Space Combat

POSTED BY: citizen
UPDATED: Monday, May 22, 2006 21:09
VIEWED: 8604
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REAVERMAN

Sunday, April 16, 2006 4:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by FreelancePilot:
The use of nuclear weapons in space is an option. However, with the immense blast radius of the weapons in space, it would be dangerous to fire it unless your enemy didn't have long range (i.e. laser) vulcan cannons to destory the weapon. Now you can do the same thing that the subs do, and arm the torpedoes only after a certain distance, but the prospect of those weapons being destoryed at close range to your ship (even if an unarmed, non-exploding device) would waste a weapon.

I agree that large nukes would be overkill, but, who says they have to be big? You could make a warhead in the 1-2 kiloton yield range that would be enough to annihilate just about any ship in space, provided the warhead is close enough to the ship. Plus, the missile that carried such a weapon could be small and light, meaning smaller fuel requirements and increased maneuverability. Also, because Uranium is an extremely common element (at least it is on Earth), one would be able to easily mass produce these "mini-nukes".

You're welcome on my boat. God ain't.

CYBERSNARK

Sunday, April 16, 2006 2:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sickdude:
Cybersnark, I've been meaning to compliment you on your fantastic descriptions of the Andromeda Ascendant (BTW, why is it "Rommie" instead of "the Ass"? Nevermind, I think I know ) in the last few 'favorite ship' threads. Based on your descriptions, I think it is the best SF warship, with the possible exception of the Battlestars (the newer ones, not the Bucket). And I totally agree with your mention of light minutes and PSL.

Thanks.

Back when I had spare time, I used to write Andromeda fanfic (as practice for my professional writing, 'cause I have a little trouble with plot and scene breaks --I'm better with characters and dialogue), so I'm reasonably immersed in that 'verse. Given how the series degenerated, I have no qualms about throwing out the series and going off in my own direction (with internal continuity and character development) --that's why I can't write Firefly fanfic, I like the finished product too much to tinker with it.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

RMMC

Monday, April 17, 2006 1:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
Quote:
Originally posted by RMMC:
Just that people planet-side will be in a hell of a bind when the fireball debris starts raining down on them.

They'll have umbrellas. Really really big umbrellas .

And they're with it...a mile or so underground on the far side of the planet, eh?

Quote:
Posted by Citizen:

Now in space you can't lie in wait. Stars are moving in relation to each other constantly, thus you can't have space lanes because the shortest route between two planetary systems is different from one minute to the next.

But not unknown. While the 'lanes' would be constantly shifting, it would be by known variables and therefore able to be plotted from minute to minute. In otherwords, you plot to get to planet X, but knowing it should take six days, you plot (or rather let the computer plot) the course for there planet X will be six days and however many hours and minutes later. It would be possible, but inefficient.

However, as you also pointed out, they'd have to have intel as to exactly when the target left and supposing no problems along the way....

I looked at some of the other posts and now I'm just depressed, and somewhat nervous.

Splitting planets? Eeek! But this [planet splitting] I somewhat doubt. Most war is for some sort of gain, usually land (and the available resourses) or if we up the ante, planets and solar systems. While the 'I'll destroy it so nobody else can have it' mindset does exist, it's usually in a vast minority. It usually comes as a 'we're already screwed, so we've got nothing to lose' kind of last resort. Blowing up the planet, while being effective, would be seen by most as a terrible waste of potential resourses.
What they'd actually want to do is destroy the enemy , but not the world. Which is now making me think of the Bradbury short story (the name of which I can't remember right now) which is a story of a world where all the life was suddely destroyed, but all the automated machinery just keeps going on. *shiver*
I think I need a little light reading after this.

