Las Weapons
From Lexicanum
Las weapons or Laser weapons is a name given to all Imperial and some Xeno laser based weapons. Imperial laser technology is relatively simple, most Imperial worlds possessing the technological base needed for their manufacture. Las weapons are cheap, easy to maintain and are some of the most reliable weapons of the Imperium. They are issued in vast numbers to the Imperial Guard in the form of the Lasgun and these are readily available on most Imperial worlds.
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Workings
Lasweapons emit a highly focused beam of light. The short duration high energy beam produces such a rapid temperature change on the target's surface that it vaporises in a small explosion.
Lasguns fire with a searing flash of light and a distinctive snap or crack, each pull of the trigger firing a single shot.
Rechargeable power packs feed the discharge generator. Power packs usually possess a highly efficient liquid metal core and vary from small internal packs for lasguns and pistols, to crate sized for lascannons and larger lasweapons. Most light power packs provide forty shots, compared to the lascannon packs which are good for only one shot. Lasweapons can be overpowered with "Hotshot" power packs, providing more power but less shots. Hotshot packs cannot easily be recharged and the extra stress put on the barrel requires much more maintenance. Power packs can be easily recharged by exposing them to heat, or sunlight through solar converters. In an emergency a pack can be placed in a fire and quickly recharged, although this method shortens the life of the pack and can destroy it altogether.
Most worlds produce their own distinct designs made of locally available materials. Many lasweapon designs include solar converters and various types of optic sights. Designs include derringer type pistols, highly ornate hand-crafted dueling pistols and the more robust versions issued to the Imperial Guard.
Types of Lasweapon
Lasgun
Main article: Lasgun
Lasguns are the most basic and common weapon in the Imperium. Almost every standard Imperial Guard Guardsman is armed with a lasgun and its use varies between regiments.
Laspistol
Main article: Laspistol
Laspistols are mainly used by lower ranking officers in the Imperial Guard, who are also often armed with Close Combat Weapons. Laspistols, being smaller, have a shorter range than the full size lasguns.
Lascannon
Main article: Lascannon
Lascannons are super-heavy varients of the lasgun, often seen on armoured vhicles and static implacements. They are highly effective at armour destruction but can also be used to vaporise strong individual targets.
Multi-laser
Main article: Multi-laser
Multi-lasers are fast firing, medium strength weapons mounted primarily on Sentinels. They are useful for taking out large numbers of infantry or lightly armoured vehicles such as transports and most Ork vehicles.
Turbo Laser
Main article: Turbo Laser
Turbo Lasers are massive versions of the lascannon, usually mounted on Titans and used for slicing enemy Titans and super-heavy vehicles into pieces.
Volcano Cannon
Main Article: Volcano Cannon
The Volcano Cannon is a Titan mounted weapon used for damaging other Titans and large creatures. It can also be mounted on some super heavy vehicles.
Hellgun
Main article: Hellgun
Hellguns are an enhanced version of the Lasgun with improved power and armour piercing capabilities. They are used by Storm Troopers.
Hellpistol
Main article: Hellpistol
Hellpistols are enhanced versions of the Laspistol, used by Storm Trooper Sergeants.
Xeno Las Weapons
Eldar Scatter Laser
Main article: Scatter Laser
The Scatter Laser is similar to the Imperial Multi-laser, being used in much the same on the battlefield, however the amount of shot fired is more random, but has the potential to surpass the Multi-laser in this way.
Eldar Lasblaster
The Lasblaster is a more efficient version of the standard Imperial lasgun, wielded by the Swooping Hawk Aspect Warriors.
Ork Zzap Gun
The Zzap Gun is the peak of Orky technology. It is a comparatively advanced weapon created and used by Ork Mekboys that fires a concentrated beam of energy, sliceing through anything in its path. Despite this it, like most advanced Ork technology, is unstable and liable to fail.
