Spartan Laser
Excerpt from long-term, in-field interview with the soldiers of E2-BAG/1/7.
Weapon/Anti-Vehicle Model 6 Grindell/Galileian Nonlinear Rifle (W/AV M6 G/GNR)
Official designation: M6 G/GNR
Length (o/a): 98.8 cm (38.9 in.)
Length (barrel): [censored]
Weight (empty): 19.07 kg (42 lbs)
Weight (loaded): 20.4 kg (45 lbs)
Cartridge: [censored]
Max. effective range: [censored]
Muzzle velocity: 299792458 m/s (983 571 056 f/s)
Magazine capacity: [censored]
Rate of fire: semi-automatic only
Unit Replacement cost: cR. 218000.00
Description:
The M6 G/GNR is a [censored] type laser. It can be used in both anti-vehicle and antipersonnel roles. The weapon has an integrated Wyrd III optics suite (smart-linked).
Observations:
Soldiers appreciate the range, accuracy, and target effect. They view the effect of “our own directed energy weapon” as a combat multiplier due to the psychological impact on combatants that viewed the destruction of the target.
Remarks:
“The M6 is a splendid special application anti-vehicle slash anti-materiel weapon – even if it is a little on the heavy side. The imprudent use of this weapon in the antipersonnel role, which is to say, against non high-value targets –
grunts or
drones for example -- is strongly discouraged.”
“I engaged an enemy
chopper at a range of [censored] meters. The target immediately erupted into flames. Both vehicle and rider were eliminated.”
“My spotter positively identified the local bravo kilo sub-chieftain. I engaged the target at [censored] meters. The shot burned an approximately [censored] diameter hole through the target and severely damaged the
mauler he had just dismounted.”
“The M6 is one of those rare systems that simultaneously boosts morale, degrades the fighting spirit of the enemy and actually performs admirably as a weapon.”
“Because of their cost and complexity the (M6 G/GNR) and like systems are not going to find widespread adoption. They will remain specialist weapons, at least for the foreseeable future.
“During action on grid [censored] , [censored] a pair of Banshees were harassing our left flank. Our anti-air element was suppressed so I opened a request for fire support. A beam struck the trailing Banshee. The canopy separated from the fuselage and the pilot spilled out right before it burst into flames and pin-wheeled in.”
“The shot entered the rear of the P
hantom, killing three
Brutes and injuring two others.”
“The equipment required (PP-16979/AM-Sh) to recharge the non-removable battery (BA-53635/PLMD) for the M6 G/GNR does not and never has shipped with the weapon – and for some dang reason I’ve never seen them ship at the same time. Do people not realize that they are two different pieces of equipment?”
This End Toward Enemy
The Spartan Laser is one of the most powerful weapons available to our UNSC personnel on the ground. Heavy to lift, slow to fire and incredibly powerful, the laser's main purpose is to serve as an anti-vehicle weapon. It is capable of bringing down virtually any vehicle that you can expect to encounter on the battlefield. Along with its effectiveness against vehicles, the Spartan Laser's precision and power also make it a potent anti-personnel weapon, capable of scoring a kill with a single hit anywhere on an enemy.
The laser requires a quick three second charge before it’s able to fire, at which point it lets loose a red beam of light for a split second. Anything in the path of the laser will be destroyed, multiple enemies, vehicles and objects. Because of this you must be particularly careful of friendlies in the area, as they can be wounded or killed by exploding vehicles or the laser itself.
The Spartan Laser can be effectively implemented in the battlefield in numerous roles. It is an excellent defensive weapon, able to destroy reconnaissance, assault and support vehicles from great range, as well as demolish any foot soldiers. Offensively it can be used to compliment an assault of an enemy base, destroying enemy vehicles so that they are unable to mount a serious counter-attack to a Warthog assault as well as taking down critical targets from a distance.
Seeing Red
Valhalla
The Spartan Laser has seen extensive use in the field at
Valhalla, where it is available atop a hill in the middle of the region. As is well-known of Valhalla, by this point, control of this hill is imperative and can decide the battle. A skilled Spartan wielding the laser can effectively suppress an enemy team of four for a short period of time from that position. Whether it be sniping personnel as they shoot off of the mancannon or destroying vehicles attempting to escape, the Spartan Laser is instrumental in the control of the mid-field of Valhalla.
The fear factor of this weapon has also become part of its feature set. There’s nothing quite like a small red beam of light bearing down on your vehicle to dissuade you from leaving a safe area. Because the weapon doesn’t discharge a significant amount of energy until it is actually fired, you can simply “paint” enemies instead of expending a shot on them. It serves all the purposes of suppressing fire without ever needing to fire an actual shot, since you only have a limited number and you'll want to be careful with them.
High Ground
Within the base at
High Ground, the Spartan Laser is available atop the camouflage tower overlooking the beach. Because the assaulting Warthogs and Mongi will not likely come until the gate is open, as well as the likelihood that the enemy team’s sniper will be focused on that camo tower to start with, it’s not always worth rushing. Once the attackers have the gate open, however, the laser will be your best hope for taking down an incoming ‘hog before it reaches the base, if you’re in position.
If the attacking team gains control of the Spartan Laser on High Ground, its greatest advantage to an attacking team is the fact that it is in your hands. You can attack the base without worrying about being destroyed before ever getting inside. Because the base is a tight-quarters area, attackers will find the laser most useful to cover their retreat back to the beach with the objective. The defending team may have a Mongoose and/or a Ghost available to them to pursue the attacking team, but the laser will put a quick end to that as well as those charging out from the gate who don’t notice the thin red beam light tracking them.
I love you,
Bungie...
Also, I'm thinking that the italicised words are just words that are not official, aka slang used by the soldiers. I'll have to check out the rest of the articles and see how they handled that. Maybe a mauler is just another name for a Ghost... but then again "Ghost" isn't official either... I mean they did italicise Phantom.