R/C Naval Combat

I have seen a bit of talk and speculation on how to create Missles, torpedo's and other next-gen weapons.  While i have played in other Scale RC combat hobbies, i have learned a few nifty tricks.

For some tank scenarios, for missles we would use a variation of pnumatic (internal tank or chemical) to launch a mini-crossbow bolt, or if the players were willing to clean up after. we would use modified bottle rockets, less thrust for a slightly more accurate variant of a missle.

While my naval experince is a little lacking, I have been a weapons engineer for several years.  the technology is there, making it smaller will be the challenge.

As for torpedos, Alkali metals, the weaker variants....... should provide the nessacary thrust and visual effects..... plain alkiseltzer might work too.....   maybe a flashpowder shape charge......  gah, im rambling here, but yeah.  

Shdwdrgnhunter

If you will review the other threads, you will find several things that a little experience in RC Naval Combat will make clear, but I will try to summarize.

Keep in mind the following as you imagine/design new weapons systems, which are long-standing safety rules, and will have a strong effect on your designs:
Pyrotechnics are prohibited.
No firing above the horizontal.

Also:
Torpedos, in the clubs where they are allowed, are represented by a slow rate of fire 1/4" cannon. They are already defined in the rules. This is mature technology developed over the past 30-40 years, after a great deal of experimentation with various alternative technologies.

Missiles are generally outside the 1900-1946 period generally accepted for RC Naval Combat, so no need for representation.

It is strongly recommended that you go to a few battles and immerse yourself in the hobby to get started. The amount of time, money, and ingenuity expended on a "new and improved self-powered torpedo" that is effective and safe would build you a battleship or two and get you into the game.

Good luck,

>Torpedos
Greg was developing a pretty neat scale torpedo with motor and enough power to cross a pond with a puncture&barbed based warhead. Torpedo capability are not accurately represented with existing tech, one example how they might change game play.. as they are semi-seen and relatively slow vs rifle fire they can cause a boat to change course.  Don't know if they'd be game changing... but eh, its cool.

>This is mature technology
Great so we have a substitute until someone comes up with something better.

>generally outside 1900-1946
1945: Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohka

 

 Hi Justin,

Has Greg ever gotten it working and (including costs) effective?  Admitted, they would be cool to see, even if they never proved worthwhile/effective in combat.  They also fit the points I made about no pyrotechnics and no firing above the horizontal - a good example of the direction the development should take.  The engineering of such a system is not exactly trivial, though.

As for the mature technology - not trying to squelch research or thought, just pointing out that a lot of people have given thought to the problem and there is an existing solution.  Implementing a new solution probably needs to be something that improves on what exists, or is likely to not be adopted (why move to something less effective and/or more expensive and/or with additional issues like the requirement to recover the part?).

The MXY-7 Ohka was a manned kamikaze, was it not?  Seems to me, that makes it more of an aircraft, which are probably covered by the clubs that permit aircraft in their rules.  I seem to recall an Italian ship being hit by a missile as well.  However, the point was that missiles were not generally used in the time period.  I am not sure one or two odd examples of potential weapons systems perhaps existing at the time changes that.

Cheers,

One point to keep in mind;

This "Sport" was developed around the idea of battleship combat.  The BIG MASSIVE WARSHIPs slugging it out.

While yes, there were rockets and missles used by various nations near the end of WW2, they do not add to the enjoyment of the sport.  Also there is a big safety issue.  We are here to make ships sink, not hurt people!

My dream was to have a flotilla of armed PT boats.  Some of the old members of the club have stated that they would leave the hobby if I were to make my dream a reality!   That would not be nice.  

We are here for the fellowship and to see big boats sink.    By building something that offsets the balance of game play, it takes the fun out of the hobby.  Thusly kills the sport.  

The object of the exercise is to have fun.  That is why over the years RC naval combat has split into several combat formats.It seems to be play ability vs realism.   BIG GUNS seems to be more realistic, but everything happens sooooo slowly.  Fast guns, is no where near realistic. but is very playable.  It is almost a game.

The point is.   keep to the spirit of what this hobby is about.