RE: One question that's plagued me about Full Thrust

Morgan

Interesting theory and solid, I have to admit.	The issue was probably
raised awhile back and I just seemed to rehash it.  Still, I think the
turret problem could be solved by using current (as far as DSII is
concerned) technology.	After all, if a tank can mount a railgun in a
turrent, it shouldn't be that hard for a ship with more space.	If the
humans could develop the tech, I think the Kra'vak would be in for a
world of hurt and badly surprised.

>----------
>From:	PsyWraith@aol.com[SMTP:PsyWraith@aol.com]
>Sent:	Saturday, September 27, 1997 7:29 AM
>To:	FTGZG-L@bolton.ac.uk
>Subject:	Re: One question that's plagued me about Full Thrust
>
>In a message dated 97-09-26 14:56:25 EDT, you write:
>
><< Tim,
> 
> Hope you don't mind the barrage of mail but I have a question that's
> bothered me ever since I first picked up FT and later after picking up
> MT:
> 
> If we have the tech to put rail guns on aerospace and ground vehicles,
> why are the Kra'vak the only ones to use them on starships.  It would
> seem a natural evolution as would the armoring of a ship.  I've never
> gotten an answer to his from Geo-hex here in the States when I asked.
> Care to shed a little light on it?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Gil >>
>
>
>It is probably more a case of preceived practicality that would make
human
>forces choose particle beams over railguns.  Railguns, while powerful,
have a
>distinct lag between firing and impact allowing the target a chance to
dodge
>whereas particle beams are lightspeed weapons.  Railguns useful for
space
>combat are rather long and unable to be turret mounted (in the FT
universe at
>least)(or make use of multipule emitter arrays for the same weapon
which is
>probably one other way beam weapons get their multpule arcs) and would
>require multipule weapons to cover the open arcs.  Higher accuracy with
>ability to cover multipule arcs with the same weapon would be high
incentives
>to pursue particle beam technology for space combat and leave railguns
>relegated to ground combat.
>
>The Kra' Vak may never have hit upon weapons-effective particle beam
systems.
> Given their high thrust, high manuverablity craft (and an apparent
love for
>close range combat) the railgun would have seemed to be the best weapon
>system.  Just two different ways of approaching the problem based on
>associated technologies.
>
>Morgan Keyes
>Sine Pari
>Airborne All The Way!!  
>