Machine Gun

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Machine Gun
Production information
Type Ballistic (Anti-Infantry)
Tech Base Clan / Inner Sphere (IS)
Year Introduced Clan = 2825 CDS

IS = Pre-Spaceflight[1]

Technology Rating B
Availability Ratings A[2]/A[2]/B[2]
Technical specifications
Heat 0 [3]
Damage 2 + 2D6 vs. Infantry[3][4] OR 8B/6B[5]
Minimum Range 0[3]
Short Range 1[3]
Medium Range 2[3]
Long Range 3[3]
Tons Clan = 0.25[6]

IS = 0.5[3]

Critical Slots 1[3]
Ammo Per Ton 200[3]
Cost (unloaded) 5,000[2]
Ammo Cost (per ton) 1,000[7]
BV (2.0) Clan = 5[8]
1 (Ammo)[8]

IS = 5[9]
1 (Ammo)[9]



Description

The Machine Gun is the quintessential anti-infantry weapon, issuing a stream of bullets at a high rate of fire to cut down opposing soldiers, while still being effective at damaging BattleMechs. Vehicular-scale machine guns mounted on BattleMechs can lay low entire platoons in just a few passes thanks to their high rate of fire, though they are more commonly found on Combat Vehicles and ProtoMechs.[1] These weapons are much heavier than those typically carried by infantry, but can be used by them when placed on a static mount, where they are called Support Machine Guns.[10][11] Battle Armor can also carry machine guns, typically upgraded versions of infantry-support weapons, which can rival their larger vehicular-scale cousins.[12]

Beyond the "standard" models Clan Smoke Jaguar was the first to create Light Machine Guns and Heavy Machine Guns, which the other Clans and the Inner Sphere eventually fielded as well. The Federated Suns were also the first to mount multiple machine guns on the same linked platform creating the Machine Gun Array.[1]

Additionally, to their feature of being brutally effective against infantry units, Machine Guns can be reconfigured to spray a significantly higher amount of bullets at the cost of heat. This by default consumes triple the amount of ammo measured against the actual damage applied (regardless of if this hits or not). This in turn enables them to do a notable amount of damage to armor as a result of simply throwing more bullets at the problem. This unfortunately doesn't make these types of weapons any more damaging against infantry however.[13]

Ammo Handling

BattleMechs and vehicles (massing more than 5 tons) allot Machine Gun ammunition in half-ton (100 "round") as well as full ton (200 "round") lots. Powered Armor (of all types, including BattleArmor) and vehicles massing less than 5 tons are alloted ammo in 5 kg lots that are consumed in a single "round" or turn of fire.

Models

The Machine Gun is manufactured on the following planets:

20mm Gatling Gun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Ares Quikscell Company
Gallery Quikscell Company
Kalidasa Quikscell Company
Layover Quikscell Company

Armstrong Minigun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Ramora United Outworlders Corporation

Blackwell B75

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Outreach Blackwell Heavy Industries

Borman-A5C

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Torrence Veridian Dynamics T-12 Tiger Medium Tank [14]

Bulldog Minigun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Ingersoll Bulldog Enterprises
Proserpina Bulldog Enterprises

Coventry Light Autogun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Coventry Coventry Metal Works

Double-Gun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
New Avalon Achernar BattleMechs [citation needed]

General Motors MiniGun

Usually called the GM MiniGun.

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Salem General Motors [citation needed]

Grizzly-3 Minigun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Torrence Veridian Dynamics T-12 Tiger Medium Tank [14]

Johnston MiniGun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
New Syrtis Johnston Industries ??? [citation needed]

Kicker

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Skye Cyclops Incorporated

LFN Linblad

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Grand Base Earthwerks Incorporated
Illiushin Vandenberg Mechanized Industries
Tematagi Nimakachi Fusion Products Limited
Wallis Ronin Incorporated

M100 Heavy

The M100 Heavy Machine Gun is a 12.5mm[15] weapon typically used to deter infantry attacks against Phoenix Hawk, Crusader and Exterminator BattleMechs.[16]

The M100s is powerful enough to punch right through any body armor, though Elemental armor could withstand multiple hits with no problem.[17]

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Oliver Brigadier Corporation Phoenix Hawk
Crusader
Exterminator
[16]

MainFire MiniGun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Belladonna Cal-Boeing of Dorwinion

Maxi Mini

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Menke Ceres Metals Industries

Mydron Mini-Gun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Bithinia Bithinian Ballistics

ScatterGun Light

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
New Earth New Earth Trading Company

Sperry Browning

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Canopus IV Majesty Metals and Manufacturing
Hun Ho LexaTech Industries
Indicass Ceres Metals Industries
MacLeod's Land Pinard Protectorates Limited

SureFire MiniGun

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Coventry Coventry Metal Works
Pandora Red Devil Industries

Voelkers 200

Manufactured on Manufactured by Typically used in References
Pinard Vandenberg Mechanized Industries
Stewart Corean Enterprises Thunderbolt

Notes

Some weapons are occassionally described as .50 Cals but this is likely to be more a generic terminology for Machineguns. One instance of this is the M100, described in different sources as being a .50cal[17] (12.7mm[18]) and a 12.5mm,[15] the figure expressed in mm would be considered the canon as BattleTech Universe officially uses the metric system. Vehicular machine guns in BattleTech can be anywhere from caliber 12.5mm, up to 20mm, (30mm enters into the range of Autocannon territory in BattleTech) depending on the model. Infantry scale models are usually smaller, but there are support weapon variant guns firing larger caliber shells above 20mm as well.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 TechManual, p. 228, "Machine Gun"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 TechManual, p. 290, "Heavy Weapons And Equipment - Table"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 TechManual, p. 341, "Inner Sphere Heavy Weapons And Equipment Table"
  4. Total Warfare p. 217 "Burst Fire Weapons Versus Infantry Table
  5. A Time of War p. 211 Anti-Infantry Weapons Table
  6. TechManual, p. 343, "Clan Heavy Weapons And Equipment Table"
  7. TechManual, p. 294, "Heavy Weapon Ammunition - Table"
  8. 8.0 8.1 TechManual, p. 318, "Clan Weapons and Equipment BV Table"
  9. 9.0 9.1 TechManual, p. 317, "Inner Sphere Weapons and Equipment BV Table"
  10. MechWarrior: Third Edition, p. 137, "Machine Guns"
  11. MechWarrior: Third Edition, p. 143, "Battle Armor Primary Weapons"
  12. TechManual, p. 258, "Machine Gun"
  13. Tactical Operations p. 102, "Rapid Fire Machine Guns"
  14. 14.0 14.1 Historical: Reunification War, p. 211, "T-12 Tiger Medium Tank"
  15. 15.0 15.1 Ghost of Christmas Present, p. 3
  16. 16.0 16.1 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 294, "Produced Crusader 3R Components"
  17. 17.0 17.1 Lethal Heritage, Ch. 16
  18. https://www.convertunits.com/from/mm/to/caliber

Bibliography