I mentioned that the RAM-GL made the fusion gun look pretty ridiculous. Well,
a second check shows me that the RAM-GL itself is pretty ridiculous. Since
we don't nknow much about this weapon, I've always assumed that it is much
like the U.S. family of 40mm grenade launchers. If you compare the HEAP
penetrations of the RAM-GL with the HEAP penetrations of a 4cm mortar or
low velocity gun round (which are the same) you will see the problem:
TL Low Velocity HEAP RAM-GL HEAP
- ------------------------------------------------
5-6 6 -
7-8 11 24
9 16 28
10 16 32
11-12 18 36
13+ 20 38
As you can see, there is quite a discrepancy here. In fact, a difference of
16 is equivalent to a factor of 4 in armor thickness which can be penetrated.
Something is definitely fishy here...and downgrading the effectiveness of the
grenade launcher might be a little (not a lot) of help in making the hand-held
energy weapon a little more reasonable.
Rob Dean