Iron Nest Ballistic Calculator & Firing Solutions
Input target distance and objective classification to compute propellant charge bag requirements, direct low-arc versus plunging high-arc gun elevation angles, and shell flight timings for IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator.
Select target range to calculate optimal propellant charge bags (1 to 6), low-arc direct elevation, high-arc plunging fire, and shell flight time. Reference verified tutorial solutions or compute solutions for all 15 campaign missions.
§ All 15 Campaign Missions Firing Reference
15/15 OPERATIONAL PROFILESThis master table compiles distance parameters, required propellant charges, verified baseline elevations, and ammunition configurations across all campaign chapters. In non-tutorial missions, hostile spawns shift per run: measure targets precisely on the tactical plot before loading the breach.
| MISSION ID | CHAPTER NAME | RANGE | CHARGES | ELEVATION | TIME | PRIMARY ROUND | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M01 | Calibration Fire | 8.91 km | 2 Bags | 53.5° | 38s | HE | VERIFIED |
| M02 | Fire & Light | 13.80 km | 3 Bags | 52.3° | 44s | STAR + HE | VERIFIED |
| M03 | Liberation | 6.40 km | 2 Bags | 49.8° | 32s | HE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M04 | Counter-Battery | 10.13 km | 3 Bags | 48.2° | 39s | HCHE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M05 | Iron Road | 18.50 km | 4 Bags | 54.6° | 52s | AP | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M06 | Siege of Cartagena | 15.20 km | 4 Bags | 48.9° | 46s | HCHE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M07 | The Gorge | 11.40 km | 3 Bags | 47.5° | 41s | SMK + HE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M08 | Rock of Gibraltar | 21.00 km | 5 Bags | 51.8° | 56s | APHE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M09 | Dead Reckoning | 14.60 km | 3 Bags | 56.1° | 48s | TGAS + HCHE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M10 | Phantom Battery | 12.30 km | 3 Bags | 49.6° | 42s | STAR + AP | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M11 | High Tide | 24.20 km | 5 Bags | 57.0° | 61s | APHE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M12 | Fire on Call | 9.80 km | 2 Bags | 55.8° | 40s | HE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M13 | Blind Fire | 16.70 km | 4 Bags | 51.6° | 49s | HCHE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M14 | Final Harvest | 22.40 km | 5 Bags | 54.4° | 58s | APHE | WORKED EXAMPLE |
| M15 | White Shells | 28.50 km | 6 Bags | 58.4° | 67s | All Ammunition | WORKED EXAMPLE |
§ Ammunition Types & Penetration Profiles
7 ARTILLERY MUNITIONSSelecting improper ammunition causes mission failure. HE shells deal zero kinetic damage to armored locomotives, while AP penetrators over-penetrate light tents without exploding. Refer to this penetration and blast doctrine:
| MUNITION | SHELL NAME | BLAST RADIUS | PENETRATION PROFILE | TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HE | High Explosive | ~0.14 km | Light / Unarmored | Soft infantry, supply tents, spotter nests — Maximum fragmentation radius against exposed personnel |
| HCHE | Heavy High Explosive | ~0.32 km | Medium / Fortified | Bunker casemates, rail switches, building cover — Deep cratering shockwave cracks concrete walls |
| AP | Armor-Piercing | ~0.06 km | Heavy / Kinetic | Armored train boilers, heavy gun shields — Kinetic core penetrates armor plate before detonating |
| APHE | Armor-Piercing HE | ~0.25 km | Maximum Citadel | Warship hulls, underground bunker magazines — Delayed fuse detonates after breaching inner bulkheads |
| STAR | Illumination Star | None (Illumination) | Non-Lethal | Night operations, target verification, spotters — Parachute flare reveals target coordinates in darkness |
| SMK | Smoke Screen | ~0.80 km Screen | Tactical Cover | Blocking enemy spotters, concealing turret move — Densely blocks optical visual contact across defiles |
| TGAS | Tear Gas Dispersal | Bunker Fill Zone | Chemical Flush | Subterranean tunnels, M09 Dead Reckoning route — Forces garrisoned hostile gunners out into open sight |
§ Dual-Gun Left/Right Elevation Offsets
The Iron Nest fortress mounts twin 406mm naval rifles on an independent elevation carriage. Firing both barrels simultaneously induces significant hydraulic recoil shudder, throwing off subsequent targeting alignment:
§ All 4 Campaign Endings & Firing Triggers
Mission 15 (White Shells) branches into four divergent strategic endings based on ammunition selection, telegram compliance, and civilian casualty mitigation:
Follow standard headquarters orders in M15. Neutralize all enemy warships with heavy APHE barrages.
Refrain from destroying the communications relay tower in M13. Intercept the peace broadcast and hold fire on approaching escorts.
Deploy non-lethal TGAS canisters into the mountain tunnels in M09. Capture the rebel command staff intact without detonating the citadel.
Complete all 15 campaign missions with 100% first-salvo hits and zero civilian hospital or warehouse damage.
§ Ballistic Firing Solutions FAQ
? How does propellant charge count affect elevation in Iron Nest?
Each propellant charge bag increases muzzle velocity across distinct range brackets (Charge 1: 0-5 km, Charge 2: 5-10 km, Charge 3: 10-15 km, Charge 4: 15-20 km, Charge 5: 20-25 km, Charge 6: 25-32 km). Using the correct charge ensures your elevation angle falls within the optimal 45° to 60° ballistic envelope without barrel over-pressure.
? What is the difference between Low-Arc direct fire and High-Arc plunging fire?
Low-Arc fire delivers projectiles along a flatter trajectory with shorter flight times, ideal for moving railway targets or counter-battery duels. High-Arc plunging fire lobs heavy shells steep over coastal mountain ridges and island obstacles, dropping vertically through warship deck armor and bunker roofs.
? Why do M01 and M02 solutions remain fixed while other missions vary?
M01 Calibration Fire and M02 Fire & Light serve as fixed tutorial training grounds where target coordinates (8.91 km and 13.80 km) and weather conditions are strictly deterministic. In missions M03 through M15, target positions, wind vectors, and hostile spawn sectors vary dynamically per playthrough.
? Which ammunition round should be selected against fortified bunkers?
Against reinforced concrete bunkers and armored railway guns, load HCHE (Heavy High Explosive) or APHE (Armor-Piercing High Explosive). Standard HE shells disperse fragmentation over a 0.14 km radius but lack the structural penetration needed to crack heavy bunker casemates.