Approved Tech M58 Kinetic Autocannon

[Amelia von Sorenn]

Out of Character Information​

	Intent:		A heavy weapon for use by the Hellknights
	Image Source:		Not Applicable
	Canon Link:		Mass-Driver Cannon
			Percussion Cannon
			Percussion Repeater Cannon
	Permissions:		Not Applicable
	Primary Source:		M/40 Automatic Cannon
			Autocannon

Production Information​

	Manufacturer:		The Hellforge
	Affiliation:		The Confederacy of Independent Systems; The Hellknight Corps
	Model:		M58-K/Ac
	Modularity:		No
	Production:		Limited

Materials​

Durasteel

Alusteel

Titanium

Quadranium

Slugthrower Components

Technical Information​

	Classification:		Autocannon / Slugthrower / Emplacement Weapon
	Size:		Very Large
	Weight:		Very Heavy
	Ammunition Type:		20mm Solid Slug
	Ammunition Capacity:		(30) Round Drum Magazine or (300) Round Belt-Feed
	Effective Range:		Average
	Rate of Fire:		Average
	Stopping Power:		High
	Recoil:		High

Special Features​

Long-Recoil Operation

Munitions Canisters

Flexible Munitions Belt-Feeder

Mounting Fixtures

Safe Target System

Detachable Wheel Carriage

Strengths​

Emplacement Weapon - The weapon proves its worth in salt when it is set up as an emplacement weapon. With the stable footing provided by being emplaced - the recoil of the weapon is much more efficiently utilized to cycle the weapon during its reloading processes. Thus while in many cases, the high recoil that the weapon experiences is a boon when in other weaponry it could be seen as a problematic weakness.

Less Prone to Overheating - With an exposed barrel and fewer moving parts to reduce the friction experienced by the weapon when fired, the weapon is less likely to overheat than other similar slugthrower weaponry. This allows it to be fired for longer periods of time, more often, without the worry of the barrel overheating or a round misfiring in the chamber - however; the weapon still has the potential of overheating if one does not carefully monitor its firing.

Safe Target System - Much like the systems installed in the M58-A Kinetic Rifle series; the M58 Kinetic Autocannon is outfitted with a Safe Target System - the system itself is meant to ensure a decrease in friendly fire incidents. Utilizing the IFF circuitry that is present in many of the armors utilized by the Hellknight Corps - the system locks the trigger momentarily when pointed at or in the direction of a friendly that is deemed to be 'at-risk'. This system only unlocks the trigger when the friendly element is no longer deemed 'at-risk'.

Reliability - Like the smaller M58-A Kinetic Rifle series, the M58 Kinetic Autocannon is known for its reliability in terms of it being capable of operating with little to no problems after being exposed to such elements as storms, mud, sand, and a number of other geological or geographical locations that would otherwise render similar weapons inoperable. This makes them much more suited for certain environments - specifically those that render the use of more 'advanced' technologies, such as blasters, inert.

High Stopping Power - The weapon's slugs are known to hit like a mule, often being more than enough to cause lighter armored vehicles to pause while putting sizeable dents and divots into some of the heavier armored vehicles. It even has the potential to cause light infantry - and some heavier infantry - to stop their advanced when properly emplaced.

Detachable Wheel Carriage - Though intended to be set up as an emplacement weapon - or installed on a vehicle - the weapon comes with a detachable wheel carriage. This carriage can be utilized to move the weapon from emplacement to emplacement, or to fire and move the weapon as needed depending on the situation. However, if the carriage were to be damaged, moving the weapon would become rather difficult, potentially rendering it inoperable or immovable.

Weaknesses​

Emplaced Weapon - Though the weapon is often attached to a wheeled carriage; once it has been emplaced, it can be time-consuming to fully uproot and move the weapon due in part to the sheer size and weight of the weapon.

