Shea'p-pattern plasma cannon
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Shea'p-pattern Sweeping Turret | |
---|---|
Production overview | |
Manufacturer: |
|
Type: |
|
Specifications | |
Length: |
|
Ammunition type: |
|
Feed system: |
|
Automatic[1] | |
Service history | |
In service: |
|
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 She'ap is the largest model of plasma cannon in service, with a bulk and length surpassing the Shepsu-pattern and Pek-patterns 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.[4] Unlike the ornate Covenant-era turrets, the She'ap 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 She'ap 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 She'ap 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 She'ap 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] She'ap-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 She'ap 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 She'ap) 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 She'ap-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 She'ap 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. 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 She'ap-pattern plasma cannons
- Ekesan-pattern Umbra - 1x She'ap-pattern plasma cannon
Gallery
Browse more images in this article's gallery page. |
Render of an attached plasma cannon in Halo 5: Guardians.
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.
Jameson Locke wielding a plasma cannon during the Battle of Nuusra.
A Spartan-IV wielding a plasma cannon on Raid on Apex 7.
Concept art of Robert-025 using a Type-58 plasma cannon for Halo Wars 2.
List of appearances
- Halo 5: Guardians (First appearance)
- Halo Infinite
Sources