| abstract | - The neutron energy beam emitted by a Neutron Laser Projector's ray collimator is capable of rupturing enemy armour on a molecular level, often resulting in the target vehicle being vaporised in a massive explosion. Only the most heavily armoured super-heavy tanks and Titan-scale vehicles can hope to survive the forces unleashed by this weapon. Even if the target is not destroyed outright by the intial beam, the neutron energy of the attack will overwhelm and disable the target vehicle's electronics and systems temporarily with a storm of electromagnetic radiation. Despite the Neutron Laser Projector's sheer power, the weapon suffers from two serious drawbacks. The first is that the Atomantic-Arc Reactors needed to power the weapon are inherently unstable and can cause an apocalyptic explosion if damaged or destroyed. This is most problematic for the Valdor Tank Hunter, where the sheer bulk of the laser and its power source push the limits of the interior space available in the venerable base design of the Macharius Heavy Tank. For the Valdor, this means there is little reactor shielding present to prevent a diastrous rupture of the engine's containment vessels; this often results in either a complete failure of the vehicle's drive systems, or in a massive detonation of the reactor. The second problem is that should the neutron beam fail to transfer its energy discharge entirely into its target, a dangerous feedback can occur to the cannon itself, which can cause damage to the vehicle's hull and electronic systems. On a Valdor Tank Destroyer, the weapon also suffers from a severely limited firing arc, for the projector can only be moved horizontally across a span of 22 degrees. Nevertheless, vehicles mounting the Neutron Laser Projector are greatly valued by those few Imperial Guard regiments fortunate enough to possess them, and are venerated as holy relics by the Adeptus Mechanicus Enginseers who tend to and maintain them.
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