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The Fat Man is perhaps the most devastating infantry weapon ever unleashed upon the modern battlefield - a hand-held catapult that launches portable nuclear bombs.— VDSG Catalogue No.9716

The M42[1] Fat Man is a weapon in Fallout 4.

Characteristics

First entering service in September 2077 with the U.S. Army, the Fat Man is a shoulder mounted mini nuke launcher. The variant appearing in Fallout 4 has a slightly different appearance than in previous games. There is no longer a handle on the right side of the launcher, and instead two straight handles on the bottom. It also appears to be larger, with a rusted silver paint job.

Developers struggled to find a way to fire the heavy ammunition from a man-portable system far enough to keep the operator outside the blast radius, losing a lot of people in the process. Eventually, it was discovered that by placing a small sub-charge into the ammunition itself, similar to bullets being fired from a gun (or perhaps more accurately described as being along the lines of a recoilless launcher), the warheads could be launched a considerable distance without adding too much weight to the already heavy weapon.

When fitted with the MIRV launcher, it fires six mini nukes in a cluster that separate in mid-air, drastically reducing its range, but increasing its overall damage and area of effect.

Weapon modifications

Launcher
ModDescriptionWeapon prefixDamage per shot changeFire rate changeRange changeAccuracy changeMagazine capacity (shots per reload) changeWeight changeWeapon value change in capsEffect(s)Perk(s) requiredComponentsForm ID
Standard launcherAdhesive x4
Aluminum x6
Gears x6
Nuclear material x4
Screw x5
Spring x6
Steel x9
????????
MIRV launcherAn experimental modification.Experimental MIRV-450+5.3+138Gun Nut: 4
Science!: 4
Adhesive x9
Aluminum x11
Circuitry x5
Gears x8
Nuclear material x6
Screw x8
Spring x7
????????

Variants

Locations

  • ArcJet Systems - Found in the room marked '2' in the Engine core.
  • BADTFL regional office - In the evidence locker.
  • Boston Airport - Slightly north of Boston Airport, there are wrecked cars. Inside one is a Fat Man. From the Boston Airport fast travel location, head east. The nose section of an airplane will be in front of you. The Fat Man is located in a van on the water's edge behind the nose section.
  • Boston mayoral shelter - Beneath the basketball court is an entrance to a cave. The Fat Man lies next to a dead soldier at the end of the cave. There is a nearby deathclaw that will attack on sight.
  • Cabot House - In the basement near Edward's bed.
  • D.B. Technical High School - At the far end of the old swimming pool in the northwest corner of the lowest level of the school. This is by the raider boss' bed and terminal.
  • Federal ration stockpile - In the main stockpile area, just inside the room with two turrets against the wall near the terminal that operates the doors ( the second one). This Fat Man also respawns.
  • Fort Hagen - In the armory.
  • Goodneighbor - Found behind the desk, beside KL-E-0 in the Kill or Be Killed store.
  • Gunners plaza - In a locked utility closet in the southwest corner of the second floor.
  • Hub City Auto Wreckers - Carried by a named Gunner, Bridget.
  • Lexington - On the walkway where the Raider with the power armor is found.
  • Libertalia - Carried by a random raider at the top of the main building.
  • Malden center - Found behind a train car hugging against a wall.
  • Quincy ruins - being held by Sergeant Baker, who is located on top of the church in the ruins.
  • Revere satellite array - Can be found at the top of one of the towers, next to a power armor frame and a case with miscellaneous ammo and other items.
  • Robotics Disposal Ground - Found laid on top of a car hood near the back of the scrapyard.
  • Salem - On a shelf in a bombed out store across from the chapel.
  • Spectacle Island - On the lower level of the beached tugboat containing the generator.
  • The Castle - Found in the armory on a shelf, next to it will be a mini nuke.
  • The Prydwen - Inside Proctor Teagan's store.
  • Zephyr Ridge Camp Far Harbor (add-on) - Carried by a trapper on the tower's top level.

Notes

  • There is a chance that a mini nuke fired by the Fat Man will be a dud and cause physical damage instead to the target if hit by the dud.[2]
  • Technical documentation and holotapes found in Fort Strong reveals the Fat Man's pre-War designation: 'The M42 Fat Man'.
  • The Fallout 4 Fat Man appears to have a slightly smaller blast radius than the Fallout 3 version.[verification needed]
  • When fired from a long enough distance, the projectile makes a loud whistling noise (similar to the cartoon noise for falling from the sky) which indicates one should get to cover ASAP or sprint away.
  • Preston Garvey dislikes using the Fat Man presumably because of its destructive nature.
  • When firing with the experimental MIRV modification, there's a chance that it will detonate right at your feet, even if you are firing away from yourself.
  • During the first scene of the game, the player can see an advertisement for the Fat Man playing on TV.

Behind the scenes

"Fat Man" was the codename for the plutonium atomic bomb that was detonated over Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945. With the exception of the tail fins, the mini nuke has a striking similar look to Fat Man.

Sounds

SingleShotVB ReloadVB

Gallery

References

  1. General Brock's terminal in Fort Strong and Private Murnahan's holotape found in Fort Strong refer to the Fat Man as an "M42 nuclear catapult"
  2. Ten things we've learned about Fallout 4 - Tech Radar
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