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[[File:Railgun2.jpg|thumb|250px|An early design of a [[Tau]] Railgun]]
 
[[File:Railgun2.jpg|thumb|250px|An early design of a [[Tau]] Railgun]]
The '''Railgun''' is a [[Tau]] heavy weapon mounted on several Tau [[Fire Caste]] units including the [[Hammerhead Gunship]]s and the [[XV88 Broadside Battlesuit]]. A Railgun uses a series of electromagnets to accelerate its metallic ammunition to speeds close to a significant fraction of the speed of light. The resulting high levels of kinetic force imparted to the weapon's projectile are then capable of destroying even heavily armoured vehicles. The size of the weapon determines the size of its power source and thus the kinetic force imparted to the type of projectile used as ammunition. A Railgun can be used in conjunction with a [[Marker Light]] to make it even more accurate. Railguns also exist in a smaller and far less powerful rifle version (the [[Rail Rifle]]) used by Tau [[Pathfinder]] Teams and [[Sniper Drone Team]]s but it is not as reliable as the vehicle-mounted version as it can sometimes kill the user (much like the unreliable Imperial [[Plasma Gun]]). However, as of the end of the [[Tau Empire]]'s [[Third Sphere Expansion]] in 999.M41, advancements in the technology have recently eliminated the possibility of a misfire in newly-produced Rail Rifles.
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[[Tau]] Rail weaponry are fearsome weapons and are characterised by their long range, extreme power and excellent armour penetration capabilities. Rail weapons use linear accelerator technology which functions using standing wave acceleration along a number of superconductive electrodes that surround the barrel. This form of firing mechanism can accelerate its metallic ammunition to hyper-velocities close to a significant fraction of the speed of light. The size of the weapon determines the size of its power source, the speed of the projectiles fired, and thus the kinetic force imparted to the type of projectile used as ammunition. A Railgun can be used in conjunction with a [[Marker Light]] to make it even more accurate. Railguns usually fire single solid projectiles and rely on the projectiles speed to penetrate armour, even at long ranges. However, when used against infantry, they can have a devastating effect where the round will simply vaporise the target. Those near the travelling path of the projectile will also find the breath sucked out of their lungs, such is its speed. Railguns have an iconic 'whip-crack' sound when they fire, but this is merely the sound that is made as a Railgun round breaks the sound barrier. Nevertheless, such is the Railgun's destructive power that its reputation spreads fear amongst the tank crews of the enemies of the Tau Empire. Railguns are commonly mounted as twin-linked weapons on [[XV88 Broadside Battlesuit]]s which are specialised for the tank hunting role, and as a weapon turret on [[Hammerhead]] gunships. Hammerhead railguns, however, have the capability to fire sophisticated bundles of submunitions that are effective at suppressive area fire due to a large area of effect, and is commonly employed against 'soft targets' where the submunition rounds will often pass straight through.
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Railguns also exist in a smaller and far less powerful rifle version (the [[Rail Rifle]]) used by Tau [[Pathfinder]] Teams and [[Sniper Drone Team]]s but it is not as reliable as the vehicle-mounted version as it can sometimes kill the user (much like the unreliable Imperial [[Plasma Gun]]). However, as of the end of the [[Tau Empire]]'s [[Third Sphere Expansion]]in 999.M41, advancements in the technology have recently eliminated the possibility of a misfire in newly-produced Rail Rifles.
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Despite recent Tau advances in superconductor technology, Railguns mounted on Tau starships are of such enormous size and require such large amounts of energy to fire that they are grouped into batteries and fired one barrel at a time in sequential order, ensuring the first barrel is loaded and ready before it is charged again. Tau starship Railgun batteries are considered comparable in firepower and effectiveness to the weapons batteries of macrocannons employed by Imperial starships.
 
Despite recent Tau advances in superconductor technology, Railguns mounted on Tau starships are of such enormous size and require such large amounts of energy to fire that they are grouped into batteries and fired one barrel at a time in sequential order, ensuring the first barrel is loaded and ready before it is charged again. Tau starship Railgun batteries are considered comparable in firepower and effectiveness to the weapons batteries of macrocannons employed by Imperial starships.
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==Heavy Railgun==
 
==Heavy Railgun==
A Heavy Railgun is a larger version of the standard Railgun and is usually only mounted on the [[Manta]] and [[Tiger Shark A-X-10 |A-X-10 variant]] of the [[Tiger Shark ]] aircraft. Heavy Railguns fire larger rounds at higher speeds, and the projectiles are fin-stabilised to provide extra lift, and therefore extra range, whilst in an atmosphere. The Heavy Railgun's submunition shell is equipped with a [[Tau Drone|drone]] processor that is programmed to direct the shell accurately towards its target. This capability is mostly used during void combat to find weak points in the armour of enemy starships as standard submunition rounds lack the necessary penetrating power. They are also useful in ground combat, however, as the shell can saturate a extremely large area with its submunitions and deny cover more effectively to enemy forces due to being fired from the air.
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A Heavy Railgun is a larger version of the standard Railgun and is usually only mounted on the [[Manta]] and [[Tiger Shark A-X-10 |A-X-10 variant]] of the [[Tiger Shark ]]aircraft. Heavy Railguns fire larger rounds at higher speeds, and the projectiles are fin-stabilised to provide extra lift, and therefore extra range, whilst in an atmosphere. The Heavy Railgun's submunition shell is equipped with a [[Tau Drone|drone]] processor that is programmed to direct the shell accurately towards its target. This capability is mostly used during void combat to find weak points in the armour of enemy starships as standard submunition rounds lack the necessary penetrating power. They are also useful in ground combat, however, as the shell can saturate a extremely large area with its submunitions and deny cover more effectively to enemy forces due to being fired from the air.
   
