Point-defense gun: Difference between revisions

{{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

{{Weapon infobox

|image=[[File:Halo3-PointDefenseGun.png|300px]]

|name=Point-defense gun

|manufacturer=

|model=

|type=Close-in weapon system

|operation= Magnetic linear accelerator (MLA)<ref name="ENC"/>

|accuracy=

|range=

|service=26th Century<ref name="Everest">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]", ''page 475''</ref>

|counterpart=[[Pulse laser turret|Covenant pulse laser turret]]

|affiliation=[[UNSC]]

A '''point-defense gun''' is a type of [[United Nations Space Command]] starship-mounted magnetic accelerator weapon.<ref name="ENC">'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 315'' (2011)</ref> Though several models exist, the most common type of point-defense gun fires 50mm high-explosive projectiles.<ref name="Flood215">'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 215''</ref>

==Design details==

The point-defense gun fills a role similar to the [[wikipedia:CIWS|CIWS]] designs created during the 20th century. Based around [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|magnetic linear accelerator]] technology,<ref name="ENC"/> it fires solid projectiles. Unlike [[Archer missile]]s and the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] weapon systems mounted on capital ships, the point-defense guns are not used to engage Covenant capital ships.  They are instead meant to intercept smaller threats like [[Type-31 Seraph]] fighters<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 272''</ref> or [[Covenant boarding craft|boarding craft]], and disrupt incoming plasma weaponry,<ref>'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''page 19''</ref> to reduce the damage inflicted to a warship's superstructure.

Because [[human]] operators lack the reflexive responses necessary to operate the point-defense guns to maximum effect, the autocannons are computer controlled and, if an AI is available, control is diverted to it. [[Smart artificial intelligence|"Smart" AIs]] seem better able to operate the point-defense guns than standard computers and also lesser [[Dumb artificial intelligence|"dumb" AIs]].<ref name="nav">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 19''</ref> Nonetheless, in times of need, human operators are capable of manning the turrets when an AI is unable to.<ref name="HFREscape">'''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''', level ''[[Escape (Halo: Fireteam Raven level)|Escape]]''</reF>

[[File:HFR Alpha Base 2.png|right|thumb|One of the ''Pillar of Autumn'''s point-defense guns defending Alpha Base.]]

Point-defense guns have been standard armament on UNSC vessels since the [[Insurrection]], a common model being the [[M810 Helix point defense gun|M810 Helix]]. Later, {{Class|Halcyon|cruiser}}s used a dual-barreled point-defense weapon system designated as the [[M910 Rampart point defense network]].<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/ONI/577839090903298928/DDR-A340024-1115-08-27-52.pdf Data Drop 5]</ref>

During the opening stages of the [[Battle of Installation 04]], the ODSTs of [[Fireteam Raven]] were instructed by [[Wellsley]] to man the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}'s defensive guns to fend off several waves of Seraph and [[Type-27 Banshee|Banshee]] fighters.<ref name="HFREscape"/> During the later human occupation of [[Installation 04]], the [[ODSTs]] that recaptured and secured the wreckage of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} from the [[Covenant]] managed to scavenge several of the ship's 50mm turrets.<ref name="c137">'''Halo: The Flood''', Chapter 5, ''page 137'' (2003 paperback); ''page 153'' (2010 paperback)</ref> The ODSTs utilized the scavenged defense weapons and used them as anti-air defensive emplacements at [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]].

*[[Mark 57 Arena point defense gun]] – Used on {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s.

*[[M710 Bulwark point defense gun]] – Used on {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}s.

===Fortress===

*[[M965 Fortress point defense network]] – Used on {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.

*[[M606 Goalkeeper point defense gun]] – Used on [[orbital defense platform]]s.

 

*[[M810 Helix point defense gun]] – Used on {{Class|Valiant|super-heavy cruiser}}s, {{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}}s, and [[UNSC heavy destroyer]]s.

 

*[[M870 Rampart point defense gun]] – Used on {{Class|Gladius|heavy corvette}}s, {{Class|Charon|light frigate}}s, {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}s, {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s, {{Class|Halberd|destroyer}}s, and {{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}}s.

*[[M910 Rampart point defense network]] – Used on {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}s, and {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}}s.

File:Reach 3003793 Full.jpg|The UNSC ''Savannah'''s point defense guns firing on the [[Covenant]] [[SDV-class heavy corvette|corvette]] ''[[Ardent Prayer]]''.

<references/>