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[evil solrac v3.0]

I heard about a project 11 years ago they were testing on Fox island in Alaska but there was some incident and they cancelled the project.

 

[Ranvier]

The escape velocity for Earth is about 7mi/s. Even for LEO (low Earth orbit), it's still over 4mi/s, so still not fast enough to launch things into space. http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae158.cfm

Yeah, you're right. Although we'd be trying to orbit the earth, not reach an escape velocity. It still requires something around 10 km/s to orbit.

Geostationary only needs 3.1km/s or 7000 mph so the gun has a long way to go. 8(

Either way, I don't see them using this thing to take down planes. What if you miss?

 

[Camelthepope]

Navy has been planning for this tech for awhile now. As someone mentioned the Zumwalt class destroyer has 2 Rolls-Royce Marine Trent MT30 Gas Turbine Engines. That is the same as England's new Queen Elizabeth class Aircraft Carrier. So the Zumwalt has a huge excess power generation capability specifically for Railgun usage etc.

Gerald Ford Class Carriers have also been designed with a large excess of power to enable the eventual deployment of Laser based weaponry.

As for what's the point. Saving Money and staying ahead of the curve. If they are accurate about the 1000 round barrel life. It would only cost 25 million dollars in projectiles over the course of that 1000 rounds. Launch 1000 tomahawks and you are spending almost 1.6 billion dollars.

My old divo is the electronic warfare officer onboard he is having a blast with the ship.

 

[UnluckyKate]

so... back to artillery gun after 60 years of missile usage ?

Maybe we can have fun warship game post WW2 after all.

Paging Wargaming

 

[Kin5290]

The microgrid and other energy related technology that powers these types of systems could have enormous utility in the civilian world.

Hell, a fully operational rail gun that can be mass produced with a high degree of reliability can be adapted to develop a linear accelerator for cheaply delivering materials to orbit.

 

[EloquentM]

Did they mention how accurate this thing is? do the projectiles have any guidance if not how the fuck would they hit a missile mid flight

It has guidance tech

 

[golem]

Regarding launching stuff into space. What's the acceleration curve on this thing? Surely you'd need a ton of packing inside and sacrificial material outside for anything to arrive intact? Certainly nothing sensitive or intricate could be launched this way with any survivability i'd assume.
Also could this be used as a satellite killer? The debris from that would not be good for other objects up there i imagine?

You can control the acceleration by using longer rails to bring payloads up to speed. For things going to orbit it should be very possible.

 

[TAJ]

When was the last US naval battle?

Name a battle and odds are the Navy killed people there.

 

[Lord Thrappleper The 49th]

I have evidence that America is developing weapons of mass destruction. For the security and safety of the known free world, we should organise an invasion and stop them from developing these heinous devices once and for all, so that the world can breathe easily without the threat of annihalation again.

 

[The Sum of Zero]

So after they perfect the railgun they'll use the tech to create mass drivers, yeah?

Would be the logical next step, I believe.

 

[cdyhybrid]

I have evidence that America is developing weapons of mass destruction. For the security and safety of the known free world, we should organise an invasion and stop them from developing these heinous devices once and for all, so that the world can breathe easily without the threat of annihalation again.

You're about 70 years late.

 

[cirrhosis]

the air force should put one of these on a nuclear powered B52

 

[Zombine]

Who is going to pilot the Eva who can actually shoot this thing?

 

[Lord Thrappleper The 49th]

You're about 70 years late.

Nah, I just like pointing out that its one rule for USA, another rule for somebody else. Imagine if North Korea, hell even Israel, had developed this rail gun first. You could damn well bet there would be an international commitee that will debate how to best stop them from deploying the weapon.

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

You can control the acceleration by using longer rails to bring payloads up to speed. For things going to orbit it should be very possible.

So after they perfect the railgun they'll use the tech to create mass drivers, yeah?

Would be the logical next step, I believe.

Thanks Golem and Zero for reminding me that Mass Drivers as a concept exist. My ageing, enfeebled brain took far too long to remember all the pulp sci-fi i read when i was a kid.

 

[Guevara]

When do we get handheld railguns? Asking for an ally.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

That movie is almost 20 years old. Christ.

