This article is timeless and should be accurate for any version of the game.
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All the power of a stationary Storm Cannon, but easily relocated via rails. This devastating cannon is capable of leveling enemy fortifications at very large distances.
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— In-game description
The Tempest Cannon RA-2 (also known as a Long-Range Artillery Car, or Railway Storm Cannon, abbreviated as RSC) is a late-game artillery train car equipped with a 300mm Storm Cannon capable of firing large shells over long distances and across regions.
The fuel tank is only used to fire and rotate the gun
Health & Armor
The Tempest Cannon RA-2 has 4000 HP. It has "Light Armor" resistance: it can soak small arms fire and shrapnel, and it is immune to Flamethrowers. It can soak 12.7mm machine gun fire but not for long. Heavy explosives and anti-tank weaponry are a real threat to it. It takes 250 Basic Materials to fully repair it from 1% to 100% health with a Hammer.
Interactions
Couple two cars together - hold Shift + E and press Couple Cars (they must be touching/close together)
Decouple two connected cars - requires a Wrench used in the area between the two cars
Deploying/Undeploying the vehicle - press F in the Gunner seat
Required to operate the artillery piece
A train can have up to 15 cars connected, Locomotive(s) included.
Due to the powerful nature of 300mm weaponry, the Tempest Cannon RA-2 must be protected and used strategically, as the offensive capabilities, high ammunition cost, and production time, make them large resource sinks, as well as high-priority targets for enemies. While the ammunition for it is uncommon, the most expensive resource in this process is the enriched oil, as every shot consumes nearly a full can of enriched oil, making prolonged bombardments fuel-intensive. (i.e. 120 shots per Liquid Container's worth of enriched oil without adjusting the gun's azimuth)
The primary way to adjust the weapon's range and azimuth is to move the entire vehicle. Due to the Tempest Cannon being only movable by railway tracks, special preparation and construction must be made in order to align the vehicle towards its target.
When preparing to fire it, make sure the area is well defended, as well as be on high alert for enemies attempting to stop your bombardment. Make sure you are prepared to quickly retreat if counter-artillery comes in and becomes extremely intense.
Tips
Like all vehicles, it can refueled from any nearby fuel container/vehicle
Like all vehicles that use large shells, they can be quickly submitted into them without accessing their inventory
While this can be done for all vehicles, it should only be done if they can carry/use large items
Equip the shell and walk up to the vehicle
Submit the shell into the vehicle - pressV
Trivia
The Tempest Cannon RA-2 was introduced in 1.50 Inferno, making it the second artillery weapon in the game that uses 300mm ammunition.
Due to the powerful nature of 300mm weaponry, certain balance changes were implemented into the game in order to counter it:
The range of the Howitzer Garrison was increased from 450 meters to 600 meters in order to be able to retaliate against them. Despite this change, they do not retaliate when the shells are coming from another hex.
Initially, the Tempest Cannon RA-2 was able to fire within the Rapid Decay Zone, however this tactic made counter-artillery across hexes nearly impossible, as Storm Cannons cannot fire into the Rapid Decay Zone. This was changed, which made counter-artillery from other Storm Cannon weapons possible.
Tech Tree in order to be produced.
