Quote:
Originally Posted by Cliff R
The big disadvantage of a lazer from a ship mounted platform is that the target must be in the line of sight. The small advantage of a lazer's straight line travel in the line of sight is trumped by the fact that any conventional round, 20mm, 5", 16", etc can deliver ordinance on target at great distances, even over the horizon. Of course the round has to be well chosen for the target and distance. The Navy's big guns can delivery a Volkswagon size projectile on target up to 24 miles away, and do considerable damage upon delivery.
I can't imagine a laser of any type being able to do the same thing, or anything close to it at great distances.
Different deal completely if it were used from aircraft to ground or other airborn targets.....Cliff
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Cliff, not to nitpick, but the US Navy does not have a commissioned battleship anymore, so no more throwing the weight of a Volkswagen projectile over 24 miles away. Also, the missiles and bombs that we have can and do much more damage than said 16 incher. Most of our ships do not carry 5 inchers anymore either. The ship I was on, the USS Saipan along with her sister ships in the LHA class had the 5 inchers removed. The ships rely on missiles now, and the CIWS (Close in Weapons System) for missile defense. We called it the R2-D2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP6Gp...eature=related
If you want to hit things over the horizon, then missiles and bombs are your choice, if you want to take things out in a straight line with very little deflection, then a laser would be my choice, especially when they have the laser perfected. The CIWS is pretty good at shooting down targets, but I imagine the Laser would be much better at it.