TL12.space.weapons.txt

Date: Wed, 18 Jan 1995 22:24:15 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Llaneza <mllaneza@mercury.sfsu.edu>

Ive been working up a TL12 armory of assorted space weapons for my own
amusement and possibly for use in a planetary assault scenario.
    

Designs include     a Meson Gun meant for use in a parallel mount
                    a laser barbette 
                    a battleship grade heavy laser

TL-12 Meson Gun 3500 Mj
BR: 3(-1):6-3-2-1
BL:
3(-1):189-95-47-35
Vol           2943 m^3
Mass          3266.4
ton
Cost          210.66 MCr
Surf          70 m^2
Leng          57.6
m
MW            486.0 MW
ROF           50
Crew          1 (dont forget
to leave access for maintenance crew)

This unit has a very short range as is typical for meson guns of this
TL. It was designed to fit into a 2000t hull in cylinder
configuration as a parallel mount. This wont hurt a battleship, but
small warships will be in trouble in close enough.

TL-12 Laser Barbette (3 m) Point Defense 225 Mj
BR:      
    8:(-1) 1-1-0-0
BL:           8:(-1) 35-1/35     28-1/9     9-1/3  
  3-1/1
Vol           72.84 m^3
Mass          122.29 ton
Cost         
1.6815 MCr
Surf          7.07 m^2
MW            31.25 MW
Crew         
1
ROF           50

This unit is designed for, obviously, anti-missile
defense work. It is capable of engaging missiles at 32 hexes, but due
to range mods wont be able to hit until at about 20 hexes.

TL-12
Heavy Laser Bay (12m) 600 Mj 
BR:           10:(-2) 10-8-5-3        

BL:           10:(-2) 735-1/235     367-1/118     184-1/59    
92-1/29
 (looks more like a spinal mount dont it?)
Vol           318.19 m^3
Mass          701.39 ton
Cost          31.8415 MCr
SA            113.1 m^2
MW            0 MW
Crew          1
ROF          
100


This unit has  a focal diameter of 12, count em, 12 meters. As a
result at TL-12, the effective range is 120 hexes. Woof. Consequently
at normal combat ranges, the damage and penetration are intense. This
model is accompanied by a fusion reactor that provides the 166.67 MW
required by the weapon. The data above is a complete package, I can
also provide full stats for this weapon both with and without the
reactors.

The immense damage and penetration rating are indicative of the
imbalance between spaceship weapons. This laser fits into the (TL x
50Mj) limit for lasers discussed previously on the TML, but the wide
focal array gives a long efective range and so at the range where
fire is possible the discharge energy is multiplied. The meson gun
above gives much worse performance and for seven times the price.
Admittedly, lasers are a mature technology at TL-12 while meson guns
are relatively new.