The LASER Cannon

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

US navy laser cannon shoots down planes | Science | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/apr/09/us-navy-laser-cannon-planes)

The Guardian, 9 APR13

The US navy has used a powerful laser cannon to shoot down drone aircraft (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/video/2013/apr/09/us-navy-laser-cannon-drone-video) and will start deploying the weapon on its ships, saying it represents the future of warfare.
"The future is here," said Peter Morrison at the Office of Naval Research's Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation Programme.
The weapon, known as the Laser Weapon System or Laws, has so far only been used to shoot down drones in testing areas but is being billed as a step towards transforming warfare. Since it runs on electricity it can fire as long as there is power at a cost of less than US$1 dollar per shot, says the navy.

"Compare that to the hundreds of thousands of dollars it costs to fire a missile and you can begin to see the merits of this capability," said Rear Admiral Matthew Klunder, chief of naval research.



Some medal opportunities for the Waddington Model Aero Club, maybe?

[Courtney Mil]

They're very good.

http://www.digipro.co.uk/product/canon-lbp3460-printer.gif

[hval]

Doesn't mention that they use lots of electricity, nor that the systems get hot.

[Load Toad]

Will they not be defeated by sun glasses and a good mirror...?

[CoffmanStarter]

At last ... a use for the Mcmurdo Signalling Mirror :E

[Courtney Mil]

Actually, the idea of shiney surfaces doesn't work very well against them. As they are not absolutely 100% effective reflectors, it just takes a short amount of time for the initial energy absorbed to ruin the reflectivity and then the l@ser does its damage like it would on any other surface.

Quite heavy on ink cartridges, though.

[onetrack]

I like THIS cannon, much better. One would only hope the little Fat Boy of NK was on the receiving end of one!

The M65 280mm Atomic Cannon - Nuclear Artillery Test - YouTube

[Pontius Navigator]

I always wanted to make a model of that gun. I wonder how many rounds they reckoned getting away before they were destroyed. One? Two?

[Rosevidney1]

I saw 'Atomic Annie' at the museum adjoining the Sandia Laboratory on a visit there some years ago. It was the only one of the small batch made that had actually fired. Couldn't help being impressed at its size.

[Courtney Mil]

I wonder how many rounds they reckoned getting away before they were destroyed.

It's a hell of a concept though. I always wondered how they made such a small nuke. How about the safety devices that take up so much space in the bigger versions? No wonder they all run away when they fire it. Do they think they'll make safe distance?

YEP, one or two and they'd be winning. Winning something.

[Willard Whyte]

Doesn't mention that they use lots of electricity, nor that the systems get hot.

Floaty navy things tend to have plenty of wigglies.

Wonder how much 'leccy power one could get if the lift fan on the '35-B were replaced by a generator...

[smujsmith]

I must say, I like one tracks suggestion. Deliver the fat tw@t a bucket of sunshine and see if he still struts his stuff. I know lads, think about the innocent civilians. But, how long do we wait?

[Pontius Navigator]

19 seconds flash to bang. Assume 2000 feet per second. 38,000 feet.

Not very far!

Size wise it was not that different from a 550. Now if they made it impact fused that would have been some electronics to survive the launch and impact. Maybe they just relied on the cannon principle :)

[andre1990]

Saw this today on the BBC News website, makes me feel a little uncomfortable.

[VinRouge]

Top marks to the spams for batsh@t craziness with this too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_(nuclear_device)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Davy_Crockett_bomb.jpg


YouTube (http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=eiM-RzPHyGs&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DeiM-RzPHyGs)

[TURIN]

Did I hear that correctly.

USS PONCE ? :O:):}:D

[dead_pan]

No wonder they all run away when they fire it

The cannon was actually fired by means of a 10 mile long lanyard pulled by the US army's tug-of-war team.

[A A Gruntpuddock]

"I always wanted to make a model of that gun" - I had one back i the '70s!

Thought it was a marvellous piece of kit until I found out later that the crew were probably within the collateral damage radius.

PS Turns out the 1/32 model is still available, but much dearer than it used to be.

[West Coast]

I'm more afraid of sharks with frickin laser beams attached to their heads.

[Pontius Navigator]

Nuclear artillery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_artillery)

VanRouge, that link had an error, but look at the link above, then scroll down the pictures, look at Dr Strangeglove, he in the stripey shirt on the right.

If the Cold War frightened you, that picture would have terrified you even more.

[Pontius Navigator]

If you really want mad, try this:

Blue Peacock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Peacock) and if you think they are having you on, one was found at Wittering and I have seen it and touched it.

[hval]

Willard,

Floaty navy things tend to have plenty of wigglies.



If things are designed in from the start, or if there is sufficient load upgrade potential (enough room on the hamster wheel to allow for an increase in the number of hamster watts per hour hour - HMW/hr produced). If there is insufficient space for the additional hamster/s then you either decrease hotel load or decrease the speed you pootle about at from 18 knots to 4 knots.

[Courtney Mil]

What a great idea.

http://img.getglue.com/topics/p/blue_peacock/normal.jpg

What I want to know is how they saved the chicken when the bomb went off.

[CoffmanStarter]

More importantly ... How did they collect the eggs ? And did they glow in the dark ?

[Bunker Mentality]

I note that 'Blue Circle' was not included at PN's Wiki link ;)

[SirToppamHat]

Back to the OP.

Directed energy weapon?

Geneva Convention?

STH

[ricardian]

And this 1954 film demonstrates how untidy, badly-maintained homes will come off worse in the event of a nuclear attack...

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