Navy laser used to light boat engines on fire

[Renew Deal]

Run time: 00:55 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awsQs4ct0c4   Posted on YouTube: April 08, 2011 By YouTube Member: usnavyresearch Views on YouTube: 629652   Posted on DU: April 13, 2011 By DU Member: Renew Deal Views on DU: 1095

 
The Office of Naval Research and their industry partner Northrop Grumman successfully disable a small target vessel using a solid-state, high-energy laser (HEL), mounted onto the deck of the Navy's self-defense test ship, the former USS Paul Foster (DD 964).

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Some people here were talking about this yesterday. Here's the demonstration.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Once upon a time this was considered great sport by people across the big

pond.

http://www.dennisrhollowayarchitect.com/solarpavilion.html


Ancient high-tech development of solar technology: wall painting from the Uffizi Gallery, Stanzino delle Matematiche, in Florence, Italy, showing the Greek mathematician Archimedes' mirror being used to burn Roman military ships. Painted in 1600 by Giulio Parigi.

[leveymg]

2. Amazing! The boat is standing still, and the target is painted black and filled with gasoline.

Wouldn't a single .50 caliber round be more effective? And, a whole lot cheaper.

What utter horseshit. The Greeks may have done something similar 2200 years ago with copper mirrors.

[Renew Deal]

3. Wouldn't the laser have better accuracy and possibly range?

Also, it's difficult to defend against. It could also be useful against pirates who use small ships.

[Tejas]

5. "useful against pirates" - by the Russians maybe, US wouldn't dare.

Kinder and gentler and all that you know.

[Webster Green]

4. All they did was set the plastic engine cowling on fire.

If there was anyone on board, they could have put it out with a little water.

[Renew Deal]

6. I have a feeling that laser works against other targets.

Like people.

[Webster Green]

7. Good reason to keep a mirror handy.

Heh! :smoke:

[Renew Deal]

8. lol

:rofl:

[szatmar666]

9. we'll just have to ask the enemy to stop being such a dick

and drop the mirror.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

11. Ever watch Mythbusters?

They debunked the myth of shooting bullets into gas tanks to make them explode. Maybe with a white phosphorous round, but as to your second astute observation:

Horseshit? I'm sure this is just a prototype. I'm equally sure that back in 1903 there were a lot of people like you who said 'Big deal- 120 feet. Some fucking flight.'

[watajob]

10. Oh, goody!

More weapons of war. BTW, that was a waste of 2 nice OB engines.