Editing Ordnance Types

==Overview==
Prior to the formation of the [[Star League]], a '''Universal Ordnance Rating Standard''' was achieved as a means of broadly comparing all military conventional explosives of the same general size using a single letter code.  Those letters on the lower end of the scale represent minor explosives such as micro-grenades, while those on the higher end represent large artillery rounds such as mortars and missiles.  While larger sizes do exist, they represent vehicular-scale weapons, and besides high-explosives each category includes diverse alternate payloads.<ref>''A Time of War'', p. 279</ref>

==Types and Classes==
{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
!Type
!Class A
!Class B
!Class C
!Class D
!Class E
|-
|Anti-Personnel<ref name=atowp>''A Time of War'', pp. 282–284</ref>
|X
|X
|X
|X
|X
|-
|Air-Burst<ref name=atowp/>
|
|
|
|X
|X
|-
|Anti-Vehicle<ref name=atowp/>
|
|
|X
|X
|X
|-
|FASCAM<ref name=atowp/>
|
|
|
|X
|X
|-
|Flare<ref name=atowp/>
|X
|X
|X
|X
|X
|-
|Flash<ref name=atowp/>
|X
|X
|X
|X
|X
|-
|Gas<ref name=atowp/>
|X
|X
|X
|X
|X
|-
|Guided<ref name=atowp/>
|
|
|
|X
|X
|-
|High-Explosive<ref name=atowp/>
|X
|X
|X
|X
|X
|-
|Inferno<ref name=atowp/>
|
|X
|X
|X
|X
|-
|NARC<ref name=atowp/>
|
|
|X
|X
|X
|-
|Smoke<ref name=atowp/>
|X
|X
|X
|X
|X
|-
|Stun<ref name=atowp/>
|X
|X
|X
|X
|X
|}

==Class==
{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
!Ordnance Class
!Typical Weapon
|-
|A
|Very small and weak ordnance, such as "button-bombs" favored by spies and saboteurs. The [[Microgrenade]] falls under this category as well.<ref name=LOS35>''LosTech: The MechWarrior Equipment Guide'', p. 35</ref>
|-
|B
|Small explosive charges, such as light-weight grenades and those used in [[Compact Grenade Launcher]]s.<ref name=LOS35/>
|-
|C
|Standard [[grenade]]-sized charges, small enough to be carried by hand and thrown.<ref name=LOS35/>
|-
|D
|Large charges too heavy to be thrown by hand, including mortar and recoilless rifle rounds.<ref name=LOS35/>
|-
|E
|The largest class size, represents most mines and heavy support weapons with a wide area of effect.<ref name=LOS35/>
|}

==Types==
{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
!Ordnance Type
!Description
|-
|Anti-Personnel
|Favored against conventional [[infantry]] forces, AP rounds cause damage through concussion and shrapnel, and are useful in house-clearing operations since they won't penetrate through walls.<ref name=LOS35>''LosTech: The MechWarrior Equipment Guide'', p. 35</ref>
|-
|Air-Burst
|These mortar rounds explode anywhere from two to five meters above the ground, showering the area below with deadly shrapnel.  This ability to ignore certain protective cover like foxholes and sandbag barriers comes at the cost of armor penetration and explosive potential.<ref name=CE20>''Combat Equipment'', p. 20</ref>
|-
|Anti-Vehicle
|A concentrated shaped charge is used to penetrate the armor on [[combat vehicle]]s and other hard targets, but it has a reduced blast radius compared to other explosives and must strike the target at a particular angle to be effective.<ref name=LOS35/>
|-
|FASCAM
|FASCAM (Field Artillery Scatterable Mines) ordnance scatters submunitions over the target area by exploding thanks to a timed fuse.  Size of resulting minefield depends on the size of the munition.<ref name=LOS36>''LosTech: The MechWarrior Equipment Guide'', p. 36</ref>
|-
|Flare
|Flare ordnance is launched into the air to illuminate the target area, while a small parachute keeps it airborne for several minutes.<ref name=LOS36/>
|-
|Flash
|Flash rounds produce brilliant light which can blind anyone within the target area; however protective visors and [[battle armor]] provide full immunity against this effect.<ref name=LOS36/>
|-
|Gas
|This ordnance releases a toxic and incapacitating gas which causes choking, sneezing and eye irritation.  Those with protective filter equipment are immune to the effect, although other types of toxic chemicals can be loaded into these rounds.<ref name=LOS36/><ref>''DropShips and JumpShips: Operations Manual'', p. 59 (PDF p. 142)</ref>
|-
|Guided
|These mortar rounds were developed by the [[Free Worlds League]] using technology from the [[Semi-Guided LRM]] project, homing in on any target marked with a [[Target Acquisition Gear|TAG]] or [[light TAG]].  These rounds function as normal in the absence of any TAG designation or targeting spotter and can be combined with air-bursting capability.<ref name=CE20>''Combat Equipment'', p. 20</ref>
|-
|High-Explosive
|The most common type of ordnance.  Delivers a potent explosive blast useful as anti-vehicle and anti-emplacement weapon.<ref name=LOS36/>
|-
|Inferno
|[[Inferno (Missile)|Inferno]] rounds explode in midair above a target area, dispersing a highly flammable liquid such as napalm.  Setting fire to anything within the area, they are especially designed to raise the heat levels of [[BattleMechs]].<ref name=LOS36/>
|-
|Narc Beacon
|[[Narc]] Beacons attach themselves to the target and emit a guidance signal for friendly missiles.<ref name=LOS36/>
|-
|Smoke
|This ordnance releases a dense white smoke cloud which limits the ability to see and fire upon anything protected by its concealment.<ref name=LOS36/>
|-
|Stun
|These rounds produce a blinding flash and deafening sound used to disorient anyone within a target area.  Those with proper protective gear or in battle armor are better protected against this effect.<ref name=LOS36/>
|}

