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Title Posted
Unmanned LACs Aug 2004
Honor's Second Marsh strategy Aug 2004
c-Fractional missile attack plan Aug 2004
Energy-siphon effect Aug 2004
How big is a recon drone? Aug 2004
Wedge interaction Aug 2004
Counter-missile pods and two-stage counter-missiles Aug 2004
Wedge-killer missiles Aug 2004
Masada and the Eridani Edict Jul 2004
<em>Medusa-Bs</em> Jun 2004

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Pearls of Weber

A collection of posts by David Weber containing background information for his stories, collected and generously made available Joe Buckley.

Missile orientation during flight

  • Series: Honorverse
  • Date: October 22, 2002

Missiles in the Harrington universe are virtually all seeking weapons. Their sensor heads are required to maintain lock on their targets (at least once they are beyond effective, real-time telemetry control from the ship which launched them). This means that they keep the throats of their wedges oriented on their targets, which is why it is possible for point defense lasers to kill them at extended ranges. There is no sidewall or wedge protecting them from the fire or the ship they are attacking; their wedges do, however, protect them from the defensive fire of other ships which might attempt to engage them from "above" or "below."