Re: [FT] Fire and Forget MT missiles (was MT missile control...)

On Wed, 10 Nov 1999, Beth Fulton wrote:

> But before I go further I would like to point out that as soon as
anyone
> starts using sensor rules (Full Thrust/More Thrust or your own house
rules)
> a level of complexity is automatically added.  Without sensor rules
life is

granted.

> And this was the environment I had in mind when posted (via Beth) my
> thoughts on Fire and Forget MT missiles hoping for reaction.

Well if the target is beyond sensor range how are you targeting it in
the 
first place with an MT missile? Presumably the target has been revealed 
and you know it is in fact a BDN worthy of the MT missile and not a 
measly escort. If you are getting your target ID from another vessel, 
then you are getting relayed data from from that sensor picket. 
Theoretically your task force has a data net that can include the 
Missile. Thus the missile has constant updates on ship positions and can

keep them straight even if they go beyond the 54" range for active (not 
that it could reach that distance)

If you launch a missile at a target and another target is revealed by
the 
radar picket, I see no problem shifting the missile to that target. See 
it as a Fire Control Officer sending a "nudge" command to the missile to

shift targets. Now I don't see a MT missile as being a valid means of 
revealing ships from blip status, just following a target you want hit. 
See this as an issue with the sensor aperature on the MT Missile. Ship 
board sensors have much bettero resolution based on inferometry and 
signal power. 

> At time of launch designate target, if the target is within the
missiles
> sensor range (insert your range here) missile moves towards the target
and
> attacks when in range as normal. If the target is beyond the missile
sensor
> range then plot course to where you anticipate where the target will
be,
> once there the missile turns on it's sensor and looks for the
designated
> target. If the target is now within the missile sensor range the
missile
> will move toward the target and attack when in range, if the
designated
> target is not in sensor range then go to back up and attack the
nearest
> target.

Why do I have to predict where that ship will be 3 turns from now? Why 
can't I give the MT missile a bit of help with guidance just like 
wireguided torps are handled nowa days?

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- Ryan Montieth Gill	  NRA / DoD# 0780 (Smug #1) / AMA / SOHC -
- ryan.gill@turner.com	    I speak not for CNN, nor they for me -
- rmgill@mindspring.com 	     www.mindspring.com/~rmgill/ -
- '85 Honda CB700S  -  '72 Honda CB750K  - '76 Chevy MonteCarlo  -
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