Quote:
Originally Posted by Platapus
I was thinking that the high energy of the rail technology would only be used to push a projectile to a high-altitude if used in indirect fire. Then the kinetic warhead would simply fall.
How would an indirect fire rail gun be any more powerful than an indirect chemically propelled projectile also used for indirect fire?
My point was that indirect fire does not seem to be the best usage of the rail technology and the speed of the projectile. I believe the best usage of the rail technology would be direct fire where the kinetic power would be used directly.
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Even if its not the best use of it its still a massive upgrade. I just read that its expected to have a range of 200 to 250 nm. Compare that to the 10 mile range of a 5" gun firing normal rounds. The rail gun could also fire rocket assisted explosive rounds much like the current navy guns.
Oh and I just read that this rail gun is expected in the indirect fire mode to have the explosive force of about 2/3 of a 16" gun shell at 225 nm range.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reece
If this is true then what is all the fire behind the projectile? super heated air/extremely hot projectile or something?  |
Friction of the projectile and heat for the elctricity flowing though the rails.