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Point-defense gun: Difference between revisions

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File:HTMCC-H3 FuD M870Rampart 2.png|A close-up of an M870 Rampart on the ''Charon''-class light frigate in ''Halo 3''.
File:HTMCC-H3 FuD M870Rampart 2.png|A close-up of an M870 Rampart on the ''Charon''-class light frigate in ''Halo 3''.
File:Origins - Defensive Measure.png|A [[Halcyon-class cruiser]] defending itself from Covenant boarding craft using its point defense guns.
File:Origins - Defensive Measure.png|A [[Halcyon-class cruiser]] defending itself from Covenant boarding craft using its point defense guns.
File:Reach 3893592 Full-crop.jpg|A close-up of one of the ''Pillar of Autumn''{{'}}s point-defense guns in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Point Defence Gun.jpg|A close-up of a point-defense gun.
File:Point Defence Gun.jpg|A close-up of a point-defense gun.
File:Reach 3893592 Full-crop.jpg|A close-up of one of the ''Pillar of Autumn''{{'}}s point-defense guns in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Reach 9060575 Full.jpg|Shot of the UNSC ''Savannah'''s point defense gun arrays.
File:Reach 9060575 Full.jpg|Shot of the UNSC ''Savannah'''s point defense gun arrays.
File:Reach 3003793 Full.jpg|The UNSC ''Savannah'''s point defense guns firing on the [[Covenant]] [[Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette|corvette]] ''[[Ardent Prayer]]''.
File:Reach 3003793 Full.jpg|The UNSC ''Savannah'''s point defense guns firing on the [[Covenant]] [[Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette|corvette]] ''[[Ardent Prayer]]''.
File:Point guns firing.jpg|Close-up of a UNSC frigate's point defense guns firing.
File:Point guns firing.jpg|Close-up of a UNSC frigate's point defense guns firing.
File:UNSC Savannah Firing.jpg|The {{UNSCShip|Savannah}} using its point-defense guns against the ''Ardent Prayer'' in [[Operation: UPPER CUT]].
File:UNSC Savannah Firing.jpg|The {{UNSCShip|Savannah}} using its point-defense guns against the ''Ardent Prayer'' in [[Operation: UPPER CUT]].
File:HINF Reverie M870Rampart 2.png|A close-up of an M870 Rampart on the ''Mulsanne''-class light frigate  in ''Halo 3''.
File:HINF Reverie M870Rampart 2.png|A close-up of an M870 Rampart on the ''Mulsanne''-class light frigate  in ''Halo Infinite''.
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of point-defense guns}}
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of point-defense guns}}

Revision as of 13:18, June 5, 2023

Point-defense gun
File:Halo3-PointDefenseGun.png
Production overview

Type:

Close-in weapon system

Specifications

Ammunition type:

Varies; typically 50 mm high-explosive

Operation:

Magnetic linear accelerator (MLA)[1]

Service history

In service:

26th Century[2]

 

A point-defense gun is a type of United Nations Space Command starship-mounted magnetic accelerator weapon.[1] Though several models exist, the most common type of point-defense gun fires 50 mm high-explosive projectiles.[3]

Design details

Functionality

The point-defense gun fills a role similar to the CIWS designs created during the 20th century. Based around magnetic linear accelerator technology,[1] it fires solid projectiles. Unlike Archer missiles and the MAC weapon systems mounted on capital ships, the point-defense guns are not used to engage Covenant capital ships. They are instead meant to intercept smaller threats like Type-31 Seraph fighters[4] or boarding craft, and disrupt incoming plasma weaponry,[5] to reduce the damage inflicted to a warship's superstructure.

Because human operators lack the reflexive responses necessary to operate the point-defense guns to maximum effect, the autocannons are computer controlled and, if an AI is available, control is diverted to it. "Smart" AIs seem better able to operate the point-defense guns than standard computers and also lesser "dumb" AIs.[6] Nonetheless, in times of need, human operators are capable of manning the turrets when an AI is unable to.[7]

Operational history

A screenshot of Alpha Base on the eponymous level.
One of the Pillar of Autumn's point-defense guns defending Alpha Base.

Point-defense guns have been standard armament on UNSC vessels since the Insurrection, a common model being the M810 Helix. Later, Halcyon-class cruisers used a dual-barreled point-defense weapon system designated as the M910 Rampart point defense network.[8]

During the opening stages of the Battle of Installation 04, the ODSTs of Fireteam Raven were instructed by Wellsley to man the UNSC Pillar of Autumn's defensive guns to fend off several waves of Seraph and Banshee fighters.[7] During the later human occupation of Installation 04, the ODSTs that recaptured and secured the wreckage of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn from the Covenant managed to scavenge several of the ship's 50 mm turrets.[9] The ODSTs utilized the scavenged defense weapons and used them as anti-air defensive emplacements at Alpha Base.

Known types

Arena

Bulwark

Fortress

Goalkeeper

Helix

Rampart

Gallery

  • A close-up of an M870 Rampart on the Charon-class light frigate in Halo 3.

    A close-up of an M870 Rampart on the Charon-class light frigate in Halo 3.

  • A Halcyon-class cruiser defending itself from Covenant boarding craft using its point defense guns.

    A Halcyon-class cruiser defending itself from Covenant boarding craft using its point defense guns.

  • A close-up of one of the Pillar of Autumn's point-defense guns in Halo: Reach.

    A close-up of one of the Pillar of Autumn's point-defense guns in Halo: Reach.

  • A close-up of a point-defense gun.

    A close-up of a point-defense gun.

  • Shot of the UNSC Savannah's point defense gun arrays.

    Shot of the UNSC Savannah's point defense gun arrays.

  • The UNSC Savannah's point defense guns firing on the Covenant corvette Ardent Prayer.

    The UNSC Savannah's point defense guns firing on the Covenant corvette Ardent Prayer.

  • Close-up of a UNSC frigate's point defense guns firing.

    Close-up of a UNSC frigate's point defense guns firing.

  • The UNSC Savannah using its point-defense guns against the Ardent Prayer in Operation: UPPER CUT.

    The UNSC Savannah using its point-defense guns against the Ardent Prayer in Operation: UPPER CUT.

  • A close-up of an M870 Rampart on the Mulsanne-class light frigate in Halo Infinite.

    A close-up of an M870 Rampart on the Mulsanne-class light frigate in Halo Infinite.

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia, page 315 (2011)
  2. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", page 475
  3. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 215
  4. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 272
  5. ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 19
  6. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 19
  7. ^ a b Halo: Fireteam Raven, level Escape
  8. ^ Data Drop 5
  9. ^ Halo: The Flood, Chapter 5, page 137 (2003 paperback); page 153 (2010 paperback)

v • d • e
 
Heavy armaments of humanity
Artillery
Autocannons and mounted machine guns
Automated turrets
Ground installations M5 Talos base turret • Scythe (M71 • M85) • M3045 • M3063 • M8 Wolf Spider
Point-defense guns Arena (Mark 57) • Bulwark (M710) • Fortress (M965) • Goalkeeper (M606) • Helix (M810) • Rampart
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