Difference between revisions of "Bolt weapon"
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− | The ''' | + | The '''bolt weapon''' is the characteristic weapon type of the [[Space Marines]] and [[Sisters of Battle]]; they are also used in more limited numbers throughout the [[Imperium]]'s armed forces. Bolt weapons are purposefully unsubtle weapons, with very obvious and bloody effects. |
==Operation== | ==Operation== | ||
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[[Image:Paquetage(W40K).png|right|thumb|Backpack with Belt Feed]] | [[Image:Paquetage(W40K).png|right|thumb|Backpack with Belt Feed]] | ||
[[Image:Bolterlourd.png|right|thumb|Heavy Bolter, with Belt Feed]] | [[Image:Bolterlourd.png|right|thumb|Heavy Bolter, with Belt Feed]] | ||
− | Bolt | + | Bolt weapons are smoothbore, semi- and fully-automatic guns that fire a two-stage projectile known as bolts. The bolt is more a miniature explosive rocket than a conventional bullet. As the round leaves the barrel, the bolt's tiny rocket is ignited, which carries the warhead forward and imparts a stabilizing spin. In a conventional firearm, the projectile begins to lose velocity as soon as it leaves the barrel. A bolt, however, continues to accelerate throughout its trajectory due to the additional thrust. |
− | + | The standard bolt weapon is the '''bolter''' (or '''"boltgun"''') and any reference to a bolter will be the same or similar for other bolt weapons. | |
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− | The standard bolt weapon is the '''bolter''' (or '''"boltgun"''') and any reference to a bolter will be the same or similar for other | ||
The bolter has two advantages over a conventional firearm. Firstly, the amount of propellant required for the first stage is relatively small. This means that with the standard .75 caliber (about 20mm), the recoil is negligible when compared to a conventional projectile weapon of equivalent caliber. Secondly, recoil is further reduced by the smoothbore design of the bolter. Because spin is imparted by the rocket engine after the bolt exits the barrel, there is no need for rifling. The counter to this, however, comes from the fact that bolts are less powerful at closer ranges, as they need time to accelerate to top speed. | The bolter has two advantages over a conventional firearm. Firstly, the amount of propellant required for the first stage is relatively small. This means that with the standard .75 caliber (about 20mm), the recoil is negligible when compared to a conventional projectile weapon of equivalent caliber. Secondly, recoil is further reduced by the smoothbore design of the bolter. Because spin is imparted by the rocket engine after the bolt exits the barrel, there is no need for rifling. The counter to this, however, comes from the fact that bolts are less powerful at closer ranges, as they need time to accelerate to top speed. | ||
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The standard ammunition employed by the Space Marines is a mass reactive warhead, which has earned the bolter its reputation as a terror weapon. A millisecond fuse detonates the warhead after it has penetrated the target, however at extremely close range the bolts are known to pass through the target, only putting a hole in the target the size of the round and exploding behind it. Against soft tissue the effect is particularly gruesome, and many enemies of the Emperor quickly capitulate after seeing the results of bolter fire on their comrades. It is possible that the creation of this projectile was motivated by the ancient first encounters with the alien [[Orks]], whose massive frames and tendency to ignore pain render solid projectiles ineffective. This standard bolt is also effective against light armoured vehicles. | The standard ammunition employed by the Space Marines is a mass reactive warhead, which has earned the bolter its reputation as a terror weapon. A millisecond fuse detonates the warhead after it has penetrated the target, however at extremely close range the bolts are known to pass through the target, only putting a hole in the target the size of the round and exploding behind it. Against soft tissue the effect is particularly gruesome, and many enemies of the Emperor quickly capitulate after seeing the results of bolter fire on their comrades. It is possible that the creation of this projectile was motivated by the ancient first encounters with the alien [[Orks]], whose massive frames and tendency to ignore pain render solid projectiles ineffective. This standard bolt is also effective against light armoured vehicles. | ||
− | ==Types of | + | ==Types of bolt weapon== |
− | + | Available bolt weapons include: | |
*[[Bolt pistol]] | *[[Bolt pistol]] | ||
*[[Boltgun]] | *[[Boltgun]] | ||
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*[[Vulcan Mega-bolter]] | *[[Vulcan Mega-bolter]] | ||
− | ==Bolt | + | ==Bolt ammunition== |
The Tech-Priests of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] have developed many types of bolter ammunition over the millennia. The most common variants are: | The Tech-Priests of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] have developed many types of bolter ammunition over the millennia. The most common variants are: | ||
Revision as of 10:51, 10 February 2010
Ranged | Close Combat |
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The bolt weapon is the characteristic weapon type of the Space Marines and Sisters of Battle; they are also used in more limited numbers throughout the Imperium's armed forces. Bolt weapons are purposefully unsubtle weapons, with very obvious and bloody effects.
Operation
Bolt weapons are smoothbore, semi- and fully-automatic guns that fire a two-stage projectile known as bolts. The bolt is more a miniature explosive rocket than a conventional bullet. As the round leaves the barrel, the bolt's tiny rocket is ignited, which carries the warhead forward and imparts a stabilizing spin. In a conventional firearm, the projectile begins to lose velocity as soon as it leaves the barrel. A bolt, however, continues to accelerate throughout its trajectory due to the additional thrust.
