Post by hardlec on Aug 19, 2017 19:13:29 GMT
The concept of the revolver cannon goes back to 1718, when what amounted to a flintlock machine gun was built. It worked, but not well enough to warrant production.
The recoilless rifle is a concept that is also fairly old, but first came into use during WWII as a lightweight anti-tank gun.
Necessity is the mother of invention, which is a convenient way of saying that military technology only develops what is needed, not necessarily what is possible.
The first Martian Invasion awakened interest in armor piercing weapons. at the onset of the second invasion, interest was re-awakened and soon what had been visionary but unnecessary weapons were developed to their full potential.
The first anti-tripod guns were simple brute-force weapons. Effective but expensive. The heaviest, hardest projectile possible propelled to the highest velocity possible. This required a heavy cannon; heavy ammunition, heavy breach, heavy barrel, heavy recoil compensators, and a heavy suspension to connect to a heavy tractor for mobility. The United States approached the problem directly and with vigor. The Anti-tripod gun was an effective weapon against the invaders. But even the United States could only make so many.
In the vast areas the Martians conquered, Americans resisted. They used the ways of the First Nation, the Native Americans. The need was for light weapons that could be carried by light vehicles where speed and stealth were the order of the day.
The Recoilless Rifle is light because it uses propellent to counter the recoil. A light barrel, a comparatively light breach, no recoil compensators, some could be carried by a normal human. The trick was in the ammunition.
Temple University near Philadelphia has a program to provide education to veterans, especially black veterans who are no longer able to withstand the physical rigors of combat. By tapping in to the wealth of intellect, a previously untapped resource, Temple has developed and is developing many weapons based on unconventional yet disciplined research.
Propellent was expelled out the real of the weapon to counter the recoil. The projectile was not solid hard heavy metal that smashed through the Martian, but relied on the effect of the warhead in the projectile. The warhead could be high explosive or incendiary. More finicky but more lethal versions were the shaped charge and the fuel-air explosion.
A very simple warhead was dynamite with a simple detonator encased in a layer of wicket glue, all packed inside a waxed cardboard casing. Similar in appearance to a shotgun shell the dynamight shell was easy to make, very light and when it hit the tripod it left a tangled mess of what used to be a tripod.
A chemical compound made with commonly available substances has been shown to burn violently and can be mixed with other compounds that ignite in the presence of air. The main component of this substance is naptha, which is common enough but somewhat tricky to handle (safely.)
The Shaped charge uses the recently discovered Monroe Effect of focusing the power of an explosive to defeat armor rather than a shot smashing through. There are current working shaped charge projectiles but the project needs more development.
Fuel-air explosions have been known for centuries. Grain elevator explosions are still all too common. Making the fuel-air effect work consistantly on the battlerfield still needs work.
The men and women behind martian lines have found the new recoilless rifles to be a godsend, or as the humorists sometimes say, a Teddy-send. Lightweight guns are carried by airship, then resistance can easily transport them to where they are needed.
An interesting new weapon is being tested. Using a cylinder like a revolver, spent ammunition is extracted and fresh ammunition is loaded while that chamber of the cylinder is not in line with the barrel, multiplying the rate of fire. Heavier than a standard recoilless rifle, it is still less than half the weight of a standard gun of the same caliber. Currently a very few prototypes are being field tested.
Time will tell.
The recoilless rifle is a concept that is also fairly old, but first came into use during WWII as a lightweight anti-tank gun.
Necessity is the mother of invention, which is a convenient way of saying that military technology only develops what is needed, not necessarily what is possible.
The first Martian Invasion awakened interest in armor piercing weapons. at the onset of the second invasion, interest was re-awakened and soon what had been visionary but unnecessary weapons were developed to their full potential.
The first anti-tripod guns were simple brute-force weapons. Effective but expensive. The heaviest, hardest projectile possible propelled to the highest velocity possible. This required a heavy cannon; heavy ammunition, heavy breach, heavy barrel, heavy recoil compensators, and a heavy suspension to connect to a heavy tractor for mobility. The United States approached the problem directly and with vigor. The Anti-tripod gun was an effective weapon against the invaders. But even the United States could only make so many.
In the vast areas the Martians conquered, Americans resisted. They used the ways of the First Nation, the Native Americans. The need was for light weapons that could be carried by light vehicles where speed and stealth were the order of the day.
The Recoilless Rifle is light because it uses propellent to counter the recoil. A light barrel, a comparatively light breach, no recoil compensators, some could be carried by a normal human. The trick was in the ammunition.
Temple University near Philadelphia has a program to provide education to veterans, especially black veterans who are no longer able to withstand the physical rigors of combat. By tapping in to the wealth of intellect, a previously untapped resource, Temple has developed and is developing many weapons based on unconventional yet disciplined research.
Propellent was expelled out the real of the weapon to counter the recoil. The projectile was not solid hard heavy metal that smashed through the Martian, but relied on the effect of the warhead in the projectile. The warhead could be high explosive or incendiary. More finicky but more lethal versions were the shaped charge and the fuel-air explosion.
A very simple warhead was dynamite with a simple detonator encased in a layer of wicket glue, all packed inside a waxed cardboard casing. Similar in appearance to a shotgun shell the dynamight shell was easy to make, very light and when it hit the tripod it left a tangled mess of what used to be a tripod.
A chemical compound made with commonly available substances has been shown to burn violently and can be mixed with other compounds that ignite in the presence of air. The main component of this substance is naptha, which is common enough but somewhat tricky to handle (safely.)
The Shaped charge uses the recently discovered Monroe Effect of focusing the power of an explosive to defeat armor rather than a shot smashing through. There are current working shaped charge projectiles but the project needs more development.
Fuel-air explosions have been known for centuries. Grain elevator explosions are still all too common. Making the fuel-air effect work consistantly on the battlerfield still needs work.
The men and women behind martian lines have found the new recoilless rifles to be a godsend, or as the humorists sometimes say, a Teddy-send. Lightweight guns are carried by airship, then resistance can easily transport them to where they are needed.
An interesting new weapon is being tested. Using a cylinder like a revolver, spent ammunition is extracted and fresh ammunition is loaded while that chamber of the cylinder is not in line with the barrel, multiplying the rate of fire. Heavier than a standard recoilless rifle, it is still less than half the weight of a standard gun of the same caliber. Currently a very few prototypes are being field tested.
Time will tell.
