Canon

Pek-pattern plasma cannon

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Revision as of 16:55, August 17, 2022 by SpyglassUnitBeta (talk | contribs) (Link cleanup, replaced: Type-26 Wraith → {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}} (2))
Pek-pattern Sweeping Turret
H4-T52DESW-PlasmaCannonSide.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Type:

Portable plasma turret

Specifications

Length:

153.2 centimeters (60.3 in)[2]

Width:

65.5 centimeters (25.8 in)[2]

Height:

85.9 centimeters (33.8 in)[2]

Weight:

30.39 kilograms (67.0 lb)[3]

Ammunition type:

Superheated plasma[3]

Feed system:

200 units (dismounted)[3]

Rate of fire:

Fully automatic

Effective range:

158.5 meters (520 ft)[3]

Service history

In service:

 

The Pek-pattern Sweeping Turret[4] (UNSC Type classification: Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon, T-52 DESW)[3],[5] commonly shortened to the plasma cannon, is a manned automatic Class-1 plasma weapon used by the Covenant.[6] In use as early as 2544,[7] though rarely encountered until 2552, the T52 DESW is a universal replacement for the older Shepsu-pattern plasma cannon.[1][8] All post-2549 Zurdo-pattern Wraiths possess a Type-52 DESW ring mount.[9]

Overview

Design details

The Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon is a stationary plasma emplacement and a type of Class-1 directed energy cannon.[6] The Type-52 plasma cannon has three protective energy shields mounted on its top, with the outer ones being angled to the respective side, providing protection from the hot plasma being shot.[1] In addition, the cannon itself is mounted on a miniature gravity lift rather than the V-legged design of the older Shepsu-pattern plasma cannon, presumably making turning easier. Heat and excess plasma appears to be vented by four apertures on the weapon's sides during rapid fire; this presumably assists the cooling process. The cannon cannot overheat, which is due to two modular, copper-colored cooling units located on the side.[1] These cooling units are the cannon's primary maintenance need, though they are easily repaired and replaced by their Unggoy operators.[6]

Variant

  • Banished Plasma Cannon: This variant has three protective metal shields than the standard energy shields and fires red projectiles.[10]

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.[1] Operators usually include Unggoy Heavies and Sangheili 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 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 Okarda'phaa-pattern 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 tripod's power supply, the gun can only use the two hundred units of power (equal to two hundred shots) that the gun itself contains.[1] Once the power supply has been depleted to 70 shots or lower, the ammunition counter in any compatible HUD of the operator starts to flash as a warning signal.

Trivia

Main-Legendary.png See our gameplay information related to Pek-pattern plasma cannon on its gameplay page.
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  • In Halo 3, 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, Sangheili 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.

Gallery

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 140
  2. ^ a b c d Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 90
  3. ^ a b c d e Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 344 (2011)
  4. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 300
  5. ^ Microsoft: Halo 3 Guide (defunct)
  6. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint: Plasma Cannon (defunct, backup link on Archive.org)
  7. ^ Halo Legends - The Package
  8. ^ Bungie.net: Halo: Reach Ordnance - Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon
  9. ^ Halo Waypoint: Halo: Reach Stats
  10. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - "Omega Team"

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Heavy weaponry in service of the Covenant and its remnants
Support weapons
Stationary weapon emplacements
Vehicle-mounted weapons
Starship weapons
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