CT Only: Mentioned in Broadsword?

[mike wightman]

The gauss needle is likely dialed down in energy and simply acts as the firing pin for the RAM grenade.

And I will point out again, the RAM grenade is a minimum of TL8 and has performance similar to rpg-7 warheads. There should be higher TL RAM grenades...

 

[McPerth]

That's what your character sheet is for. Roll EDU 8+

Done (with a -3 for unskilled, be it engineering or heavy weapons), and that's what I obtained:

1. Rocket Assisted grenades are likely to have the rocket propulsor in its center, as having it at any other place would need several of them and risking any of them failing and running stray. If so, probably cannot be shoot-through (and cental rod to adapt to the muzzle difficult at best).
2. The GR caliber is said to be 4 mm caliber, so any rod to fit a grenade on it cannot be more than that (I guess quite fragile, if it has to be magnetic too)
3. Add to this the lack of exhaust gases to be used as propellant with blank shoots in GR

So, I see quite easier for them to be M203 like attached weapon

Now, tell me, did I roll high or low?

And I will point out again, the RAM grenade is a minimum of TL8 and has performance similar to rpg-7 warheads. There should be higher TL RAM grenades...

In MT there are from TL 8 to 11, with different penetration.

And now another question:

Again for what I've read those days, Rifle grenades are mostly for indirect (high arc) fire. WHould RAM grenades also be? I always have envisoned them as direct fire weapons (and I don't see how flechette could work otherwhise)

 

[mike wightman]

The RAM grenade and the rpg-7 are direct fire weapons.

 

[Spinward Flow]

Again for what I've read those days, Rifle grenades are mostly for indirect (high arc) fire. WHould RAM grenades also be? I always have envisoned them as direct fire weapons (and I don't see how flechette could work otherwhise)

At shorter ranges, RAM grenades are direct fire weapons.
At longer ranges, RAM grenades can be used as indirect fire weapons (in a gravity well).

It all depends on fuse timing for the grenade charge ... and at TL=8+, you can program that.
Contact detonation (hit, boom), airburst (get close, boom), delayed detonation (go THERE, then boom) ... etc.

 

[McPerth]

The RAM grenade and the rpg-7 are direct fire weapons.

Agreed, but most rifle grenades (according what I've read) are not...

It all depends on fuse timing for the grenade charge ... and at TL=8+, you can program that.
Contact detonation (hit, boom), airburst (get close, boom), delayed detonation (go THERE, then boom) ... etc.

That's true for HE grenades, but I guess a fuse detonated HEAP round will not be too useful, they need to be contact detonated...

And as for flechete, I guess it also must be direct fire (as they act as cannister), otherwise it would be shrapnel, not flechete...

 

[Condottiere]

Cold launch.

Or magnetic.

Then ignite.

 

[kilemall]

Cold launch.

Or magnetic.

Then ignite.

Miniature radar fusing.

 

[mike wightman]

TL8 - you could build a smart version with some degree of

fire-and-forget, with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance. The system employs a top attack flight profile against armored vehicles, attacking the usually thinner top armor, but can also make a direct attack, for use against buildings, targets too close for top attack, targets under obstructions, and helicopters.

wikipedia hellfire missile

 

[atpollard]

Those work by using the propellant gasses from the rifle cartridge...How the heck does the Gauss launched one work? As it is noted as a RAM grenade, is it just the rocket bit?

This seems the simplest approach. Attach the ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE to the barrel of the Gauss rifle and use the magnetic impulse to ignite the propellant (instead of accelerate a slug). The adaptor at the end of the barrel could even activate a sensor in the rifle that just diverted the power from the magnets to the rocket motor to “ignite” with a pull of the trigger rather than “fire” a gauss round.

 

[McPerth]

This seems the simplest approach. Attach the ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE to the barrel of the Gauss rifle and use the magnetic impulse to ignite the propellant (instead of accelerate a slug). The adaptor at the end of the barrel could even activate a sensor in the rifle that just diverted the power from the magnets to the rocket motor to “ignite” with a pull of the trigger rather than “fire” a gauss round.

It's possible, but IIRC the power for the Gauss Rifle to fire is in the magazine, not in the weapon proper, and I'm not sure how much of it may be used this way without problems to fire the weapon aftermath...

Another problem I see si that, if the rocket is ignited while still attached in the barrel, how would its backblast affect the weapon or the adaptor (or even the firer?). My take is that the RAM must be first propelled by another means (in CPR is the exhaust gases of a blank cartidge, but those do not exist in GR), and then the rocket begins to propell it...

And this may better be obtained from an attached (again M203 like) grenade launcher, more so if, as I resoned before, the rocket is in the center of the RAM

 

[kilemall]

It's possible, but IIRC the power for the Gauss Rifle to fire is in the magazine, not in the weapon proper, and I'm not sure how much of it may be used this way without problems to fire the weapon aftermath...

