On 10/09/2007, DataPacRat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > An entirely new class of smart bomb, the Pigeon, was developed. They were > > called > > Pigeons because they could be launched in flocks that could number a > > thousand bombs > > and had a tendency to wheel about in the air like a flock of pigeons. The > > flock would > > make its way to the target area using GPS technology and terrain following > > algorithms. > > The flock would seek out targets and, through a negotiation process, one > > and only one > > bomb would attack a target with the rest searching for the next target. The > > bombs could > > be programmed to seek out vehicles, buildings, and even specific humans as > > targets. > > > > Ahead of the tanks and helicopters were tens of thousands of smart bombs > > called > > Pigeons that picked their own targets. Although the amount of explosives > > carried by any > > single Pigeon was small, the group behavior destroyed any form of > > resistance. The > > results were even more spectacular when one of them would explode in a > > weapons > > storage area. If the Pigeons couldn't destroy a target, they sent back data > > for a cruise > > missile to be sent to the target. > > > > When one wave of Pigeons was consumed, another wave was launched. The [good > > guys] weren't interested in advancing or holding territory. The soldiers > > were too busy > > setting up the next wave of Pigeons. It took almost two hours for ten > > thousand men to > > set up thirty thousand Pigeons for launch. > > > > When night fell, the attack didn't slow down. Three separate waves of > > Pigeons with > > infrared cameras were released. Anything with a heat signature that > > differed from the > > background was targeted.
Well, I don't know what I was doing wrong with my first attempt, but after I started from scratch with a new GVB template, I have, in fact, been able to cobble together some stats that seem like a workable representation of the above. With this draft, a flock of 30,000 still costs about $79 million, even with the 'cheap' option. Not an insignificant investment, and any suggestions on reducing the individual cost would probably be worthwhile. -----8<----- TL8 Pigeon Crew: 0 total. 0 crew stations covering vehicle maneuvering system, communicator, navigation aid, sensor. Subassemblies: Vehicle -3, Body -4, Wings -4, Wheels -4. P&P: 1,455-kWs advanced battery, 0.3-kW ornithopter drivetrain (no access space) [Wings]. Fuel: Occ: Cargo: Armor F RL B T U Body 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 Wings 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 Wheels 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 Weaponry Malf Type Damage SS Acc 1/2D yds Max yds RoF TL self-destruct Crit Exp 24d[4d] - 6 0 0 - 8 Equipment All: modest sound baffling (-2 hearing modifier); basic chameleon (-3 spotting modifier); self-sealing hull. Body: short range radio communicator (10-mile range; scrambler); LLTV (magnification x1); inertial compass; tiny robot brain (complexity 1, +0 DX; compact); thermograph (scan 7, 0.25-mile range); 40mm self-destruct (normal HE warhead; self destruct). Statistics Size: [LxWxH] 1.53'x0.382'x0.191' Payload: 0.26 lbs. Lwt.: 7.67 lbs. Volume: 0.112 cf Maint.: 195 hours (0.491 mh/day) Price: $2,620 HT: 11 HP: 1 [Body], 0 each [Wings], 0 each [3xWheels]. Aerial Performance, backswept: Stall Speed 60 mph, Drag 0.043, Top Speed 230 mph, aAccel 0.8 mph/s, aMR 43, aSR 3, aDecel 170 mph/s. Aerial Performance, outswept: Stall Speed 30 mph, Drag 0.043, Top Speed 115 mph, aAccel 0.8 mph/s, aMR 44, aSR 3, aDecel 175 mph/s. Wheeled Ground Performance: Speed Factor 16, Top Speed 285 mph, gAccel 14 mph/s, gDecel 10 mph/s, gMR 0.5, gSR 2, Ground Pressure 539 lbs./sf, Off Road Speed 140 mph. Design Notes: TL8 robotic super light frame very cheap materials (Using greater of volume or surface area) [Vehicle]. TL8 DR 1 advanced composite [Vehicle]. Operating Duration: 2 H 40 M 33 S. Payload Cost: $5.2 Vehicle Features: computerized controls, radical streamlining, cheaply made. Wings: standard, folding, auto-variable. Wheels: quantity 3, retract into body. Volume: 0.095 cf [Body], 0.012 cf [Wings], 0.005 cf [Wheels]. Area: 1.25 sf [Body], 0.472 sf [Wings], 0.17 sf [Wheels]. Aerial Performance, backswept: external item drag 0, payload 0, sweep back-swept, use VXii stall speed; Aerial Performance, outswept: external item drag 0, payload 0, sweep out-swept, use VXii stall speed; Wheeled Ground Performance:; ----->8----- Thank you for your time, -- DataPacRat VA3BOS "You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them." -- Qur'an 17:36, Khalifa translation. _______________________________________________ GurpsNet-L mailing list <[email protected]> http://mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l
