosive Dual Purpose ammunition|HEDP]] ammo
|feed = 
|operation = Electrical, rotary, belt-fed{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|rate = 
|velocity = 
|range = 
|service = [[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
}}
The '''M49 Vulcan''', formerly the '''M343A2 Minigun''',{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p136|Enc22|Page=136}} is a heavy machine gun in use by the [[United Nations Space Command]] after the [[Human-Covenant War]]. It is a successor to the [[M41 Vulcan|M41]] and [[M46 Vulcan|M46]] machine guns, with which it shares the erroneous "'''chaingun'''" moniker.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Game|Id=H5G|H5G|List of REQ cards|REQ card|Detail=Chaingun Turret description|Quote=Rotary autocannon.}} Despite seeing a high initial production run in early [[2558]] the debilitation of a number of key manufacturing sites led Misriah Armory to ramp production back up on the M46.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=180}}

The M49 may alternatively be referred to as the '''M250 heavy machine gun''', though the differences between the two conflicting designations are currently unknown.{{Ref/Book|Id=M250|Enc22|Page=174}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
The M49 succeeds its predecessors in the Vulcan line of weapons, albeit heavily redesigned compared to the [[M46 Vulcan|M46]] and [[M49 Vulcan|M49]] models.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p136}} Unlike the early tri-barrelled models, the M49 is an electrically driven, five-barreled Gatling-style machine gun that is compatible with all standard UNSC heavy weapon mounts. The M49 is often installed on a pneumatic full-rotation turret as the primary armament of the [[M12B Warthog]], and is also available in a semi-portable tripod configuration for site defense.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|M250}} The latter configuration has a much shorter barrel assembly.

The M49's lethality is comparable to that of its predecessors. Barrel wear is considerably diminished in comparison, though the weapon will overheat after periods of sustained fire.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} This is aided by the inclusion of an augmented cowling to protect the barrels from external wear and tear.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p136}}{{Ref/Reuse|M250}} Although the M49 is designed to use the latest polymer-cased and energetic propellant [[12.7×99mm Armor-Piercing|12.7×99mm M255 HVE]] rounds, UNSC units have been ordered to deplete existing stocks of older [[12.7×99mm Armor-Piercing|12.7×99mm M340 HVE]] ammunition before transitioning to newer cartridges.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p136}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} As opposed to its predecessors, the M49 ejects its spent casings from the left side.

===Variants===
*'''[[ONI Chaingun|ONI Chaingun Turret]]''': A variant used by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]. Fires [[High Explosive Dual Purpose ammunition|explosive rounds]] with increased damage and does not overheat.{{Ref/Game|H5G|List of REQ cards|REQ card|Detail=ONI Chaingun Turret description|Quote=When guile and stealth fail, the direct approach is often the best. Fires high explosive dual purpose [HEDP] rounds.}} Kills Spartans in 5 rounds in War Games. It is ranked an Ultra Rare REQ in Warzone simulations, and is available at Level 5 energy while giving 150 REQ points if sold.
*'''Needle turret''': A variant that fires [[blamite]]. Kills Spartans in 6 rounds in War Games.

===Development history===
The weapon was developed and produced by [[Misriah Armory]] as the latest in the long line of "Vulcan" rotary cannons - intended to succeed the long-serving [[M46 Vulcan|M46]] and [[M49 Vulcan|M49]] models.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} During field-testing, the weapon was given the temporary designation of the '''M343A2''', before being renamed to the '''M49''' once it entered mainline service.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p136}} Misriah underwent a large initial production run of M49s in the early months of [[2558]], though the onset of the [[Created uprising]] meant that a number of key production sites were debilitated - consequently leading Misriah to fall back on its more established M46 model for mass-scale deployment in the new crisis.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

==Gameplay==
===''Halo 5: Guardians''===
The M49 replaces the M41 and M46 Vulcan turrets previously seen in prior ''Halo'' titles as the armament on the Warthog, and as a detachable turret replacing the [[M247H machine gun]]. Carrying the turret decreases the player's speed and maneuverability as in previous titles. However, it should be noted that this actually renders the player invisible on the motion tracker unless the weapon is fired, making the M343A2 useful for catching the enemy off-guard while on defense. The M343A2 kills [[Spartan]]s in 12 rounds in [[War Games]]. It is ranked a Common REQ in [[Warzone]] simulations, and is available at {{Energy|2}} while giving {{RP|50}} if sold.

== Production note ==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of M343A2 chaingun}}
The weapon's ''Halo 5: Guardians''-era designation of M343A2 is an obvious reference to [[343 Industries]]. 

In the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', the weapon is conflictingly referred to by two separate designations. In the weapon's infobox on page 174, the weapon is repeatedly referred to as the M250 heavy machine gun (seemingly keeping consistency with the [[M247 machine gun]] and its various derivatives), while in the section on the Vulcan series of chainguns on pages 136 and 180, it is referred to as the M49. It is unclear whether this is an unintentional contradiction, or an indication that the M49 Vulcan designation refers to the weapon system as a whole on the Warthog, while the gun itself is the M250 HMG.

For consistency with the Vulcan series of cannons, Halopedia has chosen to preference the M49 designation until such a time as a clarification can be provided on the matter from [[343 industries]]. 

==Gallery==
===Development images===
<gallery>
File:H5G M343A2Chaingun Concept.jpg|Concept art of the M343A2.
File:H5G-M343A2.jpg|Renders of the M343A2 for ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5G-M343A21.jpg|More renders.
File:H5G-M343A22.jpg|Renders of the underside of the gun.
File:H5G-Chaingun.png|An M343A2 detached from its mount.
</gallery>

===Screenshots===
<gallery>
File:H5G-Roadtrip.jpg|[[Olympia Vale]] manning the turret on a Corp Warthog during the [[Battle of Meridian (2558)|Battle of Meridian]].
File:Buck firing Chaingun.jpg|[[Edward Buck]] firing a portable version of the turret on [[Meridian]].
File:REQ Card - Chaingun Turret ONI.png|The ONI variant of the weapon.
File:H5G-M343A2 HUD Campaign.png|[[Heads-up display]] of the M343A2 on the back of an M12B Warthog by Edward Buck in the ''Halo 5: Guardians'' campaign.
File:H5G-M343A2HUD.png|Heads-up display of the M343A2 on the back of an M12B Warthog on [[Recurve]].
File:H5G-M343A2HUD1.png|Third-person view of a stationary M343A2 on [[Guillotine]].
File:H5G-M343A2HUD2.png|Third-person view of a detached M343A2 on Guillotine.
File:H5G-M343A2HUD2-Campaign.png|Third-person view of a detached M343A2 by Edward Buck in the ''Halo 5: Guardians'' campaign.
File:H5G-Hellcat&M343A2.jpg|A [[HELLCAT-class Mjolnir|Hellcat]]-clad [[Spartan-IV]] using a detached M343A2 on [[Eden]].
File:H5G-VoidDancer&M343A21.jpg|A [[VOID DANCER-class Mjolnir|Void Dancer]]-clad Spartan-IV using an M343A2.
File:H5G-VoidDancer&M343A2.jpg|A Spartan-IV using a detached M343A2.
File:H5G-M343A2blamite.png|A Needle M343A2 firing blamite.
</gallery>

== List of appearances ==
* ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' {{1st}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

== Sources ==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{UNSC heavy weapons}}

[[Category:UNSC infantry weapons]]
[[Category:Machine guns]]