Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The US Navy Wants More Railguns and Lasers, Less Gunpowder

Posted by samzenpus on from the all-the-better-to-shoot-you-with dept.

coondoggie writes Speaking before nearly 3,000 attendees at the Naval Future Force Science and Technology EXPO in Washington, D.C., Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert charged his audience to reduce reliance on gunpowder in a wide-ranging speech on the future technological needs of the Navy. "Number one, you've got to get us off gunpowder," said Greenert, noting that Office of Naval Research-supported weapon programs like Laser Weapon System (LaWS) and the electromagnetic railgun are vital to the future force. “Probably the biggest vulnerability of a ship is its magazine—because that’s where all the explosives are." Weapons like LaWS have a virtually unlimited magazine, only constrained by power and cooling capabilities aboard the vessel carrying them. In addition, Greenert noted the added safety for Sailors and Marines that will come from reducing dependency on gunpowder-based munitions.

10 of 517 comments (clear)

  1. Lasers are easy to stop by KiloByte · · Score: 5, Funny

    How is that fancy laser going to work when the enemy uses a smoke screen? Or a mirror?

    --
    The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    1. Re:Lasers are easy to stop by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

      How is that fancy laser going to work when the enemy uses a smoke screen? Or a mirror?

      Plus every cat on the battlefield is going to be chasing it.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    2. Re:Lasers are easy to stop by Optali · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ships can launch surface to surface missiles and torpedoes as well. Ships are still perfectly capable of killing other ships. They just don't line up and broadside each other with 15 inchers anymore.

      Is it only me or does this really sound utterly gay?

      --
      -- 29A the number of the Beast
    3. Re:Lasers are easy to stop by jafiwam · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ships can launch surface to surface missiles and torpedoes as well. Ships are still perfectly capable of killing other ships. They just don't line up and broadside each other with 15 inchers anymore.

      Is it only me or does this really sound utterly gay?

      To be fair, those ships are already full of seamen.

    4. Re:Lasers are easy to stop by Optali · · Score: 1, Funny

      Not really when you consider that 15 inches refers to diameter not length. I don't think we have a word for that, well, other than "fatal".

      Ever heard of Goatse mate???
       

      --
      -- 29A the number of the Beast
    5. Re:Lasers are easy to stop by Qzukk · · Score: 2, Funny

      Currently the velocity of railguns is roughly equivalent to navel guns.

      I dunno, some navel guns are pretty powerful.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    6. Re:Lasers are easy to stop by swillden · · Score: 4, Funny

      How is that fancy laser going to work when the enemy uses a smoke screen? Or a mirror?

      Plus every cat on the battlefield is going to be chasing it.

      Not after they catch it.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  2. If only the UK navy could follow suit by Viol8 · · Score: 4, Funny

    However successive UK governments have seen "improving" the navy as meaning strip it of as many ships as it can. Soon it'll consist of 2 men and a rowing boat. Oh, and one overpriced aircraft carrier with no planes that can fly from it.

  3. Re:Or you could try more Diplomacy? by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny

    They need to update gunboat diplomacy to railgunboat diplomacy.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  4. Re:Laser on Gatling gun configuration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Amazing! You have described exactly how these things don't work!

    I couldn't have done it better myself!