Missile Turrets

[snrdg121408]

Morning PDT Condottiere,

One thing absent is rate of fire.

While it could be argued as to how long an energy weapon is active, once you run out of missiles, that's it.

I'd rather have an increased rate of fire of a single arm launcher, than bother with trying to operate three next to each other, which would be like one missile every two minutes, instead of three every six.

Per my understanding a launcher is capable of firing once per combat turn, unfortunately I'm to lazy to dig up the time portion in minutes/seconds.

Neither CT LBB 2 or LBB 5 are clear about how missile racks or sandcasters are designed. SS 3 Missiles (JTAS 21) p. 2 indicates that "standard missiles fit into a standardized shipping/launch container. The launch container is fitted directly to the launch rack and the missile is fired from it. The container includes integral test circuitry, provides protection from extremes of temperature and weather, and is isolated from the corrosive effects of atmosphere and moisture.
The container is a cylinder with interior dimensions of one meter long and fifteen centimeters in diameter."

SS 3 p. 2 has more details on the container and I hope I got the key information. Of course I'm wondering what happens to the empty container after launch.

 

[Condottiere]

Empties will either get repurposed by the crew, or likely stay in the magazine and exchanged once a resupply point is reached, since it makes no difference in the performance.

 

[snrdg121408]

Afternoon PDT Condottiere,

Empties will either get repurposed by the crew, or likely stay in the magazine and exchanged once a resupply point is reached, since it makes no difference in the performance.

I have had some time to think about the SS3 detail which suggests some sort of drum or cylinder that the missile canisters/launchers are rotated into position. When all the canister/launcher ready magazine missiles have been launched the empties are ejected into another magazine or similar cargo space.

My apologies for not asking for clarification earlier about single arm launcher. I think you are describing the launcher used for the Tartar was is shown on this link http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/u-s-navy-missile-defense-the-three-ts-talos-terrier-and-tartar/.

 

[Condottiere]

 

[snrdg121408]

Hello Condottiere,

The one armed launcher you have linked to is similar to the Tartar.

Hopefully the image I am seeing is wrong when applied to Traveller ships. My image is the one armed launcher is attached to the hulls exterior in the same way as shown in the image, which means to me that a ship so equipped would be unable to skim for fuel. Okay a streamlined hull would be come a partially streamlined hull allowing the ship to skim for fuel, but partially streamlined hulls would no longer be able to skim for fuel since the hull would be even more unstreamlined.

I'll stick with the turret concept since they can at least be streamlined.