Railgun
Railgun is a weapon which uses electromagnetic force to launch high velocity projectiles. It uses a pair of conductors (rails), along which a projectile is accelerated. Projectiles don't contain explosives. They rely on speed, mass and kinetic energy to inflict damage. Railguns are used by starships, some fighters and ground artillery.
Usage
Railguns are a complex technology. Their construction requires many skilled specialists and a lot of time. Operating them is slightly easier, but it still requires training. Operators must learn to use the targeting computer and read the data displayed by it. They must remember to aim carefully as even the smallest mistake might take the projectile in a wrong direction and there is no way to adjust its course. If a projectile misses its initial target it will fly until it hits something. It may be a ship, a station, an asteroid, a planet or a star.
Remember that the projectile needs time to get to the target, so never target rapidly moving objects. You miss, the projectile will fly far away and hit some innocent people
Manufacturing
Officially, in the United Republic of Earth and its Colonies railguns are produced only by state-owned companies and are supplied only to the military. In reality, however, there are many secret, illegal factories owned by criminal organizations such as the Servants of the Eagle.
They say it is a printing house, but when the deliveries come? I have lived here all my life and didn't see any
First use in ground forces - Climate Wars (2063 - 2150)
First use on starship - 2265
Ground to Space Cannon
Ground to Space Cannon is a failed experiment of the ECN R&D division. It was supposed to be part of every colony's basic defences. In the end, only a cannon on Earth was built. During its tests, it was discovered that the projectile can't make it out of the atmosphere and the project was scrapped. Velocity wasn't the problem. The problem was aiming because of the cannon's size. Today, only a ruined and empty cannon control building remains.
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