Talk:Plasma Weapon

Man-Portability of vehicle plasma cannons

If you think about it, some of Vehicle Plasma cannons (and Fusion Weapons, since they have same form-factor) can be carried by infantrymen (Sophont).

RA-15 weights 14 KG, what is comparable to LMG (for comparison, MG42 weights 11.6 KG, and MG08/15 weights 18 KG and has ST 13B†). At this weight it could be carried around by a man with slightly-higher-than-average strength. So it's ST 11, 12 or 13.

RA-14, RB-15 and RA-13 weight 20, 33 and 34 KG respectively. This is beyond level of normal man (maybe RA-14 can be carried around, but this is upper limit for "normal man"), but this is in range of that same man in Battle Dress, as it doubles the carrier's strength and gives unlimited endurance, what gives approximate strength of 26. It would allow to use such guns as Oerlikon 20 mm cannon (ST26M, 68 KG) and M197 Electric Cannon (ST24M, 60KG). Therefore, RB-14 (47 KG) and probably even RC-15 (78 KG) could be used, along with all other smaller cannons.

Such big plasma guns would require recoil cylinder, like on PGMP-13, and the biggest would require "the firer being stationary and firmly braced in one of several standard firing positions". My guess is what vehicle plasma cannons, especially the smaller ones like RB-15, would probably not require this measures and could be fired by moving man in arbitrary position, as long as your character has strength big enough to use them effectively; but ST requirement would be lower if he is stationary, and even lower if in correct position. Add various recoil compensators and gyrostabilizers to this cannon to reduce ST needed even more. All that was made with assumption what plasma cannons have recoil comparable to gunpowder guns of same mass — if it is smaller, ST requirement would be even lower. --109.62.244.128 08:15, 31 March 2023 (EDT)