ARC-920 railgun
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| ARC-920 railgun | |
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14.9 kilograms (33 lb)[6] |
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16×65 mm M645 FTP-HE[4][6][5] |
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Single-shot | |
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The Asymmetric Recoilless Carbine-920 (ARC-920), also known simply as the railgun, is a compact-channel linear accelerator weapon used by the United Nations Space Command. It is designed and manufactured by Acheron Security.[2] The ARC-920 is one of the various limited-production electromagnetic launchers in service with the UNSC, and is widely considered the best among them.[7][4]
Overview[edit]
Design details[edit]
While several lines of handheld infantry-portable railgun weapon systems have been in full production for decades,[4] the ARC-920 railgun is a result of scientific breakthroughs following the Human-Covenant War that allowed for portable, hand-held, electromagnetic launcher systems to be used in combat. The ARC-920's disposable power cell and ferric-shelled M645 FTP-HE projectile has dramatically decreased the weapon's total mass. Despite the ARC-920's lighter weight over previous models, it is still too heavy and cumbersome for general use by non-augmented personnel.[7] Overall, it is widely considered to be the best entry into the handheld railgun market.[4]
The ARC-920 uses a pair of parallel conducting rails to accelerate its projectiles. A large electric current flows from one rail into the projectile and then to the other rail; the electromagnetic effects of this interaction accelerate the projectile to an immense speed. The rifle requires a brief charging period before firing high-explosive rounds accelerated to an incredible speed.[8] The explosive yield contained in the round adds to the kinetic force of the impact, making the weapon effective against both infantry and armor.[2][4] If the charge is held too long, the weapon will fire automatically[9] - an issue alleviated in later production models and variants in the ARC-920 line.[10]
The weapon lacks a scope or any form of optical magnification.[8][5]
Variants[edit]
- Whiplash: The Whiplash is an improved variant which features a faster charge cycle, two rounds per magazine, and projectiles fitted with a proximity airburst fuse.[11]
- Arclight: The Arclight is an advanced variant that fires armor-piercing high-explosive rounds capable of piercing through multiple targets at once. While it takes longer to charge the weapon, the charge can be held indefinitely.[10]
- Extractor: This Railgun has a unique interior green glow, the function of it is unknown, the only difference is that the rounds aren't explosive but has a higher rate of fire.[12]
Whiplash.
Arclight.
Extractor
Gameplay[edit]
This weapon operates very similarly to the Spartan Laser. Compared to the Spartan Laser, the ARC-920's charging time is half the duration and deals less damage to vehicles. In addition, the traveling time for a fired shot is almost instantaneous,[8] though still markedly slower than most ballistic, hard light, and laser weapons in the game, which are hitscan. In Campaign and Spartan Ops, the charging time is longer than in War Games.