Tegaea Alcori
Back to Square One
Rapier Guided Shell
Source: Here. Wikipedia, but picture is of real weapon.
Intent: To create a precision artillery round for use by Firemane. This round is a precursor to the artillery piece which will actually fire it. This weapon is based on the real life Excalibur Guided Shell, but with some changes and compensations to reflect the setting. Although powerfully accurate, it must be remembered that it has significant weaknesses when compared with more advanced Star Wars weapons.
The Rapier is a very accurate medium artillery shell, but it lacks the cheap and rapid firing nature of turbolasers or the excessive destruction of missiles. Instead it is a good battlefield middleground.
Development Thread: If necessary.
Manufacturer: Firemane Industries and Technology
Model: RA-AR-01
Affiliation: Silver Sanctum Coalition, Firemane/Tygara.
Modularity: Warhead can be changed, as noted below.
Production: Production: Minior. Cost and specific tactical impacts limits this from full production. Special rounds are Limited Production.
Material: Durasteel casing, explosive propellant and warhead. Shrapnel model contains shaped fragments. Penetrating model contains phosphorous. Gas model contains smoke or other gas. Ion model contains EMP charge.
Classification: Artillery shell.
Size: Support round.
Length: 105cm
Weight: 45kg
Ammunition Type: Explosive shell.
Ammunition Capacity: 1
Effective Range: 5-50km.
Rate of Fire: Single
Special Features:
The Rapier Precision Artillery Munition (RPAM) is a new shell designed by Firemane to meet a range of different situations.
The galaxy at present has an interesting situation when it comes to artillery. Direct firing laser and blaster cannons are effective but are limited by visibility and range. Missiles and rockets provide longer range, but require special launchers and lack in ammunition.
How to combine the two?
Firemane’s solution is to create an explosive shell which can be transported easily and fired from a mobile artillery piece. On the other hand, it would be as accurate as a launched missile, whilst being able to be used from the game gun as regular artillery munitions.
The Rapier’s accuracy comes from a small processor which is uploaded with detailed maps of the surrounding area. Targets are then designated via a secure link just before firing. If orbital ships or satellites are in orbit they can provide updated topography information. The targeting link is protected by the best encryption available.
Once a target is designated, the Rapier round is fired. The angle of elevation is usually high in order to give the guidance systems the maximum amount of time to correct course. The Rapier does have course correction options via fins, allowing it to precisely hone in on a target. This also allows it to target slow moving (less than 10km/h) targets as well as stationary ones. Anything faster will likely be too fast to intercept.
The on-board programming also allows the shell to potentially deviate towards better targets if targeting is set to open engagement rather than strictly one target. The maximum amount of deviation is 5km.
The accuracy the Rapier provides is staggering. In best case situations 95% of shells will impact within the blast radius at a range of up to 50km. This rises to 99.5% impacting within thirty metres of the target.
Though not what it is designed for, the Rapier can be fired over open sights; that is fired horizontally at the target at closer range. Doing so robs it of accuracy however and is not suggested.
The Rapier can have a variety of different warheads, based on tactical need. It is important to note however that these cannot be changed in the field, so planning must be used to ensure the right weapon is used for the job.
These include:
Airburst/Shrapnel – Even normally the Rapier can be programmed to explode at a certain height, but this model includes special fragmentation fletchettes which can be devastating to personnel in the area. The blast radius is about 25 metres.
Penetration – This model is designed not to explode on impact, but to penetrate before exploding. The shaping of the round is designed to direct the blast forwards, releasing high explosive and burning phosphorous into the target. This is typically used on buildings, bunkers or large vehicles.
Gas – This model contains a large compressed gas container and typically detonates in the air over the target. This releases either smoke or other gasses into the area, with a dispersion of 20-30 metres depending on wind. This can contain chemical or biological agents, though Firemane does not use these.
Ion – Instead of regular explosive, this model contains a powerful ion pulse, designed to fry or disrupt all droids or electronics in a radius of 30 metres. Shielded targets or those protected by thick walls will be resistant.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Primary Source: No SWRP canon source.
Source: Here. Wikipedia, but picture is of real weapon.
Intent: To create a precision artillery round for use by Firemane. This round is a precursor to the artillery piece which will actually fire it. This weapon is based on the real life Excalibur Guided Shell, but with some changes and compensations to reflect the setting. Although powerfully accurate, it must be remembered that it has significant weaknesses when compared with more advanced Star Wars weapons.
The Rapier is a very accurate medium artillery shell, but it lacks the cheap and rapid firing nature of turbolasers or the excessive destruction of missiles. Instead it is a good battlefield middleground.
Development Thread: If necessary.
Manufacturer: Firemane Industries and Technology
Model: RA-AR-01
Affiliation: Silver Sanctum Coalition, Firemane/Tygara.
Modularity: Warhead can be changed, as noted below.
Production: Production: Minior. Cost and specific tactical impacts limits this from full production. Special rounds are Limited Production.
