Types of armour

From Acw

(Difference between revisions)
m (Added category Technology, spacing, toc float right)
 
(2 intermediate revisions not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
-
    * small-calibre, rapid-fire kinetics guns. These are all automatic weapons that can sustain high rates of fire and fire small solid or explosive shells. They have been specially altered to allow the gunpowder propellant to ignite in a vacuum, or to use a gas or rocket propellant to launch the projectiles at high enough velocity. These are most often used against screencraft or en masse against larger ships' unarmoured areas.
+
<div style="float:right; margin-left:10px;">__toc__</div>
-
    * large-calibre kinetic cannon. These are very high-calibre weapons (150mm+) that fire solid shells. The Alexander Nevsky pioneered these weapons by fitting some specially modified ex-naval guns, and the basic layout has not changed in the intervening 200 years. While calibres of up to 1200mm exist, they are rare, because for space combat, smaller weapons are preferred due to the smaller forces the ships is subjected to while firing.
+
==Inert armour==
-
    * Mass drivers or Railguns. The perfect kinetic penetrator for space combat, these weapons fire a tiny projectile at enormous speeds. The kinetic energy on these projectiles is such that they can puncture almost any armour.
+
-
    * guided missiles. These are shaped warheads on rockets that can be guided onto their target by painting laser.
+
-
    * energy weapons. The perfect weapon for space combat, an energy projectile weapon projects a beam that travels at the speed of light. Because of the speed of the projectile and the fact that it is a beam, it is the ultimate in 'point-and-click' weapon. The huge aount of power used to drive these weapons mean that even
+
-
Each of these weapons has its problems. The downside of kinetic weapons is that the reaction to firing them pushes the firing ship off course. Often designers mount small retro-rockets on the rear of the turrets that push back against this force a split second after firing, but these are exposed and complex systems, and one engine beign knocked out means the entire array must be disabled or risk setting the ship spinning. Energy weapons use incredible amounts of power, and even the largest ship must power down all systems in order to fire a three-second burst. Moreover, the capacitors need substantial recharge times afterwards with the ship still powered-down. Missiles are a good balance, but are limited in numbers by the size of the silos.
+
This is the simplest form of armour, and consists of thick layers of resistant material liek iron, steel, ceramic alloys or spider silk. It is good at resiting small-calibre kinetic projectiles, and when thick enough can occasionally resist large calibre shells too.
-
Retrieved from "http://editthis.info/acw/Spaceships"
+
 
 +
==Spaced or ablative armour==
 +
 
 +
This is the second most common form of armour on space vessels, and consists of a second belt of armour suspended above the first on a frame, with a gap between it and the second belt. It is particularly good against warheads, which detonate on the first belt and then turn into shrapnel, which cannot penetrate the second belt below it.
 +
 
 +
==Pressurised spaced armour==
 +
 
 +
This is a form of spaced armour with gas or liquid between the belts to allow the projectile's energy to dissipate through another medium through heat. This is more effective at absorbing the impact of all forms of projectile, but is very complex to manufacture and is less useful after one cell has been hit.
 +
 
 +
==Reactive armour==
 +
 
 +
This is a form of armour that is itself explosive, and detonates outwards as the projectile hits it, to dissipate and deflect the force of the original projectile. It is particularly effective against most projectile types, but is particularly dangerous for any nearby space vessels, as the shrapnel travels further in zero gravity and a vacuum.
 +
 
 +
[[Category: Technology]]

Current revision as of 13:01, 8 October 2006

Contents

Inert armour

This is the simplest form of armour, and consists of thick layers of resistant material liek iron, steel, ceramic alloys or spider silk. It is good at resiting small-calibre kinetic projectiles, and when thick enough can occasionally resist large calibre shells too.

Spaced or ablative armour

This is the second most common form of armour on space vessels, and consists of a second belt of armour suspended above the first on a frame, with a gap between it and the second belt. It is particularly good against warheads, which detonate on the first belt and then turn into shrapnel, which cannot penetrate the second belt below it.

Pressurised spaced armour

This is a form of spaced armour with gas or liquid between the belts to allow the projectile's energy to dissipate through another medium through heat. This is more effective at absorbing the impact of all forms of projectile, but is very complex to manufacture and is less useful after one cell has been hit.

Reactive armour

This is a form of armour that is itself explosive, and detonates outwards as the projectile hits it, to dissipate and deflect the force of the original projectile. It is particularly effective against most projectile types, but is particularly dangerous for any nearby space vessels, as the shrapnel travels further in zero gravity and a vacuum.

Retrieved from "http://editthis.info/ACW/Types_of_armour"
Personal tools