Originally posted by: tenshodo13
We should just attach that think to a couple of Shuttle boosters and launch it into orbit. Humanities first space destroyer class vessel
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
destrektor:
railguns have limited use because they require insane amounts of energy and can only take out very specific areas (direct damage vs. area of effect)
it's great for when you're fighting another ship, but terrible if you want infantry support.
to date, no ship is able to replicate the offshore firepower of the iowa class battleships.
Originally posted by: manowar821
Heh, because we need more weapons, amirite?
Originally posted by: destrekor
Energy requirements are brutal, I realize that. The main effort right now to figuring out a way to efficiently provide the necessary energy.
Originally posted by: zinfamous
What the hell? can't they think of a name that isn't so freaking lame?
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
destrektor:
railguns have limited use because they require insane amounts of energy and can only take out very specific areas (direct damage vs. area of effect)
it's great for when you're fighting another ship, but terrible if you want infantry support.
to date, no ship is able to replicate the offshore firepower of the iowa class battleships.
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
destrektor:
railguns have limited use because they require insane amounts of energy and can only take out very specific areas (direct damage vs. area of effect)
it's great for when you're fighting another ship, but terrible if you want infantry support.
to date, no ship is able to replicate the offshore firepower of the iowa class battleships.
too bad battleships were obsolete before they were ever really used in war.
Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
destrektor:
railguns have limited use because they require insane amounts of energy and can only take out very specific areas (direct damage vs. area of effect)
it's great for when you're fighting another ship, but terrible if you want infantry support.
to date, no ship is able to replicate the offshore firepower of the iowa class battleships.
too bad battleships were obsolete before they were ever really used in war.
?? Battleship bombardment was very useful in the pacific theater.
Originally posted by: destrekor
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
destrektor:
railguns have limited use because they require insane amounts of energy and can only take out very specific areas (direct damage vs. area of effect)
it's great for when you're fighting another ship, but terrible if you want infantry support.
to date, no ship is able to replicate the offshore firepower of the iowa class battleships.
well, remember, we are no longer servicing battleships.
It is an era the world seems to desire to move away from. Naval warfare isn't something the nations of the world seem to want to commit, likely because smaller ships can easily decimate battleships, which yes, were more for either battling other battleships, or for providing infantry support by firing onto land.
Current ships no longer seem to have any focus to fire onto land. Naval bombardment is awesome but doesn't seem to be something that is going to be used anymore.
The big problem is that a rail gun will be restricted to line of sight fire, so it's effective range will be very short in many cases. Not what you want from such a big expensive weapon. I'd worry about the rate of fire as well.But railguns do have the ability to fire onto land, as the sheer energy from impact would definitely take out key buildings, bunkers, or even severely effect troops in the immediate impact region. So while it is a direct damage weapon system, an interview with some researchers on it described it as having potential area of effect capabilities. I cannot say how - it might just be from the pure energy from a Mach 3-7 piece of metal striking a surface and coming to a dead stop. Surely the impact would be intense and large. But possibly they are looking to include some kind of explosive warhead safely contained within the metal body, but not sure if they could do that as the safety would be key because any issue could cause complete destruction of the weapon system.
But yes, that is the reason they are taking awhile to develop. Energy requirements are brutal, I realize that. The main effort right now to figuring out a way to efficiently provide the necessary energy.
Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
destrektor:
railguns have limited use because they require insane amounts of energy and can only take out very specific areas (direct damage vs. area of effect)
it's great for when you're fighting another ship, but terrible if you want infantry support.
to date, no ship is able to replicate the offshore firepower of the iowa class battleships.
too bad battleships were obsolete before they were ever really used in war.
?? Battleship bombardment was very useful in the pacific theater.
Originally posted by: sonambulo
So...did anyone get out and take the tour today? Something came up and I missed my chance to go.