Type-52 plasma cannon

The Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon (T52 DESW), commonly known as the portable plasma cannon, is a manned automatic Class-1 plasma weapon used by the Covenant. In use as early as 2544, though rarely encountered until 2552, the T52 DESW is a universal replacement for the older Type-42 Directed Energy Support Weapon.

All post-2549 Wraiths possess a Type-52 DESW ring mount.

Design details
The Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon has three protective shields mounted on its top, with the outer ones being angled to the respective side, providing protection from the hot plasma being shot. Additionally, heat/excess plasma appears to be vented by four apertures on the weapon's sides during rapid fire; this probably assists the cooling process. The cannon cannot overheat, which is due to two copper-colored cooling units located on the side. The modular design is easily repaired and replaced by Unggoy units, which is beneficial as that is the cannon’s primary maintenance need.

Operation
Used as a heavy support weapon in ground based combat, it provides a rapid-fire stream of powerful plasma rounds to suppress enemy movements and offensive actions. The cannon was designed to allow the ease of transport, which results in little protection. Operators usually include Heavy Grunts or Elite Generals, although it is also sometimes used by Jiralhanae War Chieftains. The gunner is completely exposed to enemy fire, so a well-covered emplacement position is desirable for prolonged use, especially if under fire. This separates it from the Shade ASGs, which offer some measure of protection for their operator but are not man-portable.

It is carried and operated in a similar fashion to the UNSC's M247 General Purpose Machine Gun, with the obvious difference that while the M247's rounds hit almost instantly, the plasma cannon, as with all plasma weapons, has a slower moving plasma bolt. It has an approximate sixty-five degree turn radius and fifty degree pitch. It fires plasma bolts similar to those of the Covenant plasma rifle, and fires around three-hundred rounds per minute. A battery or plasma core is built into the tripod which allows the gun to fire indefinitely. When removed from the tripods power supply, the gun can only use the two hundred units of power (equal to two hundred shots) that the gun itself contains. Once the power supply has been depleted to only 70 shots remaining, the ammunition counter in the player's HUD starts to flash as a warning signal.

Tactics
Since the operator is completely exposed, it is logical to kill the gunner and not attempt to destroy the gun itself. The gunners are usually positioned low to the ground and as such can be difficult targets to hit. It is advised to attempt this from cover, since the rapid rate of fire poses a serious challenge. Once the operator is down, a well placed grenade or other explosive should be used to destroy the cannon. This is to prevent other Grunts from operating the cannon, which is common after the original operator has been killed. Plasma Cannons are often mounted on deployable lookout towers for a superior vantage point. Facing them in such situations, distance and/or firepower is key, and rushing such emplacements is not recommended on higher difficulties.

Trivia

 * Jiralhanae War Chieftains and the Arbiter are able to melee with this weapon while in their hand.
 * In the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta game stats, the Type-52 DESW was misidentified as the Type-42 DESW. This was not fixed in the final game.
 * In Halo: Reach, Elite Generals are seen carrying this weapon, but when thrown in the air by a rocket or other explosives, they will put their arms at their sides and "glide" through the air. This is because they do not have the animation for jumping with the turret, an oversight by Bungie.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo Legends
 * Prototype
 * The Package
 * Halo: Blood Line
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops