Autocannon/20

< Autocannon(Redirected from AC/20)
Autocannon.jpg
Autocannon/20
Production information
Type ballistic (direct fire)
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Year Availability 2490 (LC)[1]
Technical specifications
Heat 7[2]
Damage 20[2]
Minimum Range N/A
Short Range 1-3[2]
Medium Range 4-6[2]
Long Range 7-9[2]
Tons 14[2]
Critical Slots 10
Ammo Per Ton 5[2]
Cost (unloaded) 300,000 C-bills
Ammo Cost (per ton) 10,000 C-bills
BV (1.0) 178
BV (2.0) 178[3]
22 (Ammo)[3]

Description[edit]

The autocannon/20 was a direct-fire ballistic weapon, firing HEAP (High-Explosive Armor-Piercing) rounds at targets either singly or in bursts.

Different manufacturers and models of autocannons had different calibers (25 mm–203 mm) and rates of fire. Due to this, autocannons were grouped into generic "classes" of similar common damage ratings, with autocannon/20s doing massive damage while having very short range.[2]

This autocannon class could decapitate any 'Mech with one good hit to the head, regardless of the weight class, as that location could not mount little more than half a ton's worth of standard armor. The AC/20 was capable of ripping nearly a ton and a quarter of armor off a 'Mech in any given volley (or shot, based on the model). This was enough damage to take down even the heaviest of 'Mechs, if aimed well. Only hardened armor or ballistic-reinforced armor could save a MechWarrior from a hit from this class of cannon to the head.

As an example of the rating system, the Crusher Super Heavy Cannon was a 150 mm weapon firing a ten-round cassette in a ten-second period, while the ChemJet Gun was a 185 mm weapon firing a four-round cassette in the same period. As both weapons were capable of firing 200 kilograms of ammunition in a 10-second period, at an effective range of just under 300 meters, they were both classified as autocannon/20s.[4]

Ammunition[edit]

A standard AC/20 could fire multiple types of ammunition, most of which were developed by the Federated Commonwealth in order to make their large supply of standard autocannon more useful in the age of ultra and LB-X autocannon.[5]

Models[edit]

The autocannon/20 was manufactured on the following planets:

Armstrong[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Bryant HartfordCo Industries Von Luckner [6]

ChemJet Gun 185mm[edit]

The titanic 185 mm ChemJet Gun used a popular propellant system that mixed two chemicals in suspension, to propel its four-round bursts from the barrel. This produced an enormous amount of heat, to the point that, on the Mk I model of the Demolisher tank, the crews had to wear special coolant suits; the later Mk II version solved this problem by channeling most of the ejection gases through the barrels.[7][4]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Betelgeuse Aldis Industries Demolisher [7]
New Samarkand New Samarkand Metals Demolisher [7]
Terra Aldis Industries Demolisher [7]

Crusher SH Cannon[edit]

Mounted on the Quikscell Hetzer combat vehicle, this weapon fired shells in the 150 mm range in ten-shot bursts.[8][9][4]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Indicass Ceres Metals Industries Hetzer [10]
Kalidasa, Layover Quikscell Company Hetzer [11]
Alshain Quikscell Company Hetzer [12]

Deathgiver[edit]

The Deathgiver was known to fire 12 cm (120 mm) rounds.[13]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Mars, Northwind Cosara Weaponries King Crab [14]

Defiance Killer Type T[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Hesperus II Defiance Industries Rommel [15]
Terra Mitchell Vehicles Shootist [16]

Defiance 'Mech Hunter[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Hesperus II Defiance Industries Atlas [17]
Al Na'ir Yori 'Mech Works Atlas [17]
Quentin Independence Weaponry Atlas [17]
Hesperus II Defiance Industries Rommel [18]

Imperator-D[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Mars Northwind Cosara Weaponries King Crab [19]

Imperator Zeta-A[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Atreus Imperator Automatic Weaponry Riever [20]

Kali Yama Big Bore[edit]

The Kali Yama Big Bore was an autocannon/20 model manufactured in the Free Worlds League and exported to the Capellan Confederation.

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Kalidasa Kali Yama Weapons Industries Incorporated Hunchback, Thunder [21][22][23][24]

Luxor-20 Series[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Bug-Eye [25]

Luxor Devastator-20[edit]

Examples of the 120 mm[26] Luxor Devastator-20 gained a reputation being extremely prone to jamming on the early test models of the AXM-1N Axman; the designers ultimately came up with an alternate LRM-15-armed AXM-2N variant.[27][28][29]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
New Syrtis Johnston Industries Axman [27][30]
Furillo Defiance Industries Axman [31]
Panpour Jalastar Aerospace Typhoon [32]

Luxor Heavy[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Sarna St. Ives Tengo Aerospace Lightning [33]
Texlos HildCo Lightning [33]
Tharkad Lockheed/CBM Lightning [33]
Ramora United Outworlders Corporation Lightning [33]

