When Hudson says this, I always assumed he is talking about some type of heavy support weaponry available to the marines from the either the Sulaco or possibly even on the turret of the APC.

However, I just watched the scene again and Hudson physically puts his hand on something while describing it. It seems clear that he is showing the actual particle beam phalanx to Ripley and identifying it by touch.

WHAT THE HECK IS IT!?!? Anyone able to get a good screen grab? Surely it can't be a hand-held weapon? Maybe the part he touched was just the power/ammo generator to the turret? When he touched it, it moved. It was definitely a tangible object.

Anyone recall if the particle beam phalanx was referenced in the tech manual?

I always just assumed he was laying a hand on the control seat for the cannon atop the APC, thus talking about that thing!

Going by the WYR, he IS talking about the turret on top of the APC. It can be used to fire different types of weapons.

The above info from the CMTM is referencing aerospace defence systems - specifically missiles and not beams that Hudson was talking about, as opposed to APC mounted weapons. Page 73 talks more about the variations of beam weapons for the APC.

I agree with Ttask... I always assumed he was slapping / punching the controls for the turret gun...

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A02/TQ2.0.52141E1

"Errr... Roger that's a 2-1-6..."

That's how I'd read it - As I always interpreted it, it's called a "Phalanx", becaue the sheer volume of ammo it spits out resembles a Roman or Greek phalanx : so many spears and shields that nothing can get through.

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MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
For the discerning survivor of the apocalypse.
Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
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Yeah, def all makes sense. Im sold on the turret.

Only issue I would have with that is he boasts that you can 'fry half a city' with it (as an offensive weapon), when calling it a phalanx implies it is primarily defensive.

But all that is easily written off as 'cool tech-speak' never meant to be over-analyzed. If someone insisted on over-analyzing it, one could argue Hudson has the mentality to look at all things through a 'what can it blow up' perspective while dismissing its more boring intended use.

Pretty much agree with what Scapey said. As for the "fry half a city" line... it did come out of Hudson's mouth; he tended to exaggerate.


Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

I don't think he meant all at once...

Yes - bigbisont has a point though - phalanx is a term to a rapid firing defence Gatling gun these days... It sounds cool though and it was probably never supposed to be scrutinised and just sound cool... Further underpinning the over confidence in military might etc...

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A02/TQ2.0.52141E1

"Errr... Roger that's a 2-1-6..."

When I was on RN aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, there were Phalanx fore and aft; both were indeed rapid firing sentry guards and in fact the Harrier's had to come in below a certain thresh-hold because anything moving faster within a certain proximity would be shot down in a spray of Gatling fire, automatically. I always thought it was something Cameron had heard of that sounded cool and so nabbed it for the script. And of course with future weaponry, there's a lot of room for artistic license/

I imagine it as a rapid firing Gatling laser cannon.

To me "Independently Targeting" would mean automatic,"Particle beam" would mean Lasers, "Phalanx" would be the Gatling.

Fry half a city with it

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Lt. Melissa L. Klassen, ALG
AL Colonial Admin. - Executive Officer (XO) -- 2021-2022
RCCM | Royal Canadian Colonial Marines - Commanding Officer (CO) -- 2021-2022

Read the AL Charter Rules & Regulations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3gd9QUyIqI_6rfk8kpxspbKU-JT4MBAjLPxfCkvGJ8

The line just stuck in my mind, because I'm from Glasgow.

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MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
For the discerning survivor of the apocalypse.
Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
linktr.ee/wastelandworkshop

Was the Phalanx a post Falklands war thing given our losses to Exocets?

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A02/TQ2.0.52141E1

"Errr... Roger that's a 2-1-6..."