Magnetic Accelerator Cannon: Difference between revisions

[[File:HW MAC Strike.png|thumb|right|150px|A MAC round fired from space as part of [[orbital bombardment]].]]

The '''magnetic accelerator cannon'''{{Ref/Reuse|WFG}}, also referred to as a '''mass accelerator cannon'''{{Ref/Reuse|CH7}} or '''MAC''', is a type of heavy weapon system employed by [[human]]ity, primarily the spacecraft of the [[United Nations Space Command]]. Within the UNSC, MACs are defined as a heavy weapon that fires a sizeable ferric-tungsten round at supersonic velocities from the bow of a capital ship, [[orbital defense platform]] or mounted driver emplacement.{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG114|EVG|Page=114}} MACs are coilguns employing Asynchronous Linear Induction Motor (ALIM) technology{{Ref/Reuse|EVG114}} and are typically used in military applications, though similar technology can be used in civilian [[mass driver]]s for industrial use.

[[File:Coilgun animation.gif|thumb|right|250px|An animation of a coilgun's operating principle.]]

This process differs from that of a [[railgun]] - a similar weapon system that feeds electrical current through a projectile to accelerate it along two conducting rails. Nonetheless, railgun weapon systems are occasionally referred to as MACs - as in the case of the Mini-MAC armament of the [[M510 Mammoth]].{{Ref/Reuse|H4IGMammoth}}{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG115}}

MACs are capable of firing a wide array of munitions, depending on bore and model. Some MAC rounds are extremely dense and constructed of ferric tungsten{{Ref/Reuse|EVG114}}, noted by Captain [[Wallace]] of the frigate {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} as a "heavy round".{{Ref/Novel|Id=FOR12|FOR|Chapter=12}} In the case of the MACs fitted onto the refit-colony ship {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}, the rounds fired from its MACs are "ultra-light" or consist of three-hundred-ton depleted uranium slugs.{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW15|HDW|Chapter=15}}{{Ref/Book|Id=HWManual|Halo Wars Manual|Page=24}} The MAC of the ''Spirit of Fire'' was later modified in a special project conducted by [[Ellen Anders]], resulting in a specialised MAC capable of firing rounds that emit an [[Electromagnetic pulse|EMP]] upon impact.{{Ref/Level|HW2|The Cartographer}} Other munitions that can be fired from MACs include semi-autonomous drone missiles{{Ref/Book|Id=WF32|HWF|Section=Destroyers|Page=32-33}} and for the larger 27 metre guns of {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, even include cargo pods and small spacecraft.{{Ref/Book|Id=WF42|HWF|Section=Infinity|Page=42-43}} A special kind of MAC round fired by the refit-{{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} was composed of a ferrous core and an outer layer of tungsten carbide, which allows the round to splinter on impact with an enemy vessel, similar to the [[shredder round]]s fired by an [[assault rifle]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=FOR29|FOR|Chapter=29}}  

Due to this variation, the masses, velocities and sizes of MAC projectiles can very, ranging from 10 metre-long, 160 ton models fired by frigates and cruisers{{Ref/Reuse|CH7}}, to 600 ton{{Ref/Reuse|EVG114}} depleted uranium models fired by {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s{{Ref/Novel|Id=FS29|FS|Chapter=29}} up to 3,000 ton{{Ref/Reuse|EVG114}} projectiles accelerated to "point four-tenths"{{Ref/Note|Id=Point|Due to massively conflicting interpretations of this number, this page only lists the wording used in the original text of ''The Fall of Reach''.}} of the speed of light by the [[orbital defense platform]]s above [[Reach]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=FOR31|FOR|Chapter=31}} The MACs of {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} are additionally capable of firing various "sub-caliber" munitions for its massive twenty-seven metre bore, alongside some of the special types mentioned prior.{{Ref/Book|Id=HM132|HM|Section=Earth's Fleet|Page=132-133}} MACs generally have a range of 10,000 miles (16,093 kilometers).<ref name="ENC"/>

[[File:Outcome of Second Battle of Harvest.png|thumb|250px|[[Battle Group X-Ray]] firing their MACs at a [[Covenant super-destroyer]].]]

