Post by margrave on Feb 28, 2016 19:57:14 GMT -5
Oh, believe me, I agree with the whole "Mechs aren't right" idea. However, weapons tech is moving along so quickly that its hard for defensive systems to keep up. It'll only get worse once gauss cannons and coherent light weapons, which are very close to being workable now, are usable.
My whole theory is that, barring special cases, the future holds a pretty dim outlook for MBTs. Light vehicles which can enhance the mobility of infantry, CAS aircraft to support infantry, Air superiority aircraft to hold air superiority, and strategic bombers applied as needed will rule the battlefield. MBTs and the like will be used in a mostly defensive situation, for instance after a "first strike" of infantry take a position, MBTs can be used to fortify the position as a beachhead.
As for the whole "vehicles are necessary for heavy weapons," well I'm sorry but I don't agree with that. The BGM-71 TOW that I talked about above is definitely a little bulky for troops to carry on the field, but there are plenty of man portable recoilless rifles that can easily defeat armor or hardened positions. Recent advancements in top-attack missiles further enhance their effectiveness, and a basic top-attack missile delivery platform can be deployed by a single man. Sure, the FGM-148 Javelin (a modern top-attack platform) is heavy as balls (it weighs 50lbs loaded), but you can deploy them in mass. It only takes one good look to pop the top off of your tank, bunker, or building. Hell, Javelins were used to collapse caves, launching them into the cave to wreck it from the inside out.
Haha, this is definitely a fun discussion, but maybe we should move it to another thread. Poor pendell 's hard work is getting derailed. Sorry!
Gauss or Rail Guns I see being very much a reality, especially in space. Laser or coherent light weapons will never be a thing. Sure they are possible but with the distances involved in space (seriously space is huge) it just doesn't make sense to invest in that for the future. Attenuation alone would make sure laser weapons never work.
Rail guns though we already have them, they are just so huge as to be unusable. Once we shrink them down I have no problem seeing them being a thing. Also Kinetic Energy Weapons (KEWs) I very much see those coming to a forefront as we advance farther into space.