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   rec.arts.sf.science      Real and speculative aspects of SF scien      45,986 messages   

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   Message 44,876 of 45,986   
   MrAnderson to All   
   Re: Coilgun projectile velocities in spa   
   13 Mar 17 11:05:51   
   
   From: adam.w.krajewski@gmail.com   
      
   Ok, so firstly, about projectile mass and energy. 100 kg seems really big, if   
   you for example have 1000 tonnes reserved for ammo, you get 10000 shells,   
   given the projectile is unguided,  I think it's better to go with lower mass   
   (10-50), and velocity in    
   30-50 km/s range. According to web calculator, it will be 12.5 Gigajoules of   
   energy for 10kg at 50 km/s, so still quite good.   
   I think that for killing lasers, the shotgun (or honestly shrapnel, detonating   
   before target and releasing balls/flechettes). For wider holes, the flechette   
   retracting to star like thing seems good. For better penetration, anti   
   fortification role and    
   killing crew, standard long darts seem best for me.    
   Missiles I imagine, are guided, have high acceleration and are armed with   
   kinetic warheads, but can be armed with Casaba Howitzers and standard nukes   
   also. I envision kinetic variant being the one to be used on long distances   
   (high end of my engagements,    
   a few thousand kilometers). So, a powerful engine, guided, and KE. Would be   
   that viable?    
   The shape is indeed brick style, of course with maybe circular engine, some   
   bulges and circular part for internal centrifuge (I am not sure about it,   
   because I haven't still decided if I handwave the artificial gravity in my   
   setting). So all in all, a    
   bit of Sulaco style.   
   I will take your design suggestions on weapon mounts into my design, what do   
   you think about turret mounts for main coilguns?    
   The main bridge will be something like a storm cellar in the middle of ship,   
   but some kind of bridge could also exist on the exterior, with windows etc,   
   for peacetime and joy of crew.   
   "Sensors that can see through the exhaust plume will be a challenge though." -   
   here comes interesting thouhgt - would the engine exhaust be enough to stop   
   KEWs? The sensors here would have to work only when the drive is off or at low   
   power.   
   All sounds right, I need to place all these thoughts on paper now. I will   
   probably start a Flickr account for photos of my notebook artworks :p    
   On the Quora, I didn't ask this question, but commented on your answer though    
   to ask if you are the same guy :p   
   Thanks for suggestion Eripe, certainly gonna check it out.   
   0something0 - honestly, I didn't put radiators into my design yet, can you   
   believe?:D I am thinking if the drive exhaust could handle most of the heat   
   from engine, and smaller radiator would be needed just for weapons, reactors,   
   life support and other    
   things like that. The shotgun/shrapnel would be indeed useful in destroying   
   them. Also, it could be used to destroy planetary targets, like tanks, but I   
   am not sure how fast would it burn in atmosphere while travelling by 50 km/s   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)   

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