==Anti-Personnel Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
This table applies to Anti-Personnel grenades and infantry scale artillery. The AP factor by design is lower to prevent unnecessary, or unwanted collateral damage, as these ordnances are usually intended for in house fighting.<ref name=atowp/>
{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Damage
! Mass
|-
| A
| 2X/8A
| 200 g
|-
| B
| 3X/10A
| 450 g
|-
| C
| 4X/12A
| 600 g
|-
| D
| 4X/13A
| 2 kg
|-
| E
| 4X/14A
| 4 kg
|}

==Air Burst Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Air burst ordnances aren't feasible to use in a standard grenade sized package. As a result they are generally only fired by mortars and artillery type weaponry, and only have two classes.<ref name=atowp/> These ignore ground level cover, such as walls, and other fieldwork. It does NOT ignore cover above the target however, vertical cover can still apply, usually in the case of a building.

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Damage
! Mass
|-
| D
| 5X/10A
| 2 kg
|-
| E
| 5X/11A
| 4 kg
|}

==Anti-Vehicle Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Anti-Vehicle ordnance is intended to penetrate armor at a localized area. This type of ordnance has a maximum effective radius of one meter, unlike most other ordnance which taper off armor penetration and body damage over distance. Grenade variants of this ordnance are available, if uncommon in the C grade.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Damage
! Mass
|-
| C
| 8X/10A
| 1 kg
|-
| D
| 8X/11A
| 3 kg
|-
| E
| 8X/12A
| 5 kg
|}

==FASCAM Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
This table is for field scatterable mines. This is different than vehicular scale [[Thunder LRM]]s, if only because these are infantry scale mortars and artillery. These apply density 2 minefields at the location of scatter.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Scatter Radius
! Mass
|-
| D
| 3 meters
| 3 kg
|-
| E
| 5 meters
| 5 kg
|}

==Flare Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Flares are of common use in warfare, anywhere where darkness is. Flares in BattleTech have a burn time of 25 seconds in the Universal Table. The key differences between classes are their illumination radii, and deployment method.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Illumination Radius
! Mass
|-
| A
| 50 Meters
| 200 g
|-
| B
| 75 Meters
| 450 g
|-
| C
| 100 Meters
| 600 g
|-
| D
| 200 Meters
| 2 kg
|-
| E
| 300 Meters
| 4 kg
|}

==Flash Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Flash ordnance is designed to blind targets within the effect radius of the "explosion". These are commonly used by police and security forces but aren't too common on the modern battlefield, as most conventional combat helmets (with a flash BAR of 3, advanced helmets at 7) are designed to protect the user from this ordnance.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Damage
! Mass
|-
| A
| 2S/2AD
| 200 g
|-
| B
| 3S/3AD
| 450 g
|-
| C
| 4S/4AD
| 600 g
|-
| D
| 5S/5AD
| 2 kg
|-
| E
| 7S/7AD
| 4 kg
|}

