Re: yet more Striker...

> Date: Thu, 30 Jan 92 11:01:57 CST
> From: [email removed] (Steve Higginbotham)
> Subject: (3617) yet more Striker...
>
> Bertil:
>>>>In fact, the M1 Abrams is essentially invulnerable to hand held anti-tank
>>>>weapons.  So is the British Challenger, I am given to understand.

  I'm almost willing to wager that certain ATGM's or other man portable
weapons (FFV's HEAP Tank-mine for example) can penetrate it if they hit it
from the side, the rear, the top or the bottom. It it had 200mm armor plate
all around it would weigh too much for the engine and have too high
groundpressure.

>>>Yes, and it can be worse in Traveller, since I can arrange things so that
>>>the M-1 equivalent is armored all-around, instead of mostly in the front.
>
> >  Which will invalidate both the advantages of good tactics (catching
> >the tank from a less protected side) and innovative weapons (that
> >strike the tank in a location where the armor in thin, like roof,
> >bottom or rear).
>
> It sure will.  So what?

  It is bad from the point of view of the game: Tactics is not encouraged,
just a slugfest. The half-armour vs pinpoint is a hack as you can pinpoint
all you like if it as 500mm all around, it will still have 500mm all around.

> Tactics and design theories change as
> technology does.  Fact of Life.

  This isn't an artifact of technology, it is a result of the design system.
If it was possible to vary the thickness of the armour independently for
all faces of the vehicle, almost all designers would optimize the armour
to be thicker than with MegaT on the sides that face the primary danger and
thinner on the other sides: Saving weight, gaining G's and Mw for the
weapon, and reducing cost.

> PD weapons must see the rounds for at least 150m (15cm).
> Nuclear Dampers do twice as many dice of interdict as a point defense
> weapon of the same TL.
>
> >The 'Davy Crocket' nuke bazooka rides again:)
>
> More likely a nuke-tipped tac-missile, but you have the general idea.

  At 150m I hope they have their lead underwear on. BTW: When I get home
I'll check if any nuclear charge comes down to 4cm diameter at any TL.
Imagine that: A auto-grenade launcher or a gaussrifle that fires nukes:)

> And if you design the ultimate armoured vehicle using MT (instead of
> Striker), keep in mind that MT armour has NO VOLUME.  It distorts
> reality slightly, to say the least.

  Yes, its a kludge.

> [email removed]

- -bertil-
- --
"It can be shown that for any nutty theory, beyond-the-fringe political view or
 strange religion there exists a proponent on the Net. The proof is left as an
 exercise for your kill-file."