Rocket Launcher
Sarna News
Description
Rocket Launchers fire a single-volley of inaccurate "dead-fire" missiles that lack on-board guidance. Despite their simple nature, their relatively light weight, compact size and low cost allows multiple launchers to replace a single large missile launcher or Autocannon, offering reasonable first strike ability. They have also been used on several battle armor designs, including the Trinity[1], Nephilim[2], and Asura.[3]
History
The weapon first appeared in recognizable form on Terra during the Terran Alliance collapse. These early Rocket Launchers were (from 31st Century prespective) considered primitive. Rocket Launchers were first fielded by warring Terran political factions trying gain control of the planet and the Alliance itself. After Admiral McKenna's coup, the weapon fell out of use and became exinct.[4]
In the early 29th Century, the warring Pentagon Powers of the former Star League in Exile also developed and used primitive rocket launcher systems.[5] They were identical to Terran Allaince's Primitive launchers.
The first modern version of the Rocket Launcher was developed by the Marian Hegemony in 3064[6] from Man-Portable Rocket Launchers as a simple and crude replacement for other weaponry types in the more low-tech regions of the Periphery. These weapons were largely forgotten until the modern systems were re-introduced by the Marian Hegemony, but the new version had an even worse guidance system than its predecessors.[7]
These weapons were soon fitted on BattleMechs, and by the Jihad would see wide spread use among the Inner Sphere powers.
Types of Launchers
Several types of Rocket Launcher systems exist. For specifics about a particular type, click on one of the links below:
Rocket Launcher round.
Battle Armor Rocket Launcher system.
References
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3075, pp. 26-27
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3075, pg. 38
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3075, pg. 20-21
- ↑ XTRO:Primitives Vol.1, p. 14 - Background information & specs for Primitive Rocket Launcher 15 matches Pentagon Powers version
- ↑ Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 157 "Prototype Pentagon Powers Systems"
- ↑ TechManual, p. 229
- ↑ Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 157 "Prototype Pentagon Powers Systems" - "Apply a -1 modifier to all rolls on the Cluster Hits Table, to a minimum modified result of 2."