Lubalin Ballistics-X AutoCannons

Lubalin Ballistics-X AutoCannon, or LBX (also written LB-X), is a development that builds upon the Standard AutoCannon by turning it into the BattleMech equivalent of a shotgun.

Overview

Schematic of an LBX AutoCannon

Rather than firing a single slug, the LBX Autocannon fires a cluster of pellets that spread out and may thus strike multiple sections of the target. The larger the LBX, the more the pellets spread out. Single pellet damage is same for all variants, and only the amount of pellets shot at the time varies. Conveniently, the LBX variant's size number (2,5,10 and 20) indicates how many pellets it shoots.

Compared to single slug firing standard AutoCannons (AC10 and AC20), the LBX rate-of-fire is lower, but the single shot damage potential is significantly greater. In addition, all LBX weapons have somewhat improved range compared to their standard AutoCannon counterparts.

There is no difference between Inner Sphere and Clan versions of the Lubalin Ballistics-X AutoCannon.

Weapon Stats

Weapon	Max Range	Dmg Drop Range	Dmg Drop /m	Hit Damage/Shot	Splash Damage/Shot	Damage Type	Splash Radius (prm/sec)	Shots /min	Sustained DPS	Speed (m/s)	Heat /Shot	Ammo /ton	Ammo cost /ton
(C)LBX2	1330m	1350m	10	2 x 81	---	Light Kinetic	---	20	76	1800	7	60	125
(C)LBX5	900m	900m		5 x 81				15	142	2600	10	48	500
(C)LBX10	700m	700m		10 x 81				12	227		24	24	950
(C)LBX20	450m	450m		20 x 81				10	379		76	12	1350
Air LBX2	1350m	1350m	10	2 x 81	2 x 100	Kinetic air	1m	20	145	1800	7	60	125
Air LBX5	900m	900m		5 x 81	5 x 100			15	272	2600	10	48	500
Air LBX10	700m	---	---	10 x 81	10 x 100		1.5m	12	434		24	24	950
Air LBX20	450m			20 x 81	20 x 100			10	724		76	12	1350

	All stats are current as of release 0.14.10

Gameplay & Hints

(C)LBX variants

• LBX AutoCannons used by ground assets deal Light Kinetic damage, which does extra damage against Vehicles and Air units

• Shot spread can be useful hitting speedy Battle Armors

• Shot spread can make it difficult to focus fire on a single location when firing at range, instead spreading the damage out across the unit

• At close range the pellets have less time to spread out, resulting in more concentrated damage, making the LBX10 and LBX20 especially dangerous in close quarters combat

Air LBX variants

• Air LBX AutoCannons deal Kinetic-air damage, which is more effective against Vehicles and other Air units

• Differing from LBX used by ground assets, the Air LBX pellets also cause splash damage to the hit target

Canon

Lubalin Ballistics-X AutoCannon was initially intended to expand the weapon's role into anti-vehicle and anti-infantry duties. Initially developed in 2595 by the Terran Hegemony (LBX10 only), it featured the ability to fire either slugs for concentrated damage or cluster munitions that had a better chance of finding a chink in the target's armor (and also made it better able to engage aircraft).

While the Inner Sphere lost LBX technology in 2840 during the Succession Wars the Clans would go on to introduce the LBX2, LBX5 and LBX20 during the 2820's. Later the Inner Sphere would rediscover the LBX10 in 3035 thanks to the Helm Core, and introduce the other LBX classes in 3058 in response to the Clan Invasion.

In Classic BattleTech the CLBX2 and CLBX5 have improved range over their Inner Sphere counterparts. In addition all CLBX weapons are more compact and weigh less than Inner Sphere LBX weapons.

BattleTech reference

Usage

The following assets equip LB-X AutoCannons:

Air LBX2	(C)LBX2	Air LBX5	(C)LBX5	Air LBX10	(C)LBX10	Air LBX20	(C)LBX20
Inner Sphere Sparrowhawk (B)   Clan Sulla (B)	Inner Sphere Anubis (B) Hollander II (E) Argus (D) Catapult (A) Thanatos (B) Chevalier (G)   Clan Madcat (C) Daishi (C) Hephaestus (F) Ares (F) Huit (A)	Inner Sphere Sparrowhawk (C)   Clan Avar (A)	Inner Sphere Chimera (E) Thanatos (E) Harasser (E) Partisan (A)   Clan Uller (Pr) Cougar (B) Vulture (F) Cauldron-Born (Pr) Novacat (G) Madcat (G) Masakari (G) Daishi (F)	Inner Sphere Corsair (C) Rusalka (A)   Clan Donar (G) Sulla (B) Xerxes (C)	Inner Sphere Raven (B) Uziel (D) Bushwacker (E) Rifleman (B) Avatar (Pr) Fafnir (B) Chevalier (F)   Clan Solitaire (D) Uller (E) Hellhound (B) Ryoken (E) Loki (C,G) Thor (Pr,C) Blood Asp (B) Ares (G) Epona (C) Oro (C,D)	Inner Sphere Shiva (Pr)   Clan Visigoth (Pr)	Inner Sphere Hollander II (E) Bushwacker (B) Warhammer (C) Thanatos (D) Mauler (C) Atlas (C) Fafnir (B) Regulator (B) Rommel (D) Demolisher (B)   Clan Shadowcat (B) Cauldron-Born (D) Loki (C) Thor (D) Madcat (G) Masakari (C) Blood Asp (F) Madcat MKII (A) Daishi (B,G) Oro (Pr,C)

	All lists are current as of release 0.14.10