Forum Overview :: Operation: Hammer Time
 
Right by Senor Barborito 04/15/2003, 4:21am PDT
t0ny wrote:

The point was that it fires sans chemical reactions. Electromagnetic cannons have been in development by the US Army for a loooong time (like at least the 80s); also google under 'Rail Guns', since that is basically what it is. The major obstacles are mainly the power consumption and the space required for the power plant.


Exactly. Because electricity can be produced sans chemicals.

Or as Inigo would say: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

5.56 ammunition might not be very sexy because it isn't one of the more lethal rounds out there, but the truth is that the one thing soldiers always want more of is ammunition - and 5.56 allows them to bring along assloads more than 7.62 for the same weight. My point being that the Army doesn't really care how 'sexy' the killing looks (space age electromagnetics or chemical reactions), provided it gets the job done significantly better than the last tech upgrade. Anyways, the real benefits of a railgun are significantly reduced ammo weight (since it's all shell) and, in theory (or theory dictated by current DARPA goals anyway) 10x higher shell velocity.

The really cool thing about higher shell velocity is that armor penetration in general is almost solely based on velocity, not mass. One of the other reasons 5.56 was chosen as the new US round back in the 70s was that there was the assumption then that ballistic vests would become far more prolific than they have. Similarly, should unfriendly countries gain DU armor similar to the M1A2 - it won't much matter by the time they have it.

--SB
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Brits develop weapon based on old Flying Circus episodes by Diotallevi 04/09/2003, 9:37pm PDT NEW
    Death by smearing. by Nixon 04/09/2003, 11:21pm PDT NEW
        laser guided anvils next? NT by FABIO 04/10/2003, 12:19am PDT NEW
            I was thinking laser-guided rebar and drywall NT by Ray, of Light 04/10/2003, 12:30am PDT NEW
            I hear ACME is working on a catapult-launched version with DU rounds NT by Entropy Stew 04/10/2003, 12:33am PDT NEW
                Early test results: by laudablepuss 04/13/2003, 6:31pm PDT NEW
        Re: Death by smearing. by t0ny 04/11/2003, 3:04pm PDT NEW
            Re: Death by smearing. by Chairman Mao 04/12/2003, 5:18pm PDT NEW
                Wow by I need clarification 04/13/2003, 6:42pm PDT NEW
                    Re: Wow by t0ny 04/14/2003, 10:50am PDT NEW
                        Right by Senor Barborito 04/15/2003, 4:21am PDT NEW
                            Re: Right by MOAB 04/15/2003, 5:21am PDT NEW
                                Actually that's been commonly known among terminal ballistics for years by Senor Barborito 04/15/2003, 6:46am PDT NEW
                                    The bullets in that image are scaled for a 21" monitor, btw NT by Senor Barborito 04/15/2003, 11:00am PDT NEW
                            Re: Right by Chairman Mao 04/15/2003, 11:26am PDT NEW
                                Re: Right by t0ny 04/15/2003, 2:38pm PDT NEW
                                    Re: Right by Senor Barborito 04/15/2003, 2:52pm PDT NEW
                                        from the, not through the - sorry NT by Senor Barborito 04/15/2003, 2:53pm PDT NEW
                                    Re: Right by Chairman Mao 04/15/2003, 3:01pm PDT NEW
                    speaking of long-ass weapon development times by FABIO 04/15/2003, 11:53am PDT NEW
                        Re: speaking of long-ass weapon development times by Chairman Mao 04/15/2003, 11:57am PDT NEW
                            christ by FABIO 04/15/2003, 12:18pm PDT NEW
                                Re: christ by Chairman Mao 04/15/2003, 12:25pm PDT NEW
                                    Re: christ by FABIO 04/15/2003, 3:16pm PDT NEW
                                        Re: christ by Chairman Mao 04/15/2003, 3:42pm PDT NEW
                                            Re: christ by Entropy Stew 04/15/2003, 6:51pm PDT NEW
                                                yeah by Chairman mao 04/15/2003, 6:57pm PDT NEW
                                                    Perhaps I'm confusing my bombers NT by Entropy Stew 04/15/2003, 8:29pm PDT NEW
                        Re: speaking of long-ass weapon development times by MOAB 04/15/2003, 1:18pm PDT NEW
                            wha? by FABIO 04/15/2003, 3:21pm PDT NEW
                                MiG-29 NT by Entropy Stew 04/15/2003, 4:26pm PDT NEW
                                    I'd rather have an F-15 with modern American avionics, thanks. by laudablepuss 04/15/2003, 7:11pm PDT NEW
                                        Re: I'd rather have an F-15 with modern American avionics, thanks. by Beast-God 04/15/2003, 7:53pm PDT NEW
                            Two can play this game by Beast-God 04/15/2003, 8:03pm PDT NEW
                                I guess he won't be playing the violin again. by SBDMT 04/15/2003, 8:16pm PDT NEW
                                Re: Two can play this game by MOAB 04/16/2003, 6:28am PDT NEW
                                    Re: Two can play this game by FOF 04/16/2003, 10:06am PDT NEW
                                        You're Sumerian? NT by FoK 04/16/2003, 10:07am PDT NEW
                                            everyone know egypt always builds the first city (also: the crete dilemma) NT by foogla 04/16/2003, 10:29am PDT NEW
                                            Re: You're Sumerian? by FOF 04/16/2003, 11:36am PDT NEW
                                        No, he's saying he's Chinese. by Chairman Mao 04/16/2003, 11:48am PDT NEW
                                            Non-Western Civilizations don't count. NT by FoK 04/16/2003, 11:59am PDT NEW
                                            Re: No, he's saying he's Chinese. by MOAB 04/16/2003, 3:08pm PDT NEW
                                                Re: No, he's saying he's Chinese. by Chairman Mao 04/16/2003, 3:13pm PDT NEW
                                                    Raises hand in Mao-like fashion for Chinese solidarity by FOF 04/16/2003, 3:15pm PDT NEW
                                                        Just so this is clear... by Chairman Mao 04/16/2003, 3:27pm PDT NEW
                                                            Re: Just so this is clear... by FOF 04/16/2003, 3:35pm PDT NEW
                                                                A/S/L??????? NT by Cupid 04/16/2003, 3:54pm PDT NEW
                                                                I'm down for this faggotry... by Chairman Mao 04/16/2003, 7:04pm PDT NEW
 
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