Volcano cannon
The Volcano Cannon is amongst the most powerful ground-based laser weapons used by forces of the Imperium of Man, unleashing terawatts of energy[9] in a blazing white laser beam which produces a thunderous crack and tremendous recoil.[7]
Contents
Overview
These long-ranged weapons are capable of slicing off a Titan's limb[1a] or killing an enemy war engine[2] with a single shot, though even a Warhound Scout Titan with intact Void Shields can survive a direct hit.[10] Their firepower is similarly stupendous against lesser targets, reducing a Razorback to nothing more than a blackened scorch mark[8] and utterly vaporizing a thick hundred meter-tall iron gate as though it never existed.[7] Fired upon a hive, the laser beam of a Warlord-mounted volcano cannon can vaporise an entire section of the hive's defensive wall and penetrate two kilometres into the structure, leaving only the fused slag remains of former streets and manufactorums behind.[17]
Volcano cannons are manufactured in small numbers on just a handful of Forge Worlds in addition to Mars. These included Estaban III, Phaeton and Gryphonne IV, all of which are surrounded by formidable Imperial defences.[11a]
The crystals needed for the weapon to fire are taken from a mineral vein on the Mining World Cinderus XI. Created when Heretic Psykers were slaughtered and buried beneath the lava rivers on the planet after a failed plot to kill the Planetary Governor, the crystals cause a loud crackling noise to be emitted by the volcano cannon when fired. This noise, which some claim are the final screams of the dead Psykers, has been known to drive those who fight beside the weapon insane, though the tank or Titan crews themselves have never been reported to suffer from these ill effects. As a result units of infantry escorting vehicles and Titans using volcano cannons are subject to periodic purges. The Imperium sees this as an acceptable price to pay for deploying such a devastating weapon on the battlefield.[11a]
Titans or Shadowswords using a volcano cannon must have them replaced after being fired 1,500 times, in order to avoid catastrophic misfire.[11b]
Known Patterns
Titans
A Reaver Battle Titan can mount a Volcano Cannon only on its two arm mounts,[3] while a Warlord Battle Titan can equip Volcano Cannons on each of its armour carapace hard-points.[4] The massive Imperator Titan can carry up to six on its carapace hard-points.[5]
Belicosa pattern
Carried on arm mounts by Mars-Alpha pattern Warlord titans. Too large and powerful to be carried by lesser vehicles or titans, it requires the plasma reactor of a mighty Warlord titan to feed its ravenous appetite for energy.[13]
Estaban VII pattern
The Estaban VII pattern Volcano Cannon is mounted on Shadowswords like the Castigatus.[16]
Mars-Alpha Pattern Nemesis
Can be carried on the carapace of a Warbringer Nemesis Titan.[14]
MkIV Phaeton pattern
The current model sanctioned by the Adeptus Mechanicus; which perfected its use in mid-M35.[11a]
The Type 22-S, MkIV Volcano Cannon, Phaeton pattern is the Volcano cannon mounted on Imperial Guard Shadowswords.[1b] Due to the immense power requirements to fire the weapon, the Shadowsword must be stationary so that the main drive can be disconnected and the generator connected in its place, allowing power to transfer to the vehicle's capacitors. Firing the weapon just once will completely drain the capacitors, again requiring the vehicle to remain stationary so that they may be recharged.[1a]
MkIII Synne pattern
MkII Teracharge pattern
Was said to be even more powerful than the current MkIV, but was never used in service due to being too volatile. When the Teracharge was fired it almost always destroyed the arms of the Titans and hulls of the tanks that carried it. As a result, it was ultimately determined to be a failure by the Adeptus Mechanicus.[11a]
Mk I Variant pattern
Volatile when fired; almost as much as the failed MkII pattern.[11a]
Trivia
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- In the original Adeptus Titanicus-era material, the Volcano Cannon was referred to as the Defence Laser[6]
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy:
- 2: Games Workshop: Shadowsword (saved archive page, dated December 2010, last accessed 3 April 2016)
- 3: Imperial Armour Volume Six - The Siege of Vraks - Part Two, pg. 122
- 4: Apocalypse, pg. 124
- 5: Saved Archive Page, Games Workshop Emperor Battle Titan (dated December 2010, last accessed 3 April 2016)
- 6: Adeptus Titanicus (game) rulebook,
[Help] - 7: Gunheads (Novel), [Help] pg. 254
- 8: Imperial Armour Volume Six - The Siege of Vraks - Part Two, pg. 83
- 9: Baneblade (Novel), Chapter 4, pg. 64
- 10: Titanicus (Novel), 111, pg. 234
- 11: Munitorum: Volcano Cannons (Background Book):
- 12: The Horus Heresy Book Five - Tempest, [Help]
- 13: Forge World Belicosa Volcano Cannon (last accessed 3 April 2016)
- 14: Adeptus Titanicus: Shadow and Iron, pg. 24
- 15: Warhammer Community: Pre-order The Gun That Terrifies Even The Largest Titans (posted 14/05/2021) (last accessed 14 May 2021)
- 16: The Sabbat Worlds Crusade (Background Book) (2nd Edition), pg. 125
- 17: Hunting Ground (Short Story)
- 18: Warhammer-Community: Watch the thrilling final episode of Kill Lupercal now
