95.72.247.195: /* Description */

2023-08-16T15:37:42Z

Description

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{{InfoBoxWeapon

| name = Screen Launcher
| Type = Defense system
| Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]
| Year Availability = [[3055]]<ref name="TMp292"/> ([[Draconis Combine|DC]])<ref name="TMp237">''TechManual'', p. 237, "Screen Launcher"</ref>
| Availability Rating =
| Age of War–Star League = [[Availability Rating#x|X]]<ref name="TMp292"/>
| Succession Wars = [[Availability Rating#x|X]]<ref name="TMp292"/>
| Clan Invasion – Present = [[Availability Rating#F|F]]<ref name="TMp292"/>
| Heat = 10<ref name="TMp342">''TechManual'', p. 342, "Inner Sphere Heavy Weapons And Equipment Table"</ref>
| Damage = 15 (incidental){{cn}}
| Minimum Range = N/A
| Short Range = 1-3
| Medium Range = 4-6
| Long Range = 7-9
| Extreme Range = 10-12
| Tons = 40<ref name="TMp342"/>
| Critical Slots = N/A<ref name="TMp342"/>
| Ammo Per Ton = 0.1 (1 canister weighs 10 tons)
| Cost (unloaded) = 250,000<ref name="TMp292">''TechManual'', p. 292, "Heavy Weapons And Equipment (Cont) - Table"</ref>
| Ammo Cost (per ton) = 10,000<ref name="TMp342"/>
| BV (1.0) = 160 (launcher)<ref name="AT2p54"/> <br> 20 (canister)<ref name="AT2p54">''AeroTech 2'', p. 54, "Weapon And Equipment BV And Costs"</ref>
| BV (2.0) = 160 (launcher)<ref name="TMp318"/> <br> 20 (canister)<ref name="TMp318">''TechManual'', p. 318, "Aerospace Weapons And Equipment BV Table"</ref>
}}

== Description ==
The '''Screen Launcher''' system was introduced by the engineers of the [[Draconis Combine Admiralty]] in 3055 to provide additional protection to [[DropShips]] facing [[Clan]] [[WarShips]]. The Screen Launcher fires a special canister projectile loaded with chaff, visual obscurants, and electronic jamming devices. These projectiles are fired at a location between the DropShip and an attacker, impeding targeting systems. Though not intended as a weapon, any unit near the canister when it explodes will be damaged as if it had been hit by a [[Gauss rifle]].<ref name="AT2p41">''AeroTech 2'', p. 41, "Screen Launchers"</ref> Ship captains are advised that this damage is incidental, and given the weight of the canister (10 tons), it is not impressive.<ref name="TMp237"/><ref name="ExCp92"/>

Strangely, although the Screen Launcher was invented in the [[Draconis Combine]], few of their ships are equipped with the system. The [[Federated Suns]] was the first Successor State to deploy the Screen Launcher, installing three on the ''[[Avalon]]''-class cruiser. Unlike previous technology transfers based on espionage, as part of the [[Clan Invasion]] détente between the Federated Suns and the Draconis Combine that allowed the creation of the ''[[Kirishima#Named Vessels|Covenant]]''-class the Combine provided complete technical specifications for the Screen Launcher to their longtime enemy.<ref name="TMp237"/><ref name="ExCp92"/>

Useful only in space (where atmosphere and gravity won't affect the canister contents), Screen Launchers can only be mounted on units that are DropShip sized or larger.They can be installed on a space station, an example is the Drake SDS Control Station.

== Models ==
The Screen Launcher is manufactured on the following planets:

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Brand
! Planet
! Company
! Used by
! References
|-
| [[XP1 Kamen]]
| ?([[Draconis Combine]])
| [[Omodaka Research Facility]]
| ???
| <ref name="ExCp92">''Explorer Corps (sourcebook)'', p. 92, "Screen Launchers"</ref>
|}

== References ==
<references />

== Bibliography ==
* ''[[AeroTech 2]]''
* ''[[Explorer Corps (sourcebook)]]
* ''[[TechManual]]''

[[Category: Technology|Screen Launcher]]
[[Category: Weapons|Screen Launcher]]
[[Category: Capital Weapons|Screen Launcher]]
[[Category: WarShip Weapons|Screen Launcher]]

Screen Launcher - Revision history

95.72.247.195: /* Description */