Translation:Needlergun txt/en

UFOpaedia Entry

Proposal

TO: Base Commander, PHALANX, Atlantic Operations Command

FROM: Cdr. Paul Navarre, R&D: Engineering Division, PHALANX, Atlantic Operations Command

DATE: %02i %s %i

SUB: Proposal: Alien Artifact -- Needler

Commander, it seems we've recovered a new alien weapon, some kind of fully-automatic rifle that fires masses of paper-thin needles made from silicon steel. Preliminary testing shows that the needles are virtually unaffected by ordinary body armour and will pass through most surfaces without even slowing down. It's a very interesting design and we'd like to figure out exactly how it's meant to work.

Please authorise this program at your convenience, Commander.

--Cdr. Navarre

Result

TO: Base Commander, PHALANX, Atlantic Operations Command

FROM: Cdr. Paul Navarre, R&D: Engineering Division, PHALANX, Atlantic Operations Command

DATE: %02i %s %i

SUB: Re: Alien Artifact -- Needler

Commander, we've finished analysing the alien needler gun, and I've prepared a threat assessment and technical overview for you.

As I mentioned in my research proposal, the needler is indeed a type of rifle, but an unusual one. It ignores the normal concept of firing powerful slugs. Instead it vomits out hundreds and hundreds of ultra-fast silicon steel needles which can easily tear apart a target.

The needles are fired by a fast-changing magnetic field inside the barrel, hooked up to a feed mechanism that injects thousands of needles a minute into the barrel. This creates a near-constant stream of fire which lasts for as long as you hold down the trigger and the magazine holds out. Unlike bullets, these needles have a practically flat trajectory from muzzle to target. They punch through most armour like it doesn't exist. They're so low in mass that there's little appreciable recoil when firing, giving them excellent accuracy, but in field tests the needles can be easily knocked off course by slight variations in the environment.

One of the main components that caught my attention is the powerful electromagnet array. It's laid out as a 'coilgun', many electromagnetic coils wrapped around the barrel, a method we'd previously thought to be too energy-inefficient to use on the battlefield. The aliens seem to have made it viable through clever use of superconductors and alien engineering. We may be able to adapt this technology to our own EM weapons research. I'll take a closer look and get back to you when I have anything concrete.

--Cdr. Navarre

Damage Type

• normal

Skill

• sniper

Links

• Needler Magazine

Stat Suggestions

(This information for reference only; do not translate or include in-game.)

Pro:

1) Very high rate of fire.

3) Large magazines.

Con:

1) Low damage.

2) 2x2 magazines.

Research Tree Data

(This information for reference only; do not translate or include in-game.)

Prerequisites:
 1 Needler

Opens:
 Enables production -- Needler
 Enables production -- Needler Magazine
 Coilgun