Stonehenge (Ace Combat)

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Stonehenge is a fictional superweapon in the PlayStation 2 video game, Ace Combat 4.

[edit] Description

Stonehenge is an array of eight rail cannons in a circular formation, later one of them was disabled from a meteor impact. Its primary function is to locate, track, and destroy or alter the orbit of Near-Earth Objects before they become a threat in order to safeguard those of the Usea continent. Because of the altitude of such objects, its ground range is incredible, covering at least 1000-2000 miles. Before the conflict in Usea, the Erusians, who had possession of the weapon, discovered another use for Stonehenge: anti-air artillery. The warheads it used could reach any target within its range within minutes, rendering all flight dangerous. During the war, Stonehenge was heavily fortified against aerial attacks. Including the seven functional rail cannons, at least three SAM sites and several AA guns were deployed per cannon, along with a central radar jammer to prevent the locking-on of any rail cannon. Any aircraft that somehow managed to bypass all these defences would be faced by Yellow Squadron.

Despite the many advantages Stonehenge had against aircraft, there were two major flaws. It could not hit targets that were below 2000 feet because of Terrain Masking. The second was that Stonehenge's targeting system was designed for NEO's, objects with predictable paths.

[edit] History

The asteroid codenamed Ulysses 1994 XF-04 and its accompanying meteor shower prompted the Erusian government to develop Stonehenge. Although originally intended to clear the skies of the meteor plagued Usea continent, the militant state found another use for it: anti-air artillery. Given the range, covering roughly 80% of the Usea continent, and effectiveness of Stonehenge as such a weapon, Erusea conquered the skies over Usea with ease. With air superiority given to the Erusians, they quickly conquered much of the Usea mainland against which what used to belong to the Independent State Allied Forces (ISAF). This pushed ISAF back to North Point. Because of the fortifications Erusea fitted around Stonehenge, most long range conventional weapons were useless.

ISAF quickly responded with several strategic air strikes that were out of Stonehenge's range, including several key victories such as the sinking of Erusea's "Invincible" Aegir Fleet. ISAF's first encounter of Stonehenge's power during the war was the assault of an Erusian solar power plant. Although a key victory, ISAF HQ had not predicted that Erusea would use Stonehenge, even though the power plant was within its range. When Erusea used Stonehenge to make a counterstrike on the ISAF pilots, ISAF HQ ordered all pilot to decend below 2000 feet. The power plant however, was located on a plateau well above 2000 feet and most of the "safe zones" were valleys that were extremely difficult to navigate through. As a result, many pilots died either from the attack, or because they could not maneuver through the valleys. Although ISAF used fighters to assault the Tango Line, a defensive stronghold within Stonehenge's range, the terrain detail allowed a higher survivability rate as there were many open areas that offered elevations below 2000 feet.

Even though the central ground offensive was still far from Stonehenge, ISAF wanted it taken down as soon as possible. Taking advantage of Stonehenge's targeting system flaw, ISAF sent small groups of fighter pilots to fly unpredicatble paths and then later form up later on. The strategy was a success. Though there was a relatively high casualty rate due to the defensive weaponry deployed, the mission was a success. In a swift response, Erusea sent Yellow Squadron, their best fighter pilot squadron, to launch a counter attack on the ISAF pilots. The plan backfired, as one of the Yellow Squadron's fighters was shot down, resulting in a double victory for ISAF (it was not expected that any of the fighter pilots in ISAF were experienced enough to shoot down a Yellow Squadron fighter).

[edit] Trivia

• Stonehenge is named and designed (the formation of the cannons) after the actual Stonehenge. This superweapon also deals with astronomy related fields, and it is believed that site of Stonehenge is related to astronomy.

• The Stonehenge construction process was seen and takes place at Ace Combat 2.

Ace Combat series
Video games
Air Combat | 2 | 3 | 04 | 5 | Zero | Advance | X: Skies of Deception
Objects and locations
Countries / Organisations: A World With No Boundaries | Aurelia | Belka | Erusea | Gründer Industries | ISAF | Leasath | Osea | Sapin | Usea | Ustio | Yuktobania
Planes: ADF-01 Falken | ADFX-01 Morgan| X-02 Wyvern | R-100 Delphinus | XFA-27 | XFA-36A | R-311 Remora | X-49 Night Raven
Superweapons: Arkbird | Excalibur | Hrimfaxi & Scinfaxi | Megalith | SOLG | Stonehenge | XB-0 Hresvelgr | Gleipner | Meson Cannon | Fenrir
Other
Aircraft of Ace Combat | Characters of Ace Combat | Ace Combat X Super Aircraft