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==

Revision as of 06:55, 27 September 2012

Railgun2

An early design of a Tau Railgun

Tau Rail weaponry are fearsome weapons and are characterised by their long range, extreme power and excellent armour penetration capabilities. Rail weapons use linear accelerator technology which functions using standing wave acceleration along a number of superconductive electrodes that surround the barrel. This form of firing mechanism can accelerate its metallic ammunition to hyper-velocities close to a significant fraction of the speed of light. The size of the weapon determines the size of its power source, the speed of the projectiles fired, and thus the kinetic force imparted to the type of projectile used as ammunition. A Railgun can be used in conjunction with a Marker Light to make it even more accurate. Railguns usually fire single solid projectiles and rely on the projectiles speed to penetrate armour, even at long ranges. However, when used against infantry, they can have a devastating effect where the round will simply vaporise the target. Those near the travelling path of the projectile will also find the breath sucked out of their lungs, such is its speed. Railguns have an iconic 'whip-crack' sound when they fire, but this is merely the sound that is made as a Railgun round breaks the sound barrier. Nevertheless, such is the Railgun's destructive power that its reputation spreads fear amongst the tank crews of the enemies of the Tau Empire. Railguns are commonly mounted as twin-linked weapons on XV88 Broadside Battlesuits which are specialised for the tank hunting role, and as a weapon turret on Hammerhead gunships. Hammerhead railguns, however, have the capability to fire sophisticated bundles of submunitions that are effective at suppressive area fire due to a large area of effect, and is commonly employed against 'soft targets' where the submunition rounds will often pass straight through.

Railguns also exist in a smaller and far less powerful rifle version (the Rail Rifle) used by Tau Pathfinder Teams and Sniper Drone Teams but it is not as reliable as the vehicle-mounted version as it can sometimes kill the user (much like the unreliable Imperial Plasma Gun). However, as of the end of the Tau Empire's Third Sphere Expansionin 999.M41, advancements in the technology have recently eliminated the possibility of a misfire in newly-produced Rail Rifles.


Despite recent Tau advances in superconductor technology, Railguns mounted on Tau starships are of such enormous size and require such large amounts of energy to fire that they are grouped into batteries and fired one barrel at a time in sequential order, ensuring the first barrel is loaded and ready before it is charged again. Tau starship Railgun batteries are considered comparable in firepower and effectiveness to the weapons batteries of macrocannons employed by Imperial starships.

Railgun Mechanics

Tau Hammerhead RailgunMain

Tau Hammerhead Gunship armed with a Railgun

Broadside Battlesuit

Tau XV88 Broadside Battlesuit armed with twin-linked Railguns

The Railgun functions through the manipulation of electromagnetic forces. A magnetically responsive projectile in an electrically conductive sheath is inserted between two conductive rails attached to a power source, making a complete circuit. As the current moves through the circuit it generates a magnetic force that pushes outward, forcing the projectile down the rails. The further the projectile goes out, the greater the current that goes through and the stronger the magnetic force becomes, causing the projectile to accelerate along the full length of the rails, achieving a tremendous velocity by the time it passes the end of the rails and breaks the circuit. After this, another round can be readied as soon as enough charge can be built back up for the next shot.

To achieve a charge necessary to fire a shell at combat velocity typically requires a bulky array of capacitors attached to a powerful generator, which tends to limit the use of the battlefield Railgun to dedicated vehicles or Tau Battlesuits specifically designed to accommodate them. The Rail Rifle gets around this issue with several pre-charged disposable capacitors which are replaced after every shot. While a Railgun is conceptually simple, manufacturing and fielding one presents several engineering challenges, requiring highly conductive materials with strong resistance to thermal expansion, efficient cooling systems, very precise machining processes, and methods of quickly servicing and re-machining the rails in the field to keep their interior surfaces in pristine condition as even minor wear could have a significantly deleterious affect on the weapon's performance.

Heavy Railgun

A Heavy Railgun is a larger version of the standard Railgun and is usually only mounted on the Manta and A-X-10 variant of the Tiger Shark aircraft. Heavy Railguns fire larger rounds at higher speeds, and the projectiles are fin-stabilised to provide extra lift, and therefore extra range, whilst in an atmosphere. The Heavy Railgun's submunition shell is equipped with a drone processor that is programmed to direct the shell accurately towards its target. This capability is mostly used during void combat to find weak points in the armour of enemy starships as standard submunition rounds lack the necessary penetrating power. They are also useful in ground combat, however, as the shell can saturate a extremely large area with its submunitions and deny cover more effectively to enemy forces due to being fired from the air.

Sources

  • Codex: Tau (3rd Edition), pg. 17
  • Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition), pg. 30
  • Courage and Honour (Novel) by Graham McNeill
  • Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Camapaign, pp. 68, 198, 208
  • Battlefleet Gothic Armada (Specialty Game Background Book), pg. 98