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M66 light railgun: Difference between revisions

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{{Center|''For the infantry weapon, see [[ARC-920 railgun]].''}}
{{Center|''For the infantry weapon, see [[ARC-920 railgun]].''}}
{{Weapon infobox
{{Weapon infobox
| name         = M66 light railgun
|name=M66 light railgun
| image       = [[File:HW_Cobra_Concept_2.jpg|300px]]  
|image=[[File:HW-SP42CobraMBT.png|300px]]<br>A Cobra sporting twin M66 railguns.
| manufacturer = [[United Nations Space Command]]
|manufacturer=
| type         = [[Railgun]]
|series=
| service     = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|type=[[Railgun|Light railgun]]
| ammotype     = 30 mm kinetic penetrator shells{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|cost=
| operation   = Railgun
|variant=
| rate         = Slow
|service=[[Insurrection]]<br>[[Human-Covenant War]]
| range       = High
|length=
|width=
|height=
|weight=
|ammotype=30mm shells
|capacity=
|feed=
|operation=
|rate=
|velocity=
|optics=
|range=
}}
}}
The '''M66 light railgun''' ('''M66 LRG''') is an anti-vehicle [[Railgun (fiction)|railgun]] weapon system employed as a heavy munition in the [[Colonial Military Authority]] (CMA) and [[United Nations Space Command]] (UNSC).{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=32}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=239}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=142}}


The '''M66 light railgun''' ('''M66 LRG''') is an anti-vehicle weapon system mounted in pairs to the [[SP42 Cobra]] self-propelled artillery vehicle, in conjunction with the larger [[M98 light railgun]].<ref name="EVG">'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'''</ref><ref name="Guide">'''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]''', ''page 43''</ref> The M66 is often mounted in pairs to [[Firebase|prefabricated]] [[Base turret|automated defensive turrets]] for use as a static defensive measure.<ref>'''Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide''', ''page 30''</ref>
==Overview==
===Design details===
The M66 LRG is a powerful anti-armor weapon that fires 30mm high-density ferrous projectiles at ultra-high velocity. The velocity of these projectiles allows them to penetrate armor at extreme range and with superior penetration to the [[M512 smooth-bore high-velocity cannon|M512 90mm SBHV cannon]] used by the [[M808 Scorpion]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|PrimaCobra}}{{Ref/Site|Id=HWCS|URL=http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/vehicledepot.aspx#cobra|Site=Official Halo Wars Community Site|Page=Cobra|D=28|M=02|Y=2011|LocalArchive=Archive:Halowars.com/UNSC#Cobra}} The M66 has a power draw of 8 megajoules.{{Ref/Book|Id=PrimaTurret|Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide|Page=30}}{{Ref/Book|Id=PrimaCobra|Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide|Page=43}}{{Ref/Note|While page 43 of the ''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]'' describes the M66 has having a draw of 16MJ, it also describes the larger and more powerful M98 as having a power of 8MJ. On page 30 while describing the base turret weaponry, the M66 is identified as having a draw of 8MJ. The numbers shown on page 43 are presumably an error.}}


==Overview==
Though the weapon performs similarly to [[Gauss cannon]]s such as the [[M68 Gauss cannon|M68 model]], the M68 is a coilgun, which operates on different principles from those of a railgun.
The M66 LRG is a powerful anti-armor weapon that fires 30 mm high-density ferrous projectiles at ultra-high velocity. The velocity of these projectiles allows them to penetrate armor at extreme range and with superior penetration to the [[M512 smooth-bore high-velocity cannon|M512 90 mm cannon]] used by the [[M808 Scorpion]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Guide}}<ref name="Site">[http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/vehicledepot.aspx#Cobra Halo Wars Official Site - Cobra]</ref> Though the weapon performs similarly to the [[M68 Gauss cannon]], the M68 is a coilgun, which operates on different principles from those of a [[railgun]].


