|
M7057
/ Defoliant Projector
Official
Designation: M7057/DP
Length (o/a): 116.8 cm (46 in.)
Weight (empty): 45.8 kg (101 lbs)
Weight (loaded): 55.5 kg (122.5 lbs)
Cartridge: Pyrosene-V
Max. effective range: 13.4 meters (44 ft)
Magazine capacity: 9 x three-second bursts
Unit
Replacement Cost: cR. 1,520.00
Description:
The M7057/DP is a standard chemical flamethrower, which projects
and ignites a stream of a volatile, semi-liquid fuel. Flamethrowers
are cumbersome and relatively difficult to use (psychologically
as well as mechanically).
Observations:
Referring to the M7057/DP as a weapon[1] is a bit of a misnomer
as the dee pea in its nomenclature indicate that it is a defoliant
projector—to be used to rapidly clear away heavy foliage
for in-theater construction projects and to destroy new or
persistent growth from emplaced and/or hardened military assets.
That having been said; despite being all but obsolete militarily
its effectiveness as a psychological weapon is undeniable—unfortunately
the psychological effect is a double-edged sword.
Remarks:
“makes short work of weeds and thickets—but I
wouldn’t carry one into combat. Not on your life.”
“I
can see where it would be real effective in ousting dug in
troops, but you aren’t gonna be making any friends using
it that way.”
“I
don’t see where carrying around a big can of super-flammable
stuff right next to my xxxx is such a good idea.”
“You
know those things ship with a cart, right? You aren’t
expected to carry them anywhere… they are not a weapon
that you use on people… not even on alien people.”
“I
hate me some baby kongs, and I will kill every man Jack of
‘em that I see, but I don’t think I could burn
‘em—best to draw the line somewhere and that seems
like it.”
“Foxtrots
die pretty quick once you put the fire to ‘em. We ought
‘a burn ‘em all. Low-life bastards. Burn all those
low-life alien foxtrots.”
“Gotta
get too close for it to be any use offensively—if you’re
gonna use it as a weapon best to use it in a defensive role—fill
up passages and weak-points in your perimeter with fire.”
“It
takes a certain kind’a lunatic to use a flamethrower…
all I’m sayin’.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] That the M7057/DP has been frequently pressed into service
as a primitive energy weapon of sorts is a distressing but
irrefutable fact. It is one in a very small number of items
available to UNSC personnel that remotely earmarks the user
for a full battery of psychological tests.
|
