Errreembuhr
CEO of EODD
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To provide a heavy cannon to replace the ET-6 battery in EODD ships
Image Source: curux
Canon Link: N/A
Primary Source: Separatist flagship deck cannon, ET-6 Turbolaser Battery
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Manufacturer: EODD
Affiliation: Closed-Market
Model: EDC Mk.2 Deck Cannon
Modularity: N/A
Production: Minor
Material: Alusteel, Hadrium, Electronics
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Classification: Electrothermal Cannon
- Size: Large
- Weight: Heavy
- Ammunition Type: Ionized Projectiles
- Ammunition Capacity: Dependent on ship size
- Reload Speed: Average
- Effective Range: Personal
- Rate of Fire: Low
- Stopping Power: Very High
- Recoil: Average
- Automatic ammunition feed system
- Plasma-driven rounds feature excellent ship armor penetration
- Recoil-mitigating struts
- Hadrium-lined barrel to mitigate internal damage
- Damage Combination: The EDC Mk.2 operates as a dedicated anti-capital ship weapon, utilizing plasma charges in its ammunition to fire highly ionized solid projectiles at great speed. This allows it to not only punch holes in enemy ships kinetically, but the ion charge gives it similar properties to an ion cannon, disrupting electronics and causing heat damage to ship components.
- Low Power Requirements: Despite being a mass driver cannon primarily, unlike those that use electromagnets to propel their rounds the Mk.2 uses ammunition that is propelled via plasma charge, meaning that it consumes much less energy from its host ship than turbolasers or even standard mass drivers, leaving it capable of continuous fire even with minimal power allocated to weapons.
- Recoil Mitigation: Mass drivers always carry with them recoil, especially heavier ones, and the Mk.2 is no different. This weakness however was mitigated in design by the inclusion of containment struts, holding the weapon steady as it kicks back after firing a round. While it will still have recoil, it is instead driven down more than it is back, and locked into place by the struts to limit this See weaknesses for further details.
- Fire Rate: While the struts work to mitigate the weapon’s recoil, by forcing the weapon down and locking it into place it is disconnected from the feed system, meaning that the lock needs to be released and the weapon raised back into firing position to reconnect and load another round.
- Range: The ion charge is limited in its duration, fading away quicker the further the round passes from the cannon. This means that to achieve full effectiveness the firing ship must be very close to its target, making them vulnerable to incoming fire.
- Strut Vulnerability: The recoil struts aren’t armored, and can only withstand as much damage as their alusteel construction allows. Destroying even one strut will render the weapon inoperable, and minimal damage can put it at risk of failure without repairs.
- Fixed Aim: Due to its design as a deck cannon rather than a turret, the Mk.2 can only fire directly forward, meaning that its holding ship must maneuver to put their target directly in front of them in order to fire for effect.
While the ET-6 was a solid option for anti-capital ship duties, it ultimately proved too large, too heavy, and too vulnerable to failure for expanded use, meaning that sales were abysmal. As an alternative, production on the EDC Mk.2 began, with the goal being to replace the ET-6 among EODD-made ships and improve on its capabilities. To this end, rather than a massive 6-barrel turbolaser battery, the Mk.2 was designed as a single-barrel weapon combining the destructive and penetration capabilities of a mass driver cannon with the disruptive qualities of an ion cannon.
Utilizing heavy shells with a chemical propellent, the Mk.2 operates primarily as a mass driver cannon, applying a small electrical charge to the propellent which fires the shell at approximately 2.5km/s, allowing it to close distance with its target quickly. This is not its only capacity, however, as while the round is ignited, it is also heavily ionized, providing it with the ability to disrupt enemy electronics and carry immense heat. Of course a round fired at these speeds would require its gun to carry high recoil, which is the case, however the inclusion of a system of struts mitigates this recoil by pushing the weapon down and locking it into place after firing, returning it to its firing position after the lock is broken.
Hadrium alloy is used in the construction of the barrel, a metal that provides excellent heat resistance, which prevents the ion charge from warping the weapon itself, a major concern in the development stage. This and alusteel are the primary metals used, leaving it without proper armor plating, so a hit to the weapon’s struts will be enough to cripple it. Since it’s intended use is within a ship, however, the design team figured this wouldn’t be too much of a concern, and produced it as-is. When utilized properly, the Mk.2 can provide exceptional firepower at close range, a solid threat to enemy ships.
