Mass driver cannon

Mass Driver
Type	Cannon

The Gatling Mass Driver Cannon or Mass Driver Cannon was an energy projectile weapon used by the Terran Confederation and Kilrathi fleets. It was a reliable medium range, medium damage weapon which caused minimal heat build-up and power drain. Mass driver cannons were found on the Scimitar, Raptor and Gratha. They were featured in both Weapons of the Terran and Kilrathi Fleets and Borger's All The Sector's Weapons Systems. Variants include the Mk. 30A Mass Driver Cannon.

Wing Commander

Joan's Fighting Spacecraft -- Vega Sector Supplement for 2654.092

The basic fighter weapon - medium range, medium damage, nothing special. The mass driver cannon is reliable and accurate. Heat build-up and power drain are minimal. Though lasers and neutron guns are more effective in certain situations, no pilot ever went wrong activating a mass driver.

Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi

Joan's Fighting Spacecraft 2664.128 Update

This blaster is the basic fighter weapon -- reliable, accurate at medium range, capable of moderate damage. Heat build-up and power drain are minimal.

Wing Commander: Academy

Weapons of the Terran and Kilrathi Fleets

The Scimitars and Raptors were equipped with the mass driver cannon, the only weapon in the Terran arsenal where explosive power is not affected by the distance from the target. While you must be within 3,000 mrrs to hit a target, the effect of a hit with this gun is the same at 500 mrrs as it is at 2000 mrrs. The effectiveness of the lasers and neutrons decreases the farther away you get from your target. The mass driver packs more of a punch than the laser cannon and takes more blaster power for each shot.

Wing Commander: Armada

Gunnery Officer's Report

The mass driver has medium range, good accuracy and applies medium damage. Heat buildup and power drain are minimal, and the damage potential remains constant within the cannon's range. Though other types of cannons have evolved, the mass driver remains a solid weapon in any situation.

Wing Commander: Prophecy

Waypoint!

Mass Driver

This weapon uses a linear accelerator to fire projectiles of metallic mass at a target. A long-range gun, it requires less energy per shot than most blasters and has a relatively fast refire rate.

Charging Mass Driver

Upgraded from previous versions, this weapon incorporates a “choke” setting. A thinner choke yields a higher rate of fire and uses less energy, but does less damage at shorter range. A wider choke inflicts more damage and has a longer range, but takes more energy and has a slower refire rate. The dynamics of the mass driver’s adjustability are determined by the length of time you hold down the trigger.

Wing Commander I & II: The Ultimate Strategy Guide

Using Your Ship's Guns

The Scimitars and Raptors were equipped with the mass driver cannon, the only weapon in the Terran arsenal where explosive power is not affected by the distance from the target. While you must be within 3,000 mrrs to hit a target, the effect of a hit with this gun is the same at 500 mrrs as it is at 2000 mrrs. The effectiveness of the lasers and neutrons decreases the farther away you get from your target. The mass driver packs more of a punch than the laser cannon and takes more blaster power for each shot.