When twin-mounted on the SP42 Cobra and on automated turrets, each weapon is fired alternatively, as the energy required to fire both railguns together is beyond what the platform is capable of producing. This alternating also improves the weapon's rather low rate of fire, maintaining more consistent power output.{{Ref/Reuse|Site}}  
===Usage===
The M66 railguns are most notable for their twin installment in the turret of the [[SP42 Cobra]], allowing the vehicle to serve as an agile tank-hunter and anti-fortification vehicle.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} They are mounted on the Cobra alongside the larger and more powerful [[M98 light railgun|M98 105mm light railgun]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} M66's may also be installed as an optional anti-vehicle mounting in the [[M5 Talos]] automated turret system installed on [[Firebase|prefabricated bases]].{{Ref/Reuse|PrimaTurret}}


==Trivia==
When twin-mounted on the SP42 Cobra and on automated turrets, each weapon is fired alternatively, as the energy required to fire both railguns together is beyond what the platform is capable of producing. This alternating also improves the weapon's rather low rate of fire, maintaining more consistent power output.{{Ref/Reuse|HWCS}}
The ''Halo Wars'' official website initially identified the weapon as the '''M66 50 mm Gauss cannon'''. After the game's release, references to the M66 Gauss cannon were removed from official material and the weapon was renamed the LRG railgun. It was stated that the Cobra uses a pair of 16 megajoule LRG railguns when in normal mode and a single 8 megajoule version when locked down. ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' retconned the 16MJ version of the LRG railgun into the M66 30 mm light railgun, while it retconned the 8MJ version into the M98 105 mm light railgun.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
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{{UNSC heavy weapons}}
{{UNSC heavy weapons}}
[[Category:Magnetic acceleration weapons]]
[[Category:Railguns]]
[[Category:Artillery]]
[[Category:Artillery]]
[[Category:UNSC ground weapons]]
[[Category:UNSC ground weapons]]

Latest revision as of 20:23, April 13, 2024

For the infantry weapon, see ARC-920 railgun.
M66 light railgun
HW-SP42CobraMBT.png
A Cobra sporting twin M66 railguns.
Production overview

Type:

Light railgun

Specifications

Ammunition type:

30mm shells

Service history

In service:

Insurrection
Human-Covenant War

 

The M66 light railgun (M66 LRG) is an anti-vehicle railgun weapon system employed as a heavy munition in the Colonial Military Authority (CMA) and United Nations Space Command (UNSC).[1][2][3]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The M66 LRG is a powerful anti-armor weapon that fires 30mm high-density ferrous projectiles at ultra-high velocity. The velocity of these projectiles allows them to penetrate armor at extreme range and with superior penetration to the M512 90mm SBHV cannon used by the M808 Scorpion.[1][4][5] The M66 has a power draw of 8 megajoules.[6][4][Note 1]

Though the weapon performs similarly to Gauss cannons such as the M68 model, the M68 is a coilgun, which operates on different principles from those of a railgun.

Usage[edit]

The M66 railguns are most notable for their twin installment in the turret of the SP42 Cobra, allowing the vehicle to serve as an agile tank-hunter and anti-fortification vehicle.[3] They are mounted on the Cobra alongside the larger and more powerful M98 105mm light railgun.[1][2][3] M66's may also be installed as an optional anti-vehicle mounting in the M5 Talos automated turret system installed on prefabricated bases.[6]

When twin-mounted on the SP42 Cobra and on automated turrets, each weapon is fired alternatively, as the energy required to fire both railguns together is beyond what the platform is capable of producing. This alternating also improves the weapon's rather low rate of fire, maintaining more consistent power output.[5]

Gallery[edit]

  • Concept art for a turret's railguns.

    Concept art for a turret's railguns.

  • Concept art for the railgun (right).

    Concept art for the railgun (right).

  • M66s mounted on a 2531-era defensive turret.

    M66s mounted on a 2531-era defensive turret.

  • A medium-level turret with M66 railguns mounted.

    A medium-level turret with M66 railguns mounted.

  • M66s mounted on the 2559-era turret.

    M66s mounted on the 2559-era turret.

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ While page 43 of the Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide describes the M66 has having a draw of 16MJ, it also describes the larger and more powerful M98 as having a power of 8MJ. On page 30 while describing the base turret weaponry, the M66 is identified as having a draw of 8MJ. The numbers shown on page 43 are presumably an error.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 32
  2. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 239
  3. ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 142
  4. ^ a b Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide, page 43
  5. ^ a b Official Halo Wars Community Site, Cobra (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2011) [local archive] [external archive]
  6. ^ a b Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide, page 30

v • d • e
 
Heavy armaments of humanity
Artillery
Autocannons and mounted machine guns
Automated turrets
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