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M46 Vulcan: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|UNSC|Post}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{References}}
{{Weapon infobox
{{Weapon
|image=[[File:H2A M46.png|350px]]
| image=[[File:H4-M46LAAG.png|350px]]
|name=M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun
| name=M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun
|manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}
| manufacturer=
|series=M46
| type=Light Anti-Aircraft Gun
|type=Light anti-aircraft gun
| cost=
|cost=  
| size=
|length={{Convert|109.8|in|cm}}<ref name="H4VG">''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', ''page 78''</ref>
| fire=Automatic
|width={{Convert|39.4|in|cm}}{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}
| ammotype=
|height={{Convert|76.7|in|cm}}{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}
| operation=Electrically-powered
|ammotype=12.7×99mm M255 HVE rounds{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}
| rate of fire=
|operation=Electrically-powered; Belt-fed
| range=Long
|capacity=
| counterpart=
|feed=Varies
| counterwep=
|rate=High
| affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
|optics=
|range=
|service=[[Human-Covenant War]]
<br>[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
}}
}}


The '''M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun''' is a [[United Nations Space Command Defense Force|UNSCDF]] [[vehicle]]-mounted machine gun. The successor to the [[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun|M41 LAAG]], the M46 is used as the primary armament on the post-war [[M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle]].<ref name="O+A">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/ordnance-armor/cbbca9b3-5108-41aa-aa21-9b523de68266 '''Halo 4 Official Site:''' ''ORDNANCE + ARMOR'']</ref>
The '''M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun''', nicknamed the "'''Vulcan'''",{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}<ref>''Halo 4'' Warthog infobox ([[:File:Halo4 warthog.jpg|file link]])</ref> is a [[UNSC]] vehicle-mounted rotary machine gun. The successor to the [[M41 Vulcan]], the M46 is used as the primary armament on the [[M12 Chaingun Warthog]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=180}}
 
==Design details==
[[File:HW2 M46LAAG.png|thumb|left|An M46 with a drum magazine on the Ark.]]
The M46 LAAG maintains most of the M41 LAAG profile; it is a triple-barreled, electric-powered, linkless, belt-fed weapon. Two major improvements over the M41 are the replacement of the cooling system and a larger gas chamber.<ref name="O+A">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/ordnance-armor/cbbca9b3-5108-41aa-aa21-9b523de68266 ''Halo 4 Official Site'': ORDNANCE + ARMOR]</ref> Most M46 LAAGs are belt-fed like their M41 counterparts, but the weapon is also compatible with a drum magazine.{{Ref/Reuse|HW2}}
 
==Operational history==
The M46 had entered service by February, [[2531]], and several units were carried aboard the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} when it [[Battle of Trove|went missing]] in that year.{{Ref/Game|Id=HW2|HW2}} The weapon would continue to be used sporadically throughout the [[Human-Covenant War]] alongside the M41 LAAG. It would make several appearances in [[2552]], when [[M12B Warthog]]s assigned to the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} would employ them.<ref>''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]'', campaign level ''[[Rubble]]''</ref> They would again be used in the [[Battle for Earth]]<ref>''Halo 2: Anniversary'', campaign level, ''[[Outskirts]]''</ref> and [[Battle of Installation 05]] in October of 2552,<ref>''Halo 2: Anniversary'', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo]]''</ref> before gradually beginning to supersede the original M41 design. By [[2557]], the M46 appeared to be the standard armament of the M12B Warthog chassis in its chaingun configuration where it served in the [[Battle of Requiem]] and later [[Requiem Campaign]],{{Ref/Game|H4}} By [[2558]] the M46 had begun to be replaced with the [[M49 Vulcan]],{{Ref/Game|H5G}} but the debilitation of a number of key manufacturing sites led Misriah Armory to ramp production back up on the M46.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
 
By [[2559]], Warthogs employed on [[Installation 00]] by the [[Ark Security Detachment]] and ''Spirit of Fire'' continued to use the M46 chaingun.{{Ref/Reuse|HW2}} During the [[Battle for Zeta Halo]] in [[2560]] M46 Vulcans were commonly used by the scattered UNSC forces against the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Game|HI}}
 
==Gameplay==
===Advantages===
In the multiplayer, the Vulcan can be a powerful weapon, as it has both anti-personnel and light anti-armor capabilities. Its fast rate of fire allows it to focus down targets with relative ease, and it is reasonably accurate if used correctly. As its name suggests it is absolutely deadly to Banshees and the fact that a Warthog with one usually spawns on any map with a Banshee makes them a constant threat.
 
