M85 Scythe: Difference between revisions

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Center|''For the terrestrial anti-air gun turret also known as the Scythe, see [[M71 Scythe]].''}}

{{Weapon infobox

|image=[[File:H4-M85ScytheAAGT-ScanRender.png|300px]]

|manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]{{Ref/Book|Id=H4VG|H4EVG|Page=76}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=182}}

|series=Scythe anti-aircraft cannons

|type=Autocannon

|service=c.[[2490]]-present{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}

|ammotype=M175 20x102mm [[Wikipedia:High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition|high-explosive incendiary/armor piercing ammunition]]{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}

|capacity=

|feed=Conveyor-fed{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}

|rate=

The M85 Scythe is a low-profile, conveyor-fed, twin-barreled, anti-aircraft/anti-spacecraft weapon. It is designed to be fixed to orbital and suborbital military stations, as well as the exterior battleplate of starships when deemed necessary. Unlike the [[M71 Scythe]], it is not restricted to terrestrial defense, as the M85's fully sealed housing and nominal silhouette allows it to be used in the vacuum of space.{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}

 

While the M85 shares a design lineage with the M71, it does differ in many ways. Unlike the M71, the M85 is not a rotary cannon but instead a twin-barrelled autocannon (albeit firing the same M175 20x102mm HEI/AP munitions). The M85 does not share the same mounting system as the M71 Scythe or its [[M95 Lance]] guided missile counterpart, but instead employs a modular point-defense mount with three legs used to affix the weapon into place. Above the mount is a hull with a spool genertor and a release latch for the interior-stored variable magazine, with a further hydraulic mounting system atop this used to place the gun itself.{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}

 

What the M85 does share with the M71, aside from its ammunition commonality, is its predominantly automatic usage. The M85 is an automated defensive system that can be operate by a remote actuator of a [[Dumb AI|non-volitional]] [[artificial intelligence]] system.{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}

===Usage===

Unlike its M71 cousin, the M85 is designed for use in [[space warfare]] in addition to ground combat. It is fitted as a [[point-defense gun]] on several warships used by the [[CMA Navy]] and [[UNSC Navy]] - predominantly their massive [[supercarrier]]s.

*{{Class|Punic|supercarrier}} - 80x M85 Scythes{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Carriers|Enc22|Page=126}}

*{{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}} - 85x M85 Scythes{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}{{Ref/Book|Id=WFInfinity|HWF|Page=42-43}}

M85 Scythes were in use in the [[Colonial Military Authority]] by around [[2490]], and were fitted aboard the {{Class|Punic|supercarrier}}s launched in that year.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}} They were later fitted aboard the UNSC's next-generation {{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}}, with {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} employing them as of the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Carriers}}{{Ref/Reuse|WFInfinity}} ''Infinity'' would utilise its Scythe air-defense guns several times throughout its service life including in the [[Battle of Requiem]] in [[2557#July|July 2557]]. During the conflict, ''Infinity'' crash landed on [[Requiem]] and was subject to a [[Naval boarding|boarding]] action by the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] - who proceded to place three jammers on ''Infinity''{{'}}s hull to keep the M85s from firing. [[John-117]] later fended off the attackers in a [[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX Mantis|Mantis]] and destroyed the jammers, reactivating the M85s which soon opened fire on incoming {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}s.{{Ref/Level|H4|Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity}} ''Infinity''{{'}}s M85s later saw use in the [[Battle over Installation 07]] in [[2559#December|December 2559]], though were unable to save the ship from its eventual destruction by the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Novel|TRP|Chapter=1}}

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