Material: Durasteel casing, explosive propellant and warhead. Shrapnel model contains shaped fragments. Penetrating model contains phosphorous. Gas model contains smoke or other gas. Ion model contains EMP charge.
Classification: Artillery shell.
Size: Support round.
Length: 105cm
Weight: 45kg
Ammunition Type: Explosive shell.
Ammunition Capacity: 1
Effective Range: 5-50km.
Rate of Fire: Single
Special Features:
- Droid processor guided round with satellite linkage allows for exceptional accuracy.
- Targeting link has powerful encryption to prevent slicing.
- Warhead can be altered to provide different rounds for different situations.
- Has course correction capabilities via fins.
- Can be fired (less effectively) over open sights.
- Has some ion shielding.
The Rapier Precision Artillery Munition (RPAM) is a new shell designed by Firemane to meet a range of different situations.
The galaxy at present has an interesting situation when it comes to artillery. Direct firing laser and blaster cannons are effective but are limited by visibility and range. Missiles and rockets provide longer range, but require special launchers and lack in ammunition.
How to combine the two?
Firemane’s solution is to create an explosive shell which can be transported easily and fired from a mobile artillery piece. On the other hand, it would be as accurate as a launched missile, whilst being able to be used from the game gun as regular artillery munitions.
The Rapier’s accuracy comes from a small processor which is uploaded with detailed maps of the surrounding area. Targets are then designated via a secure link just before firing. If orbital ships or satellites are in orbit they can provide updated topography information. The targeting link is protected by the best encryption available.
Once a target is designated, the Rapier round is fired. The angle of elevation is usually high in order to give the guidance systems the maximum amount of time to correct course. The Rapier does have course correction options via fins, allowing it to precisely hone in on a target. This also allows it to target slow moving (less than 10km/h) targets as well as stationary ones. Anything faster will likely be too fast to intercept.
The on-board programming also allows the shell to potentially deviate towards better targets if targeting is set to open engagement rather than strictly one target. The maximum amount of deviation is 5km.
The accuracy the Rapier provides is staggering. In best case situations 95% of shells will impact within the blast radius at a range of up to 50km. This rises to 99.5% impacting within thirty metres of the target.
Though not what it is designed for, the Rapier can be fired over open sights; that is fired horizontally at the target at closer range. Doing so robs it of accuracy however and is not suggested.
The Rapier can have a variety of different warheads, based on tactical need. It is important to note however that these cannot be changed in the field, so planning must be used to ensure the right weapon is used for the job.
These include:
Airburst/Shrapnel – Even normally the Rapier can be programmed to explode at a certain height, but this model includes special fragmentation fletchettes which can be devastating to personnel in the area. The blast radius is about 25 metres.
Penetration – This model is designed not to explode on impact, but to penetrate before exploding. The shaping of the round is designed to direct the blast forwards, releasing high explosive and burning phosphorous into the target. This is typically used on buildings, bunkers or large vehicles.
Gas – This model contains a large compressed gas container and typically detonates in the air over the target. This releases either smoke or other gasses into the area, with a dispersion of 20-30 metres depending on wind. This can contain chemical or biological agents, though Firemane does not use these.
Ion – Instead of regular explosive, this model contains a powerful ion pulse, designed to fry or disrupt all droids or electronics in a radius of 30 metres. Shielded targets or those protected by thick walls will be resistant.
Strengths:
- Pinpoint. The Rapier has incredible accuracy and has a 99.66% chance of hitting a stationary target within two shots, provided best conditions.
- Flexibility. With multiple shell types, the Rapier can fulfil a wide variety of tactical roles, from bunker busting to anti-personnel.
- Platform. The Rapier is fired from the Thunderer SPA, meaning it does not always need to be used, instead replaced by more common unguided shells.
- Overwatch. Using satellite or spotter data, the shell can be given up to the minute information about the target and is smart enough to correct course if needed.
- Supersonic. Because of its speed and profile, the Rapier is almost impossible to detect, especially from long range. Attempting to use the Force to divert or stop it will cause it to detonate…with potentially lethal consequences.
Weaknesses:
- Expensive. For an artillery round this is an expensive weapon per unit. The need to program each shot keeps firing rates down as well. Furthermore, since warheads cannot be changed on the battlefield, a stock of each special round must be kept. Once the shells are fired, that’s it.
- Payload. Though powerful, the Rapier lacks the potential of the most powerful turbolasers, missiles or other special weapons. The penetration even of the bunker buster is not great, especially against shielded or hardened targets.
- Sabotage. Though the targeting is protected by strong encryption, and one needs to be close to the weapon, it’s more than possible that someone could commandeer this and turn the weapon on friendlies.
- Ion. Though it has some shielding against ion attacks, a big pulse could completely disable the guidance system making it miss completely.
- Reactive. Artillery shells can and will explode when hit by fire, making keeping these rounds around very hazardous in a warzone.
Primary Source: No SWRP canon source.