===Disadvantages===
Some disadvantages to operating the LAAG turret are; the lack of protection to the operator, which makes sniping an effective way to counter them, as well as the weapon's tendency to overheat, which can temporarily render it useless. The lack of accuracy at long distances can also be a significant problem. As with the M41 LAAG from previous games (notably ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', where the mechanic was first implemented), the weapon's tendency to overheat in ''[[Halo 4]]'' is an overt gameplay mechanic. Gatling weapons are designed to distribute heat evenly among their multiple barrels; indeed, this is the very reason they have multiple barrels, as the long period between when each fires ensures that none receive more than a small heat increase. The gun does not overheat in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' or ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' however.
==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Notice/Silver|category=no}}
M46 Vulcans are used on UNSC Warthogs against the Covenant.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=HTVOT|5KZ3MKraNKY|Paramount+|Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer|Y=2022|M=1|D=30}}
 
==Trivia==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
* In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' ''[[Season 01: Heroes of Reach]]'', the M46 Vulcan was misidentified as the [[M247H machine gun]] also included in the game, and both can be used to complete multiplayer challenges interchangeably.<ref name="Infinite">''Halo: Infinite'', "Jorge Would Be Proud" [[Challenges/Halo Infinite|challenge]]</ref> This was eventually fixed in ''[[Season 02: Lone Wolves]]''.
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H4-Concept-M46LAAG.jpg|Concept art of the M46 LAAG for ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:Wreckage action 3.jpg|A squad of [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan-IV]]s in a Warthog on [[Wreckage]] with one manning the M46 LAAG.
File:Harvest action 2.jpg|The M46 LAAG being fired during a [[War Games]] match on [[Harvest (map)|Harvest]].
File:H4-M46LAAG.png|The M46 LAAG in ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-M46HUD.png|HUD of the M46 LAAG in ''Halo 4''.
File:H2ACP-M46HUD.png|HUD of the M46 LAAG in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' campaign.
File:H2A-ODSTsWarthog.png|An ODST manning an M46 LAAG on [[Installation 05]].
File:H2AMP-M46HUD.png|HUD of the M46 LAAG in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' multiplayer.
File:HW2-RedTeam&M46.png|[[Alice-130]] mans an M46 Vulcan in ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HFR Warthog Charge.jpg|M46-equipped Warthogs take part in the [[Raid on the Pillar of Autumn]] in ''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]].
File:H2A-MCCM46Vulcanmenu.png|A M46 Vulcan in ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]''.
File:HINF BehemothHog.png|A M12B Warthog with a M46 Vulcan on [[Behemoth]] in ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
File:HINF-M46HUD.png|HUD of the M46 Vulcan in ''Halo Infinite''.
File:HINF-SquadBattleMOTD.jpg|A M46 Vulcan being fired on [[Fragmentation]].
File:HTV-Reckoning Keyes Vulcan.png|[[Jacob Keyes/Silver|Captain Keyes]] manning a M46 Vulcan in ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Reclaimer Trilogy]]''
*''[[The Commissioning]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Halo 4]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 4]]''
 
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
==Related pages==
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*[[M12 Force Application Vehicle]]
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*[[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]
*''[[Know Your Enemy]]''
*[[M68 Gauss Cannon]]
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[On the Brink]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series Season One]]''
**''[[Contact]]''
**''[[Unbound]]''
**''[[Reckoning]]''
**''[[Allegiance]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series Season Two]]''
**''[[Sanctuary (TV Series)|Sanctuary]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{UNSC Heavy Weapons}}
{{UNSC heavy weapons}}
[[Category:Machine guns]]
[[Category:Machine guns]]
[[Category:UNSC ground weapons]]
[[Category:UNSC ground weapons]]

Latest revision as of 06:37, February 8, 2024

M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun
H2A M46.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Misriah Armory[1]

Model series:

M46

Type:

Light anti-aircraft gun

Specifications

Length:

109.8 inches (279 cm)[1]