In select circumstances, MACs can be employed in atmospheres or for the purposes of [[orbital bombardment]]. Such orbital bombardment can be deployed against large targets such as enemy warships or [[Covenant citadel|bases]], or against targets as (relatively) small as a [[Type-47A Scarab|Scarab]].{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/new-mombasa|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=New Mombasa}} During the [[Battle for Arcadia]], the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} made liberal use of up to forty MAC strikes in rapid succession to destroy a Covenant staging area near the [[Arcadia ONI facility]].{{Ref/Level|HW|Dome of Light}}{{Ref/Note|In-game, this section of the level involves using up to forty MAC blasts to orbital strike the Covenant base; it is possible that this strike is merely an example of gameplay not aligning with canon or an example of the ''Spirit'' employing its ancilliary naval coilgun batteries.}}

==Types of MAC==

Some of the largest MAC types, such as those found on select orbital defense platforms and large warships, are referred to as "Super MACs".{{Ref/Reuse|FOR31}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://community.spartangames.co.uk/index.php?/topic/16805-halo-waypoint-update-with-spartan-new-ships/page-7|Site=Spartan Games|Page=Halo Waypoint Update with Spartan - NEW SHIPS!|Detail=(defunct)|Quote='Super MAC' is more a category than a specific weapon. Many defense platforms do not have 'super MACs' as used by Reach installations, for example.}}

 

 

File:HW CR-03B MAC.png|Four CR-03B MAC's on the Infinity.

On the ''Paris'', ''Stalwart'' and ''Charon''-classes of ship, the barrel of the gun itself is located in the lower boon at the fore of the ship, with the upper boon containing fire-control systems and pulsed power storage.{{Ref/Reuse|WF36}} The post-war {{Class|Anlace|light frigate}} is a unique exception to the typical rule of spinally-mounted MACs, instead employing a single MAC on a rotating turret on the ship's aft, allowing the gun to fire at targets around the ship.{{Ref/Generic|Id=Loftus1|[[Stephen Loftus]] on the Anlace-class frigate [[Talk:Anlace-class frigate|talk page]]}} The heavy MAC employed by the ''Strident'' frigate employs twelve capacitor cells, allowing it to achieve firepower levels similar to those of destroyers or light cruisers - limited only by the stock of ammunition carried aboard ship.{{Ref/Reuse|WF38}}

The [[UNSC heavy destroyer|heavy destroyer]] {{UNSCShip|Gorgon}} was the ship of its class to mount a MAC, sporting one gun and carrying only three slugs.{{Ref/Anthology|Id=Cole|HEvo|Story=The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole}} The later ''Halberd''-class was fitted with a 14B11R2 MAC battery consisting of dual twin-linked 1170mm/647mm MACs, with the smaller gun only used for launching kinetic kill rounds and the larger gun compatible with all standard mission packages.{{Ref/Reuse|WF32}}{{Ref/Reuse|Mythos82}} The ''Halberd'' is able to fire its MACs on lower-than 100% charge levels for more rapid-firing{{Ref/Reuse|FOR17}}, and can be equipped with MAC capacitor cells to easily recharge; these cells are easily replacable when damaged.{{Ref/Reuse|WF32}}

Unlike their smaller counterparts, [[cruiser]]s typically employ Heavy MACs as a standard armament - befitting of their status as the primary line warship of the UNSC Navy. The {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} sports two heavy MACs{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=42}}{{Ref/Book|Id=HFB93|Halo: Fleet Battles|Detail=Core Rulebook|Page=93}} Late-war ''Marathons'' were in such high demand that even half-completed hulls were pressed into service for the use of their heavy MAC systems, often paired together with another ''Marathon'' as part of the [[UNSC Navy tactical formations|"Gorgon"]] formation. These cruisers would pinpoint larger Covenant warships with sustained fire, giving smaller craft a chance to deal damage of their own.{{Ref/Book|Id=HFB125|Halo: Fleet Battles|Detail=Core Rulebook|Page=125}}The ''Autumn''-class heavy cruiser was fitted with a Mark IX heavy coil 45J3D3 MAC, and the {{Class|Valiant|super-heavy cruiser}} a heavy MAC of its own.{{Ref/Game|Halo: Fleet Battles|Valiant-class cruiser expansion}}

