The Cannon Tower is a static weapon emplacement widely used by the 
Automatons to defend their territory. The Cannon is virtually identical to the cannon of an Annihilator Tank, except placed on a tall pyramid-like base and lacks a frontal turret. They are typically seen guarding large Automaton bases with a smaller chance to be at medium outposts. A direct hit from the Cannon can kill a 
Helldiver, and near misses will send them flying. They also have incredibly high range, making them a constant danger in relatively open areas.
They are typically considered high priority when dealing with the base they're guarding due to their high lethality and range. However, they turn slowly, making it harder to track Helldivers that are closer to the Cannon. They also typically only respond to action in front of them, or by being alerted by other attacks on Automaton structures and units. Stealth or running near the base of the Cannon can be an effective way to reach the heatsink weakspot on the side opposite to the barrel, though it is usually guarded.
Tactics[]
- Cannon Towers will always flash red before firing, allowing Helldivers with sharp reflexes to dodge.
- They are easily distracted if they aren't already aware of your presence. Sneaking up to an Automaton base and destroying a fabricator will make the Cannon Tower turn and face the destroyed Fabricator to investigate what happened. This will give you a good window to aim at the back of the cannon where its weak point is located.
- The vents on the back of the turret are its primary weakspot. However, the vents are still Medium Armored and Durable.
- Vents can be destroyed with 3 AC-8 Autocannon shots, 6 APW-1 Anti-Materiel Rifle shots, or 3.75s LAS-98 Laser Cannon fire.
- A single shot from the FAF-14 Spear can destroy the turret.
- The EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank/GR-8 Recoilless Rifle/LAS-99 Quasar Cannon are not the most efficient weapons at killing turrets, requiring two shots to kill from any angle. However, one shot to the Vent will weaken the vent enough that any other Medium Armor Pen weapon will finish the turret almost immediately.
- However, two Helldivers each holding a Quasar Cannon can coordinate to both fire a shot at a turret together, destroying it instantly.
- The Orbital Railcannon Strike or Orbital Laser Strike are useful for taking them out in a pinch, due to their auto-aiming nature.
- Throwing an Orbital Precision Strike at the very base of the tower will almost always be accurate enough to destroy it.
-
Cannons guarding an Automaton base. -
The Cannon's weakpoint.
