Machine guns and accelerator rifles

[Annatar Giftbringer]

Greetings,
I have two questions, totally unrelated to each other.

1) I'm in the process of creating a Traveller version of a vehicle. Is is equipped with a rapid-firing weapon described as "12,7x108 mm anti-materiel". Would it be best represented by heavy machine-gun or light autocannon? I'm thinking HMG, possibly with some form of AP ammo. The caliber sounds a bit low for autocannon.

2) what is the range of an accelerator rifle? In the rulebook it's listed as 250 m but the CSC changes it to 25. I checked 1st ed CSC, which gave it range: shotgun, and for reference a shotgun in 2nd ed has range 50 m. It makes quite a difference at short ranges due to the +1 DM to hit while within 25% of the weapon's range.

 

[locarno24]

12.7mm is basically ".50 Cal" - it is the archetypical Heavy Machine Gun ammo. Feel free to add AP ammo, but definitely start at HMG for a base - light autocannon is generally 20-25mm range guns (with normal/heavy autocannon being 30 and 40mm weapons)

Can't speak for Acc Rifles - only have 1st edition.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

2) what is the range of an accelerator rifle?

The Accelerator Rifle has always been a short range weapon. In CT Striker it had an effective range of 25 m.

 

[h1ro]

If my memory serves me correctly, the accelerator rifle was originally designed as a low recoil weapon for shipboard/low gravity use with a low charge to launch the projectile that has a rocket motor kick in to accelerate the round.

The shorter range of 25m makes more sense with the original purpose.

 

[Infojunky]

2) what is the range of an accelerator rifle?

The Accelerator Rifle has always been a short range weapon. In CT Striker it had an effective range of 25 m.

Well that is only half right, It's most damaging range is Long Range. As it take 25 meters to get up to rifle velocities....

 

[Condottiere]

I don't know how Traveller vehicles compare, primary armament is a reflection of prevailing technological levels and perceived threats.

The fifty calibre can work to mess light skinned vehicles and suppressive fire to about two thousand metres. It's proven to be really useful, and sort of covers the gap between an infantry squad and autocannons.

For autocannons, the trend seems to be moving to thirtyish millimetres, as personnel and reconnaissance vehicle armour gets thicker; also to discourage helicopters and presumably drones, if the turrets are designed to shoot them down. Or an unlucky jetfighter.

Since it's Traveller, compare the effectiveness of the weapon systems against likely encountered light armoured reconnaissance vehicles, and that would be the recommended machine gun.