Navy Sets World Record With Incredible, Sci-Fi Weapon

Gerald · 12-10-10, 03:09 PM

A theoretical dream for decades, the railgun is unlike any other weapon used in warfare. And it's quite real too, as the U.S. Navy has proven in a record-setting test today in Dahlgren, VA.

Rather than relying on a explosion to fire a projectile, the technology uses an electomagnetic current to accelerate a non-explosive bullet at several times the speed of sound. The conductive projectile zips along a set of electrically charged parallel rails and out of the barrel at speeds up to Mach 7.

The result: a weapon that can hit a target 100 miles or more away within minutes.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/...electromagnet/

Note: Published December 10, 2010

Growler · 12-10-10, 03:28 PM

Dahlgren, VA... I thought that looked familiar - the Dahlgren Weapons Center, named for this guy:

John A Dahlgren, the "Father of Naval Ordnance"

Once they get the touchy technical details nailed down, I could see that technology sparking a lot of international discussion.

GoldenRivet · 12-10-10, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growler

Once they get the touchy technical details nailed down, I could see that technology sparking a lot of international discussion.

Silencing a fair bit of it too i imagine

Takeda Shingen · 12-10-10, 03:33 PM

Well I'll be. The future is here.

the_tyrant · 12-10-10, 03:39 PM

So i guess battleships are back?

TLAM Strike · 12-10-10, 03:40 PM

In the words of Col. Jack O'Neill: "big honkin' space gun".

Gargamel · 12-10-10, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

In the words of Col. Jack O'Neill: "big honkin' space gun".

FTW

SteamWake · 12-10-10, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

So i guess battleships are back?

Give them 200 mile stand off range... hell yea.

Krauter · 12-10-10, 04:09 PM

The only problem I see with using battleships is;

Who the hell are we going to use them on?

Sure it's a great shore bombardment weapon, but in this day and age of keeping collateral damage to a minimum, (and I presume these cannot use guided munitions), I don't think these will really be placed on battleships..

I could be wrong (and I hope so).

GoldenRivet · 12-10-10, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krauter

The only problem I see with using battleships is;

Who the hell are we going to use them on?

Sure it's a great shore bombardment weapon, but in this day and age of keeping collateral damage to a minimum, (and I presume these cannot use guided munitions), I don't think these will really be placed on battleships..

I could be wrong (and I hope so).

I wish i had a dollar for every time in history that it was said "this is the war to end all wars" or "There will never be a war like this again." or "weapons of this sort will never be used again" etc etc.

what goes around comes around.

if a BB was capable of accurately pounding turf 100 - 200 miles inland from the coast - its a weapon that should be used

if you think about it... with that sort of range and velocity, accurate hits on just about any point in Iceland or Great Britain could be hit for example or in the extreme ranges of the weapon you could strike new york city from a BB in boston harbor all from off shore guns.

Growler · 12-10-10, 05:12 PM

Now, what makes me cringe is when they take the big gun railgun tech and start scaling it down to PIVAD level. Talk about game changing air defense. I imagine the first application would be ship-borne air defense (Phalanx on crack steroids) since power wouldn't be an issue. Marry that range to radar tracking/slaving, and you end up with BvR ASM-killing capability. With enough range, you have ASM-Carrying-Aircraft killing capability.

Holy sh-.

Krauter · 12-10-10, 05:14 PM

True enough GoldenRivet,

Don't take me wrong when I say who would we use it on, but as the world stands now, it doesn't seem likely we'd use it on Russia,

Iran has crappy little patrol vessels.

Libya ditto,

North Korea is the only place I see us realistically employing battleships.

Platapus · 12-10-10, 05:15 PM

But can a rail gun be used for indirect fire? I don't think so. I think it is a direct fire only weapon. Great for the ocean, but unless you want to bombard a beach at 150 miles, I don't think a rail gun would work for long range inland bombardment.

Still way cool technology.

Always had a thing for kinetic weapons.

Krauter · 12-10-10, 05:25 PM

Well think of how much of a shock wave a shell of that kind would create hitting the ground?

Hell don't some Anti-Tank weapons only rely on kinetic energy to destroy their targets?

Takeda Shingen · 12-10-10, 05:26 PM

I'm not so sure that a BB would be the best candidate to carry this type of weapon. Battleships are big and expensive, and with the railgun's size likely to be a fraction of that of the big traditional guns, there would be no reason to place them on an asset of that size other than prestige. A converted FFG or DDG would easily serve that purpose, at a fraction of the size, profile and cost, and you wouldn't have to dedicate a plethora of assets to babysit them to boot.

12-10-10, 03:09 PM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Navy Sets World Record With Incredible, Sci-Fi Weapon A theoretical dream for decades, the railgun is unlike any other weapon used in warfare. And it's quite real too, as the U.S. Navy has proven in a record-setting test today in Dahlgren, VA. Rather than relying on a explosion to fire a projectile, the technology uses an electomagnetic current to accelerate a non-explosive bullet at several times the speed of sound. The conductive projectile zips along a set of electrically charged parallel rails and out of the barrel at speeds up to Mach 7. The result: a weapon that can hit a target 100 miles or more away within minutes. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/...electromagnet/ Note: Published December 10, 2010 __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

12-10-10, 03:28 PM	#2
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Dahlgren, VA... I thought that looked familiar - the Dahlgren Weapons Center, named for this guy: John A Dahlgren, the "Father of Naval Ordnance" Once they get the touchy technical details nailed down, I could see that technology sparking a lot of international discussion. __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

12-10-10, 03:40 PM	#6
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	In the words of Col. Jack O'Neill: "big honkin' space gun". __________________

12-10-10, 05:12 PM	#11
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Now, what makes me cringe is when they take the big gun railgun tech and start scaling it down to PIVAD level. Talk about game changing air defense. I imagine the first application would be ship-borne air defense (Phalanx on crack steroids) since power wouldn't be an issue. Marry that range to radar tracking/slaving, and you end up with BvR ASM-killing capability. With enough range, you have ASM-Carrying-Aircraft killing capability. Holy sh-. __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

12-10-10, 05:15 PM	#13
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	But can a rail gun be used for indirect fire? I don't think so. I think it is a direct fire only weapon. Great for the ocean, but unless you want to bombard a beach at 150 miles, I don't think a rail gun would work for long range inland bombardment. Still way cool technology. Always had a thing for kinetic weapons. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

12-10-10, 03:33 PM	#4
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Well I'll be. The future is here.

12-10-10, 03:39 PM	#5
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	So i guess battleships are back?

12-10-10, 05:26 PM	#15
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	I'm not so sure that a BB would be the best candidate to carry this type of weapon. Battleships are big and expensive, and with the railgun's size likely to be a fraction of that of the big traditional guns, there would be no reason to place them on an asset of that size other than prestige. A converted FFG or DDG would easily serve that purpose, at a fraction of the size, profile and cost, and you wouldn't have to dedicate a plethora of assets to babysit them to boot.