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Directed-energy weapon: Difference between revisions
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("Ionized particles" can fit into either the plasma or particle beam categories, depending on how the particles are delivered, but it's not really a separate category.) |
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[[File:M6 Spartan Laser.png|200px|thumb|right|The UNSC's only infantry laser weapon, the ''Spartan Laser'' or ''Galilean''.]] | [[File:M6 Spartan Laser.png|200px|thumb|right|The UNSC's only infantry laser weapon, the ''Spartan Laser'' or ''Galilean''.]] | ||
{{Main|Laser}} | {{Main|Laser}} | ||
Lasers are used for a wide array of functions, ranging from repair equipment to weaponry. [[Pulse laser turret]]s are standard armament on Covenant warships and, unusually, [[UNSC prowler|UNSC Prowlers]], and are used for precision strikes against small targets, intercepting incoming missiles and fighters,<ref name="FoR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and general point-defense. Other lasers are used to repair equipment by both the Covenant,<ref name="ContactHarvest">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and the UNSC<ref name="FirstStrike">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page ??''</ref> while the only infantry-portable laser weapon is used by the UNSC, the [[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle]] or "Spartan Laser". | Lasers are used for a wide array of functions, ranging from repair equipment to weaponry. [[Pulse laser turret]]s are standard armament on Covenant warships and, unusually, [[UNSC prowler|UNSC Prowlers]], and are used for precision strikes against small targets, intercepting incoming missiles and fighters,<ref name="FoR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and general point-defense. Other lasers are used to repair equipment by both the Covenant,<ref name="ContactHarvest">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page ??''</ref> and the UNSC<ref name="FirstStrike">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page ??''</ref> while the only infantry-portable laser weapon is used by the UNSC, the [[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle]] or "Spartan Laser". Towards the end of the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC began using nuclear bomb-pumped X-ray lasers as warheads for anti-ship missiles, such as the [[Bident missile|M4020 Bident]] used by [[Epoch-class heavy carrier|''Epoch''-class heavy carriers]].<ref name="Warfleet17">'''[[Halo: Warfleet]]''', ''page 17''</ref> | ||
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[[File:Plasma Rifles.jpg|right|200px|thumb|One of the most commonly used directed-energy weapons, the [[Plasma Rifle]].]] | [[File:Plasma Rifles.jpg|right|200px|thumb|One of the most commonly used directed-energy weapons, the [[Plasma Rifle]].]] | ||
{{Main|Plasma weaponry}} | {{Main|Plasma weaponry}} | ||
The Covenant's most common weapon type, however, is superheated plasma that is contained within a controlled magnetic field, able to be guided to a target and dealing heavy damage. Ship-mounted plasma weapons can launch torpedoes, capable of tracking their targets with precision, making them devastating in ship-to-ship combat, or can fire very large streams of plasma from afar to "[[glassing|glass]]" a planet's surface from orbit. Vehicle-mounted plasma weapons usually have a high rate of fire, but lack the guidance systems. Infantry weapons commonly use guided plasma, such as the Plasma Rifle, [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]], and the [[Type-1 Antipersonnel grenade|Plasma Grenade]]. | The Covenant's most common weapon type, however, is superheated plasma that is contained within a controlled magnetic field, able to be guided to a target and dealing heavy damage. Ship-mounted plasma weapons can launch torpedoes, capable of tracking their targets with precision, making them devastating in ship-to-ship combat, or can fire very large streams of plasma from afar to "[[glassing|glass]]" a planet's surface from orbit. Vehicle-mounted plasma weapons usually have a high rate of fire, but lack the guidance systems. Infantry weapons commonly use guided plasma, such as the Plasma Rifle, [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]], and the [[Type-1 Antipersonnel grenade|Plasma Grenade]]. Towards the end of the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC began using nuclear-pumped "focussed plasma spears" in ship-to-ship missile warheads.<ref name="Warfleet17"/> | ||
[[Sentinel]]s use a powerful continuously-firing plasma beam called the [[Sentinel beam]] as their main weapon. | [[Sentinel]]s use a powerful continuously-firing plasma beam called the [[Sentinel beam]] as their main weapon. | ||