Particle Projector Cannon

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Inverted PPC.jpg
PPC
Production information
Type Energy (Direct Fire)
Tech Base Inner Sphere (IS)
Year Availability 2460 TH
Year Introduced 2460 TH
Year Extinction N/A
Year Reintroduced N/A
Technology Rating (Choose One A - F)
Availability Rating (Choose One A - F, X)
Availability Ratings (Choose One A - F, X)/(Choose One A - F, X)/(Choose One A - F, X)
Legality Rating (Choose One A - F)
Technical specifications
Heat 10
Damage 10
Minimum Range 3
Short Range 1-6
Medium Range 7-12
Long Range 13-18
Tons 7
Critical Slots 3
Ammo Per Ton N/A
Cost (unloaded) 200,000[1]
Ammo Cost (per ton) N/A
BV (1.0) 176
BV (2.0) 176[2]



Description

The Particle Projector Cannon (or PPC) is an energy weapon, firing a concentrated stream of protons or ions at a target, with damage resulting from both thermal and kinetic energy.[3] Despite being an energy weapon, it produces recoil. The lethality of the weapon rivals that of higher-caliber autocannons; just three shots from a PPC will vaporize nearly two tons of standard military-grade armor.[4] Targets hit by multiple, simultaneous PPCs can also suffer electrical side-effects, such as overloaded computer systems or targeting sensors.[5] The ion beam also extends to much farther ranges than autocannon fire, though PPCs generate large amounts of waste heat.

PPCs are equipped with a Field Inhibitor to prevent feedback which could damage the firing unit's electronic systems.[6] This inhibitor degrades the performance of the weapon at close ranges of less than 90 meters. Particularly daring warriors have been known to disengage the inhibitor and risk damage to their own machine when a target is at close range.

Models

The PPC is manufactured on the following planets:

Brand Planet Company
Ceres Arms Smasher Capella Ceres Metals Industries
Ceres Arms Smasher St. Ives Ceres Metals Industries
Donal Arc-Royal TharHes Industries
Donal Sterope Sterope Defense Industries
Donal Terra Pandora 'Mech Works
Donal Terra Skobel MechWorks
Donal Twycross Trellshire Heavy Industries
Johnston Parti-Cannon New Syrtis Johnston Industries
Kinslaughter Mars Krupp Stellar Technologies Inc.
Lord's Light Tok Do? Alshain Weapons
Magna Hellstar Betelgeuse Aldis Industries
Magna Hellstar New Samarkand New Samarkand Metals
Magna Hellstar Taurus Magna Metals Inc
Magna Hellstar Terra Aldis Industries
Parti-Kill Heavy Dunianshire Majesty Metals and Manufacturing
Parti-Kill Heavy Cannon Dunianshire Canopus Industries Alpha
Parti-Kill Heavy Cannon New Earth New Earth Trading Company
PDVR Piledriver Model 11-D Tharkad Bauer Enterprises
Starcutter Nirasaki New Age Systems Incorporated
Stolz Harbinger 2 Wotan Krauss-Liemann Incorporated
Tiegart Al Na'ir Yori 'Mech Works
Tiegart Nirasaki Maltex Corporation

Tiegart

Fluff needed.

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Hatamoto-Chi [7]
A PPC being fired by a Timber Wolf; notice the characteristic helix around the stream of particles


Variants

  • Prototype
    The Mackie used an older prototype for the Particle Projector Cannon, seeing as it was equipped with one before the weapon is even introduced. According to the rules in Interstellar Operations regarding prototype energy weapons, the primary difference between the prototype and the mass production models is a considerably increased heat output (around 50% higher). [8]
    Improved PPC
    Developed by the Clans shortly after the Exodus, the only differences between the Improved PPC and a normal PPC would be that the mass is only 6000 kilograms, and that the weapon only occupies 2 Critical Slots. All other performance characteristics remain same, and it would go on to become obsolete when the Clans perfected the ER-PPC. This weapon was also described in Interstellar Operations.[9]
    Light and Heavy PPCs
    Developed by the Draconis Combine in 3067, the Light model significantly cut down on the size and weight of the weapon at the expense of damage output, and the Heavy model increased the damage output at the expense of increased heat and mass.
    Snub-Nose PPC
    By modifying the PPC to have a much shorter barrel and plasma focus, the Snub-Nose PPC sacrifices its maximum effective range (especially since damage starts to drop significantly as distance increases), but makes up for it by lacking a minimum range and being much better suited for close-quarters engagements. Additionally, it is actually easier for some mechs to carry these things when a regular PPC wouldn't fit.
    ER PPC
    The Extended Range Particle Projector Cannon has a much further maximum range than its ancestor, along with the additional benefit of not having a minimum range. The downside to this, however, is the increased heat output. Though the weapon became Lostech for use in the Inner Sphere, the Clans never lost the technology, and managed to make improvements.

See Also

  • The PPC Capacitor
    This piece of equipment can be added to PPCs in order to increase the damage output, but on top of being slow to charge, this capacitor is prone to causing explosions. Some mechs that are desperate to save weight will drop their full-sized PPC for a Light PPC and an added Capacitor.
    BSPFD (Blue Shield Particle Field Dampener)
    A system that was developed in order to reduce the damage output from incoming PPCs, the BSPFD isn't useful for much else and can occupy vital space in a mech.

References

  1. TechManual p. 289
  2. TechManual, p. 317, "Inner Sphere Weapons and Equipment BV Table"
  3. TechManual, p. 233, "Particle Projector Cannon (PPC)"
  4. TechManual p. 234
  5. Technical Readout: 3050 Revised, Burke combat vehicle
  6. TechManual p. 233
  7. Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 89
  8. Interstellar Operations, pages 120-124, "Primitive Units and RetroTech"
  9. Interstellar Operations, pages 95-97, "Early Clan Improved Equipment"

Bibliography