Gauss rifle
Sarna News
| |
| Gauss Rifle | |
| Production information | |
| Type | Ballistic (Direct-Fire) |
| Tech Base | Clan / Inner Sphere (IS) |
| Year Availability | Clan = 2590
IS = 3040 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Heat | 1 |
| Damage | 15 |
| Minimum Range | 2 |
| Short Range | 1-7 |
| Medium Range | 8-15 |
| Long Range | 16-22 |
| Tons | Clan = 12
IS = 15 |
| Critical Slots | Clan = 6
IS = 7 |
| Ammo Per Ton | 8 |
| Cost (unloaded) | 300,000 |
| Ammo Cost (per ton) | 20,000 |
| BV (1.0) | 321 |
| BV (2.0) | 320 |
Contents
Description
Introduced in 2590 by the Terran Hegemony[1], the Gauss Rifle utilizes a series of electromagnets to propel slugs of ferrous nickel-iron alloy at extremely high velocities[2], making it a devastating and lethal long-range weapon. Unlike most traditional ballistic weapons, the Gauss Rifle does not use combustible propellant, so its firing generates very little heat. However, the sheer mass and bulk of the weapon limits its applications.
Since the Gauss Rifle fires solid metal slugs, with neither propellant nor explosive, Gauss Rifle magazines are not susceptible to ammunition explosions. However, if the weapon itself is struck by enemy fire, the capacitors that power the electromagnets will release their stored energy, with an effect similar to an ammo explosion. (In game terms, a critical hit on a Gauss Rifle is equivalent to a 20-point ammo explosion.) Some 'Mechs employ CASE in the section containing the Gauss Rifle to protect internal components from the explosion of the weapon.
The Gauss Rifle was relatively common on heavier Star League Defense Force 'Mechs, but fell out of use in the Inner Sphere due to the technological decline of the Succession Wars. It was revived following the discovery of the Helm Memory Core. The Clans never lost the technology, and continued to refine the Star League-era weapon. Although the Clan Gauss Rifle similar in performance and operation to its Inner Sphere counterpart, it is 20% lighter and somewhat more compact.
Note: The original description of the Gauss Rifle that appeared in the first printing of Technical Readout: 2750 listed the ammunition weight as 10 shots per ton. This figure was later amended to eight shots per ton.
Models
The Gauss Rifle is manufactured on the following planets:
| Brand | Planet | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon's Fire | Atreus | Imperator Automatic Weaponry |
| Grizzard 200 | New Earth | Yankee Weapons Systems |
| Grizzard 210 | New Earth | Yankee Weapons Systems |
| Inokuma | Betelgeuse | Aldis Industries |
| Norse-Storm M-7D | Loxley | Norse-Storm Technologies Incorporated |
| Poland Main A | New Syrtis | Johnston Industries |
| Poland Main A | Hesperus II | Defiance Industries |
| Poland Main C | New Syrtis | Johnston Industries |
| Zeus Slingshot | Stewart | Corean Enterprises |
| Zhi-tong-yao | Victoria | Shengli Arms |