world-first deployment of experimental electromagnetic rail ‘supergun’

WANT to win a war? Build a better gun. Now China appears to have taken a huge stride ahead of the United States with the first experimental deployment of a new ‘supergun’ aboard a warship.

The first images began circulating on the internet last week.

They showed a Chinese amphibious assault ship — usually used to deploy troops and tanks on a beach — fitted with an enormous cannon on its bows.

Overnight, Beijing’s official mouthpieceThe People’s Daily Online published an article reporting speculation the unusually large single-barrelled weapon was an electromagnetic rail gun.

This is significant.

Traditional guns use an explosive charge to generate a high-pressure cloud of gas, forcing a projectile out the open end of a barrel at high velocities.

But they are limited.

The propellant generates heat and pressure. This restricts the practical size, speed and durability of such a weapon. It also requires large, deadly stores of explosives be carried aboard a ship.

But an electromagnetic rail gun does away with many of these negatives.

Instead of explosives, it uses powerful magnets to sling warheads down its barrel and into the air. It is calculated this will enable larger warheads to be fired much faster — and further — than traditional cannons.

Once fully operational, such guns could sink ships, attack land targets — and even destroy aircraft and missiles in flight — at ranges and accuracy normally expected from missiles.



Lots more at source
http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/china-in-worldfirst-deployment-of-experimental-electromagnetic-rail-supergun-aboard-a-warship/news-story/6aab73b4402e064d41e7b1af4639c5ed

Maddog wrote:https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a14106941/us-navy-railgun-may-be-dead/

The railgun is old news.  

WANT to win a war? Build a better gun.

Maddog wrote:Show me on your body where the Armercan man hurt you.  

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