LB-X Autocannon
Sarna News
The LB-X Autocannon is an advanced variation of the standard Autocannon. Its most notable feature is its ability to fire cluster munitions.
Overview
Originally developed in 2595 by Lubalin Ballistics for the Terran Hegemony, the LB-X 10 Autocannon was a derivative of the standard and relatively primitive Autocannon/10 design used for centuries by every military in the Inner Sphere. Taking advantage of advanced materials such as Endo Steel, the company were able to reduce the weight of the weapon for only a slight increase in bulk and mated it with the advanced Mercury-VII targeting system to boost it's effective range. The most notable feature of the weapon was its ability to fire both standard HEAP rounds as well as a specialized anti-'Mech cluster round.
The cluster round fragmented in flight, peppering the target with submunitions. The cannon was able to punch through an opponent's armor with standard rounds, and then fire cluster rounds to increase the chance of getting a critical hit on an target's internal systems. The LB-X's 'shotgun' flak like effect also makes it an effective and deadly weapon against AeroSpace Fighters, VTOLs and Infantry.
Like many pieces of advanced technology, Lubalin Ballistics' unique autocannons became LosTech in 2840 during the maelstrom of the early Succession Wars. The Clans however retained the knowledge to produce the advanced materials the LB-X used and had adapted and expanded the technology to produce LB-X versions of all autocannon classes two decades earlier. Long noted for their affection for autocannons, thanks to the Helm Memory Core the Federated Suns regained the ability to produce the original LB-X 10 in 3035, and using this weapon and Clan-tech salvage were able to introduce Inner Sphere versions of the other LB-X classes in 3058.
LB-X autocannons cannot be combined with the special munitions developed by the AFFS or Ultra, Rotary, or Light Autocannons.
For specifics about a particular type, click on one of the links below:
Availability
- Capellan Confederaiion
- Draconis Combine
- Federated Suns
- Lyran Alliance
- Free Rasainague RepuNic
- Free Worfds League
- St. Ives Compact
- Word ot Blake
Manufacturers
- Capellan Confederation
- Bithmian Ballistics, Bithmia
- Federated Commonwealth/Steiner
- Defiance Industries of Hesperus II
- Free Worlds League
- Kali Yama/ Alphard Trading Corp., Kendali
- Quickscell Company, Kalidasa
References
- Technical Readout: 2750, pp. 8, 34
- Technical Readout: 3050, pp. 215-216
- TechManual, p. 207
- BattleTech Master Rules, p. 124