ThinksMarkedly wrote:Jonathan_S wrote:Though the modern GA ship can't produce a bow wall and a stern wall at the same time. (It's explained when the bow wall is introduced that the physics precludes closing off both ends) I assume however that it could produce a bow wall plus a stern buckler; as the buckler doesn't close off the end (which is also why a ship can accelerate with buckler(s) up).
That's true if the ship wants to keep accelerating. But it doesn't have to: if the ship or fleet is expecting the need to withstand an Alpha launch, they can simply stop accelerating for just long enough as the missiles fly past. That does mean they are flying ballistically instead of evading, but if the presence of bow and stern walls improves survivability even more, then do it. This is only needed for under half a second anyway.
Actually, no. Putting up either a bow or stern wall already removes the ability to accelerate or maneuver using the wedge; the physics still prohibits putting up both a (full) bow and stern wall simultaneously.
Echoes of Honor wrote:"As we all know, it's impossible to close the bow or stern aspect of an impeller wedge with a sidewall, right?" Heads nodded once again. "And why is that, Lieutenant Takahashi?" she asked genially.
[...]
"Because cutting off the stress bands' n-space pocket with a closed wedge prevents you from accelerating, decelerating, or using the wedge to change heading, Ma'am," he replied. "If you want the math—?"
"No, that's all right, Lieutenant," she said. "But suppose you don't want to accelerate or decelerate? Couldn't you generate a 'bow' sidewall then?"
"Well, yes, Ma'am, I suppose you could. But if you did you'd be unable to change—" Takahashi stopped speaking suddenly
Ashes of Victory wrote: Just as powerful as the new "bow-wall" that closed off and protected the front of a Shrike's wedge as it bored into energy range, the Ferret's "sternwall" closed off the rear of the wedge. Power requirements and the physics of the wedge meant only one aspect, bow or stern, could be closed at any given moment, but it gave a Ferret's skipper a much more flexible choice of breakaway vectors.
The power requirements might be irrelevant on a full up warship, but the physics of the wedge would still restrict it to only protecting one aspect, bow or stern, at any given moment. (But, as I said, I believe the other could likely be partially protected by a buckler)