Autocannon/10

Autocannon.jpg
Autocannon/10
Production information
Type Ballistic (direct fire)
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Year Availability 2443 (TH)[1]
Technical specifications
Heat 3[2]
Damage 10[2]
Minimum Range N/A
Short Range 1-5[2]
Medium Range 6-10[2]
Long Range 11-15[2]
Extreme Range 16-20[2]
Tons 12[2]
Critical Slots 7
Ammo Per Ton 10[2]
Cost (unloaded) 200,000 C-bills
Ammo Cost (per ton) 6,000 C-bills
BV (1.0) 124
BV (2.0) 123[3]
15 (Ammo)[3]



Description[edit]

The autocannon/10 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/10s causing more damage than lower-caliber versions, while retaining a moderate range.[4]

While not quite as deadly as an AC/20 when it came down to raw damage, a class-10 autocannon was potentially extremely dangerous to face when facing a MechWarrior or crew well-versed with the weapons system at its optimal ranges. The AC/10 was capable of stripping all the standard armor off the head of a 'Mech in a single shot, while also inflicting internal damage in the same hit. The AC/10 was also the smallest autocannon without a minimum range, making it very useful for brawler and juggernaut battlefield roles, augmenting the ability to project firepower all the way point-blank to the outer range bands.

History[edit]

The Terran Hegemony introduced a prototype AC/10 in 2445. It cost five times as much as a standard autocannon/10 would, jammed like an ultra autocannon, and only carried eight reloads per ton of ammunition.[5]

An autocannon/10 could use special munitions to increase its effectiveness.

Models[edit]

The autocannon/10 was manufactured on the following planets:

Armstrong Buster[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Andoran Industries Ltd. Armstrong Industries Clint prototype [6]

Federated Autocannon[edit]

An excellent large-caliber model, equipped with a cooling jacket capable of doubling as a protective sleeve for use in hand-to-hand combat. While one ton of ammunition only allowed for ten rounds total, the rounds were stored in an equivalent number of big clips easy to eject and reload.[7]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
New Avalon Achernar BattleMechs Enforcer [8]

Federated Autoloader/10-B[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Torrence Federated Industries T-12 Tiger Medium Tank [9]

Ceres Arms Model T[edit]

The Model T was noted as a venerable weapon, with an excellent combat record.[10][11][12]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Menke, St. Ives Ceres Metals Industries Po Heavy Tank [10][11][12]

Defiance Blaster Type F[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Donegal Lockheed-CBM Corporation Typhoon [13]

Defiance Killer Type T[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Hesperus II Defiance Industries Hatchetman [14]
Hesperus II Defiance Industries Patton [15]

Imperator-B[edit]

Fired a 10-shot burst.[16]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Betelgeuse Hellespont Industrials UrbanMech [17]
Loyalty Kallon Industries Kuan Ti [18]
Hesperus II Defiance Industries Banshee [19]
Tikonov Earthwerks Incorporated Koschei [20]

Imperator-X[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Andurien Andurien AeroTech Deathstalker [21]

KaliYama Class 10 Autocannon[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Kalidasa, Kendall Kali Yama Weapons Industries Incorporated Orion [22][23]

Luxor D-Series[edit]

The Luxor was known for having ammunition feed issues and for firing 80mm shells.[24]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
New Avalon Corean Enterprises Centurion [25]

Mydron Excel[edit]

Note: Inexplicably, this model shares the same name with the LB-10X AC and is thus far the only example found. It may have been mistaken for a Mydron Model B.

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Kathil General Motors Morningstar [26]
Tikonov Ceres Metals Industries Morningstar [26]

Mydron Model B[edit]

The Model B had a caliber of eighty millimeters.[27][28]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Gulkana Yeffters Weapons Factory Blade [29]
New Earth Bergan Industries Champion [30]
Corey Hollis Incorporated Highlander [31]
Tharkad TharHes Industries Bushwacker [32]
Panpour Jalastar Aerospace Meteor [33]

Pontiac 50[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Sterope Sterope Defense Industries Hatchetman [34]
Alphard Marian Arms Incorporated Gladius [35]

SarLon MaxiCannon[edit]

The autoloader of the SarLon MaxiCannon was very similar to that of the much larger ChemJet Gun 185mm.[36][37]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Talon Earthwerks Incorporated Cataphract [38]
Terra Aldis Industries Behemoth [39]
New Samarkand New Samarkand Metals Behemoth [40]
Betelgeuse Aldis Industries Behemoth, Zhukov [41][42]

Western Heavy[edit]

Long praised by Taurian Concordat armor crews for its accuracy and potency, by the Reunification War the Western Heavy was considered a proven and dependable weapon.[43]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
New Vandenberg Vandenberg MilTech Talos [43]

Zeus 56 Mark IV[edit]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Dover Wakazashi Enterprises Slayer [44][45]

Notes[edit]

  • This article refers to a common object and addresses the object as a common noun. The preferred term is "autocannon/10" (except on section titles & table headings, where "Autocannon/10" is favored).

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. 341: "Inner Sphere Heavy Weapons and Equipment Table"
  3. 3.0 3.1 TechManual, p. 317: "Inner Sphere Weapons and Equipment BV Table"
  4. TechManual, p. 207: "Autocannons"
  5. Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 4, p. 16
  6. Technical Readout: 3025, p. 38
  7. Technical Readout: 3025, p. 56
  8. Technical Readout: 3025, p. 57
  9. Historical: Reunification War, p. 211: "T-12 Tiger Medium Tank"
  10. 10.0 10.1 McCarron's Armored Cavalry, p. 22: "Po Medium Tank"
  11. 11.0 11.1 Technical Readout: 3058, p. 56: "Po Heavy Tank"
  12. 12.0 12.1 Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 100: "Po Heavy Tank"
  13. Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 102
  14. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 123
  15. Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 138
  16. Warrior: En Garde, ch. 55
  17. Objectives: Capellan Confederation, p. 16
  18. Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 23
  19. Technical Readout: Succession Wars, p. 176
  20. Technical Readout: 3075, p. 244
  21. Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 100
  22. Handbook: House Marik, p. 115
  23. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 152
  24. Ghost of Winter, ch. 1
  25. Technical Readout: 3025, p. 55
  26. 26.0 26.1 Technical Readout: 3067, p. 18
  27. Flashpoint, ch. 5
  28. Trial Under Fire, ch. 1
  29. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge, p. 97
  30. Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 70
  31. Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 115
  32. Technical Readout: 3058, p. 114
  33. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 182
  34. Objectives: Periphery, p. 9
  35. Technical Readout: 3060 Revised, p. 20
  36. Technical Readout: 3058, p. 68: "Zhukov"
  37. Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 110: "Zhukov"
  38. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 232
  39. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 96
  40. Objective Raids, p. 109
  41. Technical Readout: 3026, p. 84
  42. Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 111
  43. 43.0 43.1 Historical: Reunification War, pp. 207–208: "TLS-1B Talos"
  44. Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 168
  45. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 214

Bibliography[edit]