==Gas Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Gas ordnance can be anything from the relatively innocuous [[Tear Gas]] to [[Biological Weapons|Weapons of Mass Destruction]]. The Universal Ordnance table covers tear gas, since it's relatively common, but other gases and toxins can be substituted for different damage and environmental protection penetration ratings.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Damage
! Mass
! Effect Radius
|-
| A
| 1S/5ACD
| 200 g
| 3 Meters
|-
| B
| 1S/5ACD
| 450 g
| 6 Meters
|-
| C
| 1S/5ACD
| 600 g
| 9 Meters
|-
| D
| 1S/5ACD
| 2 kg
| 12 Meters
|-
| E
| 1S/5ACD
| 4 kg
| 15 Meters
|}

==Guided Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Guided ordnance is common to the [[Free Worlds League]], and is very similar to most other conventional ordnance, except that these types of ordnance can be partially "guided in" to improve accuracy of the warhead. As a result, of course, this is only relevant in artillery units.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Damage
! Mass
|-
| D
| 5X/10A
| 2 kg
|-
| E
| 5X/11A
| 4 kg
|}

==High Explosive Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
This is the "standard" ordnance type which has universal application. Unlike the Anti-Personnel ordnance, this type of ordnance is designed to destroy everything it comes in contact with, regardless of its hardness. This ensures higher penetrative power against armored targets, but less overall damage to soft targets. This type of ordnance is very common in all-purpose landmines, as well as general purpose artillery, and are especially useful when hammering a static target.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Damage
! Mass
|-
| A
| 4X/6A
| 200 g
|-
| B
| 5X/8A
| 450 g
|-
| C
| 6X/10A
| 600 g
|-
| D
| 6X/11A
| 2 kg
|-
| E
| 6X/12A
| 4 kg
|}

==Inferno Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Inferno ordnances are special fuel-air mixtures which stick to a target and burn on contact with atmosphere. Essentially napalm on steroids. This type of ordnance depending on the conditions can burn from anywhere to 4 minutes, to 24 minutes (though this is generally halved in wet weather).<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Damage
! Mass
|-
| B
| 3E/3ACS
| 450 g
|-
| C
| 3E/5ACS
| 600 g
|-
| D
| 3E/7ACS
| 2 kg
|-
| E
| 3E/9ACS
| 4 kg
|}

==[[NARC]] Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Infantry, and most small scale artillery can throw, fire, or in general find a way to attach a NARC beacon to a target. This can be used to assist other Narc capable weapons in finding the target.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Hit chance improvement
! Mass
|-
| C
| +1 to infantry portable NARC missiles
| 1 kg
|-
| D
| +2 to infantry portable NARC missiles
| 3 kg
|-
| E
| +3 to infantry portable NARC missiles
| 5 kg
|}

== Smoke Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Smoke is another common ordnance type used on battlefields, from providing visual cover to marking units in distress. Smoke usually lasts anywhere from 4 minutes to 24 minutes, unless high wind is present.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Effect Radius
! Mass
|-
| A
| 3 meters
| 200 g
|-
| B
| 6 meters
| 450 g
|-
| C
| 9 meters
| 600 g
|-
| D
| 12 meters
| 2 kg
|-
| E
| 15 meters
| 4 kg
|}

== Stun Universal Ordnance Rating Table==
Stun ordnances are designed to be nonlethal explosives intended to "shock" a target with a sudden "bang" in a way that they are stunned and unable to react to what comes next. This is common to most police forces and special force units. Artillery scale versions are available, but are rarely fielded except in case of riots.<ref name=atowp/>

{|class="wikitable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Class
! Damage
! Mass
|-
| B
| 1S/8AD
| 450 g
|-
| C
| 1S/10AD
| 600 g
|-
| D
| 1S/12AD
| 2 kg
|-
| E
| 1S/14AD
| 4 kg
|}

==Notes==
Armor piercing and damage values value of these types of weapons diminish by 1 for every meter away the target is from the center of the explosion down to 0, where the target is not in range of the explosion. 

0 Armor Piercing can still deal damage, if the target is unarmored, or the target is wearing armor of a BAR insufficient to negate the explosion at 0 AP.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Combat Equipment]]''
* ''[[DropShips and JumpShips]]''
* ''[[Lostech: The MechWarrior Equipment Guide]]''
* ''[[A Time of War]]''


[[Category:Explosives| Ordnance Types]]