Monument Arms LPP-2 Hydra Electrolaser-Plasma Pistol

Weapons
LPP-2 Hydra

Monument Arms LPP-2 Hydra Electrolaser-Plasma Pistol

by Tim Wing

The LPP-2 series of light plasma weapons were designed by Monument Arms, in association with the Monument Robotech Research Group (RRG).  A plasma weapon, also known as an electrolaser, is a type of directed-energy weapon that uses a laser to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC). A fraction of a second later, a powerful electric current is sent down this plasma channel and delivered to the target. Physical damage is primarily caused by the laser beam, with the follow-on electric causing secondary damage to electronic systems. The secondary electrical disruption has the potential to completely ruin the avionics on even large armored vehicles and mecha. This, of course, depends greatly on a variety of factors including how hardened the targets electronics are against electromagnetic pulse (EMP), where the beam strikes the mecha, conductivity of the mecha’s armor and chance. An interesting side effect is that when the electromagnetic field rips electrons from air molecules to create plasma, similar to lightning, the rapid heating also creates a sonic boom.

All three versions were used primarily by the Marsh Division of the Tactical Corps Special Purpose Troops. All versions were specially adapted for use in wet environments and sealed against water and humidity. Like many weapons systems used by the United Earth Defense Force (UEDF), three variants of the LPP-2 were made utilizing different firing apertures. The standard aperture was a single 10mm barrel. The LPP-2A used twin 10mm apertures, and the LPP-2H had a bizarre flat plane variable aperture. The H model fired in an adjustable horizontal arc. This was primarily used as a suppressive fire weapon. At low power settings, all LPP-2 could serve as a less-than-lethal option in crowd control situations as the electrical transfer of energy to the target allowed the weapons to act as a very powerful taser. A quirk of the LPP-2 was that it used dual energy magazines. These magazines were shared with several different energy weapons. Mounted on the back of the weapon, they resemble a pair of stubby pistol grips.

  • Year Introduced: 2023
  • Designer: Monument Arms, Monument RRG
  • Acquiring Military: UEDF, TC Marsh Division
  • Capacity: dual energy magazines; 16 full energy discharges (LPP-2), 8 full energy discharges (LPP-2A), 10 full energy discharges (LPP-2H)
  • Rate of Fire: semi-automatic
  • Weight: 1.89 kg (LPP-2), 2 kg (LPP-2A), 2.25 kg (LPP-2H)
  • Maximum effective range: 240 meters (LPP-2), 150 meters (LPP-2A), 120 meters (LPP-2H)
LPP-2H Hydra
LPP-2A Hydra

 

Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (R) is the property of Big West Advertising, Tatsunoko Studio and Ammonite studio. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Original artwork by: Kogawa Tomonori, Hiroyuki Kitazume, Miyo Sonoda, Hiroshi Ogawa, Hirotoshi Ohkura and Takashi Ono; Kevin Siembieda, Kevin Long, Daniel Dussault, Allen Manning, Brian Manning, Apollo Okamura, Benjamin Rodriguez, Charles Walton II and Michael Wilson

Content by Tim Wing

Copyright © 2018 Tim Wing