《Minitorum》节译：爆弹枪

The boltgun, or bolter as it is also known, has been the standard armament of the Adeptus Astartes for as long as Space Marines have defended the Imperium. A brutally efficient weapon, the bolter fires mass-reactive bolts at its targets, each one a self-propelled missile which explodes on impact with devastating effectiveness. The fear and awe that bolter fire creates makes it a perfect weapon for shock troops, the hammering thunder of the guns mixing terrifyingly with the dull, wet explosions where targeted flesh is blown apart.

爆弹枪，或者说爆矢枪作为阿斯塔特修会标准武器的历史就和星际战士们保卫帝国的历史同样久远。作为一种残忍高效的武器，爆弹枪向目标发射的是质量反应爆弹，每一发爆弹都是自行推进的射弹，一经撞击到目标便会爆炸出毁灭性的威力。爆弹枪开火时发出雷霆般的轰鸣声，其中夹杂着目标肉体被炸到四分五裂的沉闷潮湿的可怕爆炸声，其造成的恐惧和敬畏使爆弹枪成为了震击部队的完美武器。

So violent is the impact of a bolt round that it can punch right through most infantry armour, burying itself in the meat of its victim before detonating with lethal effect. Even heavy materials can be shredded by sustained bolter fire, each round blasting chunks of ceramite out of power armour. Rather than exploding in the flesh of the target, the round will go off buried in their armour, meaning several direct hits in the same location are usually sufficient to tear a ragged hole.

爆矢弹的冲击力极为强悍，以至于能够穿透大多数步兵甲胄，其会将自身埋入受害者的肉体，之后以致命的威力炸开。爆弹枪的持续射击甚至能撕碎厚重的材质，每一发爆矢弹都能从动力甲上炸下大块的陶钢。爆矢弹不会在目标身上炸开，而是会钻入其甲胄中，这意味着多次直接命中同一位置就足以（在目标身上）撕开一个不规则的孔洞。

A boltgun can fire single accurate shots over ranges of several hundred metres and lay down a withering hail of fire at close range, making it versatile for both long-range engagements and close quarters actions. Space Marines are especially deadly when armed with bolters, and Tactical Squads are able to maintain sustained fire on their foes while changing clips in a single fluid movement, with no discernable interruption between shots. By contrast, individual battle-brothers can pick off foes from a staggering distance, each self-propelled bolt carrying it far across the battlefield on a faint vapour trail.

爆弹枪即能在几百米的射程外进行单次精确射击，也在近距离发射冰雹密集毁灭性的连射，这使其在远程作战和近距离作战中都能被灵活运用。当装备了爆弹枪时，星际战士们尤其致命；战术小队能够在保持对敌人持续射击的同时，动作流畅地将弹夹一次性更换到位，而且射击动作没有明显的中断。而单个星际战士的作战方式与小队模式相反，他们可以从惊人的距离之外干掉敌人，每一发自行推进的爆弹都是拖着其微弱的蒸汽轨迹穿过战场。

The Space Marines are not the only warriors of the Imperium to carry boltguns into battle, but the version carried by the Adeptus Astartes, the MK Vb Godwyn pattern boltgun, is by far the largest and most devastating. By comparison, the smaller patterns of boltgun carried by the Adeptus Sororitas or the champions of the Imperial Guard are pale reflections. So large is the Godwyn pattern that no normal man could heft one, let alone survive its unforgiving recoil. A blessed creation of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Godwyn pattern has served the Space Marines for millennia, its design based upon ancient STC technology from long before the birth of the Imperium.

星际战士也并非唯一在战斗中使用爆弹枪的帝国战士，但阿斯塔特修会所使用的马克5b古德温型爆弹枪是目前（体积）最大也最具破坏性的爆弹枪型号。相比之下，修女会和帝国卫队的勇士们所携带的小型爆弹枪仅是其苍白的倒影。古德温型爆弹枪体积很大，以至于没有凡人能举起它们，更不要说在其无情的反冲中幸存下来。古德温型爆弹枪是机械修会受祝的产物，它已经服务星际战士千年之久，其设计是基于某种在帝国诞生很久之前便存在的古老STC科技。

The Godwyn is not the only pattern of boltgun used by the Adeptus Astartes, and many of the Space Marine Chapters have their own variants, such as the Angelus bolter used by the Blood Angels or the Fenris pattern boltgun used by the Space Wolves. However, the Godwyn pattern remains the most common weapon of the Space Marines and fills the role of the sacred bolter, as cited in the Codex Astartes as the primary weapon of a battle-brother.

