3 ms·

I'd be interested to know why we haven't seen intermediaries that don't need the advanced tech of a rail gun, like why haven't we seen magnetically driven morta

• killjoywashere 7y ago
  The energy density of batteries is relatively low compared to the liquid hydrocarbons and other chemical accelerants. It goes from being a mortar you can throw in the back of a Jeep, to a mortar you can throw in the back of a Jeep plus a semi truck full of battery capacity. On ships and airplanes, you can replace internal weapons bays which have substantial storage capacity. And the batteries (this is particularly an issue for airplanes) aren't terribly mass-dense either. And you can use the vessel's turbine-powered electric generators to recharge the batteries from fuel (this reduces the range, but hey, tankers).