Beams or Torps? *SPOILERS*

[DNA_Master]

Well, Death and I are space-combat maniacs, so we where wondering...

In Vandread 2nd Stage, Episode 3, where Bart opens fire with the Nirvana's weapons for the first time.

We cannot work out if the weapons are beam cannons or missile/torp launchers. The weapons themselves look like beam lenses, but they behave like torps... however, no warheads are present.

they could be "guided beams", but that would probably be beyond the tech on the Nirvana.... however, a missile would leave a "vapor trail" and have a warhead at the front.

[Darklightz]

I think this is one of those questions of hard physics wich fans debates for ages and when asked to the author it turns out te simplest answer was right.

But I must admit it's intruguing.When Bart makes the ship change we see him making torpedo holes,not laser guns.

But seeing how they are technology different,maybe they are laser torpedoes?

[DNA_Master]

actually, they looked like either lenses or warheads.. both can be similar. and lasers can be mounted in depressions too... and armoured shutters help to keep dust and enemy fire out of the sensitive lenses.

[Wormy]

I say missiles of some kind. Both because of the behaviouraly patterns, and because when the Nirvana "opened" it looked to me like a bunck of hemispheres were reveled - the tips of the missiles.

[tekblade]

hmmm i dunno, if u remember the one when the crew ended up at that station where ppl who were able to escape the harvest were at, i think episode 4 or 5. we saw the beams just bend away from the fighters and hit the enemy. they must be smart missles to do that :D

[kaji]

missiles explode on impact or they're no point

However Nirvana's weapon pierces them

[DNA_Master]

you can have missiles designed to punch through oppenents... timed detonators. designed to detonate within the enemy's hull, bypassing most armour plating.

this is the year 4000 and something, isn't it? missile tech has had a long time to improve.. and the plexis built the missile systems as well, so they'd be as advanced as the Vandreads.

mind you, beams can be controlled using gravitic fields (see Cannon God Exaxxion, by Kenichi Sonada). But to manipulate them more than right next to the hull would require a LOT of energy. and you need clean line-of-site to project the field.


like I said, I'm a spacebattle fanatic.

[tekblade]

ah i guess thats right :heh:

[death]

Im sticking by my call of beams.

Look at the first series. ep 10 i think.. That human (Not earther mind you) Battle ship has beams that bounce around.

[tekblade]

hmmm i dunno, i wonder if the beams could bounce off the dreads like hibiki did in one of the old episodes from the 1st season when he shot from vandread dita and reflected off the dreads to kill the aliens :D

[Wormy]

The Nirvana's weapons don''t bounce, they ben. That why I say missle.

[tekblade]

hmm i see :D

[death]

I dont see any space for reloads.....

And for that matter I would love to see a missle act like the weapons do.... THay arnt that manoverable...

[tekblade]

who knows :D

[DNA_Master]

In answer to the reflecting-shot question, that can be acheived as the shields and weapons where operating at different frequencys. Note how the ships stopped for the shot, as all of the ships energy would have been required to divert the blast from the Vandread's cannons. My guess is that the shields would have "bent" the shot around the entire ship and remoulded it into a coherent beam at the opposite trajectiory. This is supported by the full-shield flare (not just impact-point) and the way the glow from the impact spread across the shield. As the Earth ships don't mount shield generators, possibly not having to have worried about it, they are vulnerable to hits.

Death is right about missiles not being that manourable. We are shown the missile-effect in some scenes with Barnette's Dread firing missiles. The trail is distinctly smoky.

Don't forget that the "beam" we see is not actually the beam itself. As power required to penetrate and damage armour plating is above the visible spectrum, nearing on the gamma-ray level, the "beam" effect is actually ionising gas and dust, which is why it takes a small amount of time to cool off and dissipate after the shot.

Other ships also have bendable beams. Note episode 1, the Ikazuchi firing its down-firing weapons batteries. The beams move in right-angles. and as well as the anti-Earth fleet of the People Who Are Hunted for the Skins. Those are fired and then bent forward, protecting the vulnerable projector lenses from damage. This would be an extension of the gravitic-control technology from their drives or shielding.

[tekblade]

wow well said :D yeah thats true on all points so i believe their beams