Mydron A[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Bithinia Bithinian Ballistics UrbanMech Trashcan [34]
Gulkana Yeffters Weapons Factory Lightning [35]

Pontiac 100[edit]

The Pontiac 100 was famously known for its massive firepower, but some models occasionally displayed ammunition feed problems when mounted to the Victor BattleMech.[36][37][38][39]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Sterope Sterope Defense Industries Victor [36][37][38][39]
St. Ives HildCo Interplanetary Victor [40][41]

RNG Ranger[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Tharkad Bauer Enterprises Rapier [42]

Scarborough Original 20[edit]

Originally developed by Scarborough Limited, though the Scarborough Original 20 autocannon did experience some initial developmental problems, the resulting weapon was equivalent to 200 mm autocannons produced by other companies in the massive amount of damage it inflicted.[43][44]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Al Na'ir Scarborough Manufacturers Saladin [45]

Tomodzuru[edit]

The Tomodzuru-series has a massive 200 mm barrel.[46] The Komiyaba/Nissan General Industries facilities on Kagoshima were destroyed sometime during the Succession Wars, sometime between 3025 and 3039, as the corporation is listed as the Hunchback's primary manufacturer in 3025.[21][47]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Kagoshima Komiyaba/Nissan General Industries Hunchback [47][48]
Capella Mujika Aerospace Technologies Transit [49]

Zeus-36, Mark III[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Caph Stormvanger Assemblies, Unlimited Cyclops [50][51]

Zeus-75 Mark IX[edit]

The mammoth Zeus-75 fired a four-round burst of hypervelocity depleted uranium armor penetrators (HDUAP), capable of destroying most 'Mechs up to 70 tons in a single salvo.[52][53]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Gorton, Kingsley, and Thorpe Enterprises Rasalhague MechBuster [52][53][54]

See Also[edit]

  • Caseless autocannon/20: A smaller and lighter version of the autocannon/20 specifically designed to use caseless ammunition, it had twice the ammunition capacity per given mass, along with a size and weight profile just slightly larger than the autocannon/10. However, it had one critical design flaw that led to it being phased out in favor of a more modern variant of caseless munitions; though these newer munitions were not as lightweight as their counterparts, they could be used with a simple modification to existing autocannons and was far less prone to explosions in the event of a weapon jam.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Interstellar Operations, p. 118: "Prototype Dates For Basic Weapons Table"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 TechManual, p. 207
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 TechManual, p. 317, "Inner Sphere Weapons and Equipment BV Table"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Era Report: 3052, p. 98, "Regarding Military Technology Classification"
  5. ↑ TechManual, p. 208, "Autocannon Munitions"
  6. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 140
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 86, "Demolisher Heavy Tank
  8. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, 46
  9. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, 56
  10. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026, p. 42
  11. ↑ Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 34
  12. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 48
  13. ↑ Storms of Fate, ch. 25
  14. ↑ Technical Readout: 2750, pp. 54–55
  15. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 139
  16. ↑ Technical Readout: 3058, p. 129
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Technical Readout: Succession Wars, p. 180
  18. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 138
  19. ↑ Technical Readout: Succession Wars, p. 184
  20. ↑ Objective Raids, p. 120
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Technical Readout: 3039, p.136: "HBK-4G Hunchback"
  22. ↑ Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 58: "HBK-5M Hunchback"
  23. ↑ Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, p. 58: "THR-1L Thunder"
  24. ↑ Objective Raids, p. 128: "Produced Kali Yama Weapons Components"
  25. ↑ Technical Readout: 2750, pp. 124–125: "Bug-Eye Ship Profile"
  26. ↑ Storms of Fate, ch. 11
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Technical Readout: 3050, p. 152: "AXM-1N Axman"
  28. ↑ First Somerset Strikers, p. 73: "AXM-2N Axman"
  29. ↑ BattleTech Compendium: The Rules of Warfare, p. 127: "AXM-2N Axman"
  30. ↑ Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 70: "Axman"
  31. ↑ Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, p. 144
  32. ↑ Technical Readout: 3058, p. 82
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 Technical Readout: 3075, p. 250
  34. ↑ Objective Raids, p. 142
  35. ↑ Objective Raids, p. 94
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 159
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Technical Readout: 3025, p. 110
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 104
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Technical Readout: Succession Wars, p. 154
  40. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025, p. 111
  41. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 104
  42. ↑ Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 244
  43. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026, pp. 32–33, "Saladin Assault Hover Tank"
  44. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, pp. 36–37, "Saladin Assault Hover Tank"
  45. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 36
  46. ↑ Godfather
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Technical Readout: 3025, p. 59
  48. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 60
  49. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 158
  50. ↑ Technical Readout: Succession Wars, p. 168
  51. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 112
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Technical Readout: 3026, p. 46, "MechBuster Fighter"
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 50, "MechBuster"
  54. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 184: "MechBuster"

Bibliography[edit]

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