Width:

39.4 inches (100 cm)[1]

Height:

76.7 inches (195 cm)[1]

Ammunition type:

12.7×99mm M255 HVE rounds[1]

Feed system:

Varies

Operation:

Electrically-powered; Belt-fed

Rate of fire:

High

Service history

In service:

Human-Covenant War
Post-Covenant War conflicts

 

The M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun, nicknamed the "Vulcan",[1][2] is a UNSC vehicle-mounted rotary machine gun. The successor to the M41 Vulcan, the M46 is used as the primary armament on the M12 Chaingun Warthog.[3]

Design details[edit]

An M46 LAAG in the main menu of Halo Wars 2.
An M46 with a drum magazine on the Ark.

The M46 LAAG maintains most of the M41 LAAG profile; it is a triple-barreled, electric-powered, linkless, belt-fed weapon. Two major improvements over the M41 are the replacement of the cooling system and a larger gas chamber.[4] Most M46 LAAGs are belt-fed like their M41 counterparts, but the weapon is also compatible with a drum magazine.[5]

Operational history[edit]

The M46 had entered service by February, 2531, and several units were carried aboard the UNSC Spirit of Fire when it went missing in that year.[5] The weapon would continue to be used sporadically throughout the Human-Covenant War alongside the M41 LAAG. It would make several appearances in 2552, when M12B Warthogs assigned to the UNSC Pillar of Autumn would employ them.[6] They would again be used in the Battle for Earth[7] and Battle of Installation 05 in October of 2552,[8] before gradually beginning to supersede the original M41 design. By 2557, the M46 appeared to be the standard armament of the M12B Warthog chassis in its chaingun configuration where it served in the Battle of Requiem and later Requiem Campaign,[9] By 2558 the M46 had begun to be replaced with the M49 Vulcan,[10] but the debilitation of a number of key manufacturing sites led Misriah Armory to ramp production back up on the M46.[3]

By 2559, Warthogs employed on Installation 00 by the Ark Security Detachment and Spirit of Fire continued to use the M46 chaingun.[5] During the Battle for Zeta Halo in 2560 M46 Vulcans were commonly used by the scattered UNSC forces against the Banished.[11]

Gameplay[edit]

Advantages[edit]

In the multiplayer, the Vulcan can be a powerful weapon, as it has both anti-personnel and light anti-armor capabilities. Its fast rate of fire allows it to focus down targets with relative ease, and it is reasonably accurate if used correctly. As its name suggests it is absolutely deadly to Banshees and the fact that a Warthog with one usually spawns on any map with a Banshee makes them a constant threat.

Disadvantages[edit]

Some disadvantages to operating the LAAG turret are; the lack of protection to the operator, which makes sniping an effective way to counter them, as well as the weapon's tendency to overheat, which can temporarily render it useless. The lack of accuracy at long distances can also be a significant problem. As with the M41 LAAG from previous games (notably Halo: Reach, where the mechanic was first implemented), the weapon's tendency to overheat in Halo 4 is an overt gameplay mechanic. Gatling weapons are designed to distribute heat evenly among their multiple barrels; indeed, this is the very reason they have multiple barrels, as the long period between when each fires ensures that none receive more than a small heat increase. The gun does not overheat in Halo 2: Anniversary or Halo Infinite however.

Non-canon and dubious canon appearances[edit]

Silver Timeline[edit]

HTV-SilverTeam logo.png
 This article contains information about the Silver Timeline, and is not a part of the established Halo canon.

M46 Vulcans are used on UNSC Warthogs against the Covenant.[12]

Trivia[edit]

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 78
  2. ^ Halo 4 Warthog infobox (file link)
  3. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 180
  4. ^ Halo 4 Official Site: ORDNANCE + ARMOR
  5. ^ a b c Halo Wars 2
  6. ^ Halo: Fireteam Raven, campaign level Rubble
  7. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary, campaign level, Outskirts
  8. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary, campaign level Delta Halo
  9. ^ Halo 4
  10. ^ Halo 5: Guardians
  11. ^ Halo Infinite
  12. ^ YouTube - Paramount+, Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer (Retrieved on Jan 30, 2022)
  13. ^ Halo: Infinite, "Jorge Would Be Proud" challenge

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