Re: [HoE] Re: Tech Level

[Pat Phalen <pphalen@yahoo.com>]

> >> What else would you be shooting at with an assault rifle?
> >
> >Humvees, LAVs, helicopters.....
> >Infantry in bunkers
> >
> 
> But doesn't the army's OICW project suggest that you should be using
20mm
> "smart" grenades against those targets?

Yes, if you had them.  The point I was tying to make was that there a
lot more things a soldier does with his rifle than shoot at people!

[snip]

> >Oh, so we agree?
> 
> I don't think we ever really disagreed, it was just a matter of a
different
> point of view. I was never looking for a huge advance in weapon
tech, just
> something a little more advanced than what is commonly available now.

Must have been someone else that wanted Laser Pistols and Rail Gun
Pistols.  My Bad!

> 
> >What's ETC?

[good description of ETC snipped]


> The last I heard ETC weapons are currently in the prototype testing
phase.

This sounds like the type of system they were testing for AFAS
(Advanced Field Artillery System), the next generation Howitzer.  The
big problem they were experiencing was the fact that the liquid
propellant was HIGHLY caustic to the gun barrel.  I don't remember the
exact numbers, but I think a 155mm barrel has an effective  (safe)
life-span of 500-1000 shots.  For the LP guns, it was something like
100!  I'm unaware of any LP work being done on smaller caliber guns. 
(Naturally, this doesn't mean it *isn't* being done)

Patrick  

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