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M66 light railgun: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

m (moved LRG rail gun to M66 light rail gun: Per the Essential Visual Guide.)
(The 16MJ and 8MJ weapons have been retconned into the M66 30mm and M98 105mm light rail guns, respectively.)
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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Era|HCW}}
{{ratings}}
{{Weapon
{{Weapon
| image= [[Image:UNSC_Cobra_02.jpg|300px]]  
| image= [[Image:UNSC_Cobra_02.jpg|300px]]  
| name=LRG Rail Gun
| name=M66 light rail gun
| manufacturer=UNSC
| manufacturer=UNSC
| model=
| model=
| type= [[Railgun|Electromagnetic railgun]]
| type= [[Railgun]]
| cost=
| cost=
| size=*50mm Kinetic Penetrator Shells
| size=30mm kinetic penetrator shells<ref name="EVG"/>
*105mm High Explosive Shells
| damage per hit=
| damage per hit=
| magazine=
| magazine=
| maxammo=
| maxammo=
| fire=
| fire=
| ammo type=*Depleted uranium rounds/Ferromagnetic slugs
| ammo type=High-density ferrous slugs
*High-explosive shells
| operation=Railgun
| operation=Railgun
| rate of fire=Slow
| rate of fire=Slow
| accuracy=High
| accuracy=High
| range=High
| range=High
| era=Human-Covenant War
| era=[[Human-Covenant War]]
| counterpart=[[Type-25 Assault Gun Carriage]]
| counterpart=[[Plasma mortar]]
| counterweapons=
| counterweapons=
| affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
| affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
}}
}}


The '''LRG rail gun''' is a combined anti-vehicle/anti-structure weapon system mounted on the [[Special Purpose-42 Main Battle Tank]] self-propelled artillery vehicle, designed for engaging enemy armored vehicles and structures, using a pair of combining [[railgun]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]''', ''page 43''</ref> The individual railguns are also able to be mounted on a [[UNSC]] [[UNSC Firebase|prefabricated]] [[Base Turret|base turret]] for use as a static defensive measure.<ref>'''Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide''', ''page 30''</ref>
The '''M66 light rail gun''' ('''M66 LRG''') is an anti-vehicle weapon system mounted in pairs to the [[SP42 Cobra]] self-propelled artillery vehicle, in conjunction with the larger M98 light rail gun.<ref name="Guide">'''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]''', ''page 43''</ref><ref name="EVG">'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'''</ref> The M66 is often mounted in pairs to [[Firebase|prefabricated]] [[Base turret|automated defensive turrets]] for use as a static defensive measure.<ref>'''Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide''', ''page 30''</ref>


==Operation==
==Overview==
The LRG rail gun is one of a few weapons of its kind in service. Most known UNSC weapons that use electromagnetism to fire solid projectiles, such as the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] or the [[M68 Gauss Cannon]], are coilguns which operate using completely different principles.
The M66 LRG is a powerful anti-armor weapon that fires 30mm high-density ferrous projectiles at ultra-high velocity. The velocity of these projectiles allows them to penetrate armor at extreme range and with superior penetration to the [[M512 Smooth Bore High Velocity Cannon|M512 90mm cannon]] used by the [[M808B Main Battle Tank]].<ref name="Site">[http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/vehicledepot.aspx#Cobra Halo Wars Official Site - Cobra]</ref><ref name="Guide"/><ref name="EVG"/> Though the weapon performs similarly to the [[M68 Asynchronous Linear-Induction Motor|M68 Gauss cannon]], the M68 is a coilgun, which operates on different principles from those of a [[railgun]].


The most unique aspect of the LRG rail gun was that it featured two separate firing modes, each performing completely separate roles and duties. At its most basic stage, it used two 16 Mega Joule railguns to fire 50mm armor piercing shells, with significant penetration capabilities, designed for engaging Covenant armored vehicles. Each railgun has a slow rate of fire, and requires alternating fire - the energy required to fire both railguns together is well beyond what the Cobra is capable of producing by itself. This alternating also improves the weapon's rate of fire, keeping up a more consistent output, with superior penetration to the [[90mm High Velocity Cannon]] used by the [[M808B Scorpion MBT]].<ref>[http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/vehicledepot.aspx#Cobra Halo Wars - Official Cobra Description]</ref> Further, these two railguns can be retracted into the Cobra to allow the deployment of the larger 8 Mega Joule railgun. This stronger weapon fires a 105mm high explosive shell at significant range, filling a more conventional artillery role. This second mode of firing requires more stability than a mobile vehicle could provide, forcing the Cobra to deploy support stands and braces to keep it stable, but allows extreme long range fire, effective against vehicles and enemy structures. Upgrades are available to further improve the artillery cannon's penetration, allowing a single shell to penetrate through a target and hit a second behind it.
When twin-mounted on the SP42 Cobra and on automated turrets, each weapon is fired alternatively, as the energy required to fire both railguns together is beyond what the platform is capable of producing. This alternating also improves the weapon's rather low rate of fire, maintaining more consistent power output.<ref name="Site"/>


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Though the ''Halo Wars'' website and strategy guide initially labeled the weapon as a rail gun, there has been debate over why the gun was originally called '''M66 Gauss Cannon''' in concept art. Since the game's release, references to the M66 have been deleted on official material. As the two types of weapons operate on completely different principles, it would have been impossible to claim that both names were accurate.
The ''Halo Wars'' official website initially identified the weapon as the '''M66 50mm Gauss cannon'''; the website stated that the Cobra uses a pair of 16 megajoule M66 Gauss cannons when in normal mode and an single 8 megajoule version when locked down. After the game's release, references to the M66 Gauss cannon were removed from official material and the weapon was renamed the LRG rail gun. ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' retconned the 16MJ version of the LRG rail gun into the M66 30mm light rail gun, while it retconned the 8MJ version into the M98 105mm light rail gun.


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==

Revision as of 07:52, July 12, 2011

Template:Weapon

The M66 light rail gun (M66 LRG) is an anti-vehicle weapon system mounted in pairs to the SP42 Cobra self-propelled artillery vehicle, in conjunction with the larger M98 light rail gun.[1][2] The M66 is often mounted in pairs to prefabricated automated defensive turrets for use as a static defensive measure.[3]

Overview

The M66 LRG is a powerful anti-armor weapon that fires 30mm high-density ferrous projectiles at ultra-high velocity. The velocity of these projectiles allows them to penetrate armor at extreme range and with superior penetration to the M512 90mm cannon used by the M808B Main Battle Tank.[4][1][2] Though the weapon performs similarly to the M68 Gauss cannon, the M68 is a coilgun, which operates on different principles from those of a railgun.

When twin-mounted on the SP42 Cobra and on automated turrets, each weapon is fired alternatively, as the energy required to fire both railguns together is beyond what the platform is capable of producing. This alternating also improves the weapon's rather low rate of fire, maintaining more consistent power output.[4]

Trivia

The Halo Wars official website initially identified the weapon as the M66 50mm Gauss cannon; the website stated that the Cobra uses a pair of 16 megajoule M66 Gauss cannons when in normal mode and an single 8 megajoule version when locked down. After the game's release, references to the M66 Gauss cannon were removed from official material and the weapon was renamed the LRG rail gun. Halo: The Essential Visual Guide retconned the 16MJ version of the LRG rail gun into the M66 30mm light rail gun, while it retconned the 8MJ version into the M98 105mm light rail gun.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide, page 43
  2. ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide
  3. ^ Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide, page 30
  4. ^ a b Halo Wars Official Site - Cobra

Template:UNSC Heavy Weapons