Alloystream Accelerator Cannon

The Alloystream Accelerator Cannon (also called Alloystream Cannon) is a powerful anti-ship weapon reserved solely for heavy ships.

Description & Characteristics
As particle beam technology and defences improved SR beam weapons, ships became more effective at defending against enemy particle beam attacks. As spaceships generally were also well defended against ballistic a new offensive strategy would be required in order to combat ships with more success. Previously smaller-scale weapons on mobile suits used by Praetoriani had displayed some effectiveness by using a hybrid weapon type, simultaneously firing a particle shot and solid round to create a weapon to improve the odds of bypassing defences, however, this had not been previously used on large weapons mounted on ships.

The Alloystream Cannon fires a stream of SR particles, increasing the density of the particles in the outer ring of the beam, while also accelerating a stream of liquid metal (consisting of iron, uranium and tungsten) in the centre of the beam. This form of weapon can bypass defences such as beam dispersal fields and SiDE fields more effectively as the metal stream is not blocked as well as SR beams. By manipulating the particle beam around the metal in this method the alloy is more easily held in its liquid form, improve its armour piercing ability.

Despite the sheer power offered by the weapon, the power requirements are too large to be effectively powered by a mobile suit, additionally only ships can feasibly store the raw metal supply used for firing. The complex particle manipulation also requires more sophisticated magnetic field emitters which are more expensive, limiting production.

Notes & Trivia

 * The Alloystream Accelerator Cannon was inspired by the Thanix Cannon of the Mass Effect series.