 | For an overview of the M42 "Fat Man" Launcher throughout the Fallout series, see Fat Man. |
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The Daisy Cutter is a unique weapon in Fallout 76.
Background[]
The M42 Fat Man was developed at Fort Strong near Boston, Massachusetts. Development began in February 2076, with the goal being the development of a man-portable tactical nuclear launcher easy enough for use by troops on the ground, to destroy reinforced and entrenched positions.[1][2] Problems manifested instantly, as warheads were simply too heavy to clear the blast radius fast enough to provide safety for the operator. Even stripping them to the minimal possible size failed to produce an acceptable effect. Instead, the development team decided to increase the power of the launcher unit, even considering using railgun technology to accelerate the warhead. The notion was largely academic, as it would require for the overburdened soldier to carry an additional power pack the size of a suitcase and turn the Fat Man into a crew-served weapon.[3] Concurrent development ran on the MIRV version of the launcher. Live-fire testing claimed lives, in fact, with two soldiers killed during a test. No remains were recovered and the commanding officer in charge of the project, General Brock, covered up the incident, ordering his subordinates to send sand packed in an urn to their relatives.[4]
The project hit a breakthrough in December 2076,[5] when the project lead discovered a solution for the launcher problems. Six hours, fourteen cups, and one concerned night shift lab crew later, the future M42 launcher was conceptualized: Based on the spigot mortar mechanism, the launcher would only have to accommodate a firing through and system, relying on mechanical launching, rather than chemical or electrical means. Much like the 130 year old PIAT launcher, the Fat Man warhead would be propelled by a sub-charge embedded inside the warhead, "catapulting" the warhead through the air to the target - giving plenty of range with the added bonus of not producing a smoke trail that could reveal the firing team to the enemy.[6]
By September 2077,[7] after one hundred test firings the weapon were complete and ready to be shipped to units overseas. A large number of units was manufactured and shipped together with the appropriate warheads to select locations throughout the United States.[8]
Characteristics[]
The standard M42 "Fat Man" Launcher is a man portable nuclear payload, anti-materiel weapon platform. It can contain a single mini nuke only. The Fat Man fires a single deadly mini-nuke shell, perfect for tough enemies like super mutant behemoths, deathclaws or senty bots, or any enemy that is a significantly higher level. Still, one must be extremely wary of the curve trajectory of the mini nuke, or else one can be trapped within in the explosion. As it is a heavy weapon, the Fat Man benefits from the Heavy Gunner perk, but this makes a weapon that is already overkill superfluously deadly.
As one would expect, the firepower does not come without a penalty; the Fat Man weights 30 pounds by itself, and is even less practical in survival mode when its ammunition weighs more than a third of that. Modifying it to eject several mini nukes at once makes it 18% heavier, but widens the spread and allows one to carpet bomb an entire area. Fortunately, the Daisy Cutter comes with a legendary effect that reduces the weight to just 10% of what it would normally be.
Modifications[]
All numbers are relative to the base stats.
Barrel[]
| Mod | Effects | Crafting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIRV Launcher | (E)
An experimental modification.
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| Standard Launcher | (E)
Standard.
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By Adding the MIRV Launcher mod to the M42 Fat Man, the Sole Survivor gains the ability to fire more shells at once. While the principle of the weapon is similar to Fallout 3's Experimental MIRV, it has been "nerfed" in it's ability to output damage per shell, doing considerably less damage, and having a limited range. The Heavy Gunner perk will increase the damage that the shells can do, but they always do less to the standard M42 Fat Man's single powerful shell. It has lost the point and kill nature that the Experimental MIRV had in Fallout 3, making the weapon more akin to a curio than something viable for engaged combat.
Locations[]
- Quest reward for completing An Organic Solution.
References
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 001
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; General Brock's Terminal, General Brock's Report - February 2076
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 002
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 003
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; General Brock's Terminal, General Brock's Report - December 2076
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 004
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; General Brock's Terminal, General Brock's Report - September 2077
- ↑ Fort Strong terminals; Bravo Team Testing Terminal, Bravo Team M42 Report 005