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| Science & Technology |
| Metal Storm reaches Navy test range |
| 2007-11-22 |
| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #6 Where'd you see that 'Moose? |
| Posted by: Thomas Woof 2007-11-22 17:01 |
| #5 This is different from the Metal Storm I saw debuted a while back, which would probably be much more appropriated for naval use. It was a circular "platter" system, that expended vast numbers of ball bearings downrange as a steel curtain. It would continue firing until the ball bearing tank was empty, something like 1M a minute. Much like a small rail gun turned sideways, the ship's generator produced the enormous current for it to work. But they asserted that it couldn't jam internally, and there was no wear, as the bearings never touched the inside of the weapon. The only problem that might theoretically happen was if some object was inserted in its exit hole, or perhaps salt water corrosion of some kind. But what kind of anything could penetrate a "rain" of ball bearings a few yards thick, a considerable distance from the ship? |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-11-22 13:10 |
| #4 This mortar seems to reload easy enough. If anything, it seems a bit safer in operation. I was Navy so my contact with weapons like this was zip but it looks like using all the barrels would plough up a football field sized area with one loading. http://youtube.com/watch?v=zx_9_RgMPCE |
| Posted by: dogsbody 2007-11-22 12:54 |
| #3 Its less than a gimmick. Try finding ammunition for it. Oh, that's right, it needs to be custom made. Try getting that through safety review. Then try getting someone to pony up the dough to put that very special ammo into production / general logistics train. All for what? The ability to mix and match loads (say 40mm, 7.62mm and non-lethal) or for the vaunted "wall-o-lead"? Caca, nothin but caca. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2007-11-22 12:29 |
| #2 Just goes to show you how screwed up procurement is. Check into who owns the company... |
| Posted by: gromky 2007-11-22 12:10 |
| #1 It's a gimmick. Try reloading one. |
| Posted by: ed 2007-11-22 11:06 |