ACn-02 3x500mm/60 AWS

[ ! ] No actual gunfire due to part count.

The ACn-02 (2nd AstInd. Automated Cannon) is a large automated weapon system, built for the destruction of spaceships and large structures. It consists of triple 500mm cannons in an armored gunhouse.

The guns have a maximum elevation of 45 degrees and a maximum depression of 9 degrees. They can be fired separately, but cannot be elevated separately. They fire shells that are specifically developed for the specific gun and cannot be used in most other guns. As this ammunition contains its own oxidizer, an oxygen supply is not required for use of the gun.

The guns are reloaded automatically by an elevator system, transporting ammunition from the "shell picker" device below to the guns. Shells are fed into the guns with pistons functioning as rammers. The guns must be angled to horizontal to align the ammunition feed to the breech.

The space in the rear contains a small control and utility room which can be used for manual operation if necessary.

Targeting is done with combined gun sight and optical rangefinder module. The module is mounted on the top or bottom of the middle gun barrel.

Some variants come with a small parabolic radar. The radar is used for locating targets and rangefinding. This option is mostly for use on ground-based defense systems.

USAGE

ACn-02 units are usually installed on the ground, in three or more units in a row. As with the anti-spaceship function, a cliff, hill or an open area is the best type of site.

Another method of installation is on a steep hillside, with one gunhouse above the other like on the front weapons of a battleship.

These can also be mounted on spaceships and space stations. The advantage of kinetic weapons having superior performance (theoretically infinite range) in space outweights the mentioned disadvantage for richer operators.

ACn-02 units are used on AstInd. testing facilities, but many have been replaced by cheaper-to-operate energy weapons in the late-21st century as the effective range of energy weapons increased. Most users only keep the ACn-02 for its hosting of shield-piercing and anti-shield ammunition.

AMMUNITION

Ammunition for ACn-02 units is specifically designed and untested with systems using other guns. There are very few other guns with an internal barrel diameter of 500mm so use is severely limited.

AP, HE, nuclear, shield disruptor, and shield-piercing DS types were built for use on ACn-02 units.

Some missiles were also built for the ACn-02 gun.

PRODUCTION

Guns for ACn-02 units were first tested for a few years before the gun system was released. The goal was to build an unmanned large cannon for use on early military spacecraft, testing the long-range capabilities of a gun in space. The gun itself was shown to be successful and was used in the ACn-02 and a few other weapon systems.

They were later openly produced from the 2040s onwards in a built-to-order scheme. Exact numbers were never released to protect the interests of buying companies, but more than 60 units (all variants counted) were produced for just AstInd. use.

ACn-02 weapon systems remained for order until early 22nd century.

USER MANUAL

[ ! ] This does not actually shoot due to high part count. Still contains some moving parts.

CONTROLS:
Trim - Gun Elevation
AG1 - Rammers