ERIM

kzt wrote:I don't think acceleration in the honorverse is mass based at all. Empty freighters don't accelerate faster then full freighters. I think it's all based on the shape and depth of the field.

So why are warships always being characterized by their mass, instead of, say, length or usable volume? (Or is tonnage a measure of volume, as it is in contemporary surface ships?)

Carl wrote:I think your getting confused about some things Relax. The statement is that a wedge's power draw after activation is reduced. Not that it generates power.

Brining up a second wedge still means supplying 100% of the power to do so from capacitors. Thats why you can have a ballistic stage on capacitor fed MDM's.

One, wedge supplies roughly 60% of power required when up during its runtime. Obviously activation requires 100%.

Lets take a perusal: http://infodump.thefifthimperium.com/series/Harrington/

http://infodump.thefifthimperium.com/si ... gton/144/1

The initial power for the wedge has to come from internal sources -- current generation and stored power. Once the initial energy investment is made, something like 60% of the energy necessary to maintain and power the wedge is drawn through the "siphon" effect.
Later, same post:
The energy required to accelerate under impeller drive is not appreciably greater than the energy required to maintain the wedge in the first place.

So, constant strain at 100% for maybe a second while wedge is being raised and then drops down to 40% for the duration of flight for power drain. Wedge initiation power is not much in comparison to drive time. In short, for every 1 second of wedge initiation, 2.5s of drive time is lost. 2 second start up = 5s drive time reduction.

Two, never said it generates power. But you have a high energy state(impeller is on) meaning as it goes down either for 2nd stage or ballistic, it is quite probable for a reverse feedback recharging the capacitors as you cut power from the still full capacitors the impeller nodes are now attached to the empty capacitors as the wedge falters.

3) We all know larger = slower. Compensator is hardwired in impeller nodes on missiles. For size we have a major problem in Manticores case as they have Apollo birds at least twice the size of capital grade missiles toting along at 98,000g. Of course we have latest CM's running at 130,000g.

4) No, as kzt posted, baffle is there only so impeller nodes stay separated as they seem to act like magnets. Will drain or get in the way of or...

It would appear that from MaxxQ's latest posts that missile tubes cannot fire smaller missiles anymore.

From pearl: http://infodump.thefifthimperium.com/en ... gton/175/1

Note that an MSM launcher can fire a smaller missile

Neither are cannon, but one is from a Bu9 hobnobber.

# CM's per cannister

http://infodump.thefifthimperium.com/en ... gton/160/1

(I am assuming a 5-missile canister from a larger unit) Think that means capital grade missile at that time.

Relax wrote:# CM's per cannister

http://infodump.thefifthimperium.com/en ... gton/160/1

(I am assuming a 5-missile canister from a larger unit) Think that means capital grade missile at that time.

"At that time" also means older, slower, less capable and most importantly smaller counter missiles that the current Mk-31/Viper drive units.

IIRC, an estimate of no more than three Mk31s can replace the warhead of a Mk23. Smaller CMs, like DD/LAC models, could be used in Mk16 or Mk23 canisters or in a "MIRV" configuration.

The problem still remains providing control at extended ranges, no matter how you get your CMs that far from the mother ship.

Weird Harold wrote:

Relax wrote:# CM's per cannister

http://infodump.thefifthimperium.com/en ... gton/160/1

(I am assuming a 5-missile canister from a larger unit) Think that means capital grade missile at that time.

"At that time" also means older, slower, less capable and most importantly smaller counter missiles that the current Mk-31/Viper drive units.

IIRC, an estimate of no more than three Mk31s can replace the warhead of a Mk23. Smaller CMs, like DD/LAC models, could be used in Mk16 or Mk23 canisters or in a "MIRV" configuration.

The problem still remains providing control at extended ranges, no matter how you get your CMs that far from the mother ship.

Control is not a problem. After all that is what the already in inventory preexisting FTL RD's are for. CM's only need coordinates and nothing else.

No reason not to use old CM's in a cannister.

Relax wrote:NICE PULL!

So, that is why the MALIGN went with a grafted CM on "top" of the normal missile. Keep those impeller rings far distant from one another.

Brings up another question: How far do they have to be apart? By placing the impeller rings close together what are the true benefits? I would think changing from one wedge to the next, it takes time for the wedge to start/stop initiation so if the impeller rings are close together they get to save a lot of energy as the 2nd set of impeller rings does not have to PULLUP an entire new wedge, rather only a slight portion.

