Component:mk-66-cannon
In Game Description
A heavy gun battery for anti-ship warfare, typically found standard issue on capital ships like cruisers or battleships. Despite its monstrous firepower, the Mk66 is fairly slow to acquire targets and has low muzzle velocity, but provides decent accuracy and a quick reload time for its weight class.
Best used in medium to short-range engagements on slow targets where the full explosive power of the guns can best be put to full effect. Fires 450mm chemical-ballistic shells.
Stats
| Mk66 Cannon | |
|---|---|
| Faction | ANS |
| Cost | 45 pts |
| Dimensions | 6x3x6 (C4) |
| Hitpoints | 450 |
| Hitpoints to Function | 30 |
| Damage Threshold | 40 |
| Mass | 25 Tonnes |
| DC Priority | Medium |
| Accuracy Marks | 44m @ 5km 87m @ 10km |
| Role | Offensive |
| Integrated FC | No |
| Optical Backup | Yes |
| Compatible Ammo Types | Ballistic/Chemical - 450mm |
| Autoloader Capacity | 2 |
| Recycle Time | 0.5 s |
| Reload Time | 20 s |
| Fire Rate | 5.9 RPM |
| Power | -200 (kW) |
| Traverse Rate | 7.5 deg/s |
| Elevation Rate | 15 deg/s |
| Elevation Limits | +40 deg., -5 deg. |
Lore
After the dust settled with the Graznovians, the Mk57 went the way of the Trident interceptor and found itself on the Naval Office's butcher's block with the cleaver dangling perilously close to its neck The Mk5X series was effective during the start of the conflict but it was proving to be too unwieldy as the 'Novians installed faster warship drives, something the Mk5X just couldn't keep up with. It was a fantastic (and expensive) piece of artillery that was better serving the Marines, which it eventually did once the ANO decided on a course of action regarding shipboard artillery.
The Mk66 became a hot ticket item at the Appropriations Summit and it was billed as the next big ting in anti-ship artillery batteries. Is it improved over the Mk57? Hell no. The rotation speed is a marginal improvement and the loading system is still the same. The real change here is in the barrel- the Naval Office cut it down a lot and put the extra weight savings into a thicker barrel. Even with rifling, this leaves a lot to be desired for accuracy but, in return, you can pack a far greater ignition pressure without having to worry about barrel integrity. More pressure means more powerderburn efficiency, which means higher speeds and better penetration.
It's not a bad thing, mind you, the Mk66 is accurate enough to put a serious hole into a reactor bay if you aim it properly but, being an artillery piece, don't expect it to thread the needle.
- T. Meadows, LT
