Other Space Kaiden
Better than other-other space Kaiden
The Firestorm Plasma Railgun Battery
Basic Information
- Image Source: http://th07.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2014/125/b/d/multi_particle_wave_cannon_by_karanak-d7h824x.jpg
- Intent: To create a unique deck battery for use by the Imperial Remnant
- Development Thread: N/A
- Manufacturer: Reclaimer Arms & Industrial
- Model: Firestorm Series Deck Batteries
- Affiliation: Imperial Remnant
Production Information
- Modularity: N/A
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: Durasteel, weapon components
- Classification: Plasma Railgun
- Size: Ship Mounted
- Length: Barrel Lengths: 6 meters, System Length: 8 meters
- Weight: 12,424 Kilograms
- Ammunition Type: Energy Cell
- Ammunition Capacity: 1 Round per load
- Effective Range: Medium Range (50% of turbolasers)
- Rate of Fire: One-Shot Artillery Loader
- Special Features: Utilizes auto-loaders
Description
The Firestorm Deck Battery is a the spiritual successor to the Incinerator-Class Plasma Railgun, a weapon used aboard capital ships. Much like the Separatist Deck Gun this artillery piece is a manned cannon placed within broadside ports of a capital ship and manned by a single gunner. Also like the Deck Gun, this piece utilizes an auto-loader connected directly into the ship that allows a continuous feed of energy cells into weapon; replacing the used cell after every shot. This allows the system to fire at a highly increased rate than manually loaded artillery and allows it to pack the bigger punch it requires by using larger energy cells in its firing process.
Unlike its predecessor, this cannon does not properly utilize the range provided by railgun technology. Instead, this weapon focuses on using more powerful electromagnetic fields that last for shorter periods of time; thus trading the railguns advanced range for better use of its magnetic properties. This allows for the weapon to have increased shield penetration qualities than most railguns. This makes all the difference when one looks at the plasma rounds used by the weapon.
Much like the Incinerator, this weapon uses plasma rounds that are capable of burning out shields and searing though ship armor of all types. At medium range, this can be used to great effect by firing a barrage of rounds into a specific area of a ship. The combined effect of plasma burn and electromagnetic disruption will typically open up a small gap in the ships shields. If timed correctly, a clever captain can use this gap to fire salvos of missiles or turbolaser fire through the shields and into the enemy hull. However, at these ranges the guns lack the ability to punch through the shields themselves.
This changes at short ranges. When a capital ship places itself within the dangerous "knife-fight" range of combat, they open up the opportunity to use these guns to their maximum effectiveness. At close ranges, these batteries are able to punch holes straight though enemy shields. The holes will plug quickly behind them, but the plasma round itself will continue to travel straight to the enemy hull. Unlike turbofire, the plasma round does not cause instant and devastating damage to the enemy hull. Instead the plasma will break up on impact and continuously burn the hull in multiple places. The plasma will continue to burn for several minutes, cutting through armor and circuitry to weaken the hull and possibly destroy critical internal circuitry to weaken the ship for more powerful attacks.
This weapon, however, is plagued by power consumption and the lack of range that is capable with other railguns, mass-accelerator cannons or turbo lasers. The base power consumption of this weapon costs that of four turbolasers, the price paid for the ability to devastate shields as this weapon does.
Primary Source: N/A
