Difference between revisions of "Autocannon"

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An '''Autocannon''' is a type of rapid-firing, auto-loading direct-fire [[Dictionary#b|ballistic weapon]], firing HEAP (High-Explosive Armor-Piercing) rounds at targets either singly or in bursts.  
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An '''Autocannon''' is a type of rapid-firing, auto-loading direct-fire [[Dictionary#b|ballistic weapon]], firing HEAP (High-Explosive Armor-Piercing) rounds at targets in bursts. It is, basically, a giant "machine gun."
 
Among the earliest [[Combat Vehicle|tank]]/[[BattleMech]] scale weaponry produced, autocannons produce far less heat than [[Dictionary#E|energy weapons]], but are considerably bulkier and dependent upon limited stores of ammunition.  
 
Among the earliest [[Combat Vehicle|tank]]/[[BattleMech]] scale weaponry produced, autocannons produce far less heat than [[Dictionary#E|energy weapons]], but are considerably bulkier and dependent upon limited stores of ammunition.  
  

Revision as of 08:15, 19 February 2009

An Autocannon is a type of rapid-firing, auto-loading direct-fire ballistic weapon, firing HEAP (High-Explosive Armor-Piercing) rounds at targets in bursts. It is, basically, a giant "machine gun." Among the earliest tank/BattleMech scale weaponry produced, autocannons produce far less heat than energy weapons, but are considerably bulkier and dependent upon limited stores of ammunition.

Autocannons range in caliber from 30mm up to 120mm or larger, with the lower calibers having longer effective ranges than high calibers, and are grouped into four broad damage classes:

Beyond the "standard" models, variants include the shotgun-like LBX and quick-firing Ultra and Rotary, and captial ship scale models also exist.