Laser weapon

Las weapons or Laser weapons is a name given to all Imperial weaponry which user laser technology as a base. The technology is well known to the Imperium and is cheap and easy to manufacture, as well as easy to maintain and use. They are issued in vast numbers to the Imperial Guard in the form of the Lasgun and these are readily available on most Imperial worlds.

Workings

Lasweapons emit a tightly focused beam of light, forming a high energy short duration pulse which produces such a rapid change in temperature on the target that it vaporises in a small explosion. Most of the mechanism of a lasweapon is taken up by the fast discharge generator, which projects the light-beam as fast as possible to prevent loss of power while still in the weapon itself. The power of the beam can be controlled easily, making for a very reliable weapon. The visible output from a lasweapond depends on the power level, but is generally seen as a searing flash of light accompanied by a distinctive 'snap' or 'crack' noise (possibly similar to a volley of real-life early black powder weaponry). The lasgun and laspistol both have power packs with multiple available shots, but each fire one shot per pulling of the trigger. Given a good firing drill, lasguns can maintain a high rate of fire.

The power packs themselves feed the discharge generator, and come as rechargable packs or batteries. Usually these come as a highly efficient liquid metal core and range from small packs for lasguns and laspistols to crate sized for lascannons and larger lasweapons. Most power packs come good for forty shots, compared to the lascannon packs which are good for only one shot. They can be overpowered, so-called 'Hotshot' packs, providing greater damage but at a reduced number of shots. These cannot easily be recharged due to the higher energy requirements and extra stress is put on the barrel which makes maintenance harder. Some power packs can be charged with solar converters to recharge the pack, but in an emergency, a pack can be placed in a fire and the heat transferred into energy to quickly recharge the pack, although this is very dangerous as the pack is likely to deform or even explode if left in the fire for too long.

Lasweapons come in a wide variety of materials, from ceramite alloys to thermo-set plastics and even wood, although not usually the entire lasgun is made from wood, rather there are wood fittings. They often come with some form of optical sight, including iron sights, mono-sights or infra-red sights.

Types of Lasweapon

Lasgun

Main article: Lasgun

The Lasgun is the most basic and common weapon in the Imperium. Almost every standard Imperial Guard Guardsman is armed with a Lasgun and its use varies between regiments. Sometimes they are used in accurate, slower volley fire while sometimes they are used in a shoot and cover method.

Laspistol

Main article: Laspistol

Laspistols are mainly used by lower officers in the Imperial Guard and assault units, usually also armed with a close combat weapon. They have a shorter range than Lasguns.

Lascannon

Main article: Lascannon

Lascannons are super-heavy versions of the Lasgun and are used in most Imperial armies due to its high power. They are highly effective at armour destruction but can also be used to vaporise strong individual targets.

Multi-laser

Main article: Multi-laser

Multi-lasers are fast firing medium strength weapons, mounted primarily on Sentinels. They are useful for taking out large numbers of infantry or lightly armoured vehicles such as transports and most Ork vehicles.

Turbo Laser

Main article: Turbo Laser

Turbo Lasers are even heavier versions of the Lascannon, usually mounted on Titans and used for slicing enemy Titans and super-heavy vehicles into pieces.