GTM Cyclops

The GTM-12 Cyclops was developed specifically to engage and destroy enemy warships. With this weapon, a single bomber wing possesses firepower that can easily neutrialize a cruiser, possibly even a corvette. The Cyclops is unsurprisingly heavy and large. The only thing that manages to pack more sheer destructive energy in a fighter-deployed tactical weapon is the special issue GTM Helios torpedo.

Moving slowly, with an extensive aspect lock sequence and long reloading cycle, there's more to deploying a Cyclops than simply getting into range and pushing the button. The gunners of anti-fighter defenses like light beam cannons and flak guns are trained to shoot down incoming torpedoes, and the bombers that launch them. One must be very cautious in choosing the optimum approach angle, to avoid as many anti-fighter defenses as possible. While the Cyclops has maximum range of about 2.5km, its effective range should be considered to be about 500 meters or less. By releasing your weapon this close to the target, the enemy flak has a much smaller chance of disabling your torpedo in flight. If possible you should get even closer, launch the weapon at the last second, then pull up sharply and use your burners to escape the blast radius.

Guarding vessels are advised to intercept bombers as far away as possible from their intended target. This gives you time to neutralize the bombers and, if necessary, the torpedoes in flight. The GTW Morning Star and GTW Maxim are a highly recommended anti-bomber/anti-torpedo tools.

Alpha 1 and friendly bombers use the Cyclops#short, not the "full" Cyclops, until The King's Gambit. The Short is 20 m/s slower (75 vs 95) and therefore has less range, but has twice the subsystem damage (2000 vs 1000) due to the base Cylcops' .5 subsystem damage modifier.

Weapons in Descent: FreeSpace

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS1

Weapons in FreeSpace 2

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS2

The GTM-12 Cyclops

Tech Room Data

The GTM-12 Cyclops has been in service for over 15 years in the GTVA arsenal. It is the standard ultra-high-delivery Secondary weapon loadout, utilizing the latest in aspect-seeking guidance technologies. The Cyclops has the distinction of being the most consistently upgraded weapon in the fleet. Although its development began shortly after the Great War ended, its excellent performance has kept it firmly entrenched in the role of main assault weapon. Its payload is approximately fifty percent greater than that of the older Tsunami warheads.

Performance

Statistics - Cyclops

Range	2 375 m
Reload time	20.0 s
Velocity	95 ms-1
Base Damage	2 000
Armor Damage	Full	2 000
Shield Damage	None	40
Subsystem Damage	Average	1 000
Shockwave Radius	100 / 200 m
Type:	Aspect Seeking
View Cone:	N / A
Minimum Lock Time:	5.0 s
Turn Rate (360 degrees):	1.0 s

Statistics - Cyclops#Short

Range	1 875 m
Reload time	20.0 s
Velocity	75 ms-1
Base Damage	2 000
Armor Damage	Full	2 000
Shield Damage	None	40
Subsystem Damage	Full	2 000
Shockwave Radius	100 / 200 m
Type:	Aspect Seeking
View Cone:	N / A
Minimum Lock Time:	5.0 s
Turn Rate (360 degrees):	1.0 s

Notes

• Weapon is capable of easily damaging (Huge) even larger vessels.
• Weapon can be shot down (Bomb)
• Weapon must be locked onto the target in order to be fired (No Dumbfire)

Veteran Comments

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An anti-cruiser and anti-subsystem bomb. Not much else to tell.

Works fairly well against destroyers as well, unlike the GTM Tsunami.

Interestingly, the Cyclops has a decent turn rate and speed, sufficient enough to damage slower fighters. If you're out of missiles and gun energy to hit, say, a Basilisk or an Aeshma, you could try to hit it with this. Expect it to do no more than reduce the target's rear shield to nothing, though.

Confirming that it is possible to hit a Basilisk with the Cyclops, I accidentally let a pair loose when I thought I had Hornets selected. Suffice to say, it blew up.