Uploaded May 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Yet another example of variable yield firepower from small arms in Star Wars.
From
Empire Strikes Back
Bespin shootout scene
Yet another example of variable yield firepower from small arms in Star Wars.
From
Empire Strikes Back
Bespin shootout scene

![Class 2 Fuel Rod incendiary blasts
Footage from HALO The Life (We Are ODST) of the explosive fireballs generated by the Banshees class 2 fuel rod projectile launchers. The fireballs generally peaked at 2 to 3 meters (6 to 10 ft) diameter.
Fireball energy approx. = 1 to 3.6 megajoules
The class 2 fuel rod cannon is a light anti-armour weapon (LAAW) capable of destroying lightly armoured vehicles, or even a Scorpion tank with multiple shots.
The atmospheric banshee is equipped with two class 2 fuel rod cannons in addition to two rapid fire plasma guns, whereas the space banshee is equipped with more powerful than standard plasma weapons but only a single fuel rod launcher.
The Type 52 Anti Air Artillery (AAA) wraith tank is equipped with four class 2 fuel rod projectile launchers which can destroy light aircraft such as UNSC hornets, and unleash dozens of the fuel rod projectiles within seconds. This fire rate ensures the AAA wraith can pose a credible threat to the UNSCs larger and more heavily armoured Pelican dropships. The AAA wraith can effectively engage ground targets with all four of its fuel rod cannons.
The estimated rate of fire of the Type-52 Anti-Aircraft Artillery wraith tank ranges from 1 shot per 7 seconds per launcher to 2 shots per second per launcher, for a combined rate of fire of 1 shot every 1.75 seconds to 8 shots per second. This is equivalent to 34 to 480 projectiles launched per minute.
The number of projectiles carried by the AA wraith is unknown but is likely substantially less than 480, but not less than 34 since the projectiles are relatively compact (officially 380 mm calibre, but length is only ~ 5 to 6 calibres).
The infantry version of this weapon is the Type 33 light anti armour weapon (LAAW), known as the fuel rod gun. This weapon has a 5 missile capacity magazine and can fire up to two missiles per second and emptying the magazine in as little as 2.5 seconds. This means a shock squad of 5 Unggoy heavies could unleash 25 missiles within 2.5 seconds... shocking!
Fair Use
Original video: The Life [also known as] We Are ODST, a live action trailer for HALO 3: ODST
Physicist Curtis Saxtons technical commentary for calculating energy content of fireballs. http://www.theforce.net/swtc/bang.html
HALO wiki
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Class-2_Projectile_Cannon
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Type-52_Anti-Aircraft_Artillery
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Type-26_Ground_Support_Aircraft
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Type-27_Exoatmospheric_Multi-role_Fighter
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Type-33_Light_Anti-Armor_Weapon
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Unggoy_Heavy Class 2 Fuel Rod incendiary blasts](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RNsc6RtOdho/mqdefault.jpg)








