Directed-energy weapon: Difference between revisions
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[[File:M6 Spartan Laser.png|200px|thumb|right|The UNSC's only infantry laser weapon, the ''Spartan Laser'' or ''Galilean''.]] | [[File:M6 Spartan Laser.png|200px|thumb|right|The UNSC's only infantry laser weapon, the ''Spartan Laser'' or ''Galilean''.]] | ||
{{Main|Laser}} | {{Main|Laser}} | ||
Lasers are used for a wide array of functions, ranging from repair equipment to weaponry. [[Pulse laser turret]]s are standard armament on Covenant warships and, unusually, [[UNSC prowler|UNSC Prowlers]], and are used for precision strikes against small targets, intercepting incoming missiles and fighters,<ref name="FoR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and general point-defense. Other lasers are used to repair equipment by both the Covenant,<ref name="ContactHarvest">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and the UNSC<ref name="FirstStrike">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page ??''</ref> while the only infantry-portable laser weapon is used by the UNSC, the [[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle]] or "Spartan Laser". | Lasers are used for a wide array of functions, ranging from repair equipment to weaponry. [[Pulse laser turret]]s are standard armament on Covenant warships and, unusually, [[UNSC prowler|UNSC Prowlers]], and are used for precision strikes against small targets, intercepting incoming missiles and fighters,<ref name="FoR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and general point-defense. Other lasers are used to repair equipment by both the Covenant,<ref name="ContactHarvest">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and the UNSC<ref name="FirstStrike">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page ??''</ref> while the only infantry-portable laser weapon is used by the UNSC, the [[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle]] or "Spartan Laser". During the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC began using nuclear bomb-pumped X-ray lasers as warheads for anti-ship missiles, such as the [[Bident missile|M4020 Bident]] used by [[Epoch-class heavy carrier|''Epoch''-class heavy carriers]].<ref name="Warfleet17">'''[[Halo: Warfleet]]''', ''page 17''</ref> | ||
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Revision as of 19:33, October 30, 2018
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There is more information available on this subject at Directed-energy weapon on the English Wikipedia. |
A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is a type of weapon that uses a non-solid projectile with a high enthalpy (kinetic and thermal energy) rather than solid ballistic ammunition. It transfers energy to a target for a desired effect.
Lasers
- Main article: Laser
Lasers are used for a wide array of functions, ranging from repair equipment to weaponry. Pulse laser turrets are standard armament on Covenant warships and, unusually, UNSC Prowlers, and are used for precision strikes against small targets, intercepting incoming missiles and fighters,[1] and general point-defense. Other lasers are used to repair equipment by both the Covenant,[2] and the UNSC[3] while the only infantry-portable laser weapon is used by the UNSC, the M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle or "Spartan Laser". During the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC began using nuclear bomb-pumped X-ray lasers as warheads for anti-ship missiles, such as the M4020 Bident used by Epoch-class heavy carriers.[4]
Plasma
- Main article: Plasma weaponry
The Covenant's most common weapon type, however, is superheated plasma that is contained within a controlled magnetic field, able to be guided to a target and dealing heavy damage. Ship-mounted plasma weapons can launch torpedoes, capable of tracking their targets with precision, making them devastating in ship-to-ship combat, or can fire very large streams of plasma from afar to "glass" a planet's surface from orbit. Vehicle-mounted plasma weapons usually have a high rate of fire, but lack the guidance systems. Infantry weapons commonly use guided plasma, such as the Plasma Rifle, Plasma Pistol, and the Plasma Grenade. Towards the end of the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC began using nuclear-pumped "focused plasma spears" in ship-to-ship missile warheads.[4]
Sentinels use a powerful continuously-firing plasma beam called the Sentinel beam as their main weapon.
Particle beam weapons
- Main article: Particle beam weapon
The Covenant also use accelerated particles as weaponry, such as the devastating capital ship mounted energy projector and the infantry Type-50 Sniper Rifle System. These weapons use charged or neutral particles, and may appear similar to lasers though the differences are extensive. Though humans have an understanding of accelerated particle technology they have not yet used it for weaponry.
Hard light
- Main article: Hard light
Weaponized hard light seems to be exclusive to the Forerunners as the Covenant never managed to reverse-engineer the technology.
Sources
- ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page ??
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page ??
- ^ Halo: First Strike, page ??
- ^ a b Halo: Warfleet, page 17
