Patrone Armament Co

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**Patrone Armament Co.**

Stock Exchange • Stock Symbol	Odessan National Exchange PAC
Date Founded	1827
Head Offices	Ashton, Midland
Key People	Anton Patrone, President
Primary Industry	Armament
Major Products	Artillery and aircraft cannon; railcar wheels
Revenue	¶ 194,650,000
Employees	12,437
Owned By	N/A
Subsidiaries	• Patrone Forge Co. • Arndt Metalworks Co. • Grupp Mining Ltd. • Ashton & Highlands Railway

The Patrone Armament Co. is Aurora's preeminent cannon maker. Its products provide the firepower for all Odessan-made tanks and artillery, as well as most aircraft cannon and naval guns. The company is also known for its high-quality edged weaponry, a legacy from its very first product. Patrone's head offices are in Ashton, Midland, located in central Odessa.

History

Niccolo Patrone founded the first forge at Ashton in 1827. From the beginning, the company was engaged in arms manufacturing, with its first products being swords and daggers for the Aspenian military, which then controlled most of the Lusitierran continent. The products were of very high quality and soon became sought after by most of Aurora's militaries.

While Niccolo did well, his son was more entrepreneurial. During his tenure as president, Vittorio purchased four coal and three iron ore mines. He also purchased the company's steel supplier, thereby vertically integrating the concern. This proved beneficial as the company did not have to worry about unstable raw materials during the transition to Translithanian colonial rule.

Vittorio also expanded the foundry and branched into artillery guns, howitzers, and mortars, a move that proved essential to the company's long-term prosperity as demand for edged weaponry dwindled at the dawn of the 20th century. Patrone has continued to refine and improve its product line and now offers cannon in all major calibers.

After Vittorio's death in 1904, his son took over the concern. Simone Patrone once again expanded the works at the forge and completed the company's vertical integration by building the Ashton and Highlands Railway. As a result, the company is not reliant on any outside entity for any of it's critical resources and supplies. Simone invented a seamless railcar wheel in 1911, which remains one of the company's successful products. He is also credited with developing breach-loading for artillery guns, relegating muzzle-loading to past history.

Operations

Patrone Armament Co. is an umbrella for the operating subsidiaries. The parent company is a member of the Odessan Armament Kartel for marketing purposes and all company products are sold under the Patrone brand regardless of which division is the actual manufacturer.

Cannon on the manufacturing floor of the Patrone Forge Co. at Ashton, Odessa.

Patrone Forge Co.

Anton Patrone would no longer recognize his original forge, around which has grown one of Aurora's largest foundries and mills. The complex today casts steel in large blocks and then mills these castings to produce its field artillery and naval guns. Aircraft cannon and lower caliber guns are produced in similar fashion using smaller castings.

Arndt Metalworks Co.

Originally a separate concern, the Arndt steel mills are now actually part of the massive Patrone Works in Ashton. The mills produce steel primarily to support the foundry and mills that produce the company's products. Considered an innovator in the metals industry, the mills also produce crucible and oxygenated steels, carbon steel, and various grades of stainless steel.

Grupp Mining Ltd.

As the raw materials arm of the concern, Grupp Mining now operates four coal and five iron ore mines, the sole purpose of which is to feed the hungry ovens of the Arndt Metalworks and Patrone Forge.

Ashton and Highlands Railway Ltd.

Chartered in 1907, this railway is unique in Odessa. First of all, it owns and maintains its rail right-of-way, the rolling stock, and also operates the railroad. In most other cases, three separate entities see to these aspects. Secondly, the railway's only purpose is to transport ore from the mines in the Overvist prefecture to the factories at Ashton. All other rail lines serve as common carriers, providing both goods and people transport over the line.

Products

As noted, Patrone is primarily a manufacturer of cannon, including field artillery, naval, and aircraft guns. Other notable products include swords and daggers, and wheels for railcars.

A Patrone R-5 railway gun firing.

Railway Cannon

R-5 280 mm (11 in)
R-4 240 mm (9.5 in)
R-3 210 mm (8.25 in)
R-2 170 mm (6.7 in)
R-1 150 mm (5.9 in)

Naval Guns and Coastal Artillery

380 mm (15 in) L52
305 mm (12 in) L50
280 mm (11 in) L55
203 mm (8 in) L60
150 mm (5.9 in) L48 (PAC 150)
128 mm (5 in) L45 (PAC 128)
105 mm (4.9 in) L64
88 mm (3.5 in) L45 (PAC 88)
75 mm (2.9 in) L36 (PAC 75)
55 mm (2.2 in) L77
37 mm (1.5 in) L57 (PAC 37)
20 mm (.8 in) L65 (PAC 20)

Artillery

PAC 170—170 mm (6.7 in) heavy field gun
PAC 150—150 mm (5.9 in) heavy field gun
PAC 128—128 mm (5 in) heavy field gun; anti-tank gun; anti-aircraft gun
PAC 88—88 mm (3.5 in) medium field gun; anti-tank gun; anti-aircraft gun
PAC 75—75 mm (2.9 in) medium field gun; anti-tank gun; anti-aircraft gun
PAC 50—50 mm (2 in) light field gun; anti-tank gun; anti-aircraft gun
PAC 37—37 mm (1.5 in) light field gun; anti-tank gun; anti-aircraft gun
PAC 20—20 mm (.8 in) light field gun; anti-aircraft gun

Armored Vehicle Guns

PAC 128 L55—128 mm (5 in)
PAC 88 L71—88 mm (3.5 in)
PAC 75 L70—75 mm (3 in)
PAC 50 L60—50 mm (2 in)
PAC 37 L46—37 mm (1.5 in)
PAC 20 L50—20 mm (.8 in)

PAC 20 Mk 151 20 mm cannon underslung on a Pravnickan A-87G Kondor ground attack airplane.

Aircraft Guns

PAC 50 L43—50 mm (2 in)
PAC 37 L45—37 mm (1.5 in)
PAC 30 Mk 108—(1.2 in)
PAC 20 Mk 151—20 mm (.8 in)

Customers

Patrone's artillery pieces are in use with the Odessan military, the Militaria. Additionally, the company sells its cannon to various armament manufacturers, most of which are Odessa-based. A variety of customers, primarily museums and national militaries, buy the company's high-quality edged weapons. Preston-Zytsev Machinery Ltd. is the main customer for Patrone's railcar wheels.

Members of the Odessan Armament Kartel