[World Building] A Future History of Space Force

PTTG · 08-26-2023, 02:18 PM

Missiles and drones are basically the same thing in space. But without an atmosphere, they mainly produce thermal effects, and those dissapate so rapidly with distance that you're much better off using a shaped charge to try to direct shrapnel at the target. And the ultimate evolution of a claymore-like shrapnel spray is... a gun.

A small, capable drone could aim to hit the enemy, then close the last 100m - 1km with bullets. Then it boosts its projectiles with its closing velocity.

Nuclear weapons are pretty unlikely unless something wild happens to fissile enrichment. It's not exactly easy to make wareheads. But if that does happen, then replace the gun with a casaba howitzer and have that close the final 100km instead.

But if you're playing with nukes, every fight is a draw. A nuclear blast in space won't immediately destroy ships unless it's VERY close, but will easily irradiate the crew. Presumably there's no humans anywhere near the nukes at that point.

Though come to think about that, if you have, say, space habitats which prohibit nuclear detonations within 10Mm or something, that makes for pretty large zones where boarding actions or at least dogfights are the only option. Worth considering.

08-26-2023, 02:18 PM	#18
PTTG Join Date: Feb 2011	Re: [World Building] A Future History of Space Force Missiles and drones are basically the same thing in space. But without an atmosphere, they mainly produce thermal effects, and those dissapate so rapidly with distance that you're much better off using a shaped charge to try to direct shrapnel at the target. And the ultimate evolution of a claymore-like shrapnel spray is... a gun. A small, capable drone could aim to hit the enemy, then close the last 100m - 1km with bullets. Then it boosts its projectiles with its closing velocity. Nuclear weapons are pretty unlikely unless something wild happens to fissile enrichment. It's not exactly easy to make wareheads. But if that does happen, then replace the gun with a casaba howitzer and have that close the final 100km instead. But if you're playing with nukes, every fight is a draw. A nuclear blast in space won't immediately destroy ships unless it's VERY close, but will easily irradiate the crew. Presumably there's no humans anywhere near the nukes at that point. Though come to think about that, if you have, say, space habitats which prohibit nuclear detonations within 10Mm or something, that makes for pretty large zones where boarding actions or at least dogfights are the only option. Worth considering.