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Misconceptions about Torch Jun 2008
Point defense laser clusters Jun 2008
The League vs the Star Empire of Manticore: <em>Who declares war on who?</em> Jun 2008
Status of the Solarian League Navy Jun 2008
The Cherwell Convention's Equipment Clause May 2008
White Haven's relief mission to Yeltsin May 2008
Escort CLACs May 2008
Capital ships and raiding defenses May 2008
Map of the planet Safehold (as of <em>By Schism Rent Asunder</em>) May 2008
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Pearls of Weber

A collection of posts by David Weber containing background information for his stories, collected and generously made available Joe Buckley.

Asymmetrical broadsides

  • Series: Honorverse
  • Date: October 22, 2002

Why Are Starships Symmetrical? The question of why ships aren't designed with separate broadsides optimized for different types of combat -- that is, missile-range combat as opposed to energy-range combat -- has emerged once again. Do you want to comment on this one at all?

 

Symmetrical Broadsides. No, I don't want to comment on this. I've done it before, and the statements I made then still apply. Indeed, they've become even more relevant in an era in which broadside missile tubes are becoming less and less significant for major combatants and the need for missile defenses has never been greater. Asymmetrical broadsides would be a bad idea.