Plasma blastgun
The Plasma Blastgun is a Plasma Weapon employed by the Imperium. Generally used against Titans, the Plasma Blastgun can devastate swaths of the battlefield with its superheated blasts of energy. Able to be mounted on almost all imperial Titans[1a][1b][2][3], this weapon is also the main armament on the Stormblade[4] super-heavy battle tank, first developed on Ryza, a forgeworld famous for its mastery of plasma weapons.
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Background
The Plasma Blastgun uses the same technology as its smaller cousins, the Plasma Pistol, Gun, and Cannon, but on a massive scale. Like all plasma-based weaponry, the Plasma Blastgun is considered a lost relic of technology, even though it is part of the most common load-out on the Warhound Scout Titan. Unlike its temperamental little brother, the Plasma destroyer[5], the Plasma Blastgun does not suffer from catastrophic overheating, possibly due to the large coolant systems required to maintain its massive mount vehicle's engines. It also has more tactical flexibility than most weapons used against Titans, due to its ability to either release an almighty blast of star-hot plasma, or several smaller bolt-shots to devastate infantry[1]. The Plasma Blastgun is too large a weapon for an independent source of plasma or gas for its supply of ammunition, so it almost always draws directly from its mount chassis's plasma reactor to fire[6].
Known Patterns
Mars Pattern Plasma Blastgun
Found on Mars Pattern Warhound Scout Titans,[7], this weapon draws its power from the Titan's main reactor.[1b][6]
Ryza Pattern Plasma Blastgun
The main armament of the Stormblade,[8] Ryza-pattern blastguns are powered by massive photonic fuel cells and kept under control by a massive cooling system, making it a highly stable system.[4]
Omega Pattern Plasma Blastgun
A variant of the more common Ryza pattern, the Omega pattern blastgun was recovered in M39 by Explorator Vaslistle Hum'nal, though doctrinal argument within the Adeptus Mechanicus would prevent its field testing and development for centuries. The weapon uses a more compact generator design and force crucible which is easier to manufacture and repair and can be mounted in smaller war machines such as the Macharius, but also generates more heat and is less stable than the Ryza pattern. Regardless the weapon's benefits outweigh its drawbacks and is constructed on Lucius, Hellgrace and Dynax Primus.[8]
Sources
- 1: Apocalypse
- 2: http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/pdf (reaver)
- 3: http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?categoryId=cat60005a&aId=3400020 (Imperial Datasheet - Emperor Battle Titan)
- 4: Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy, Pg. 99
- 5: Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition), [Needs Citation]
- 6: Titanicus (Novel), [Needs Citation]
- 7: Mars Pattern Plasma Blastgun
- 8: Imperial Armour - Apocalypse Second Edition, Pg. 20
Related Articles
| Scout Types | Knight • Paladin • Errant • Knight Lancer • Crusader • Castellan • Baron • Warhound |
|---|---|
| Battle Types | Reaver • Warlord • Emperor • Imperator • Warmonger |
| Close Combat Weapons | Close Combat Weapons |
| Ranged Weapons | Apocalypse Missile Launcher • Gatling Blaster • Inferno gun • Hellstorm Cannon • Melta Cannon • Plasma annihilator • Plasma blastgun • Plasma Destructor • Quake Cannon • Thermal Cannon • Turbo-laser Destructor • Volcano cannon • Vulcan Mega-bolter |
| Adeptus Mechanicus | Collegia Titanica |