The standard bolt weapon is the bolter (or "boltgun") and any reference to a bolter will be the same or similar for other bolt weapons.
The bolter has two advantages over a conventional firearm. Firstly, the amount of propellant required for the first stage is relatively small. This means that with the standard .75 caliber (about 20mm), the recoil is negligible when compared to a conventional projectile weapon of equivalent caliber. Secondly, recoil is further reduced by the smoothbore design of the bolter. Because spin is imparted by the rocket engine after the bolt exits the barrel, there is no need for rifling. The counter to this, however, comes from the fact that bolts are less powerful at closer ranges, as they need time to accelerate to top speed.
The bolter is complex to produce and requires dedicated maintenance, which prevents it being issued more widely throughout the Imperial Guard. It is far more susceptible to corrosion and mishandling than the basic Lasgun issued to Guardsmen. Bolters also require far more logistic organization than the standard lasgun - the lasgun is easily rechargeable whereas the bolter requires constant resupply.
The standard ammunition employed by the Space Marines is a mass reactive warhead, which has earned the bolter its reputation as a terror weapon. A millisecond fuse detonates the warhead after it has penetrated the target, however at extremely close range the bolts are known to pass through the target, only putting a hole in the target the size of the round and exploding behind it. Against soft tissue the effect is particularly gruesome, and many enemies of the Emperor quickly capitulate after seeing the results of bolter fire on their comrades. It is possible that the creation of this projectile was motivated by the ancient first encounters with the alien Orks, whose massive frames and tendency to ignore pain render solid projectiles ineffective. This standard bolt is also effective against light armoured vehicles.
Types of bolt weapon
Available bolt weapons include:
Bolt ammunition
The Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus have developed many types of bolter ammunition over the millennia. The most common variants are:
- Standard Bolts comprise the following components: Outer casing, propellant base, main charge, mass reactive detonator cap, depleted uranium core, diamantine tip. The standard bolter shell is standardized at .75 caliber, whereas heavy bolter rounds are larger, at 1.00 Cal. A replica .75 cal bolt shell can be bought from the Black Library (Games-Workshops main fiction and non-miniature based outlet).
- Hellfire Rounds have devastating results on organic matter, as the rounds are developed to combat Tyranids. The core and tip are replaced with a vial of mutagenic acid with thousands of needles that fire into target upon the shattering of the vial, pumping the acid into the target.
- Stalker Silenced Shells are rounds with low sound signatures, meant for covert fighting and used in conjunction with an M40 targeting system and an extended barrel and stock on a bolter to produce a sniping weapon system. A solidified mercury slug replaces the mass-reactive warhead for lethality at sub-sonic projectile speed. A gas cartridge also replaces both the propellant base and main charge for silent firing.
- Inferno Bolts are designed to immolate their targets and destroy them with superheated chemical fire. The uranium core is replaced with an oxy-phosphorus gel, known as Promethium. It should be noted that the Chaos Space Marine Thousand Sons have their own similarly-named but unrelated type of inferno bolts, which are actually psychically-bound slugs that release arcane energies; these slugs explode with sorcerous energies upon impact.
- Odysseus Bolts are bolts which are psychically impregnated. Fired into large objects, the distinctive signature of the bolt can then be tracked through the Warp by an Astropath.
- Metal Storm Frag Shells are best against multiple lightly-armoured targets. They detonate before impact and spray shrapnel, shredding their victims. A proximity detonator replaces the mass-reactive cap, and the diamantine tip and uranium core are replaced with an increased charge and fragmentation casing. They are similar to flak rounds and are used against clusters of enemies.
- Kraken Pattern Penetrator Rounds are powerful armour-piercing rounds. The uranium core is replaced by a solid adamantine core and uses a heavier main charge. Upon impact, the outer casing peels away and the high velocity adamantium needle accelerates into the victim, where the larger detonator propels shards of super hardened metal further into the wound. These are effective against heavily-armoured infantry.
- Psycannon Bolts are used by the Inquisition, primarily the Ordo Malleus and Grey Knights. They are very similar in nature to the rounds fired by their namesake, the Psycannon, and are similarly used against psychic and daemonic targets. Of all the rounds these are the most expensive, as each and every bolt is inscribed with runes on a microscopic level. Other sources say that they contain an anti-psychic substance that still others claim is a byproduct of the Emperor's Golden Throne. The psychic nature of these rounds are not only effective at destroying daemonic targets but also highly efficient at piercing the powerful barriers created by forcefield generators (such as the Tau Shield Generator and the Imperium's own Iron Halo and Storm Shield).
1 : Propellant Base |
1 : In this bolt, |
1 : In this bolt, |
1: The main charge is |
1 : Mini-gyrostabilizer |
1 : Gas Cartridge |
Sources
External links
- Weapons of the Imperium: Bolter - Fanvideo