Compiled overview of a
Gauss Rifle, from various
BattleTech game sourcebooks and fictional novels:
Gauss Rifles are a true innovation in the world of
projectile weapons. They do not use explosives to propel the projectile through the
barrel, but rather use a system called a
RailGun. The RailGun system was created in the
20th Century, but manufacturing problems stopped the project.
Usually, the projectile is propelled through a small explosion. This system created a lot
of friction between the projectile and the barrel, reducing the projectile speed. Also, the projectiles charged small amounts of explosive, creating
ammunition explosions from heat and enemy hits. The RailGun system tried to solve this problem with a series of electromagnetic sectors and a projectile
electromagnetically charged oppositely. This system removed the friction and the problems related with the explosions, as the projectile became a big
piece of metal. The study of this system was suspended due to the problem of high power consumption.
Modern day Gauss Rifles are the direct evolution of this system. Gauss rifles use the same system to propel the projectile, a nickel-ferrous slug, and
use a series of capacitors to power the weapons. Thanks to the unlimited power that a MHD reactor mounted in the 'Mech torso can create, these
capacitors can be charged infinitely.
The projectile coming from the ammo bin is introduced to a loading chamber, where a mechanism places the shell in the first section of the
weapon's long barrel. The loading chamber (and the rest of the weapon) is divided from the barrel by a diaphragm. This diaphragm opens to let the shell pass, then seals the barrel to discharge the projectile. As described above, the projectile is moved by electromagnetic force, rather than the
usual charge of gun powder. The barrel is composed of a series of electromagnetically charged sectors and isolation areas between these sectors. When turned
on and off progessively, starting from the innermost sector to the outer one, the sectors propel the shell toward the barrel nozzle. Without friction and
other slowdowns, the projectile can achieve a speed of Mach 5 or greater.
The sectors are powered by a series of capacitors placed behind the loading chamber. A power line goes from the capacitors to the barrel, where a
ring, called a power ring, collects the energy and passes it to four power lines encircling the barrel; the barrel's power lines are named after the four cardinal points,
north, south, west and east, due to their placement. The capacitors are connected to the main power line from the reactor. Due to the high amounts of
power required by the capacitor, the power line of the Gauss rifle is unusually large for a ballistic weapon.
For maximum energy performance, the lines are designed to redirect all the unused energy to the energy banks, and a direct hit to any part of the Gauss rifle is likely to create a destructive feedback, directed toward the capacitors, which aren't designed to receive large amounts of residual energy. Such feedbacks destroy the capacitors and the entire rifle with a powerful explosion.
The final part of the rifle is composed by the coolant circuit and recoil absorbing system. The recoil system is the only piece of machinery that
generates a large amount of heat, and thus is the only part connected to the small cooling circuit in the cannon's back. The systems are linked with a heat exchanger for facilitating the heat conduction.
As described above, the Gauss rifle is as powerful as it is dangerous, due to the energy feedbacks. However, the explosion created by an overloaded
capacitor is weak compared to the catastrophic explosions of normal ammunitions.
Technological differences made the Inner Sphere Gauss Rifle heavier and bulkier than the Clan version. These two versions have the same range and
heat profiles. The Free Worlds League tried to duplicate the same structure used in the Clan model. Although this effort was not successful, they did create
the so-called Light Gauss Rifle.
This version of the rifle works in the same way as normal rifles, but the Light Gauss employs a smaller and lighter shell. The shell reduction enabled
the scientists to use smaller capacitors to power the rifle, therefore reducing the explosion created by the energy feedback.
The shell used by the Light Gauss travels faster in the barrel, increasing exit speed and the range covered. Also, the small size allows a 'Mech to
carry twice as many rounds in a single ton, though the damage is reduced by 45%.