Timewaster's Guide Archive

General => Everything Else => Topic started by: Mr_Pleasington on November 06, 2002, 06:00:54 PM

Title: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Mr_Pleasington on November 06, 2002, 06:00:54 PM

Have you all seen this:  http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20021105/ts_nm/arms_usa_laser_dc_6

This is something I think the military has had the capabilities of doing for more than a few years now, but is just now leaking as war looks imminent.   I'm not a a big conspiracy theorist, but for as much has been said about it since the Star Wars Program failed, you just knew they had to be working on it.

Anyway, looks like the troops will be a little safer and war is beginning to look more and more like an RTS game.

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Lord_of_Me on November 07, 2002, 08:23:47 AM

wow, that is cool! :o
I always wondered if they were still working on lasers

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Mr_Pleasington on November 07, 2002, 01:34:44 PM

Did you take a look at the picture of it.  It looks like the Might Spotlight of Doom (tm)!

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Tage on November 07, 2002, 06:06:57 PM

So, my question is:

If they can vaporize an artillary shell moving at supersonic speeds, why don't they just zap the enemy base?

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Mr_Pleasington on November 08, 2002, 02:45:10 AM

Because it would be unfair to the countries who can't afford a Spotlight O' Doom.

Title: Re: Spotlight of Doom
Post by: Lord_of_Me on November 08, 2002, 07:54:36 AM

ever heard of hiroshima? perhaps that was a bit unfair? :-/

I want a laser!

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: House of Mustard on November 08, 2002, 01:27:37 PM

Tage - The laser is powerful, but it still only hits a little tiny area.  It can blow up a warhead, mostly because the warhead is an explosive just waiting to explode, but what would you shoot at at the enemy base?

Also - a laser is a direct fire weapon and, judging from the photo, this thing couldn't be easily mounted on an airplane.

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Prometheus on November 08, 2002, 05:47:11 PM

When did fairness come into the picture for real-life military operations?

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Fellfrosch on November 08, 2002, 06:45:38 PM

The moment we graduated an entire class of soldiers who grew up playing RTS games.

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Slant on November 08, 2002, 07:20:53 PM

One question that needs to be looked at, though:

if we have THIS, then what sort of weapons might THEY have?

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Fellfrosch on November 08, 2002, 07:30:21 PM

I hope it's not a banana. I think I missed that week in my self-defense class.

Title: Re: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
Post by: Mr_Pleasington on November 10, 2002, 06:54:43 PM

Just to note...the above "fairness" comment was pure sarcasm.  Should have used a smiley...

We have lasers, they have chemicals.  I'm a little more afraid of theirs...