It's funny to realize that's because railguns have been in development for that long. Seems like they are getting closer to a widely deployable weapon though.

 

[cdyhybrid]

Nah, I just like pointing out that its one rule for USA, another rule for somebody else. Imagine if North Korea, hell even Israel, had developed this rail gun first. You could damn well bet there would be an international commitee that will debate how to best stop them from deploying the weapon.

No, you're missing the point.

Railguns aren't weapons of mass destruction.

 

[Log4Girlz]

I have evidence that America is developing weapons of mass destruction. For the security and safety of the known free world, we should organise an invasion and stop them from developing these heinous devices once and for all, so that the world can breathe easily without the threat of annihalation again.

Our entire military is set up to prevent such a scenario

 

[AlStrong]

Railguns aren't weapons of mass destruction.

Weapons of mass acceleration

 

[Imperfected]

Nah, I just like pointing out that its one rule for USA, another rule for somebody else. Imagine if North Korea, hell even Israel, had developed this rail gun first. You could damn well bet there would be an international commitee that will debate how to best stop them from deploying the weapon.

Last I checked, America doesn't invade countries for trying to procure artillery.

 

[Jacob]

We bringing Battleships back mane!

This was my first thought after reading the OP. Break out the Iowa-class again!

 

[lazygecko]

That ain't a supergun.

I thought I was staring at a synthesizer at first.

 

[Lord Thrappleper The 49th]

Last I checked, America doesn't invade countries for trying to procure artillery.

Of course not, it invades for the oil to drive said artillery around.

 

[cdyhybrid]

Of course not, it invades for the oil to drive said artillery around.

Hey, if you want to invade and occupy Texas for its oil I'm cool with it. No backsies though.

 

[Piggus]

Nah, I just like pointing out that its one rule for USA, another rule for somebody else. Imagine if North Korea, hell even Israel, had developed this rail gun first. You could damn well bet there would be an international commitee that will debate how to best stop them from deploying the weapon.

First of all, this is an artillery weapon, not a WMD.

Second, there's a difference between a first-world democracy having access to nukes for the purpose of deterrence, and a country like Iran which was recently run by a fucking insane maniac who thinks the holocaust is a myth. Do you want a country whose leader vowed to annihilate an entire country have nukes?

And third, we don't make the rules alone. Your own country's government would follow us off a goddamn cliff.

Of course not, it invades for the oil to drive said artillery around.

Wrong again, but keep pushing that narrative if it makes you feel better.

 

[PHOENIXZERO]

When's the last time our Navy was engaged in an actual sea battle?

 

[Netherscourge]

Of course.

The Texas Supergun is 5X longer.

 

[Dubbedinenglish]

When's the last time our Navy was engaged in an actual sea battle?

As in vs another floating Navy? I think WW2. However Naval bombardment supporting ground troops has been used as recently as Libya.



Edit: IIRC we've traded shots with Iranian naval boats in the late 80s

 

[Dubbedinenglish]

Another way to look at it, this would be far more effective, cheaper and easier to supply than cruise missiles than we currently use.

 

[Lord Thrappleper The 49th]

First of all, this is an artillery weapon, not a WMD.

Second, there's a difference between a first-world democracy having access to nukes for the purpose of deterrence, and a country like Iran which was recently run by a fucking insane maniac who thinks the holocaust is a myth. Do you want a country whose leader vowed to annihilate an entire country have nukes?

And third, we don't make the rules alone. Your own country's government would follow us off a goddamn cliff.



Wrong again, but keep pushing that narrative if it makes you feel better.

Go right ahead and justify America's insane obsession with developing weapons to kill people that will never invade them better, and defend their country from the evil other countries that are plotting in a dark room behind a door with a sign that says 'seecret laire 2 d3stroy murica, no gurls alowed'.
My own country's flaws are a topic for another day, I personally think deterrance is just another way of saying 'we're just as happy to murder as many innocent people as you'.

Instead of building weapons that can make people's shit shit themselves, how about using all that R&D money to better medicine, improve infrastructure, build more homes, hell build a moon colony? Actual humanitarian accomplishments befitting the world's 'greatest country'.

But that's just my two cents, as they say. I'm not sorry if this upsets people, but every new weapon built is a waste in my eyes. A waste that will inevitably cost lives.

