Point-defense gun
Production information
Technical specifications
Magazine Size	Blocks[1]
Ammunition Type	50mm high-explosive
Operation	Computer/AI operated[2]
Usage
Era(s)	26th Century[1] Human-Covenant war
Counterpart	Covenant Pulse Laser Turret
Affiliation	UNSC
[Source]

The Point-defense gun is a United Nations Space Command starship-mounted weapon that fires 50mm high-explosive projectiles.^[3]

Design detailsEdit

FunctionalityEdit

The Point-Defense Gun functions much like the CIWS designs created during the 20th Century, firing 50mm projectiles. Unlike Archer missiles and the MAC weapon systems mounted on capital ships, the Point-Defense Guns are not used to engage Covenant capital ships in ship-to-ship combat (The only known case is in Halo: Reach level Long Night Of Solace), but is instead meant to take out smaller threats like Seraph fighters^[4] or boarding craft to prevent (or at least lessen) the damage inflicted on a warship.

Because human operators lack the reflexive responses necessary to operate the point-defense guns to maximum effect, the autocannons are computer controlled and, if an AI is available, control is diverted to it. "Smart" AI's seem better able to operate the Point-Defense Guns than standard computers and also lesser "dumb" AI's.^[2]

In Halo: Reach Point-Defense Guns can kill a player with a single shot if it hits the player.

Operational historyEdit

During the human occupation of Installation 04, the ODSTs that recaptured and secured the wreckage of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn from the Covenant managed to scavenge^[5] several dual barreled^[3] 50mm turrets. The ODSTs utilised the scavenged defense weapons and used them as anti-air defensive emplacements at Alpha Base.

GalleryEdit

A close-up of a point-defense gun.

A close-up of one of the Pillar of Autumn's point-defense guns in Halo: Reach.

A Halcyon-class light cruiser defending itself from the Covenant boarding crafts using its point defense guns.

Shot of the UNSC Savannah's point defense gun arrays.

The UNSC Savannah's point defense guns firing on the Covenant corvette Ardent Prayer

Close-up of a UNSC frigate's point defense guns firing.

The UNSC Savannah using its point-defense guns against the Ardent Prayer in Operation: UPPER CUT.

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SourcesEdit