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For an overview of the M42 "Fat Man" Launcher throughout the Fallout series, see Fat Man. |
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The Fat Man is perhaps the most devastating infantry weapon ever unleashed upon the modern battlefield - a hand-held catapult that launches portable nuclear bombs.
”— Fallout 4 loading screenThe Fat Man is a weapon in Fallout 4.
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 sentry 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.
Crafting[]
With the Contraptions Workshop add-on, Fat Men can be manufactured using a heavy weapon forge.
Components | Requirements | Products | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
15 Adhesive 15 Aluminum 6 Gear 5 Screw 6 Spring 9 Steel | 1 Fat Man |
Modifications[]
All numbers are relative to the base stats.
Barrel[]
Slot | Damage | Fire Rate | Weight | Value | Resources | Required Perks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard | Base | +2.5% | +2.5% | 4x Adhesive 6x Aluminum 6x Gear 4x Nuclear Material 5x Screw 6x Spring 9x Steel |
None | ||
MIRV Launcher | Multiple projectiles dealing 450 damage in a 3.43 m (11.24 ft) radius (9.28 m (30.45 ft) total)
radius |
+25% AP cost | +20% | +30% | 9x Adhesive 11x Aluminum 5x Circuitry 8x Gear 6x Nuclear Material 8x Screw 7x Spring |
Gun Nut 4 Science! 4 |
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[]
- BADTFL regional office: in the evidence locker near the front of the entrance.
- Boston mayoral shelter: in the supply room adjacent to the supply room.
- Cabot House: in Edward Deegan's room in the basement, but this counts as stealing.
- D.B. Technical High School: on a shelf in the library.
- Federal ration stockpile: in the Master-locked supply stockpile.
- Fort Hagen: inside the locked armory in the basement. The password to open the door can be found on a corpse in a side hallway just before the armory.
- Gunners Plaza: in an Advanced-locked supply closet on the second floor, past some display cases.
- Lexington: used by a raider in Power Armor on the sky bridge.
- Revere satellite array: atop the northern satellite dish, next to a power armor frame.
- Robotics disposal ground: in the trunk of a car behind the sentry bot.
- South Boston military checkpoint: in the trailer in front of the concrete bunker.
- Salem: on the second floor of the weapons shop on the west side of town.
- Spectacle Island: inside the green tugboat to the south, in the generator room.
- The Castle: inside the armory, accessed by completing Old Guns.
- The Prydwen: inside Proctor Teagan's cubby, but taking it counts as stealing.
Gallery[]
A crate of Mini nuke components.
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