Mark 2488 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon
| Onager | |
|---|---|
| |
| Production overview | |
|
Type: |
Magnetic Accelerator Cannon |
| Specifications | |
|
Ammunition type: |
15 cm ferric-tungsten slug[1] |
|
High | |
| Service history | |
|
Affiliation: |
United Nations Space Command |
The Mark 2488 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, formally designated 15cm Mark/2488 1.1GJ MAC, also known as the Onager and often referred to as a "mass driver", is a stationary Magnetic Accelerator Cannon used by the United Nations Space Command during the Human-Covenant War.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Design details
The Onager is capable of firing a 15 cm round with up to 1.1 gigajoules of kinetic energy.[2] It has five linearly arranged magnetic coils, each of which needs to charge individually before each shot. The weapon needs to cool off after every shot, and does so by opening a radial vent on the upper portion of the barrel. The weapon is operated from a small booth on the left side of the cannon.[3]
[edit] Operational history
During the Fall of Reach, a group of UNSC Marines installed an Onager on top of one of the planet's ship-breaking facilities in Aszod to protect the drydocked UNSC Pillar of Autumn. Emile-A239 manned the mass driver to fend off incoming Covenant Banshees and Phantoms before the Autumn could take off.[3] However, the SPARTAN was killed by a Sangheili Zealot, prompting SPARTAN-B312 to commandeer the cannon and successfully delay the Covenant assault on the Autumn by crippling an incoming CCS-class battlecruiser with a shot to its ventral energy projector.[3]
[edit] Trivia
- The Onager named after a medieval siege weapon, which in turn takes its name from a horse species.
- On the Bungie.net weapons statistics page, the description for the Onager is simply "I need a weapon", a reference to a line by John-117 in the opening cinematic of the level Cairo Station in Halo 2.
- "S-239" is painted on the Onager's frame. This is a reference to Emile-A239, who was killed while operating the weapon.
- The "using Onager early" glitch can be exploited so that a player can reach the driver before the scripted cutscene. This glitch can provide a player with an easy killing spree by shooting down Banshees.
[edit] Gallery
A first-person view of the Onager.
The Onager installed in the Aszod ship breaking yards.
The Onager, manned by SPARTAN-B312, firing a round at the incoming Covenant CCS-class battlecruiser.
An Onager's electromagnetic coils charging before it fires.
The control booth of an Onager cannon.
An early concept for the Onager by Isaac Hannaford.
The cannon's final design.
[edit] List of appearances
- Halo: Reach (First appearance)
[edit] Sources
- ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 114
- ^ a b Bungie.net Halo: Reach game stats
- ^ a b c Halo: Reach, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn
