M292 Self-Propelled Artillery

"Essentially a giant gun on treads, the M292 is the standard artillery of the USCMC."

―M292's description (from Colonial Marines Operations Manual)

M292 Self-Propelled Artillery
Overview
Type	Self-propelled artillery
Model	M292
Affiliation	United States Colonial Marine Corps Canadian Colonial Armed Forces
Technical specifications
Length	11.1 m
Mass	38,000kg
Max. speed	60 km/h
Armament	41-caliber 158mm Howitzer Air-defence laser turret (CIWS) (A2 models only)
Crew	6
Cost	$9.400.000

The M292 Self-Propelled Artillery was the standard mobile artillery piece of the United States Colonial Marine Corps and the Canadian Colonial Armed Forces.

Overview

The M292 was a 38,000kg armored tracked vehicle equipped with a single 41-caliber long 158mm autocannon capable of firing six rounds in ten seconds. The vehicle carried 78 rounds; these were loaded using automatic systems and fired using hypergolic liquid binary propellants. The M292 was often deployed by way of the UD-4S Skycrane.

History

Several M292s were deployed during the during the 2174-2175 Linna 349 Campaign, with several used during the assault on the Harare colony.

The 3rd Battalion's 5th Regiment's heavy ordnance platoon of the 33rd Marine Assault Unit ran with a contingent of four M292 self-propelled artillery guns.

As of 2184, the M292's 41-caliber 158mm cannon alone carried a value of 250,000 United American dollars, while the Small Laser Defense Turret was worth $10,000.

Ammunition

The M292 was capable of firing a variety of warheads:

158mm High Explosive Extended Range Full Bore Shell (HE ERFB): The main round used by the M292, boasting an effective range of 39km.

158mm High Explosive Extended Range Full Bore Base Bleed Shell (HE ERFB/BB): The addition of a base-bleed unit extended the effective range to 48km.

158mm High Explosive Extended Range Full Bore Rocket Assisted Shell (HE ERFB/RA): A less powerful ramjet-powered athodyd shell, but with a higher effective range of 62km.

158mm Guided Cluster Shell: A shell spreading self-guided submunitions.

158mm Mine Cluster Shell: A shell spreading area denial mines over a designated area.

158mm M418 Smart Shell: A shell designed to home in on targets using a fluidic jet-reaction system to steer.

Variants

Air-defence laser turret (CIWS)

M292A2

This variant, identified as the 'A2', featured an air-defense laser turret on the hull roof to protect the vehicle from incoming fire.

Appearances

• Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Manual
• Alien: The Roleplaying Game — Colonial Marines Operations Manual