imported>Deadfire: Text replacement - "==Bibliography== * ''A Time of War''" to "==Bibliography== * ''A Time of War''"

2024-12-01T16:50:18Z

Text replacement - "==Bibliography== * ''A Time of War''" to "==Bibliography== * ''A Time of War''"

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{{InfoBoxWeapon
| image = [[Image:Snub-Nosed Support PPC AToWComp.jpg|191px]]
| name = Particle Cannon (Support)
| Type = [[Energy weapon|Energy]]
| Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]] / [[Clan]]<ref name=TMp351>''TechManual'', p. 351: "Conventional Infantry Weapons"</ref>
| Year Introduced = [[2470]] ([[Terran Hegemony|TH]])<ref name=TM301>''TechManual'', p. 301: "Conventional Infantry Weapons"</ref>
| Tech Rating =
| Age of War–Star League =
| Succession Wars =
| Clan Invasion – Present =
| Damage =
| Base Range =
| Mass = 1,800
| Mass Per Reload =
| Infantry Crew = 5<ref name=TMp351/>
| Cost (unloaded) = 45,000 C-bills<ref name=TM301/>
| Ammo Cost (per reload) =
| BV (2.0) =
}}
{{InfoBoxWeapon
| image = [[Image:Support PPC CBTComp.jpg|191px]]
| name = Particle Cannon<br>(Semi-Portable)
| Type = Energy
| Tech Base = Inner Sphere / Clan<ref name=TMp351/>
| Year Introduced = [[2436]] ([[Draconis Combine|DC]])<ref name=TM301/>
| Tech Rating =
| Age of War–Star League =
| Succession Wars =
| Clan Invasion – Present =
| Damage =
| Minimum Range =
| Short Range =
| Medium Range =
| Long Range =
| Mass = 40
| Critical Slots =
| Mass Per Reload =
| Infantry Crew = 1–2<ref name=TMp351/><ref name=TRO3026>''Technical Readout: 3026'', p. 110: "Weapons - Particle Projector Cannon"</ref>
| Cost (unloaded) = 7,000 C-bills<ref name=TM301/>
| Ammo Cost (per reload) =
| BV (2.0) =
}}

==Description==
Developed by [[New Samarkand Small Arms]] in [[2436]],<ref name=TMp267>''TechManual'', p. 267: "Particle Projector Cannon (Support)"</ref> as well as a larger version by the [[Terran Hegemony]] in [[2470]],<ref name=TM301/> the '''Support Particle Projector Cannon''', also known as '''Support PPC''' or '''S-PPC''', is the heaviest support weapon available to [[infantry]] units. Adapted from the [[Particle Projection Cannon]] normally mounted on [[Combat Vehicle|vehicles]], the sheer firepower unleashed by an S-PPC makes it an effective weapon for combating [[BattleMechs]].<ref name=TRO3026/><ref name=LOSp44>''LosTech: The MechWarrior Equipment Guide'', p. 44: "Support Particle Cannon"</ref>

There are two types of Support PPCs: those that must be carried or towed by vehicle, and those that are capable of being handheld with some assistance ('''Semi-Portable''' or '''SP-PPC''').<ref name=TMp351-352>''TechManual'', pp. 351–352: "Conventional Infantry Weapons"</ref>

==Support PPC==
The Support PPC has several drawbacks which limits its use, first of which is that its sheer size and weight (1,800 kg) prevents it from being carried by foot infantry. This requires the weapon to be towed by a vehicle in order to keep up with an active battlefield, but given the dangerous nature of the S-PPC, enemy units usually designate them as priority targets in the opening stages of a fight. The S-PPC is also expensive and requires the use of a special [[Support PPC Power Pack|battery]] to meet its energy needs. For this reason, the weapon is almost always employed from some type of fortified emplacement such as a pillbox or trench.<ref name=TRO3026/><ref name=LOSp44/> Also, because of the long recharge time between shots, many troopers prefer other faster-firing support weapons.<ref name=ToWp276>''A Time of War'', p. 276: "Support Energy Weapons"</ref>

===Snub-Nosed Support PPC===
The [[Draconis Combine]] released the infantry support version of the [[Snub-Nose PPC]] in [[3082]], reducing the weight to 1,600 kg and only needing three crew to operate. While the damage output compared to the standard model was identical, its firing range had been reduced, and the weight savings was essentially its only saving grace.<ref name=ToWCp177-195>''A Time of War Companion'', pp. 177, 195</ref>

==Semi-Portable PPC==
The '''Man-Pack Particle Cannon''', often abbreviated '''M-PPC''', is a scaled down version of the vehicle-mounted PPC that allows an individual soldier with a [[exoskeleton]] or a [[gyroscopic harness]] such as the special M-PPC waldo unit to use the gun as though it were a regular rifle. The weapon can be fired in either single shots or bursts. Two crewmen can also operate it together with a bipod.<ref name=TRO3026/> The M-PPC was used mostly by elite [[Commando (Infantry)|commando]] units as a result of the size and cost making it impractical for standard military operations.<ref name=LOSp43>''LosTech: The MechWarrior Equipment Guide'', p. 43: "Semi-Portable Particle Cannon"</ref>

===Battle Armor===
The Support PPC was developed long before the introduction of [[battle armor]] suits in the [[Inner Sphere]]. While technically easy to adapt the S-PPC to be mounted on the new platforms, battle armor did not start carrying particle projector cannons until the Draconis Combine introduced the [[Void (Battle Armor)|Void]] suit in [[3067]].<ref name=TMp267>''TechManual'', p. 267: "Particle Projector Cannon (Support)"</ref> Since then the weapon has been mounted on the Combine's [[Kanazuchi]],<ref name=RS:3058Up73>''Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', p. 73</ref> along with the [[Word of Blake]]'s [[Shedu]]<ref name=TRO:3075p40>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 40: "Shedu Assault Battle Armor"</ref> and [[Nephilim]]<ref name=TRO:3075p38>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 38: "Nephilim Assault Battle Armor"</ref> and the [[Taurian Concordat]]'s [[Asterion]].<ref name=TRO:3075p27>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 27: "Trinity Medium Battle Armor"</ref>

==Notes==
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3026]]'' (1987) originally used "Semi-Portable" for heavier Support PPCs of at least 200 kg that required vehicle tow. ''[[LosTech: The MechWarrior Equipment Guide]]'' (2000) and ''[[TechManual]]'' (2007) updated this term to reflect what is described in the article.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Snub-Nosed Support PPC AToWComp.jpg|Snub-Nosed Support PPC
Support PPC CBTComp.jpg|Support PPC (S-PPC)
Semi-Portable Particle Gun TRO3026.jpg|Semi-Portable Particle Cannon (SP-PPC)
Man-Pack Particle Gun TRO3026.jpg|Man-Pack Particle Cannon (M-PPC)
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[A Time of War (product)|A Time of War]]''
* ''[[A Time of War Companion]]''
* ''[[LosTech: The MechWarrior Equipment Guide]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League)]]''
* ''[[TechManual]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3026]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''

[[Category:Infantry Weapons]]
[[Category:Battle Armor Weapons]]
[[Category:PPC]]

Support Particle Projector Cannon - Revision history

imported>Deadfire: Text replacement - "==Bibliography== * ''A Time of War''" to "==Bibliography== * ''A Time of War''"