Category: Background & Fluff
The Mk. VII-x Bolt Weapon is the evolutional advancement of the ubiquitous Astartes Mk. Vb – Godwyn Pattern Bolter. The VII-x specifically addresses multiple inherent limitations of the Godwyn; providing superior performance and fire mobility at the expense of increased maintenance and manufacture complexity.
Whereas the Mk. Vb and its predecessors rely upon ignition of solid propellant inherent to the bolt round itself for initial propulsion of bolt round, the Mk. VII-x utilizes linear magnetic acceleration to propel an inherently caseless bolt projectile prior to stage-2 ignition. As standard bolt rounds require a measure of distance to accelerate after stage-2 ignition, short-range stopping power of bolt weapons is questionable due to lack of kinetic potential. Historically this has been addressed through enhancement of the bolt itself via millisecond-fused mass reactive warheads. The linear magnetic acceleration of the VII-x overcomes this inherent issue as the round possesses significant kinetic potential immediately upon discharge, and retains velocity beyond the point of stage-2 ignition.
The VII-x is a smoothbore weapon and fires a specialized .669/17mm projectile, as opposed to the more traditional .75/19mm bolt round; the smaller, lighter bolt round allowing for higher cyclic rate of fire. Primary stabilizing spin is imparted through strategically placed conductors along the barrel length. Further spin stabilization enhancement for distance accuracy is provided via the integral bolt round rocket nozzles. As felt recoil from the weapon is virtually nonexistent, the inherently stabilized nature of the weapon permits a high level of firer mobility while retaining in-motion downrange accuracy.
Electrical current for magnetic acceleration is provided via rechargeable storage cell integrated into each weapon magazine. A larger rechargeable reserve cell replaces the stage-1 bolt ignition mechanism inside the weapon housing. The reserve cell is designed to be field-replaceable via pressure latched panel located along the rear dorsal spine of the weapon.
The external appearance of the Mk. VII-x is virtually identical in almost every respect to the Mk. Vb, due to original VII-x design considerations which permit as much component interchangeability with the Mk. Vb as feasible. This grants the additional benefit of facilitating the utilization of preexisting manufacture processes and resources. One notable deviation from the Mk. Vb is the absence of protruding barrel and corresponding gas port compensator on the VII-x. As no explosive gasses are expelled, accuracy compensation of this nature is not a requirement. This reduction in overall length of the weapon, and removal of protrusions which could potentially cause snags, also promotes the use of flush-fit fifteen round (commonly termed “F3”) magazines for ease of combat-ready tactical holstering.
Due to magnetic acceleration of the specialized .669 round, standard .75/19mm bolt rounds cannot be fired from the Mk. VII-x (presuming theoretical barrel, chamber, and feed mechanism change-out are mechanically plausible) as no ignition mechanism exists to facilitate stage-1 round propulsion. Conversely .669cal rounds from the Mk. VII-x cannot be fired from standard Godwyn pattern weapons as .669 rounds contain no stage-1 propellant.
A small number of more advanced prototype design rounds exist (such as oxy-phosphorus gel infused and adamantium-cored penetrators) however manufacture process complexity of these charge types has caused duplication attempts thus far to meet with limited success. As such, charges of this nature are rarely utilized.
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