Another problem I see si that, if the rocket is ignited while still attached in the barrel, how would its backblast affect the weapon or the adaptor (or even the firer?). My take is that the RAM must be first propelled by another means (in CPR is the exhaust gases of a blank cartidge, but those do not exist in GR), and then the rocket begins to propell it...

And this may better be obtained from an attached (again M203 like) grenade launcher, more so if, as I resoned before, the rocket is in the center of the RAM

Slap that launcher on, don’t get weird.

 

[BlackBat242]

Hence my quote from LBB4 to avoid confusion and my slightly tongue in cheek post about modular small arms being above Imperial TL.
The Traveller RAM grenade is a shoot through rifle grenade - it says so - not an M203 or similar attachment.

Ummm... LBB book4 says in your own quote

Rocket Assisted Multi-purpose (RAM) Grenade Launcher: Incorporating rocket assistance
to give the round superior range and flat trajectory capability, the RAM grenade is fired both
from special launchers and as rifle grenades from the ACR and Gauss rifle. The RAM grenade
launcher fires 40 mm RAM grenades at Initial velocities of 150 to 200 meters per second, the
grenade's booster charge accelerating it to velocities of 500 to 600 meters per second.

So yes, the RAM grenade may be launched from a stand-alone M79 type launcher, a M203 type launcher attached to another weapon, OR fired from an ACR or Gauss rifle.

Possibly even from a M19 type launcher!

 

[Condottiere]

... the gauss rifle generates an electromagnetic field along the length of the barrel which accelerates a 4 mm, 4 gram needle bullet to velocities of 1500 meters per second.


1. The rod would have a four millimetre diameter.

2. One assumes that since it wouldn't be the full length of the barrel, and the increased mass, it won't achieve supersonic velocity.

3. Conceivably, it has the same range and velocity as a default rifle grenade, without additional propulsion.

 

[mike wightman]

Ummm... LBB book4 says in your own quote

So yes, the RAM grenade may be launched from a stand-alone M79 type launcher, a M203 type launcher attached to another weapon, OR fired from an ACR or Gauss rifle.

Possibly even from a M19 type launcher!

What is missing is the ability to mate the stand alone launcher with the rifle. The stand alone launchers exist. The fact remains that the RAM grenade is a shoot though attachment to the rifle, not a specialist launcher mated to the rifle,

As I said, picattiny rails an m-lock are above the Imperial TL

 

[atpollard]

And this may better be obtained from an attached (again M203 like) grenade launcher, more so if, as I reasoned before, the rocket is in the center of the RAM

I 100% agree that an under barrel launcher is a superior solution and EXACTLY why we no longer see “Rifle Grenades” like we had in WW2. HOWEVER, the stupid Traveller description does actually SAY it is a Rifle Grenade (just like Marines train with Shotguns and Cutlasses).

I was just “rolling” with what is in the Traveller Text. [another “when life hands you lemons” moment]

 

[atpollard]

... the gauss rifle generates an electromagnetic field along the length of the barrel which accelerates a 4 mm, 4 gram needle bullet to velocities of 1500 meters per second.


1. The rod would have a four millimetre diameter.

2. One assumes that since it wouldn't be the full length of the barrel, and the increased mass, it won't achieve supersonic velocity.

3. Conceivably, it has the same range and velocity as a default rifle grenade, without additional propulsion.

It is a TERRIBLE solution, but it works with the description of a “Gauss Rifle Grenade”.

“Damn, the rod is bent and I can’t slide it down the barrel.”
”Well better fix it fast, the Bugs are about to overrun the wall!”

 

[atpollard]

What is missing is the ability to mate the stand alone launcher with the rifle.

Super glue.

 

[atpollard]

... the gauss rifle generates an electromagnetic field along the length of the barrel which accelerates a 4 mm, 4 gram needle bullet to velocities of 1500 meters per second.

Gauss KE = 0.5 x 0.004 kg x 1500 m/s x 1500 m/s = 4500 Joules
40mm RAM GL KE = 0.5 x 0.2 kg x 200 m/s x 200 m/s = 4000 Joules

Since the Kinetic Energy is so close between the weapons, the Gauss Rifle Grenade would just need a tough base to absorb the energy from a standard Gauss needle. The needle could fire into the grenade and transfer the 4500 joules to the 0.204 kg RAM Grenade plus needle combined projectile and launch it at about the same 200 m/s as the standard GL.

 

[Spinward Flow]

When the gauss projectile IS THE FIRING PIN for the RAM Grenade ...

 

[Spinward Scout]

Now, tell me, did I roll high or low?

You rolled a 12. Minus 3 is still 9.

"And the Quarterback is toast!"