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RR, High tech and misc - was RE: [SG2] weapons

From: "B Lin" <lin@r...>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 11:49:25 -0700
Subject: RR, High tech and misc - was RE: [SG2] weapons

Summing up various arguments as to why Recoiless Rifles would or would
not be useful -

Pluses - Lower cost, lower tech, if it hits, capable of penetrating a
reasonable amount of armor (side, rear or top, probably not
front)reusable, capable of "sustained" fire.

Minuses - Heavy, slow to reload, possible to shoot down or otherwise
negate (stand-off/reactive armor, PD, close-range AP charges used as
anti-missile)

Possible solutions:

Current recoiless rifles are heavy for several reasons:
1) the rounds themselves are pretty hefty - upwards of 5 kilos
2) Penetration is roughly based on warhead diameter, to get decent
penetration you need a wider warhead, which adds to the weight and
decreases the aerodynamic width to length ratio.
3) Targeting systems are often integrated onto the weapon itself adding
more weight
4) the weapons needs to be reusable, and rapidly so, long cooling off
periods are not suitable for sustained combat use.

Ways to improve the RR -

Ceramic metal composites that can withstand a large amount of heat over
short or even long periods of time - so that firing 10-15 rounds per
minute should not have problems of rounds "cooking-off" in the tube.
Light components will make it more man portable, perhaps under 100
pounds for a complete unit.  Support and most components could be made
from titanium or other high-tech alloy to furtherf reduce weight. (no
need to brace for massive recoil...)

Improvements in shaped-charge technology so you can reduce the diameter
of warhead to achieve "adequate" penetration.  I would assume that RR's
will be used mostly against light vehicles and APC's and only against
MBT's as a last resort.  The smaller diameter will result in a smaller
round with weight and size saving all-round.

Automatic loading from pre-loaded "magazines" or clips that allow rapid
fire and don't require additional electrical connections to ignite the
round (connections are built into the clip and the rounds are
pre-connected within the clip).  Perhaps a 3-round clip loaded from the
top with the empty tubes dropping out the bottom or a side loading path
to allow loading while prone.

Separate or higher tech detachable sights - For instance the operator
merely points the gun in the target's general direction - it looks for a
targeting or rangefinding laser mark in the vicinity and fires. The
rounds themselves are semi-guided and home in on the laser mark.  Remote
targeting via camera mounted on the weapon allows the ground profile of
the weapon to be lowered in conjunction with the use of clips, as the
gunner does not have to be behind or near the weapon (loader still
suffers though). Also reduces the exposure of the crew since they only
have to reload once every three rounds instead of every round and could
probably do it from a prone position.

Two-stage hyper-velocity rounds - current rounds fire all their fuel in
a single burst within the gun - perhaps a two stage round - a launch
burst followed by a hyper-velocity or at least higher speed boost when
the round is 50 feet out of the gun.

Final summary:
To generate a RR that weighs less than 100 pounds complete and loaded,
can fire sustained rates of 10-15 rounds per minute with penetration
capabilites to knock out light vehicles and APCs and perhaps an MBT with
a lucky shot.  Issues will still be ammo load and portability, but the
problem is similar to that with ATGMs or large IAVR's.

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