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| “ | The Plasma Turret is a mounted infantry support weapon that can unleash sustained volleys of firepower to deterring all but the most determined assault. The cannon has effectively unlimited energy charge while connected to the generator base.[4] | ” |
The Shea'p-pattern Sweeping Turret[2][3] (UNSC Type classification: Type-58 Directed Energy Support Weapon, T-58 DESW)[1] is a light plasma cannon manufactured by Achoem Weapons. It is a staple weapon in the armouries of several ex-Covenant successor organisations active during the post-war conflicts, including the Swords of Sanghelios, Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, and the Banished.
Overview
Design details
The Shea'p is the largest model of plasma cannon in service, with a bulk and length surpassing the Shepsu-pattern plasma cannon and Pek-pattern plasma cannons favoured by the now-defunct Covenant empire.[2] The cannon consists of a small, circular, base mount with a single bracket on which the turret is mounted, with the bracket terminating in a short anti-gravity generator to keep the cannon held in place. The turret is rounded in nature, and lacks the energy shields characteristic of the Pek-pattern.[5] Unlike the ornate Covenant-era turrets, the Shea'p is regarded for its rugged simplicity and ease-of-manufacture - a key trait stemming from its origins as a Sangheili design rather than one built by the San'Shyuum. However, they are temperamental - an aspect only overlooked due to the necessity to press all available weaponry into service.[1][2]
One of the most stark contrasts of the Shea'p when compared to its forebears is its weight; one key feature of the Shepsu-pattern cannon was its extraordinarily light weight thanks to Forerunner technology present within the design. Without access to this level of technology, the Shea'p has a significantly higher weight which can make it heavy and cumbersome to use by non-Sangheili operators.[2] Despite this, they are popular within the Banished due to being viewed as self-contained and easily portable for use by infantry forces.[3]
As with most plasma cannons, the weapon has an internal generator mounted in the base that can power the weapon for an extended period of time before needing to recharge - in battlefield contexts, a mounted Shea'p cannon can fire an effectively unlimited amount of superheated plasma. When detached from its base, the ammunition capacity is limited to only 200 shots.[2] Shea'p-pattern weapons modified by the Banished have been modified to have better compatibility with the more simplified power sources available to the Banished; however, these modifications allow the weapon to fire 255 shots when removed from its mount.[3]
Development history
The Shea'p was designed by Achoem Weapons following the collapse of the Covenant into internal civil war in 2552. They were sold to all sides of the Blooding Years; a post-Covenant conflict which pitted numerous Sangheili successor states against one another with two of the most prominent being the Swords of Sanghelios and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. As such, it was not uncommon for both sides of the conflict to use the same weapons (including the Shea'p) against one another in the same battles. Thanks to the Covenant's fall, Achoem were able to design the cannon with many of the San'Shyuum bureaucratic restrictions removed, allowing for a design that forgoes most of the Covenant's ornate detailing for a simpler design.[1][2]
Many Shea'p-pattern cannons have also filtered their way into usage by the Banished, stolen thanks to various raids on Sangheili armouries or sold by illicit arms traders. These variants remain mostly the same as their factory-issued counterparts, save for modifications to the power generators for compatibility with the Banished logistics network.[3]
Usage
The Shea'p can be used in many battlefield contexts, most commonly as a fixed emplacement to guard a chokepoint or valuable installation. They can be ripped off their mounts by a sufficiently strong operator to be used as a portable high-power cannon with a much more limited ammunition pool. Within the Banished, the detached plasma cannon is favored by Jiralhanae Chieftains. Outside of these contexts, they can be used as an anti-personnel turret on several ground and air vehicles, including the following;
- Phantom dropships - 2x Shea'p-pattern plasma cannons
- Ekesan-pattern Umbra - 1x Shea'p-pattern plasma cannon
In-game information
Halo 5: Guardians
The Shea'p was first introduced in Halo 5: Guardians as a replacement for the Pek-pattern plasma cannon design previously used between Halo 3 and Halo 2: Anniversary. Mechanically, it acts as a support weapon in a similar capacity to the previous design. In Warzone, the Plasma Turret REQ card is a Rare 
energy Power Weapon REQ worth 
100 when sold.
Halo Infinite
The Shea'p is a fully automatic plasma turret with a high rate of fire. As with many turreted weapons, it can be detached from its base to be fired from the hip, though the weapon is left with a limited energy charge. Additionally, once it is detached, unlike its human counterpart, which does not overheat in any situation, the detached plasma cannon overheats after firing 13% of its reserve energy; though it can be vented at any point after sustained volleys. The mounted plasma cannon is also employed as the side turrets on the Phantoms, while the detached turret is typically wielded by Jiralhanae Chieftains.[6]
Production notes
A piece of early concept art for Halo Wars 2 depicted Robert-025 using a Shea'p-pattern plasma cannon, though in the finalized in-game model and Blitz card art, he uses the Pek-pattern plasma cannon.
Gallery
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Browse more images in this article's gallery page. |
Halo 5: Guardians
The Plasma Turret REQ card.
Concept for a Covenant deployable lookout tower, with additional concept sketches of the Shea'p-pattern.
Profile view of the plasma cannon on its base.
Various view of the attached plasma cannon.
Render of an attached plasma cannon.
Edward Buck using an attached plasma cannon during the Battle of Kamchatka.
Third-person view of Frederic-104 using an attached plasma cannon in the Halo 5: Guardians campaign.
Third-person view of Fred-104 using a detached plasma cannon in the Halo 5: Guardians campaign.
Fred-104 holding a detached plasma cannon on Genesis.
Jameson Locke wielding a plasma cannon during the Battle of Nuusra.
Third-person view of using a plasma cannon.
Third-person view of a detached plasma cannon.
A Spartan-IV wielding a plasma cannon on Raid on Apex 7.
Halo Infinite
The Shea'p-pattern plasma cannon at a Banished outpost.
HUD for the plasma cannon.
An Unggoy Conscript manning the plasma cannon on the Phantom.
A Chieftain carrying the plasma cannon.
Balkarus charging at an enemy with the plasma cannon.
List of appearances
- Halo 5: Guardians (First appearance)
- Halo Infinite
Sources
- ^ a b c d e f g h Halo Waypoint, Plasma Cannon (Retrieved on Apr 13, 2016) [archive]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 300
- ^ a b c d e f g Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 481
- ^ Halo Infinite, Forge - Plasma Cannon Turret description: "The Plasma Turret is a mounted infantry support weapon that can unleash sustained volleys of firepower to deterring all but the most determined assault. The cannon has effectively unlimited energy charge while connected to the generator base."
- ^ Halo 5: Guardians, Plasma Cannon in-game weapon
- ^ Halo Infinite, Plasma Cannon in-game weapon