| Mark 2488 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon | |
|---|---|
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| Production overview | |
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Manufacturer: |
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Type: |
Magnetic Accelerator Cannon |
| Specifications | |
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Length: |
32.6 m (106.9 ft) |
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Ammunition type: |
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20 rounds a minute | |
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High | |
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Effective range: |
Long |
| Service history | |
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In service: |
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The Mark 2488 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, formally designated 15 cm Mark/2488 1.1GJ MAC, also known as the Onager and often referred to as a "mass driver", is a stationary Magnetic Accelerator Cannon used by the United Nations Space Command during the Human-Covenant War.[3]
The Mark 2551/25cm Portable is an upgraded variant of the weapon brought into service after the war.
Design details
The Onager is capable of firing a 15 cm round with up to 1.1 gigajoules of kinetic energy.[3] It has five linearly arranged magnetic coils, each of which needs to charge individually before each shot. The weapon needs to cool off after every shot, and does so by opening a radial vent on the upper portion of the barrel. The weapon is operated from a small booth on the left side of the cannon.[4]
Operational history
During the Fall of Reach, a group of UNSC Marines installed an Onager on top of one of the planet's ship-breaking facilities in Asźod to protect the drydocked UNSC Pillar of Autumn. Emile-A239 manned the mass driver to fend off incoming Covenant Banshees and Phantoms before the Autumn could take off.[4] However, the Spartan was killed by a Sangheili Zealot, prompting SPARTAN-B312 to commandeer the cannon and successfully delay the Covenant assault on the Autumn by crippling an incoming Ket-pattern battlecruiser with a shot to its ventral energy projector.[4]
Trivia
- The Onager is named after a medieval siege weapon, which in turn takes its name from a horse species.
- On the Bungie.net weapons statistics page, the description for the Onager is simply "I need a weapon", a reference to a line by John-117 in the opening cinematic of the level Cairo Station in Halo 2.
- "S-239" is painted on the Onager's frame. This is a reference to Emile-A239, who was killed while operating the weapon. Also, "S-266" is painted on the left side. That is a reference to Jun-A266.
- The "using Onager early" glitch can be exploited so that a player can reach the driver before the scripted cutscene. This glitch can provide a player with an easy killing spree by shooting down Banshees, or avoiding enemy lances by shooting the Phantoms carrying them.
Gallery
An early concept for the Onager by Isaac Hannaford.
The cannon's final design.
A first-person view of the Onager.
The Onager installed in the Asźod ship breaking yards.
The Onager, manned by SPARTAN-B312, firing a round at the incoming Covenant Ket-pattern battlecruiser.
The Onager discharging a ferric-tungsten slug at the Covenant Ket-pattern battlecruiser.
An Onager's electromagnetic coils charging before it fires.
The control booth of an Onager cannon.
A blueprint for the Onager.
List of appearances
- Halo: Reach (First appearance)
Sources
- ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 114
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 182
- ^ a b Bungie.net Halo: Reach game stats
- ^ a b c Halo: Reach, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn