Missiles

[Drifter]

Specifically for the Interstellar Wars period, what do missiles use as a warhead? Nuclear or chemical explosives for the most part?

I know the Vilani used nuclear warheads against Muan Issler, and against some Terran cities in the Third Interstellar War, but are these specific applications? Or were these particular weapons designed for use against planetary targets?

I'm really more interested in Confederation weapons though. Do the Terrans use nuclear tipped weapons in ship-to-ship combat? I'm assuming yes but want to know of any problems with this. For example, the missiles are likely NOT streamlined for use against planetary targets, and won't be big enough yield to do any great, strategic, harm, but could they be take to the surface for use against hardened sites?

Any opinions are welcome.

[walkir]

ISW 224 (under "ramming") says this:

"Space-combat missiles do damage by proximity explosion, delivering a shaped-charge explosive warhead just before actual collision with the target. A hit from a missile always does 12d(10) burn explosion damage."

Page 226 gives the stats - anti-ship missiles are streamlined. So I guess the nukes are like "golden bullets" handed out at low rates.

[Drifter]

Well, thank you for that - I had skipped the ramming section entirely. Not sure why a space based missle would be streamlined, but there it is.

[JP42]

Originally Posted by Drifter

Well, thank you for that - I had skipped the ramming section entirely. Not sure why a space based missle would be streamlined, but there it is.

Not sure if this was assumed in GURPS: Traveller Interstellar Wars, but in other Traveller games, there's an implicit assumption that sometimes fighters and the like fight in atmospheres - that "small craft" have supplanted fighters and bombers.

[Drifter]

Originally Posted by JP42

Not sure if this was assumed in GURPS: Traveller Interstellar Wars, but in other Traveller games, there's an implicit assumption that sometimes fighters and the like fight in atmospheres - that "small craft" have supplanted fighters and bombers.

Well, the Imperium is more involved with habitable worlds than the 3I in general, so any fighting they plan on doing would likely be around such worlds. Makes sense they would streamline missiles if they expect close orbit and ground based assaults would be more likely than deep space combat.

And page-count wise it makes sense that both sides have the same stats for relatively minor items like missiles. Both sides probably have far more than a generic, atmosphere capable missile, but the GM could come up with that.