kinney@mailer.cc.fsu.edu (Mark A. Kinney) (03/05/91)
From: Mark A. Kinney <wku_unix!kinney@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> About 4 years ago, the Louisville Courier-Journal had an article about OTH Rwhere it was noted thed that it could detect stealth aircraft and added that both the United States and the Soviet Union had OTH technology. This should have madthe B2 useless against targets in the USSR, as that's where most of it's targetsare supposed to be. The F177A would still be somewhat useful tactically, as I haven't heard of battlefield OTH yet. TIn the Gulf War they were useful because the Iraqis didn't have OTH Radar. Interestingly enough, thhat news article and a recet recent post to this group are the only mentions of it I have found in the past 4 years. James Dunnigan's _How To Make War_, a "comprehensive" reference, only lists it in a list of abbreviations. Any comments? On the same hand, is there any difference between OTH and OTH-B (Over The Horizon-Backscatter)? On the other hand, the last I've heard about the Advanced Combat Rifle competition, it was down to Colt and Steyr. One of the people I heard this from have been singing the praises of caseless ammunition (used by the Colt version) while others have sung the praises of flechette rounds (used by the Steyr entry). Can anyone clear up what advantages each has and possibly which ones is likelyto be chosen (if it's classified I don't want to know)? Thanks, Mark Kinney kinney@wku.edu
deichman@cod.nosc.mil (Shane D. Deichman) (03/14/91)
From: deichman@cod.nosc.mil (Shane D. Deichman) >From Mark A. Kinney <wku_unix!kinney@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> > >[T]he last I've heard about the Advanced Combat Rifle >competition, it was down to Colt and Steyr. One of the people I heard this from >have been singing the praises of caseless ammunition (used by the Colt version) >while others have sung the praises of flechette rounds (used by the Steyr entry). Can anyone clear up what advantages each has and possibly which ones is likelyto be chosen (if it's classified I don't want to know)? > >From what I've read in the past, it would seem to me that flechette rounds are a more robust and effective form of ammunition. Of course, this is dependent on what mission you hope to fulfill. Flechette rounds are spec- ifically anti-personnel in nature, and would have little or no effectiveness against vehicular targets (or targets with adequate cover). Caseless ammunitionderives its utility from extremely high cyclic rates of fire (due to the lack of an ejection mechanism); the bullet itself is attached to a block of solid propellant. Of course, this runs the risk of unintentional detonation (which I recall was one of the biggest problems facing the designers of the H&K G111 Caseless Assault Rifle a few years back.... Don't know quite how they resolved it) so you'd best stay away from open flames and sources of intense heat.... Given the wide variety of antivehicular munitions, and means of contending with targets behind cover, I think the Steyr entry has the best chance of winning the contract. Of course, this is sheer speculation on my part. I am in no way affiliated with either Steyr, Colt, or and policy-making apparati of the U.S. Government or Dept. of Defense.... <whew!> -shane