Weaponsing a Spacecraft

[Nuni]

Well guys, I just "finished" this thing (except for the cockpit, which I have never done before, the pilots and the flight model to flight different from an A-4), as you can see there is some AIM-9 floting near the module and after some test dogfights to see how it looks, I was wondering how should this spacecraft be weaponised for a fictional first space war.

That is what I want to ask you people! Do you hace any idea of how a first space fighter would be? based on the real Orion capsule that I just made

The weapons for me would be the same as they were in their first Earth versions, for examples a space torpedo or missile would be at first as clumsy and unreliable as the first Sidewinders that went into service. Maybe the guns could be also very limited as they have to use magnetic acceleration instead of gunpowder. Maybe the first torpedos have no warhead as its sheer velocity reached without atmosphere is enough to destroy small crafts.

I would like to hear your creative ideas of the first space weapons and where it could be fitted into the spacecraft! :)

[bazillius]

Oh my gosh!)) no words)) This is cool. it's cooler then water in cooler. I would like to see (and take part) in space battle between Crew Dragons and russian Souzes )) ahaha. with rockets and lazers

[Nuni]

10 minutes ago, bazillius said:

Oh my gosh!)) no words)) This is cool. it's cooler then water in cooler. I would like to see (and take part) in space battle between Crew Dragons and russian Souzes )) ahaha. with rockets and lazers

Hahahah that would be great, I can also imagine the Starship as a big freaking bomber! or packed with lots of torpedoes or turrets. Also I imagine Souzes with chinese spacecraft fighting against USA-EU forces!

Edited June 4, 2020 by nuni

[one4five]

FANTASTIC

[one4five]

you did the tactical LASER system, is there difficulty to use the concept? 

the pod is too big to mount in an internal bay, nose mounted LASER emitter may be?

[one4five]

any sort of kinetic weapon in orbit isn`t practical, realistically speaking, the recoil would throw the craft out of stability 

[one4five]

or guns only with too bright tracer effect, to simulate concentrated energy shots not actual bullets, the damage to simulate the biggest caliber available

[Wrench]

The Rocinante doesn't seem to have any issues with it's rail guns. Or missiles.

"spurt bombs", maybe? Ala "Footfall" (small nukes for the emission of x-rays/gamma rays)

I think the addition of a 'service module' for the weapons bays, while breaking the look of Dragon, might be something to consider

 

[Nuni]

1 hour ago, cosmoseed said:

you did the tactical LASER system, is there difficulty to use the concept? 

the pod is too big to mount in an internal bay, nose mounted LASER emitter may be?

Of course! it would be very easy to use, in fact I should make a softened version (not the hyper powerful doomlaser that is the TLS). I guess we could argue that the laser is limited in power and duration because of limited power generation. It can be used also in AAA!

1 hour ago, cosmoseed said:

any sort of kinetic weapon in orbit isn`t practical, realistically speaking, the recoil would throw the craft out of stability 

Yes it is true, maybe a centerlined cannon mounted in the main axis of the ship could be a solution to this, so that the main engine compesate the force. In fact, spinal heavy cannon in more futuristic spacecrafts could be cool too!

All said, I think laser would take the role of guns, they are "cheap" to shoot and they do not dissipate as much as with atmosphere.

1 hour ago, cosmoseed said:

or guns only with too bright tracer effect, to simulate concentrated energy shots not actual bullets, the damage to simulate the biggest caliber available

In fact, I was thinking that any kinetic gun must have an invisible tracer hahaha, that would be weird.

I have been thinking, while creating the TLS, which is basically a tracer effect, that it could be possible to assign a missile effect or something like that to bullets, giving an opportunity to make some cool plasma volley effects for futuristic plasma guns (although it would take more resources from the game engine)

Very good insights by the way! :)

[+Gepard]

There were soviet combat spacecrafts in reality.

Here a footage of Soyuz 7K-VI mockup:

It is not widely known, that 3 of 7 launched SALUT space stations were in reality ALMAZ stations. ALMAZ was the military version of SALUT. It was armed with a 23mm gun. IIRC the crew of SALUT 5 trained the space combat with aiming the gun on american SKYLAB space station.

 

[+Gepard]

2 hours ago, cosmoseed said:

any sort of kinetic weapon in orbit isn`t practical, realistically speaking, the recoil would throw the craft out of stability 

Not at all. The recoilless gun is widely used since 1945. The most popular weapons of this weapon type are soviet RPG-7 or german Panzerfaust.

Edited June 4, 2020 by Gepard

[Nuni]

12 minutes ago, Wrench said:

The Rocinante doesn't seem to have any issues with it's rail guns. Or missiles.

"spurt bombs", maybe? Ala "Footfall" (small nukes for the emission of x-rays/gamma rays)

I think the addition of a 'service module' for the weapons bays, while breaking the look of Dragon, might be something to consider

I think, as long as the direction of the recoil force is alligned and near the major axis of the craft, that would be no problem because it would generate little to no angular momentum and the force is countered by the main engines.

I really like the idea of the tactical nukes used in this way, could be a good antiship missile. Which brings me to a question I had for a long time: ¿Is it possible to have air-to-air cruise missiles in SF2NA? It would be great to see point defense gatlings in action like those in The Expanse!

And, yes I have some ideas of dedicated service modules for the weapons, I think I have some sketches anywhere. However I would like to work a little in this tiny bird to see it finished, and then make larger versions :)

[Nuni]

11 minutes ago, Gepard said:

There were soviet combat spacecrafts in reality.

Here a footage of Soyuz 7K-VI mockup:

It is not widely known, that 3 of 7 launched SALUT space stations were in reality ALMAZ stations. ALMAZ was the military version of SALUT. It was armed with a 23mm gun. IIRC the crew of SALUT 5 trained the space combat with aiming the gun on american SKYLAB space station.

 

That thing is GREAT, I was thinking about doing a Soyuz-like counterpart for the other side and this spacecraft will give a lot of inspiration!

[Nuni]

2 minutes ago, nuni said:

 I think I have some sketches anywhere.

I was thinking in some advanced propulsion system or nuclear power generation, turrets and pylons and maybe a spacecraft with a very powerful laser turret that needs to deploy huge solar arrays or something. As you can see there is a lot of possibilities here. I should also investigate how it would look like a landing gear since I think, vertical take off without thrust vectoring is impossible hahahahah

[Wrench]

Well, when in doubt, you can always consult this guy....

 

 

-------

not so much a 'cruise missile', but adding the nuke warhead is just a simple text edit.

 

[Nuni]

1 minute ago, Wrench said:

Well, when in doubt, you can always consult this guy....

 

 

 

Oh my god hahahaha, I am waiting to finish another show to start this one, I can't wait to see it!!

[Wrench]

it's kinda stupid, but stupid in a funny way. Malkovitch STEALS the show!

[Nuni]

Malkovitch ALWAYS steals the show hahaha

[Nuni]

It is very interesting, and after seing it I wonder, is it possible to have a weapon to simulate in SF2 an electromagnetic attack? any type of warhead that makes the enemy lose control of their aircraft without looking conventionaly damaged or something

Particle accelerators and ion cannons added to the list!