160mm Railgun

160mm Railgun: This is the weapon that sounded the death knell for other large artillery pieces on many worlds. Unlike the 40mm railgun, this huge cannon is not primarily a direct fire weapon (although it could be used as one if necessary).

Instead, it can fire projectiles at nearly orbital velocities, allowing it to hit targets almost 200 miles away. It can also fire more rapidly than most artillery pieces; it is capable of launching 100 160mm shells in a little more than six minutes. A single navy cruiser armed with one of these weapons can deliver as much death and destruction as a TL8 carrier battle group, and can do so more rapidly and at far lower cost, with almost no risk to military personnel (such as pilots), and at distances that make it easier to surprise an enemy and difficult for an enemy to retaliate.

It is equally effective as a defensive weapon. A battery of railguns emplaced as shore defense weapons and aimed using satellites that can track targets from orbit can make approaching enemy territory too closely an unhealthy course of action.

The 160mm railgun uses external power.

ARTILLERY (CANNON) (IQ-5)

TL	Weapon	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	RoF	Shots	ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	LC
9	160mm Railgun	6d×100(3) pi++	6+6	100,000/300,000	300,000/30,000	1/4	100(4i)	750M	-24	2	$20,000,000	1