Amaroq wrote:Is there a description anywhere of exactly how Manty ships are able to fire "off-bore"? And are they (and the Graysons) the only fleets that have this ability?
Weird Harold wrote:Yes. I don't remember where it is, but I remember reading it.
wastedfly wrote:Its in a pearl or book, and the reason given is ludicrous.
"Improved vector shift components in missiles"
Because the author says so would be far preferable to the pathetic attempt to make it a "physics" issue.
In short it is because the author tried emulating his ships as sailing ships in space from the 18th century as for why the limitation exists to begin with.
What's ludicrous about it? Tube-fired missiles have to clear the sidewalls and spread out before they fire up their own wedges. If you're going to fire them from the opposite broadside, then those missiles are going to have to flip 180 degrees, spread out so they can go around the ship while avoiding its wedge, cancel the momentum that's taking them in the wrong direction and somehow keep up with the original broadside when all that maneuvering probably takes up a few seconds.
I can very easily see missile designers not putting all that capability in missiles when every cubic cm counts and everyone knows that you need to get into energy range anyway for a decisive engagement. It only becomes important after the development of missile-heavy tactics.
Which answers the other question. Haven sector navies have it, the rest of the navies (including the ISLN) didn't read the memo before filing it.