GTW ML-16 Laser
The GTW ML-16 Laser is a Terran-designed primary weapon which was used extensively by the GTA before the Great War. The ML-16 works adequately against hull and consumes a negligible amount of energy per shot, allowing the pilot to divert more power to engines.
Since the ML-16 was designed during the "shieldless" era of Terran and Vasudan history, it is largely ineffective against shielded targets, such as Shivan fighters and bombers. Despite being ultimately superseded by the GTW Avenger during the opening stages of the Great War, ML-16s were still being distributed among fighter squadrons even as of the Hades Rebellion.
Tech Room Data
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| The GTW ML-16 Laser |
Argon laser weapon - uses transparent ceramic technology in order to create an optical system that is extremely durable and stable under battle conditions - provides adequate destructive damage to the hull of enemy ships by vaporizing molecular bonds at the target area and destabilizing molecular bonds across the grain of the hull material.
The GTA issues ML-16 Lasers to every fighter and bomber in service.
Performance
Statistics
| Name | ML-16 Laser | |
| Range | 900 m | |
| Rate of fire | 5.00 s-1 | |
| Velocity | 450 ms-1 | |
| Damage | 5 | |
| Armor damage | 5 | |
| Shield damage | 0.5 | |
| Subsystem damage | 1.5 |
Additional properties
- Weapon is a primary cannon (Primary weapon)
Veteran Comments
The ML-16 is not a bad gun against unshielded targets. In fact, try using it against a Shivan cruiser hull and you will be pleasantly surprised. However, without any ability to damage shields, it really isn't a viable choice later in the campaign.
The ML-16 does less than 1/3 of the armor damage of the GTW Avenger, and between 1/3 and 1/2 of its FreeSpace 2 equivalent, the GTW Subach HL-7 - for the same energy. I guess the GTW Flail and the GTW Training Laser are worse on armor, but if this isn't a bad gun on unshielded targets, I don't know what is.