Contrary to the aforementioned examples, the ''Halcyon''-class light cruiser does not employ a heavy MAC, but rather a light one - likely the cause of the ship being infamous for being undergunned within the UNSC fleet. When refit for [[Operation: RED FLAG]], the ''Pillar of Autumn'' was fitted with a specialised modification to a Mark II light coil 56A2D4 MAC - the same as that found on the ''Stalwart''-class light frigate.{{Ref/Reuse|WF24}} This gun ran two-thirds the length of the ''Autumn''{{'}}s length{{Ref/Reuse|WF24}}, and employed special magnetic field recyclers that - when combined with booster capacitors - allowed the gun to fire three times in rapid succession.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR29}}

[[UNSC carrier]]s employ a range of MAC types. On the smaller end, the ''Epoch''-class employs the Mark II 52A6F9 light coil MAC, a rapid-fire upgrade of that seen on the ''Stalwart''-class Frigate and intended for defensive purposes. In larger fleets, the ''Epoch'' may lend this MAC's fire to coordinated volleys. The {{Class|Orion|assault carrier}} employs a larger heavy MAC{{Ref/Game|Halo: Fleet Battles|Orion-class cruiser expansion}}, while the extremely large {{Class|Punic|supercarrier}} employs two "Super-MACs", running the length of its enormous spaceframe. In addition to this, the ''Punic'' sports a number of smaller "Mini-MAC" turrets allowing it to fire on all angles.{{Ref/Site|Id=SpartanPunic|URL=http://www.spartangames.co.uk/meet-the-big-hitters|Site=Spartan Games|Page=Meet The Big Hitters|D=01|M=6|Y=2016}}

The so-called "Mini"-MAC is a nickname given to the primary weapon system employed by the ground-based [[M510 Mammoth]] siegework platform. The Mammoth sports a Mark 2457/35cm HRG{{Ref/Note|Presumably, HRG stands for Heavy Railgun}}, a large [[railgun]] intended target and eliminate hostile vessels, vehicles and fortifications in terrestrial or suborbital positions.{{Ref/Book|Id=H4EVG115|H4EVG|Page=115}}{{Ref/Generic|Id=H4IGMammoth|[[Halo 4 Interactive Guide]]|Mammoth}} These weapons can be linked to a target locator, and are powerful enough to take out even [[Forerunner]] [[Z-8060 particle cannon]]s.{{Ref/Level|Id=H4Reclaimer|H4|Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer}}  

[[File:Onager.jpg|thumb|200px|right|An Onager MAC on [[Reach]] in the [[Asźod ship breaking yards]].]]

The Mark 2488 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, informally known as the Onager, is a relatively small Magnetic Accelerator Cannon used for static defense. A manned version was used to defend the ''Pillar of Autumn'' on Reach.{{Ref/Level|HR|The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn}} The Mark 2488 fires a 15cm round with up to 1.1 gigajoules (0.25 tons) of kinetic energy. It is 32.6 meters long,{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Page=75}}

[[File:HW MACBlast HUD.jpg|thumb|right|The MAC Blast in use.]]

In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', the '''MAC Blast''' ability allows the player to use the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}'s [[11A2R1 naval coilgun battery|point-defense MACs]] for pinpoint [[orbital bombardment]]. It is mainly used as a support weapon to help the UNSC penetrate heavy Covenant defenses and Covenant bases, and is a potent weapon against [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarabs]].

File:Corvette destroyed.png|The effect of a MAC round fired from an orbital defense platform on an {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}.

File:MAC - Bombardment.jpg|A MAC round impacting the surface of [[Harvest]].