 

[Log4Girlz]

So Trump finally unveiled it?



;p

 

[M0nochromatic]

That'll come in handy the next time we need to destabalize a region for capital gain.

 

[bionic77]

If countries had penises would America's be the smallest?

Is anyone else even in this conversation?

 

[BladeoftheImmortal]

Last I checked, America doesn't invade countries for trying to procure artillery.

Just for oil.

 

[Log4Girlz]

If countries had penises would America's be the smallest?

Is anyone else even in this conversation?

To be fair we were in the water. Florida is just flaccid, we're growers not showers.

 

[cdyhybrid]

Go right ahead and justify America's insane obsession with developing weapons to kill people that will never invade them better, and defend their country from the evil other countries that are plotting in a dark room behind a door with a sign that says 'seecret laire 2 d3stroy murica, no gurls alowed'.
My own country's flaws are a topic for another day, I personally think deterrance is just another way of saying 'we're just as happy to murder as many innocent people as you'.

Instead of building weapons that can make people's shit shit themselves, how about using all that R&D money to better medicine, improve infrastructure, build more homes, hell build a moon colony? Actual humanitarian accomplishments befitting the world's 'greatest country'.

But that's just my two cents, as they say. I'm not sorry if this upsets people, but every new weapon built is a waste in my eyes. A waste that will inevitably cost lives.

You realize tech from military R&D makes its way into other sectors, right?

 

[jdstorm]

I'm most excited for the space travel implications. Imagine putting a space ship into rail gun and using thet to break escape velocity. This could be huge for reducing the cost of space travel

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

If countries had penises would America's be the smallest?

Is anyone else even in this conversation?

Pardon?

 

[bionic77]

Pardon?

We are clearly overcompensating for something!

 

[LUFTRAUSER]

We are clearly overcompensating for something!

Yeah. Weak allies.

 

[markofhavoc]

 

[Camelthepope]

Navy has been planning for this tech for awhile now. As someone mentioned the Zumwalt class destroyer has 2 Rolls-Royce Marine Trent MT30 Gas Turbine Engines. That is the same as England's new Queen Elizabeth class Aircraft Carrier. So the Zumwalt has a huge excess power generation capability specifically for Railgun usage etc.

Gerald Ford Class Carriers have also been designed with a large excess of power to enable the eventual deployment of Laser based weaponry.

As for what's the point. Saving Money and staying ahead of the curve. If they are accurate about the 1000 round barrel life. It would only cost 25 million dollars in projectiles over the course of that 1000 rounds. Launch 1000 tomahawks and you are spending almost 1.6 billion dollars.

You realize tech from military R&D makes its way into other sectors, right?

Hey at least he isn't the guy who was claiming that if we just put down our guns and walked to Berlin hand in hand the nazis would just give up...man I need to find that gaf thread again.

 

[TalonJH]

Came here for this. Rex is the only real MG.

 

[hateradio]

Always wanted one of those figurines.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

We are clearly overcompensating for something!

Look it's not America who have the Dong feng series of missiles.

 

[Karsticles]

Nah, I just like pointing out that its one rule for USA, another rule for somebody else. Imagine if North Korea, hell even Israel, had developed this rail gun first. You could damn well bet there would be an international commitee that will debate how to best stop them from deploying the weapon.

Well, yeah. It's the difference between us being safe and us not being safe. How silly would it be not to hold our enemies to different standards?

 

[antonz]

America was the quiet kid in school who everyone was kind of worried about so really didn't mess with it much. Then someone had to be an idiot and pick on the kid and when he responded it was balls to the walls crazy as everyone feared of the quiet kid in the corner

 

[Romars202129]

Itshappening.gif

Metal Gear Rex anybody? Untraceable nuke delivery not far behind.

 

[kmfdmpig]

America was the quiet kid in school who everyone was kind of worried about so really didn't mess with it much. Then someone had to be an idiot and pick on the kid and when he responded it was balls to the walls crazy as everyone feared of the quiet kid in the corner

It's hard to tell based on this thread, but most of you do understand that other countries spend money developing new weapons, right? It's hardly a US specific thing. Sweden just came out with a new fighter plane? Are they mad/blood lust driven people because of it? No. Countries with militaries try to make their military better. It's not so strange.