Magnetic Accelerator Cannon: Difference between revisions

The MAC gun uses a linear acceleration system, comprised of several superconducting coils which generate a series of magnetic fields that continually add velocity to a progectile until it leaves the shaft of the MAC cannon carrying a extremely large amount of energy with it. The coils are powered by a series of capacitors that store the tremendous energy neccesary to accelerate a heavy progectile to relativistic speeds. Common shipboard MAC guns are capable of accelerating a 600 ton ferric projectile with a depleted uranium core to 10% the speed of light, or roughly 30,000 kps. The main drawback to the shipboard MAC gun is the large amount of time it takes for the capacitors to reach full charge. This drawback has proven to be significant in combat against Covenant warships, since it has been shown that it requires several ship-scale MAC rounds to penetrate Covenant shields. An experimental version of the MAC gun has been developed, however, that is able to fire three successive rounds on one charge. A prototype of this weapon was mounted on the UNSC [[Pillar of Autumn]]. MAC guns exist on many different scales, ranging from the massive Mark V "Super" MAC guns onboard orbital defense platforms, to common shipboard MAC guns, and even down to the "Gauss" cannon mounted onboard the Warthog LRV.