Gauss Weapons, Anyone?
- Thread starter Terry Mixon
- Start date
Geir
Emperor Mongoose
A first step... but I inherited a Browning 0.25, which I usually describe as 'the least powerful handgun in the world' (with apologies to Dirty Harry). It produces almost exactly the amount of energy (80ish J, but over a much smaller area than an 11-12 mm round). Oh well, early, early prototype:
Disadvantages: oversized x2, gutless x2
But it's a start.
And it works better than my Browning, which has a busted firing pin.... though I joke it will do more damage if I throw it at someone.
Disadvantages: oversized x2, gutless x2
But it's a start.
And it works better than my Browning, which has a busted firing pin.... though I joke it will do more damage if I throw it at someone.
ottarrus
Emperor Mongoose
Yeah, when squirrels laugh at your firearm, you need to upgrade
ottarrus
Emperor Mongoose
Well, as it sits right now both the 'electric guns' can get the projectile out of the barrel at almost ballistic velocities, but the accuracy sucks dog balls.
And the Navy has completely abandoned rail gun experimentation because the gun simply takes too much energy to fire. Even with the reactors aboard cruisers it doesn't have enough power to run the gun and the electronics aboard.
So, as we sit here at late TL 8, it's gonna take another TL to get the theory to scale up to what the designers want the facts to be.
Sometimes tech levels are frustratingly linear: theorize + discover if it's possible + design the parts of the prototype + develop the parts of the prototype + test the prototype = yell and scream cuz the godsbedamned prototype didn't work x start over.
Last edited:
ottarrus
Emperor Mongoose
For those interested in getting into the intermediate level of gritty regarding Gauss weaponry and the now-mostly-defunct rail gun tests, here is the wiki article. It glosses over some of the tech but decently explains some of the politics. And the sources list at the end is useful.
en.wikipedia.org
Railgun - Wikipedia
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Backpack battery.
You can borrow the laser one.
You can borrow the laser one.
Geir
Emperor Mongoose
I thought they ditched because the gun degraded after five or so shots. Needs some material work before its viable. (and we don't have any nuclear cruisers anymore).
Arkathan
Emperor Mongoose
Keep in mind, we haven't built a Nuclear Cruiser since 1978 (commissioned 1980, decommissioned 1998)
So the power output from those reactors isn't exactly geared towards a high electrical generation. Gas turbines can produce as much or power than those old things. Still, like railguns for catapults on aircraft carriers, or a universal mandate for all electric vehicles, the tech is not ready for prime time.
Arkathan
Emperor Mongoose
We keep making similar points at the same time...
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Assault carriers, as an alternative with large enough electrical generators.
The question is, what role does a railgun play in Navy doctrine?
The question is, what role does a railgun play in Navy doctrine?
Arkathan
Emperor Mongoose
Hypersonic beyond the horizon artillery. Whether for bombarding shore or ships.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
It was originally intended to replace Our battleship guns.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Turns out, there are cheaper ways for shore bombardment.
Didn't help that the Zumwalts were capped at three.
Probably, a smaller variant has a future for air defence.
Didn't help that the Zumwalts were capped at three.
Probably, a smaller variant has a future for air defence.
ottarrus
Emperor Mongoose
The USN was looking at Ultra High Velocity projectiles for a time, thinking that less expensive projectiles at high velocities could replicate the effects of much more expensive metallurgy at lower ballistic speeds. They could then afford to put a more expensive guidance package on the projectile and achieve the dreamed-of 'over the horizon' shot.
Insofar as the IN is concerned, they're not particular fans of railguns and their doctrine doesn't use them outside of siege warfare. The Sword Worlds makes use of them in ship to ship combat however.
ottarrus
Emperor Mongoose
Well the Zumwalts failed on almost every single design feature. They weren't particularly 'stealthy', their railgun and laser armaments were a bust, and her trip out of the harbor ended up with her being towed back to the dock.
NOT what you'd call a 'good press package'.
Geir
Emperor Mongoose
Teething problems.... But like the Seawolf, budgets fall and its better to go with a design cheaper and already proven.
I would think the laser would be more useful, since a gun is, well, not useful offensively compared to a missile, but a laser could kill drones and missiles, eventually. I can't see a railgun being good for point defense. I suppose they could fire intelligent guided shells, but the cost/benefit between that and a missile without the fancy gun is probably not great. And as for RoF, 'Launch them all!' beats whoever many shots per minute.
Might as well put torpedo tubes on you aircraft carrier... (okay, now the race is on to find a historical example)
ottarrus
Emperor Mongoose
Sure... cuz there's not ENOUGH explosives on a carrier, right?
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
USS Ticonderoga in Rifts Earth has torpedoes. A real historical example though, I doubt it, but humans are crazy, so who knows. lol
