Editing Pek-pattern plasma cannon

{{Era|HCW|Post}}

|name=Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon

|length={{Convert|153.2|cm|in|sp=us}}<ref name="H4VG"/>

|width={{Convert|65.5|cm|in|sp=us}}<ref name="H4VG"/>

|height={{Convert|85.9|cm|in|sp=us}}<ref name="H4VG"/>

|weight={{Convert|30.39|kg|lb}}<ref name="enc344">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 344'' (2011)</ref>

|ammotype=[[Plasma|Superheated plasma]]<ref name="enc344"/>

|feed=200 units {{C|dismounted}}<ref name="enc344"/>

|velocity=Over 300 rounds per minute<ref name="enc344"/>

|range={{Convert|158.5|m|ft|sp=us}}<ref name="enc344"/>

The '''Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon''' ('''T52 DESW'''),<ref name="enc344"/><ref name="Silverlight">[http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/halo3.aspx '''Microsoft''': Halo 3 Guide] (defunct)</ref> commonly shortened to the '''plasma cannon''', is a manned automatic [[Class-1 directed energy cannon|Class-1]] [[plasma]] weapon used by the [[Covenant]].<ref name="waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/theuniverse/tech/gallery/plasma-cannon/7e7f4e70-db67-4477-9ee9-3956d2155fcc '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Plasma Cannon''] (defunct, backup link on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120424172353/http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/a/7e7f4e70-db67-4477-9ee9-3956d2155fcc Archive.org])</ref> In use as early as [[2544]],<ref>'''Halo Legends''' - ''The Package''</ref> though rarely encountered until [[2552]], the T52 DESW is a universal replacement for the older [[Type-42 plasma cannon]].<ref name="vis"/><ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=ordnance&cid=28443 '''Bungie.net''': Halo: Reach Ordnance - Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon]</ref> All post-[[2549]] [[Type-26 Wraith]]s possess a Type-52 DESW ring mount.<ref>'''Halo Waypoint:''' Halo: Reach Stats</ref>

==Specifications==

The Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon is a stationary [[plasma]] emplacement and a type of [[Class-1 directed energy cannon]].<ref name="waypoint"/> The Type-52 plasma cannon has three protective [[Energy shielding|energy shields]] mounted on its top, with the outer ones being angled to the respective side, providing protection from the hot plasma being shot.<ref name="vis"/> In addition, the cannon itself is mounted on a miniature [[gravity lift]] rather than the V-legged design of the older [[Type-42 plasma cannon]], presumably making turning easier. Heat and excess plasma appears to be vented by four apertures on the weapon's sides during rapid fire; this presumably assists the cooling process. The cannon cannot overheat, which is due to two modular, copper-colored cooling units located on the side.<ref name="vis"/> These cooling units are the cannon's primary maintenance need, though they are easily repaired and replaced by their [[Unggoy]] operators.<ref name="waypoint"/>

*'''Banished Plasma Cannon''': This variant has three protective metal shields than the standard energy shields and fires red projectiles.<ref name="PL">''[[Halo Wars 2]], [[Phoenix Logs]] - "Omega Team"</ref>

===Operation===

Used as a heavy support [[weapon]] in ground based combat, it provides a rapid-fire stream of powerful plasma rounds to suppress enemy movements and offensive actions. The cannon was designed to allow the ease of transport, which results in little protection.<ref name="vis"/> Operators usually include [[Unggoy]] [[Unggoy Heavy|Heavies]] and [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili General|Generals]], although it is also sometimes used by [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftains]]. The gunner is completely exposed to enemy fire, so a well-covered emplacement position is desirable for prolonged use, especially if under fire. This separates it from the [[Shade|Shade ASGs]], which offer some measure of protection for their operator but are not man-portable.

It is carried and operated in a similar fashion to the UNSC's [[M247 machine gun]], with the obvious difference that while the M247's rounds hit almost instantly, the plasma cannon, as with all plasma weapons, has a slower moving plasma bolt. It has an approximate sixty-five degree turn radius and fifty degree pitch. It fires plasma bolts similar to those of the Covenant [[Type-25 plasma rifle]], and fires around three-hundred rounds per minute. A battery or plasma core is built into the tripod which allows the gun to fire indefinitely. When removed from the tripod's power supply, the gun can only use the two hundred units of power (equal to two hundred shots) that the gun itself contains.<ref name="vis"/> Once the power supply has been depleted to 70 shots or lower, the ammunition counter in any compatible [[Heads-up display|HUD]] of the operator starts to flash as a warning signal.

File:Grunt Heavy on Turret.jpg|A Plasma Cannon operated by an [[Unggoy Heavy]] in a [[deployable lookout tower]].

File:TurretGrunt.jpg|An [[Unggoy Heavy]] using the [[Type-26 Wraith]] mounted Type-52 DESW.

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