Re:Is the Attack Helicopter Dead?
by drawnwren on Monday October 07, 2024 @09:02PM
(#41772800)
The problem with shotguns is that you either have a small number of pellets (12ga) or a small amount of mass to do damage (bird shot). So with 12ga specifically, while it's more effective than a rifle round -- the pellets spread quickly enough that it's only a huge advantage when the drone is in the terminal phase. This is why in WW2, they would put timed fuses inside the AA shells so that they didn't have to hit the aircraft directly with the shell but the round didn't spread so far that it was useless.
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Re:Is the Attack Helicopter Dead?
by jvanderbot on Monday October 07, 2024 @09:50PM
(#41773057)
I hear you, and a prox shell would be ideal, but I have a hard time seeing the comparisons. The scale of attack drones is so small and fast and close, and the drones are very fragile. Perhaps the hand grenade "bomber" types can be far enough up, but the FPV impactor types are right up in your face and have to fly at you to be effective.
I would be surprised if we didn't eventually see something like you describe. I could see it protecting bases, trenches, encampments, etc.
But I think an open question is if it could be made portable enough to tote around on the battlefield.
Re:Is the Attack Helicopter Dead?
by okwhateverdude on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @04:53AM
(#41775152)
4-legged robot mule with ordinance. I mean, they are already putting rifles on the robot dogs.
Re:Is the Attack Helicopter Dead?
by jvanderbot on Monday October 07, 2024 @09:45PM
(#41773023)
You may as well use rifle bullets then.
Re:Is the Attack Helicopter Dead?
by red-iron-pine on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @11:42AM
(#41778598)
and the rifled bullets will be more aerodynamic and also have rifling for stability. .50 BMG or an autocannon or something.
shotgun slugs aren't usable in any serious, consistent way outside of maybe 20 meters (~60 ft). nasty stuff if you're in range, through.
Bullets do not have rifling, that is done by the barrel of the rifle.
Shotgun slugs can be useful well beyond 20 meters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun_slug#:~:text=A%20slug%....
As a Canadian, I am normally not the one correcting others on the basics of firearms.