12-25-2012, 02:56 AM
Duncan,
Nick Watts has demonstrated that he can obtain 6 meter, 3-shot groups at 800+ meters. The bolts strike as 50-60 degree angles with sufficent force to penetrate 18" of head packed earth. To maintain proper C3 of an army in battle, a general needs staff officers dispatch riders, buccinators etc. In other words, an entourage. He must also be within visual proximity to the line of battle. This places him and his command group in range, and offers a very high-value target. If you have a weapon at your disposal that can loose a few bolts at any mass of troops and thereby harass, disperse, or force them to move further from the front lines, you significantly degrade their ability to influence the battle.
Thinking of these machines solely as direct-fire line of sight sniper weapons is to ignore the greatest utility they offer. Namely, the ability to project power and expand the battlespace beyond the limits of human musclepower alone.
Nick Watts has demonstrated that he can obtain 6 meter, 3-shot groups at 800+ meters. The bolts strike as 50-60 degree angles with sufficent force to penetrate 18" of head packed earth. To maintain proper C3 of an army in battle, a general needs staff officers dispatch riders, buccinators etc. In other words, an entourage. He must also be within visual proximity to the line of battle. This places him and his command group in range, and offers a very high-value target. If you have a weapon at your disposal that can loose a few bolts at any mass of troops and thereby harass, disperse, or force them to move further from the front lines, you significantly degrade their ability to influence the battle.
Thinking of these machines solely as direct-fire line of sight sniper weapons is to ignore the greatest utility they offer. Namely, the ability to project power and expand the battlespace beyond the limits of human musclepower alone.
P. Clodius Secundus (Randi Richert), Legio III Cyrenaica
"Caesar\'s Conquerors"
"Caesar\'s Conquerors"
