GTW ML-16 Laser

The ML-16 is a primary weapon which was in heavy use before the appearance of the Shivans and their shielding technology. The ML-16 works adequately against hull and devours only a negligible amount of energy, allowing the pilot to divert more power on engines.

Since the ML-16 was designed in a "shieldless" era of both Terran and Vasudan history, it largely became inadequate against shielded targets like most Shivan fighters and bombers.

As soon as the GTW Avenger cannon became available, and produced in enough quantities, the ML-16 was replaced.

Weapons in Descent: FreeSpace

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS1

Weapons in FreeSpace 2

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS2

File:ML16.gif
The ML-16

Tech Room Data

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

Range	900 m
Rate of Fire	5 shots per second
Velocity	450 ms-1
Base Damage	5
Armor Damage	Full	5
Shield Damage	Minimal	0.5
Subsystem Damage	Poor	1.5

Notes

User-made Campaigns

You will see more of this weapon in the Terran-Vasudan War Project

Veteran Comments

Please read the Veteran Comments policy before editing this section.

The ML-16 is an acceptable weapon at the beginning of the main campaign. Unfortunately, after shielding on fighters become common, the weapon loses its efficiency. Prefer the Avenger to this weapon.

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.

Since fighters with no shields obviously take less damage to destroy, the ML-16 is perfectly serviceable against them. It's not going to do much to an Orion, but surely they would have bombs even before the Tsunami.

Twin 16s are worse than a single Avenger. They worked well because the Vasudans had crap lasers, and their fighters were just crap.