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Autocannon/10
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Production information
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Type |
Ballistic (direct fire)
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Tech Base |
Inner Sphere
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Year Availability
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2443 (TH)[1]
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Technical specifications
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Heat
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3[2]
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Damage
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10[2]
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Minimum Range
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N/A
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Short Range
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1-5[2]
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Medium Range
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6-10[2]
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Long Range
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11-15[2]
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Extreme Range
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16-20[2]
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Tons
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12[2]
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Critical Slots
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7
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Ammo Per Ton
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10[2]
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Cost (unloaded)
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200,000 C-bills
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Ammo Cost (per ton)
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6,000 C-bills
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BV (1.0)
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124
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BV (2.0)
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123[3] 15 (Ammo)[3]
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Description
The autocannon/10 was a direct-fire ballistic weapon, firing HEAP (High-Explosive Armor-Piercing) rounds at targets either singly or in bursts.
Different manufacturers and models of autocannons had different calibers (25 mm-203 mm) and rates of fire. Due to this, autocannons were grouped into generic "classes" of similar common damage ratings, with autocannon/10s causing more damage than lower-caliber versions, while retaining a moderate range.[4]
While not quite as deadly as an AC/20 when it came down to raw damage, a class-10 autocannon was potentially extremely dangerous to face when facing a MechWarrior or crew well-versed with the weapons system at its optimal ranges. The AC/10 was capable of stripping all the standard armor off the head of a 'Mech in a single shot, while also inflicting internal damage in the same hit. The AC/10 was also the smallest autocannon without a minimum range, making it very useful for brawler and juggernaut battlefield roles, augmenting the ability to project firepower all the way point-blank to the outer range bands.
History
The Terran Hegemony introduced a prototype AC/10 in 2445. It cost five times as much as a standard autocannon/10 would, jammed like an ultra autocannon, and only carried eight reloads per ton of ammunition.[5]
An autocannon/10 could use special munitions to increase its effectiveness.
Models
The autocannon/10 was manufactured on the following planets:
Armstrong Buster
Federated Autocannon
An excellent large-caliber model, firing in bursts of ten and equipped with a cooling jacket capable of doubling as a protective sleeve for use in hand-to-hand combat. While one ton of ammunition only allowed for ten bursts total, the rounds were stored in an equivalent number of big clips easy to eject and reload.
Federated Autoloader/10-B
Ceres Arms Model T
The Model T was noted as a venerable weapon, with an excellent combat record.[9][10][11]
Defiance Blaster Type F
Defiance Killer Type T
Imperator-B
Fired a 10-shot burst.[15]
Imperator-X
KaliYama Class 10 Autocannon
Luxor D-Series
The Luxor was known for having ammunition feed issues and for firing 80mm shells.[23]
Mydron Excel
Note: Inexplicably, this model shares the same name with the LB-10X AC and is thus far the only example found. It may have been mistaken for a Mydron Model B.
Mydron Model B
The Model B had a caliber of eighty millimeters.[26][27]
Pontiac 50
SarLon MaxiCannon
The autoloader of the SarLon MaxiCannon was very similar to that of the much larger ChemJet Gun 185mm.[35][36]
Western Heavy
Long praised by Taurian Concordat armor crews for its accuracy and potency, by the Reunification War the Western Heavy was considered a proven and dependable weapon.[42]
Zeus 56 Mark IV
Notes
- This article refers to a common object and addresses the object as a common noun. The preferred term is "autocannon/10" (except on section titles & table headings, where "Autocannon/10" is favored).
References
- ↑ Interstellar Operations, p. 118: "Prototype Dates For Basic Weapons Table"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 TechManual, p. 341: "Inner Sphere Heavy Weapons and Equipment Table"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 TechManual, p. 317: "Inner Sphere Weapons and Equipment BV Table"
- ↑ TechManual, p. 207: "Autocannons"
- ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 4, p. 16
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3025, p. 38
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3025, p. 57
- ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 211: "T-12 Tiger Medium Tank"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 McCarron's Armored Cavalry, p. 22: "Po Medium Tank"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Technical Readout: 3058, p. 56: "Po Heavy Tank"
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 100: "Po Heavy Tank"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 102
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 123
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 138
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, ch. 55
- ↑ Objectives: Capellan Confederation, p. 16
- ↑ Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 23
- ↑ Technical Readout: Succession Wars, p. 176
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3075, p. 244
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 100
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 115
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 152
- ↑ Ghost of Winter, ch. 1
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3025, p. 55
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3067, p. 18
- ↑ Flashpoint, ch. 5
- ↑ Trial Under Fire, ch. 1
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge, p. 97
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 70
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 115
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3058, p. 114
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 182
- ↑ Objectives: Periphery, p. 9
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3060 Revised, p. 20
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3058, p. 68: "Zhukov"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 110: "Zhukov"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 232
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 96
- ↑ Objective Raids, p. 109
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3026, p. 84
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 111
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Historical: Reunification War, pp. 207–208: "TLS-1B Talos"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 168
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 214
Bibliography