Editing Magnetic-Pulse Warhead

The '''Magnetic-Pulse Warhead''', or '''Magnetic Pulse Missile''', is an alternate [[LRM]] and [[SRM]] ammunition type.

==Description==
Originally conceived in [[3050]] by the [[Free Worlds League]] as an electronics countermeasure attack against a targeted [[BattleMech]]'s targeting and tracking systems, its designers quickly discovered that the prototype magnetic pulse warhead also had the unintended side effect of momentarily weakening the magnetic shielding of [[fusion engine]]s, triggering a notable "heat spike" before the engine's containment returned to normal. This combination of effects led [[Captain-General]] [[Thomas Halas|Thomas Marik]] to encourage further research, authorizing field testing of the magnetic pulse warheads by the [[Free Worlds League Military]] during [[Operation Guerrero]], and like many pieces of League technology, also falling into the hands of the [[Word of Blake]].<ref name=TH-59>''Tactical Handbook'', p. 59: "Magnetic-Pulse Warhead (MPW)"</ref><ref name=TO-370>''Tactical Operations'', p. 370: "Magnetic Pulse (MP) Missiles"</ref>

Unfortunately, much like the [[listen-kill missile]] before them, the magnetic pulse warhead fell prey to the hype surrounding them. As rumors of the ultimate "'Mech-stunner" quickly spread, fusion engine manufacturers across the [[Inner Sphere]] raced to update their engine containment software to rapidly cope and adjust to external interference of magnetic shielding, greatly reducing the severity and duration of the heat spike caused by MPWs. With this advantage mostly negated, the warhead was left to its original role of anti-EW work, only to be superseded by less costly and more effective systems, such as the [[ComStar]]-developed [[improved Narc missile beacon]]'s [[haywire pod]], and were eventually discontinued in [[3065]].<ref name=TO-370/>

== Models ==
The magnetic pulse warhead is manufactured on the following planets:

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! Brand
! Planet
! Company
! Used by
! Reference
|-
| 
| [[Keystone]]
| [[Earthwerks Incorporated]]
| 
| <ref name=TH-59/>
|}

== Rules ==
<div class="gamerules">
=== Game Rules ===
* Under the ''Tactical Handbook'' rules, each hit from an MPW-equipped SRM raises heat by 2 for each hit, while each LRM MPW raises target heat by 1 per hit. In the next turn after the target is struck by an MPW flight, the target 'Mech operates with a +3 penalty for any weapons to hit rolls. This penalty occurs no matter how many or how few missiles hit, and multiple hits in that turn do not increase or extend the effect, the targeted 'Mech returning to normal in the next turn.<ref name=TH-59/>

* Under ''Tactical Operations'' rules, a successful magnetic pulse missile attack instead imposes a +1 to-hit modifier on all the target's weapon attacks from the end of the Weapon Attack Phase to the End Phase of the turn following the attack. Against any heat-tracking unit powered by a fusion engine, the target's heat is increased by +1 for each five LRM missiles or three SRM warheads rounded down that hit the target, the spike only lasting for the duration of the turn in which they hit.<ref name=TO-370/>

* Despite not carrying explosives in the traditional sense & due to their propellant, both versions cause damage from ammunition explosions as per normal for their missile type, and both are incompatible with [[Artemis IV FCS|Artemis]], [[Narc]], iNarc and [[Streak Missile Launcher|streak]] guidance systems.<ref name=TH-59/><ref name=TO-370/>
</div>

== References ==
<references />

== Bibliography ==
* ''[[Tactical Handbook]]''
* ''[[Tactical Operations]]''


[[Category: Weapons]]
[[Category: Missile Weapons]]
[[Category: Alternate Ammunition]]