Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear Weapons are the most common and well-known examples of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). While the Ares Conventions were meant to try and prevent their usage, they have played a pivotal and horrific role in shaping the nature of the Inner Sphere.

Standard Nuclear Weapons

While a wide variety of tactical nuclear weapons exist, there are a number of common models which can be found in the arsenals of most militaries. There also exists larger strategic weapons, which includes anything greater than 500 kilotons to massive 50 megaton warheads deployed during the Amaris Crisis and the early Succession Wars.[1]

Davy Crockett

The Davy Crockett is a compact .5 kiloton nuclear device available in two different variations. The Davy Crockett-I is a one-shot infantry support weapon carried at the platoon level. Besides the warhead itself this version includes a special launcher system and booster rockets, weighing in total three tons. Unfortunately the Davy Crockett-I has a maximum range of a little over one kilometer, which means the attacking infantry are as likely to be caught within the blast effect as the defenders are; as such they are not popular among the troops. The Davy Crockett-M meanwhile can be launched via Arrow IV or Long Tom and, while heavier than normal rounds at one ton each, behave exactly as their normal munitions do. Both versions of the Davy Crockett operate in ground-burst mode only.[2]

Alamo

The Alamo is a 5 kiloton nuclear missile which can be carried by aerospace and conventional fighters. They can be used either in space or in an atmosphere to attack air and ground targets, but don't have the range for orbital bombardments or to attack targets in orbit. Though fairly lightweight at only five tons, an Alamo still imposes a negative impact on the carrying fighter's flight characteristics per each missile. When used in an atmosphere an Alamo can either operate in ground- or air-burst modes.[2]

Santa Ana

The Santa Ana is a 50 kiloton nuclear warhead mounted on a Killer Whale missile, allowing it to be launched from a Killer Whale or AR-10 launcher. In addition to being fired by WarShips at other space targets or to perform planetary bombardments, special purpose-built missile silos can launch these missiles at orbital or surface targets. When operating within an atmosphere the missile has a maximum range of 5,000 kilometers, which it can travel in approximately eleven and a half minutes.[2]

Peacemaker

The Peacemaker is a 500 kiloton nuclear missile, the largest tactical nuclear weapon, which can only be launched by purpose-built silos to attack either surface or orbital targets. Peacemakers have similar flight characteristics to the Kraken-T capital missile, and when operating in an atmosphere have a maximum range of 10,000 kilometers, which they can travel in a little over twenty-three minutes.[3]

References

  1. Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 131
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 134
  3. Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 135

Bibliography