Re: [FT] How screens work (was Re: UNSC designs)

On Thu, 13 Jan 2000 RWHofrich@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 1/12/00 7:35:26 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
> thomas.anderson@univ.ox.ac.uk writes:
> 
> >  speed isn't necessarily good;
> 
> Well, I think that in the case of space combat, where we are talking
really 
> big ranges (and targets that move fast to boot), speed is critical in
a 
> weapon that is not self-guiding.  Remember, you have that
speed-of-light 
> delay (2 x) when using radar to receive info on the position of your
target 
> (not to mention processor time, but we'll skip over that).  Then
weapon 
> alignment time, then the time the "beam" takes to reach the area that
the 
> target should be in, assuming your computers have correctly guessed
its 
> probable manuevers in the meantime.  Until you get fairly close, then
the 
> heavier/slower weapons could come in really handy.
> 
> On the other hand, what's the point of firing something that won't
cause the 
> other guy any damage?  Oh well, them's the breaks I guess.

exactly - an unguided weapon which travels at 1% of the speed of light
is
no use over lightsecond ranges, so you want a fast beam. otoh, a weapon
which will hit the target but not do anything is also no use. it's all
about tradeoffs.

tom