Okay, I've been thinking about the comments that flew back and forth
regarding the laser-ionizes-air (I still don't think a laser would make
a "crack" sound in atmosphere) thread and the charged beam thread and
something just snapped last night and put the two together, so I offer for
consideration the following:
The PLEBe Gun (that's Portable Laser/Electron Beam Gun).
When the trigger is pulled, a "precursor" laser is fired that ionizes the air
along the laser's path, then a microsecond later the electron beam goes off,
following the positively charged ionization trail that the laser leaves
behind. If there's no atmosphere, the laser function can just be shut off or
ignored.
Firepower 12 Impact d12 x 2 (or maybe just d12?)
The firepower is like a laser, since it's a really fast/straight beam
that makes targeting relatively easy.
The impact is d12 x 2 vs vehicles and PA troops because the surge of (-)
charges on the target could cause significant problems with electronics,
which are essential for most of these kinds of items to work. The PLEBe Gun
would therefore combine the damage values of the HAMR (against "hard" targets,
anyway) with the accuracy of the sniper laser.
And this weapon would make a very loud, lightning-bolt like "crack"
sound
along with leaving a visible trail--not a good sniper weapon (reveals
your position), but good for other purposes!
And, flick-a-switch and the weapon just uses the laser for a
designator...
Just an idea.
Rob
Could an defense be activated by the "precursor" which of course be
computer/sensor active by the speed of the follow up laser?
> RWHofrich@aol.com wrote:
sound
> along with leaving a visible trail--not a good sniper weapon (reveals
I have seen a number of games that used counter measures of some sort to
thwart incoming lasers (TOG for example). Tanks may be outfitted with ablative
plates (similar to reactive armor)
which would/could act as a passive defense against such an attack. As
the beam hit's the outer reactive armor, the plate 'boils' away slowly, thus
absorbing the beam's energy before it can puncture the inner armor?
Maybe a 'reflec' coating added to the paint which would/could act
like a prism, thus breaking up the pulse? How about a superconductor that can
trap the energy or redirect it into the ground with a dragging tail harness or
something like that? Most modern
tanks are built to withstand EMP and keep functioning, so a heavy (-)
charge added to the vehicles armor may not effect the electronics as much...
Scott Spieker
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 13:26:24 -0500
From: David <dluff@erols.com>
Subject: Re: A new SG2 Weapon?
Could an defense be activated by the "precursor" which of course be
computer/sensor active by the speed of the follow up laser?
> RWHofrich@aol.com wrote:
sound
> along with leaving a visible trail--not a good sniper weapon (reveals
In a message dated 1/17/00 8:27:46 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> scspieker@ncweb.com writes:
> How about a superconductor that can trap the energy or redirect it
modern
> tanks are built to withstand EMP and keep functioning, so a heavy (-)
charge
> added to the vehicles armor may not effect the electronics as much...
Sure, why not? On the other hand, putting more equipment on a tank (or
especially as in this case, a suit of power armor) to guard against yet
another weapon system degrades the vehicle/suits capabilities (lower
power-to-weight ratio, more maintenance required, etc), so then you have
to decide whether or not that system is one you are going to be facing in
numbers sufficient to justify the defenses...
I came up with the weapon 'cause I'm trying to design a "raider force" that
has limited need for resupply, hence weapons that don't use ammunition are
preferred over ones that do, even if they are a little less effective. Of
course, they could just take weapons and ammo off the dead bodies of their
enemies, but I was trying for something a little different.
Rob