******
RMMC

BROWNCOATSANDINISTA

Thursday, May 4, 2006 8:43 PM

I think the story is called "There will come Soft Rains"

Anyways, Fighters in space would be incredibly effective provided we have some way to couteract the effects of g-forces on the human body. In space, I use an Estes D-12-12 rocket booster, and it will reach a higher peak velocity than it would in atmo, due to the lack of friction. But in addition to that, as long as it doesn't his something, it doesnt slow down. Ever. This equates to only needing enough fuel to accellerate, manoeuver, and return home. Now, in the field of nanotechnology, they are ((Or were at some point, I could be wrong)) working on miniature "High-Efficiency" rockets. They are 400nm diameter circles that would propel a nanobot in a given direction in a vacum. Apply millions of these things to a ship's control surfaces, and you have quick manoeuvering capabilities, and due to the small size of the rockets, you could layer them. This would mean you eject or otherwise remove the expended ones, and use the next batch. Really it comes down to our ability to nullify the effects of g-forces. The human body can only take so much, and machines can take a bit more. If we can beat that, we could make feaseable space-fighters.

My question is, would we have Orbital Drop Shock Troopers like in the Novel Starship Troopers ((Much Much Better than the movie)) Or Halo 2?

If anyone gets nosy...Shoot em.
Shoot em sir?
Politely.

CALHOUN

Thursday, May 4, 2006 9:32 PM

I think space battles will be fought very similarly to what David Weber describes in his book series "Honor Harrington". Granted there may not be military grade sidewalls(shields) or warshawski sails(FTL) but I imagine the weaponry and tactics to be very sound(missiles and point defense lasers etc)..

Read David Webers "Honor Harrington" series and tell me you cant vividly picture realistic space battles playing out.

CITIZEN

Thursday, May 4, 2006 10:36 PM

I will do thanks for the heads up.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
And as you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.

DRACOS

Thursday, May 4, 2006 11:02 PM

Citizen, you have entered my ledger of personal heros with this one. I've been trying to think out how large scale fleet engagements would work for an RPG rule-set I'm writing and this seems to be just what I needed.

Also, I feel sort of embarrassed to be bringing this up given what a bad movie it was, but have you by any chance seen Wing Commander ? Horrible, horrible film but the way that they handle capitol-class ship combat seems to have a lot in common with what you discussed in your initial post.

I'm not going to try and contribute anything serious here just yet, as I haven't read the thread in depth, but yeah, looking forward to it.

-Dracos

"Dont ask me silly questions.
I wont play silly games."

RMMC

Thursday, May 4, 2006 11:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BrowncoatSandinista:
I think the story is called "There will come Soft Rains"

Thanks! I read that in grade school, about, um..*tries to mentally count and gives it up as a lost cause*..some years back.

I've got several short story collections by him, but that story just isn't among them.

****
RMMC

STILLFLYIN

Thursday, May 4, 2006 11:33 PM

I think that the use of explosive weapons of any sort, conventional, nuclear or otherwise, would be impractical in space combat. An explosive detonation against the hull of a warship would leave a cloud of debris spreading from the impact area. In the immediate sense, this would give the enemy a large cloud of the equivalent of modern-day chaff to hide in during the battle. Afterwards, the victor would have to spend a lot of time cleaning the debris so that it would not pose a navigation hazard to civilian vessels. I think that the weapon of choice in a space battle would be a directed energy weapon that would vaporize the impacted area. This has the double benefit of eliminating the debris problem and at the same time punching a hole clean through the targeted ship opening the most compartments to decompression, killing a larger amount of the crew.

CITIZEN

Friday, May 5, 2006 12:03 AM

Hi StillFlyin.

I'm not sure I agree. DEW's do produce a vapour cloud of debris, which will likely cool to form a micro debris field that would prove a hazard to shipping. The debris cloud is one reason why a weapon such as a Laser would have to be pulsed in order to be effective, otherwise the debris field scatters and absorbs the beam shortly after impact leaving the weapon strike next to useless. Also reactive armour (also known as ablative) is most effective against this sort of weapon.

I see your point on debris fields, however a 'downed' craft would be a debris field in and of itself, no matter what weapon was used in its destruction. Like all conflicts Space War will leave behind dangerous debris and legacies. Whether this is a mine field or a superluminal debris field its much the same thing I think.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
And as you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.

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