

ĭue to this variation, the masses, velocities and sizes of MAC projectiles can very, ranging from 10 metre-long, 160 ton models fired by frigates and cruisers, to 600 ton depleted uranium models fired by Paris-class heavy frigates up to 3,000 ton projectiles accelerated to "point four-tenths" of the speed of light by the orbital defense platforms above Reach. A special kind of MAC round fired by the refit- UNSC Pillar of Autumn was composed of a ferrous core and an outer layer of tungsten carbide, which allows the round to splinter on impact with an enemy vessel, similar to the shredder rounds fired by an assault rifle. Other munitions that can be fired from MACs include semi-autonomous drone missiles and for the larger 27 metre guns of UNSC Infinity, even include cargo pods and small spacecraft. The MAC of the Spirit of Fire was later modified in a special project conducted by Ellen Anders, resulting in a specialised MAC capable of firing rounds that emit an EMP upon impact. In the case of the MACs fitted onto the refit-colony ship UNSC Spirit of Fire, the rounds fired from its MACs are "ultra-light" or consist of depleted uranium slugs. Some MAC rounds are extremely dense and constructed of ferric tungsten, noted by Captain Wallace of the frigate UNSC Commonwealth as a "heavy round". MACs are capable of firing a wide array of munitions, depending on bore and model. Likewise, firing the weapon at lower charge rates would also allow the weapon to fire more often if needed. However, MACs can be fired at lower charge levels than 100% though likely to lesser maximum velocity.

Without the charge being maintained, the charge level does deteriorate. As such, a MAC can be pre-charged and fired when ready, though at the cost of power to the aforementioned systems.

As such, charging the MAC draws power away from other sub-systems such as engines.
BUY HALO FOR MAC SERIES
To fire a MAC, UNSC ships must draw power from the fusion reactor into a series of capacitors, storing the generated energy for firing. Nonetheless, railgun weapon systems are occasionally referred to as MACs - as in the case of the Mini-MAC armament of the M510 Mammoth. This process differs from that of a railgun - a similar weapon system that feeds electrical current through a projectile to accelerate it along two conducting rails. As such, the longer a MAC's length is, the faster the muzzle velocity of the fired projectile. This process is repeated as the projectile travels the length of the gun, with each successive solenoid accelerating the projectile to higher and higher velocities. As the projectile reaches the coil, a second coil is activated, attracting the projectile further down the barrel of the gun. When a solenoid is activated, the projectile is attracted to the coil. The construction of the weapon takes the form of a series of coiled conducting wires (or solenoids). When firing, a series of stacked coil motors are sequentially activated, propelling a projectile with vast amounts of kinetic energy. Operation Īn animation of a coilgun's operating principle. However, the technology is not exclusively used in spinally-mounted MACs, with naval autocannons (themselves sometimes referred to as "Mini-MACs") and even ground-based weapons such as the M68 Gauss cannon and M99 Stanchion operating on the same principle. With a handful of exceptions, MACs are typically spinally-mounted, meaning that the entire ship is built around the gun, with the cannon running a significant portion of the ship's length. MACs are fitted as a standard armament on most UNSC Navy vessels, ranging from small Gladius-class corvettes to Marathon-class heavy cruisers and even carriers or refit civilian ships such as the Phoenix-class colony ship. 5.3 Changes from Halo Wars to Halo Wars 2.1.3.1 Atmospheric use and orbital bombardment.
