P4_3 Light Ordnance

Abstract

In this paper we consider a weapon system that fires a laser at an interplanetary vessel. We calculate the energy required to melt through a vessel’s armoured hull, of thickness 0.254 m, from a shot from a laser with a calibre of 16 inches. The energy required is found to be E = 34449 J. Using this energy, the recoil of the laser firing was calculated to be ρ = 1.15x10−4 kgms−1.