Re: Re[2]: coupla Full Thrust questions inspire some tactics

JOn wrote:
>Did we discuss active weapon sensors here, or was it somewhere else?
Hmm..
>anyway, the point is radar/laser active sensors just don't work in
space
>combat. Why? Follow this through..
:
>second, the vehicle you were locked on to has moved 100 meters. In
actual
>terms, you would be lucky to get that close and you would be lucky if
in
>combat conditions a vehicle was moving that slowly, but say you take
>that reading and fire your xhundred gigawatt laser at it. In the time
it
>takes the beam to reach it's target, it's moved (aproximately) ANOTHER
>100 meters too - so now if you aimed at the middle of it it would have
>to be at least 400M wide or you've missed it. 
:
>point. There is an article in an old Challenge (GDW) magazine, written
>about the time they were developing Brilliant Lances, about the
unfeasibility
>of beam weapons in space combat - basically you need a super accurate
>estimate of the targets velocity, coupled with a superaccurate ability
>to track your laser with the targets movement before you can even THINK
>of putting enough joules in one place to burn through anything..

The incredible accuracy needed to create a target solution would most
likely
be calculated by computerized fire control systems.  The capability of
the
fire control system would be the chief limiting factor of any directed
energy weapon system.  It is not impossible to generate a target
solution,
even using today's technology for such a weapon.  It is just difficult
to
reach the full capability of the directed energy weapon.

Many articles have been written regarding the pros/cons of space borne
sensors in combat.  Radar and laser type systems still seem likely to
prevail for years to come as the main type of sensors available for such
weapon systems to operate.

>The main thing about it is that it makes space combat a lot like
submarine
>combat

Yes, space combat does share quite a bit with submarine combat.  I
always
liked the expression found in Traveller:2300, "It's like hide and seek
with
bazookas."

Mike Miserendino