Autocannon/10
Sarna News
| Autocannon/10 | |
| Production information | |
| Type | Ballistic (Direct Fire) |
| Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
| Year Availability | 2460 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Heat | 3 |
| Damage | 10 |
| Minimum Range | N/A |
| Short Range | 1-5 |
| Medium Range | 6-10 |
| Long Range | 11-15 |
| Extreme Range | 16-20 |
| Tons | 12 |
| Critical Slots | 7 |
| Ammo Per Ton | 10 |
| Cost (unloaded) | 200,000 |
| Ammo Cost (per ton) | 6,000 |
| BV (1.0) | 124 |
| BV (2.0) | 123 |
The Autocannon is 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 have different calibers (25mm-203mm) and rates of fire. Due to this, autocannons are grouped into generic "classes" of autocannons with common damage ratings, with Autocannon/10s causing more damage than lower-caliber autocannons while retaining a moderate range.
An example of the rating system: the Crusher Super Heavy Cannon is a 150mm weapon firing ten shells per "shot", while the Chemjet Gun is a 185mm weapon firing much slower, but causing higher damage. Despite their differences, both are classified as Autocannon/20s due to their damage output.
Regarding the in-game function of standard 2, 5, 10, and 20 ACs: compared to the alternatives, ACs are a poor alternative to missiles and lasers, even taking heat into account. Consider the Large Laser versus the AC/10. The AC/10 gives you a better heat to damage ratio, but at what cost? 12 tons plus at least one more ton of ammunition. If you invested a total of 12 tons into a Large Laser, you spend 5 for the laser, and 7 for heat sinks. That amounts to 8 damage and 1 heat at the same range, with fewer critical slots taken up. On top of that, the Large Laser costs half the C-Bills of an AC/10. Apply this same critique to all ACs and you will quickly find that you are much better off going with the alternative weapons. PLEASE NOTE: this may or may not apply to more up-to-date ACs.
Models
The Autocannon/10 is manufactured on the following planets:
| Brand | Planet | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Ceres Arms T | Menke | Ceres Metals Industries |
| Defiance Killer Type T | Hesperus II | Defiance Industries |
| Mydron B | Gulkana | Yeffters Weapons Factory |
| SarLon MaxiCannon | Betelgeuse | Aldis Industries |
| SarLon MaxiCannon | New Samarkand | New Samarkand Metals |
| SarLon MaxiCannon | Terra | Aldis Industries |