Arrbi Betna
Marauder
Intent: To create a field gun for use by the Mandalorians and Mandalorian Protectors
Development Thread: N/A
Manufacturer: Mandal Hypernautics (manufacturing and production), Mythosaur Munitions (consultation and design)
Model: MH Field Artillery Piece - Model 1 (MH FAP-M1
Affiliation: Mandalorian, Mandalorian Protectors
Modularity: Yes, the weapon can be left on its gun carriage, mounted in a vehicle (would require own submission), or set into an emplacement (both "temporary" and permanent emplacements). Ammunition is modular as well.
Production: Minor
Material: Alusteel, Durasteel, and other artillery components
Classification: (really big) Slugthrower
Size: Artillery piece
Length: 11m
Weight: 4 tonnes
Ammunition Type: 155mm Artillery Shell (chemical propellant)
Ammunition Capacity: Single Shot/1 shell
Effective Range: 24-30km (depends on ammunition used, weather, wind, etc.)
Rate of Fire: 2rpm (this can increase with an elite crew to 3-4rpm. Again, depends on ammo used, weather, wind, etc.)
Special Features:
- Large caliber able to take down a variety of enemy targets
- Long range
- Slugthrower basis (immune to EMP and electrical damage)
- Towed or Emplaced weapon
With the advent of increased warfare and the proliferation of large scale, unit on unit fighting, the need for long range support became more and more evident. Mandal Hypernautics, with Mythosaur Munitions aiding the project, determined it was time to capitalize on the needed niche.
The Mandal Hypernautics Field Artillery Piece - Model 1, or MH FAP-M1, was the end result. Weighing in at four tonnes and with an overall lenth of eleven meters, the FAP-M1 is a beast of a field gun. The weapon is capable of lobbing a 155mm shell between 24 and 30km away at distant targets. The gun's standard rate of fire is approximately two rounds a minute, but an elite crew could potentially push that number higher. Also, because the weapon uses no electronics outside of what the crew itself is carrying, the weapon is more or less immune to EMP and electrical damage.
The FAP-M1 can also be moved or emplaced. While towed, it can be pulled behind anything with the power to pull the artillery piece. This includes trucks, tanks, vehicles, animals, or even teams of soldiers pulling the weapon in tandem. While emplaced, the cannon is set on a "temporary" base that is braced and set into the ground, giving the weapon a far more stable firing platform. Permanent emplacements often include heavy protection and housings that limit the arc of fire or even the range, but protect the gun more so than a temporary emplacement or towed piece.
The disadvantages are fairly evident with the FAP-M1. The piece is heavy, often getting bogged down in mud or rough terrain, which means heavy haulers are preferred to tow the weapon. The weapon also needs a more or less stable and level platform to fire on, prompting careful placement on behalf of the crew. Lastly, the ammunition is chemically propelled, meaning the ammunition is prone to detonation from enemy fire.