古德温型并非阿斯塔特修会使用的唯一型号爆弹枪，很多战团都有其自身的改型，比如圣血天使使用的安格罗斯型爆弹枪或太空野狼使用的芬里斯型爆弹枪。但古德温型爆弹枪仍是星际战士们最常见的武器，它填补了神圣爆弹枪的角色，阿斯塔特圣典也将之引用为战斗修士们的主要武器。

The most common bolter round is the .75 calibre explosive tipped mass-reactive bolt. However, Space Marines use a variety of other ammunition, each tailored for specific needs. Vengeance bolts are designed for use against heavy infantry and armoured targets. Each bolt has a volatile flux core that vaporises matter at the point of contact, punching clean through even the ceramite plates of power armour. Hellfire bolts were created as one of the Imperium’s desperate measures to stem the predations of Tyranid assaults within the galaxy. Each bolt is tipped with a vial of mutagenic acid capable of dissolving its way through citin and carapace with equal ease. Such is the success of the Hellfire bolt that it has found a use against a variety of foes, its acid just as effective at killing other foul xenos.

最常见的爆矢弹是0.75英寸质量反应触发型爆炸矢弹。但星际战士们也使用着种类繁多的弹药，每一种都是为了特定需求而专门制造。复仇爆弹被设计用于对抗重步兵和装甲目标，每一发此种爆弹都含有不稳定的熔融核心，能够在蒸发掉接触点上的物质，其甚至能穿透动力甲的陶钢板。地狱火爆弹是帝国为了阻止泰伦虫族在银河中的掠食而采取的绝望手段之一，此类爆弹的弹头顶端都灌入了一小瓶诱变酸液，这种物质能够将几丁质和甲壳同样轻松地分解掉。地狱火爆弹的成功之处就在于它找到了对抗各种敌人的方法，其酸性物质在杀死其他邪恶异形时同样有效。

The boltgun can also be modified for a variety of roles; the Adeptus Astartes and the sacred texts of the Machine God sanction some of these, others are crafted by battle-brothers themselves and remain confined to specific Chapters. Scopes of all kinds are a common addition to boltguns, even though most marks of power armour incorporate optical enhancements. A scope can be tailored to its environment, keyed to different visual spectrums or the heat-trace of certain foes, giving a Space Marine a better chance to find his target. Drum magazines are used to increase the ammo capabilities of a boltgun, replacing the standard sickle clip. This extra ammo reduces the time between reloads and allows a battle-brother to keep up a sustained stream of killing fire.

爆弹枪也能被改装以获取各种用途；阿斯塔特修会与玩机神的神圣文件批准了其中的某些，其他改型则是由战斗修士自己创造出，并仅限于特定战团使用。尽管大多数型号的动力甲都有光学强化功能，但各种瞄准镜仍是爆弹枪的常见附加装备。瞄准镜可以根据环境进行调整，根据不同的视觉光谱或特定敌人的热量踪迹进行追踪，给予星际战士发现目标的更佳机会。弹鼓则用于替换标准的镰状弹夹，以此增加爆弹枪的载弹能力。额外的弹药量减少了重新装填的时间，并允许战斗修士进行持续性的杀戮射击。

Regardless of modification or pattern, a boltgun remains an ancient and deadly weapon in the hands of a Space Marine, and if all else fails, it is solid enough to crack skulls and snap bones with its heavy casing.

无论其改进（方式）或型号，一把爆弹枪都是星际战士手中古老且致命的武器；而且倘若陷入绝境、无计可施，爆弹枪也坚固到足以让人用其沉重的枪身敲碎头骨和砸断骨骼。