Coilgun

A coilgun (also known as Gauss gun or Gauss rifle) is a type of cannon that uses a series of electromagnets to accelerate a magnetic shell to very high velocities. The appellation "Gauss gun" comes from Carl Friedrich Gauss, who formulated mathematical descriptions of the electromagnetic effect used by coilguns.

Coil guns in science fiction

Coil guns are a popular device in science fiction, especially sci-fi role playing and video games, where they go under such names as Gauss cannon or Gauss rifle (e.g., in Battletech, Syndicate, Fallout). In the miniature combat game Battletech, the Gauss Gun is heavy projectile weapon mounted to some types of Mecha robots. The weapon causes heavy damage but produces very little heat, with heat build up being a primary concern to the efficient operation of the Mech.

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Role playing - Video game - Battletech - Syndicate - Fallout - Mecha - Robots

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In Wing Commander, the coil gun (called a "Mass Driver" in the game, even though the term mass driver implies a much larger object) is used as a primary weapon in some fighter spaceships. However, the medium range/medium damage mass driver is seldom used in later games due to the development during wartime of long-range weapons with strong firepower.

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Metal Gear REX's primary offensive weapon (the rest are defensive) in the videogame Metal Gear Solid is identified as a railgun, but the description of its functionality would make it a coilgun. It is intended to launch an uninterceptable, untraceable nuclear weapon (as the coilgun would leave no propellant trail or engine flares, unlike an ICBM).

Related Topics:
Metal Gear REX - Metal Gear Solid - Railgun - ICBM

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The Necrons from Warhammer 40,000 use weapons called gauss flayers to flay the skin off of their enemies. These weapons are not coilguns, however. The name is misleading.

Related Topics:
Necrons - Warhammer 40,000

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Fallout 2 has both a Gauss rifle and a Gauss pistol as usable weapons. They are the strongest non-energy weapons in the game.

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Half-Life has a usable experimental Gauss gun, or Tau cannon. This also appears in Half-Life 2, mounted on a drivable dune buggy.

Related Topics:
Half-Life - Half-Life 2

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Halo 2 introduces a variant of the M12LRV Warthog (the M12 LAAV) with a Gauss rifle mounted on the back, as well as the space based MAC gun (Magnetic Accelerator Cannon) seen firing in the beginning stages of the game.

Related Topics:
Halo 2 - MAC

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Starcraft's Terran Marines each have an automatic Gauss rifle as their standard weapon.

Related Topics:
Starcraft - Marines

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Planetside has a weapon named Gauss rifle, which is considered a Medium Assault weapon.

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Liero has a weapon named Gauss rifle and shoots a big round object at a high speed.

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Master of Orion features a Gauss autocannon which would quickly fire off multiple shots.

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X-COM 2 Terror from the Deep has several forms of Gauss weaponry the player can research, produce, equip, or sell.

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