Navy Tests High-Powered Electromagnetic Railgun

[Prrkitty]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,327205,00.html

Quote: Railguns use electromagnetic energy to launch projectiles long distances — more than 200 nautical miles.

Because the railgun uses electricity and not gunpowder to fire projectiles, it eliminates the possibility of explosions on ships.

-----------------

HOLY CRAP what a gun!! .... 200 nautical miles... I'd say that's a fair distance to attack from. I'd say lucky that we have it... but unlucky when it's aimed at US right along with US aiming at THEM.

[Cloral]

The problem with railguns is the corrosion the arcing electricity causes when it is fired. Most railguns that have been tested are only capable of firing a handful of times before the corrosion renders the system useless. I guess this means they've figured out a way to keep that from happening?

edit:
As quoted from Wikipedia:
"As rail/projectile clearances increase, arcing develops, which causes rapid vaporization and extensive damage to the rail surfaces and the insulator surfaces. This limits most research railguns to one shot per service interval."

[Russ]

200 Nautical Miles! Wow that's a long distance.

[Aegix Drakan]

...Whoop de do. We now have bigger guns...

>_> Shall I bust out the champagne? Or should I save it for when these railguns are inevitably abused?

[Feasul]

Save it for the abusal, cause then you'll want to get drunk.

[deathbyhokie]

http://fredericksburg.com/News/Web/2007/012007/0130railgun

Video of said railgun, from the local news site around here

[MasterSwordUltima]

ArmsTech already did this, approximately three years ago [2005]. Play Metal Gear Solid.

[Toolie]

I have some friends working at the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren on implementing these devices on destroyers. I actually almost took a job there on this project... but working with weapons isn't my thing :)

[Mitsukara]

That's nothing new, they've had these stationed in Atlantis ever since the big Wraith invasion of 2004.

[MasterSwordUltima]

That's nothing new, they've had these stationed in Atlantis ever since the big Wraith invasion of 2004.

My Metal Gear Solid joke was funnier. :p

[Mitsukara]

Ahh, but mine is older! XD