I don't have my books handy, but iirc ACTD mentioned that impellers would also screw up nearly non-node molycirc. In speculated that stuff inside the diameter of the drive ring isn't really affected the same way. So the apparently smaller diameter upper stage of the cataphract may be benefiting from both lateral displacements and interior position. (It one speculation for why they went with a CM drive upper instead of a larger full SDM drive.

Hmm, doesn't the text, or at least RFC's posts, talk about being able the use a ballistic phase with the Cataphract? That would mean it already carries sufficient capacitors to cold start the upper stage. (And I doubt you can hand off a wedge between separate missile nose rings; I'd guess the attempt would lead to an explosive failure. But if the Cataphract can ballistic then your proposed trick is, at least, unnecessary)

(Oh, as an aside I'm assuming that even microfusion missiles have some capacitors to help with wedge start; like starships do. So they don't have to have a reactor scaled to handle that power peak. Then they can recharge the capacitors from the reactor after the wedge is up and the power siphon effect kicks in)

Jonathan_S wrote:

Relax wrote:NICE PULL!

So, that is why the MALIGN went with a grafted CM on "top" of the normal missile. Keep those impeller rings far distant from one another.

Brings up another question: How far do they have to be apart? By placing the impeller rings close together what are the true benefits? I would think changing from one wedge to the next, it takes time for the wedge to start/stop initiation so if the impeller rings are close together they get to save a lot of energy as the 2nd set of impeller rings does not have to PULLUP an entire new wedge, rather only a slight portion.

I don't have my books handy, but iirc ACTD mentioned that impellers would also screw up nearly non-node molycirc. In speculated that stuff inside the diameter of the drive ring isn't really affected the same way. So the apparently smaller diameter upper stage of the cataphract may be benefiting from both lateral displacements and interior position. (It one speculation for why they went with a CM drive upper instead of a larger full SDM drive.

Hmm, doesn't the text, or at least RFC's posts, talk about being able the use a ballistic phase with the Cataphract? That would mean it already carries sufficient capacitors to cold start the upper stage. (And I doubt you can hand off a wedge between separate missile nose rings; I'd guess the attempt would lead to an explosive failure. But if the Cataphract can ballistic then your proposed trick is, at least, unnecessary)

(Oh, as an aside I'm assuming that even microfusion missiles have some capacitors to help with wedge start; like starships do. So they don't have to have a reactor scaled to handle that power peak. Then they can recharge the capacitors from the reactor after the wedge is up and the power siphon effect kicks in)

In reverse. Micro fusion is lit off inside current ships. So, no I doubt there are any capacitors to start the micro fusion. Now a pod on the other hand... Yes.

Yes, cataphract is specifically stated as being able to go ballistic between. As my previous post showed 1s startup is all of 2.5s drive time. So its not exactly a big deal. Now a giant ship on the other hand... Yea, much bigger deal. Actually, I bollicks the math: For every 1s of startup, subtract 1.5s drivetime!

So, restarting wedges is no big deal compared to capacitor total needed for flight duration.

Relax wrote:...snip...

So, restarting wedges is no big deal compared to capacitor total needed for flight duration.

Unless you are talking missile wedges. Which inherent to their insanely overpowered hardware design can only start once. They then function until parts melt(or otherwise destroy themselves). You can terminate them early which then melts them.

Which is why RDs, probably, only have Thousands of g's accel, are much bulkier, but you can start and stop them.

Have fun,
T2M

Weird Harold wrote:

Relax wrote:# CM's per cannister

http://infodump.thefifthimperium.com/en ... gton/160/1

(I am assuming a 5-missile canister from a larger unit) Think that means capital grade missile at that time.

"At that time" also means older, slower, less capable and most importantly smaller counter missiles that the current Mk-31/Viper drive units.

IIRC, an estimate of no more than three Mk31s can replace the warhead of a Mk23. Smaller CMs, like DD/LAC models, could be used in Mk16 or Mk23 canisters or in a "MIRV" configuration.

The problem still remains providing control at extended ranges, no matter how you get your CMs that far from the mother ship.

IIRC, those canisters didn't have any drives of their own. They relied on the shipboard launcher to impart enough velocity to get clear of the wedge and then deployed.

Not exactly ideal for extended range interceptions.