Belt-Feed Jam - When attached to a belt-feed, the weapon has been known to jam at inopportune moments, often causing it to be inoperable until the jam has been dealt with. Another problem is that these jams have the potential to result in the misfire of a slug within the belt, which can either damage the weapon or injure the operator.

Two-Man Team - In order to maintain peak efficiency and performance of the weapon, it requires two individuals to properly operate. One individual to fire the weapon, and one individual to reload or assist in feeding the munitions belt.

Munition Dependency - While other, more 'advanced' emplacement weapons are often attached to a mobile power generator - the Kinetic Autocannon is dependent on having an ample supply of munitions nearby to ensure that it can continue to fire.

Safe Target System - What the system deems to be 'at-risk' can often lead to the trigger mechanism being locked at inopportune moments - such as in those instances when it detects a friendly on the other side of a hostile target. Often this causes the system to require that a larger target is between the weapon and the friendly target, such as a building, large vehicle, or even a sizeable geographical feature before the trigger is unlocked and the operator permitted to fire the weapon again.

Cumbersome - Even while utilizing the assisted-power servos of the armor often used by the Hellknights, these weapons are too cumbersome to pick up and fire on their own. This also adds to the fact that they can be difficult to fully uproot and move at the drop of the hat. Their size - and often their placement - also prevents from a full range of motion, usually limiting the weapon in a 180-degree arch once emplaced (or a 90-degree arch if set up in a more confined space).

Description​

The M58 Kinetic Autocannon - frequently shortened to 'Autocannon' - is arguably a scaled-up version of the smaller M58-A Kinetic Rifle and M58-A Heavy Kinetic Rifle. The weapon was designed to be a dedicated emplacement weapon, though is known to be attached to a detachable wheel carriage for ease of transportation. However, once the weapon is emplaced in a location, they are often very difficult - as the process is time-consuming - to uninstall and move to a new location. For this reason, they are usually kept attached to the wheel carriage in those instances when they are required to be more rapidly moved in a theater of operation. Their size and weight make them much more cumbersome than their smaller counterparts - with even those wearing the power-assisted armor still having difficulty in moving the weapon without the assistance of their wheel carriage. Though it is capable of being fired by a single operator, the efficiency of the weapon increases when properly crewed by a two-operator team, with one individual firing the weapon and the other assisting in reloading and keeping the belt feed free of jams. Even with the assistance of the second operator, the weapon's belt feed system is still known to jam, creating problems during inopportune moments. Whereas other emplacement weapons and similar weaponry are often attached to a portable power generator - the Autocannon has a high dependency on physical munitions - requiring that a force keep ample supplies on hand to allow for peak efficiency and utilization of the weapon to prevent it from going silent. Where it shines however is in its reliability - capable of being deployed to worlds that would otherwise render more 'advanced' weapons inoperable or cause faults - the weapon has also shown that it is less prone to overheating during extended use. Its high recoil - often seen as a problem in other weapons - is utilized to more efficiently cycle the firing mechanism of the weapon, providing for a smoother auto fire. Though it still experiences faults with its Safe Target System as often seen in its smaller counterparts. All in all, the Autocannon is a weapon more often utilized to lock down a position, or as in other cases - they are installed on vehicles or large droid chassis to provide the weapon with a more mobile platform. They are devastating when it comes to dealing with Infantry as the weapon was designed to fill in the role as an Anti-Vehicle and Anti-Aircraft weapons platform.

 

[Luca Donskoi]

Under Review

 

[Luca Donskoi]

Amelia von Sorenn

​

Technical Information​

	Classification:		Autocannon / Slugthrower / Emplacement Weapon
	Size:		Very Large
	Weight:		Very Heavy
	Ammunition Type:		20mm Solid Slug
	Ammunition Capacity:		(30) Round Drum Magazine or (300) Round Belt-Feed
	Effective Range:		Average
	Rate of Fire:		Average
	Stopping Power:		High
	Recoil:		High

​

If you would be so kind, please place a rating here from the template so I can accurately review this submission.