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This is an overview article, listing content appearing across multiple games. |
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Gauss rifles are infantry fielded coilguns that appear in Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Fallout Tactics, and Fallout Extreme.
Contents
Background
The Gauss rifle is a coilgun, a type of projectile accelerator, which uses electromagnetic coils configured as a linear motor to accelerate ferromagnetic or conductive projectiles to extreme velocities. Though these weapons were historically suffering from a number of difficulties, focused on discharging the coils in sequence or providing enough power for the coils, these design issues were overcome by German scientists in the 21st century and entered limited service. This class of weapons is named in honor of the German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss, responsible for formulating the math underlying the magnetic acceleration principle of coilguns.
Models
M72 Gauss rifle
The M72 has an electromagnetic accelerator, which uses an auto-loading 2mm EC cartridge (carrying both the 2mm steel slugs and the battery necessary to power it) slid into the magazine well, located in front of the trigger guard. The combination of German engineering and attention to detail make it a tremendously powerful weapon, with the slugs capable of piercing most targets at extreme ranges.[1][2] In 2241, it is often used by Enclave soldiers.
 | The following is based on Fallout Extreme and is not canon. |
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An enhanced M72 Gauss rifle was used in the war between the Brotherhood and the Cause.
| End of information based on Fallout Extreme. |
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Prototype Gauss rifle
 | The following is based on Creation Club content and is not canon. |
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Advertised as the United States Army's newest weapon.[3]
| End of information based on Creation Club content. |
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A supposed Chinese variation on the German design,[4] the scoped Gauss rifle was originally deployed in the Sino-American War. Unlike the original weapon, it features eleven coilgun stages, resulting in a higher damage output. The weapon is larger and bulkier to accommodate the increased stress put on the weapon and uses a different feed system. While the standard 2mm EC magazines incorporate both slugs and ammunition, the Chinese Gauss rifle has to be loaded with ferromagnetic slugs separately, with microfusion cells loaded into the battery well in front of the trigger group. The cell is used to power the magnetic accelerator and fire the slug and has to be replaced after each shot.[5]
The sheer firepower of the weapon has resulted in the design being used by the American military against the Chinese, both in the form of captured units[6] and a limited production run of reverse-engineered units.[7]
- For the unique Gauss rifle that appears in Fallout: New Vegas, see YCS/186
- For other versions in Fallout Shelter, see rusty Gauss rifle, enhanced Gauss rifle, hardened Gauss rifle, accelerated Gauss rifle
- For the unique Gauss rifle that appears in Fallout Shelter, see Magnetron 4000
Gauss rifle
A design halfway between the German Gauss rifle and the Chinese anti-materiel gun, this type of coilgun uses a series of high-powered capacitors and hypermagnetized coils to propel the projectile. The 2mm ferromagnetic slug exits the barrel at extreme velocity, enough to destroy anything in its path. These are fed from a top-mounted drum, sitting in front of a control panel that displays the current capacitor charge level via a pair of Nixie tubes.
Gallery
See also
References
- ↑ Fallout 2 item description: "{39200}{}{M72 Gauss Rifle}"
"{39201}{}{The M72 rifle is of German design. It uses an electromagnetic field to propel rounds at tremendous speed... and pierce almost any obstacle. Its range, accuracy and stopping power is almost unparalleled. Min ST: 6.}"
(PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2)) - ↑ Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel item description: "name_gaussRifle = {M72 Gauss Rifle}"
"desc_gaussRifle = {The M72 rifle is of German design. It uses an electromagnetic field to propel 2mm steel rounds at tremendous speed... and pierce almost any obstacle. Its range, accuracy and stopping power is almost unparalleled.}"
(Items.txt) - ↑ FO4 Creation Club - Gauss Rifle Prototype.png
- ↑ Chinese propaganda posters.
- ↑ Emil Pagliarulo: ""The gun energizes and magnetizes a standard projectile round; those are already pre-loaded into the weapon, and are in that giant clip attached to the side of the weapon. The player loads in the Micro Fusion Cells needed to energize/magnetize each round. We did it this way because we knew we wanted to have an Energy Weapon equivalent of the sniper rifle..." ([1][2])
- ↑ The weapon is seen in the hands of an U.S. paratrooper and can be received by the player character under the table from the American quartermaster in the Operation: Anchorage simulation.
- ↑ The weapon is found in the hands of Brotherhood of Steel paladins in the Mojave and former Elder Elijah in significant numbers.
