War! Kills Seamen, Please, think of the seamen! Options

[X-Kalibur]

You could also put the aircraft into some sort of giant missile. Ammunition doesn't require special modifications to work underwater.

Didn't they do that in Macross Zero?

[KarmaInferno]

Didn't they do that in Macross Zero?

Not quite, the SV-51 variable fighters from Macross Zero launched vertically from the submarine carrier using their thrusters like a ballistic missile, with their wings folded until they cleared the water. They did not however have any sort of casing or cover - but generally they were depicted as not launching from particularly deep waters. Notably, though, these are aircraft designed for atmospheric AND space flight, and as such have considerably more powerful thrusters than normal aircraft, and can operate without an external air intake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fAvalSTuzU - see about 20 seconds in.




-k

[hermit]

That's because Macross, like many Anime, assumes there is no rising pressure under water.

Now this looks like something that could be used for SR. And while not seeing the FEL operational anytime soon, the magnetic catapult works off a technology that was realised for maglev trains four decades ago.

[X-Kalibur]

Not quite, the SV-51 variable fighters from Macross Zero launched vertically from the submarine carrier using their thrusters like a ballistic missile, with their wings folded until they cleared the water. They did not however have any sort of casing or cover - but generally they were depicted as not launching from particularly deep waters. Notably, though, these are aircraft designed for atmospheric AND space flight, and as such have considerably more powerful thrusters than normal aircraft, and can operate without an external air intake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fAvalSTuzU - see about 20 seconds in.




-k

You're right. I distinctly remember them launching from the sub while submerged, but I couldn't remember the specifics. And yes, Macross has rule of cool written all over it, although notable the SV-51 and the VF-0 were not designed for anything other than atmospheric flight.

[KarmaInferno]

Yeah, sorry, I forgot the Zero variable fighters hadn't yet gained the space travel aspect.

What's funny is that Macross Zero is set in 2008. Clearly the real world fell behind a bit.




-k

[Fortinbras]

That's because Macross, like many Anime, assumes there is no rising pressure under water.

The ship is taking in over 50 atmospheres worth of pressure

How many atmospheres can it withstand?

Well, it's a space ship, so... none!

Now this looks like something that could be used for SR. And while not seeing the FEL operational anytime soon, the magnetic catapult works off a technology that was realised for maglev trains four decades ago.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Fort Worth Represent! Suck It, Seattle! Some of us don't get our own sourcebooks.

[Draco18s]

Well, it's a space ship, so... none!

Correction: "anywhere between 0 and 1."

[Fortinbras]

Correction: "anywhere between 0 and 1."

Yeah, I know.
It's more accurate that way, but I always felt the caveat lessened Farnsworth's joke.

[Kronk2]

Ships communicate via Sat. Maersk's supercarriers (cargo, not drones) are almost entirely automated and are piloted by satlink.

And Most of This is true today, the crew is there to keep the ship moving, and provide oversight.

[X-Kalibur]

Yeah, sorry, I forgot the Zero variable fighters hadn't yet gained the space travel aspect.

What's funny is that Macross Zero is set in 2008. Clearly the real world fell behind a bit.




-k

In fairness, it's still in an alternate timeline given that the Megaroad/Macross had already crashed in its timeline. Which also means access to over technology (I love that term, they use it almost every mecha anime and videogame)

All that aside, I love the imagery of fighters launching from a submarine, either submerged just below the surface or that rises just long enough to launch them before submerging again. Seems impractical as all hell though.

[Rotbart van Dain...]

Of course, shadowrun has smart materials, superconductors and high-mileage vehicle batteries.
Thus making int possible to create a ducted fan craft than adapt both exterior and fan to both water and air travel.

Of course, by RAW, the Lighter Than Air mod is… All. So you start with an aircraft carrier, add Ballast Tanks, Level 2 Life Support and Lighter Than Air standard upgrades – there is your diving & flying aircraft carrier.

[Neraph]

Doesn't lighter than air change the vehicle type to air, thereby removing the possibility of using water mods?

[sabs]

install the ballast tank mods first, THEN lighter than air.

[Neraph]

Yeah, and then the ballast tanks are useless.

[Doc Chase]

install the ballast tank mods first, THEN lighter than air.

Then you've just made a dirigible.

I'm not sure why installing one mod than the other is going to keep it from changing to an air type from a water type.

And yes, goddamnit, I'm going to start using Pokemon terminology for this.

[sabs]

You use lighter than air, you're an air type.
You land on water, turn on the balasts, you're a water type!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Neraph]

No, you'd have to land on water and then remove the LTA. As long as you have LTA "equipped" you're air-type.

[sabs]

I don't see why that's necessarily true.

Course, LTA on a car uses the same amount of mod slots as on an aircraft carrier (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[StealthSigma]

No, you'd have to land on water and then remove the LTA. As long as you have LTA "equipped" you're air-type.

So basically. You use the ballast tanks for both LTA and submersible modes. You pump LTA gasses into the ballast tanks for air-type, you pump water into the ballast tanks for water-type. Now the problem, I guess, is just figuring out how to pump LTA gasses into the ballast tanks in the first place....

[Mardrax]

Again, electrolyse the water (with power created by hydrodynamics!) in the tanks, then channel the oxygen into the life support system.

Oh, and LTA aircraft carriers. Unless they got a whole lot bigger in SR, still no match for Hindenburg, really.
Though an LTA main battle ship could pretty much stand in for Thors.
Not to mention need a balloon the size of a small country.

Can we make this thread adhere to the rule of cool more?

[Rotbart van Dain...]

Check out the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin LZ-2065 in Arsenal.

[Stahlseele]

Zeppelin. Rule of Cool achieved. Thread won.
Now make the Zeppelin a carrier and submersible ^^

[Manunancy]

So basically. You use the ballast tanks for both LTA and submersible modes. You pump LTA gasses into the ballast tanks for air-type, you pump water into the ballast tanks for water-type. Now the problem, I guess, is just figuring out how to pump LTA gasses into the ballast tanks in the first place....

Water being a little bit denser than air (by a factor of about 900...), you probably rather pump the helium (or hydrogen) out of the LTA mode ballons and fold them flat, then fill the ballasts to go underwater.

Even with 2070's improved materials lighter than air machines are BIG (a rough approximation would be 1 cubic meter for each kilogram to lift. Of course a strcuture that big will add to the mass... And considering the surface area, forget about armoring more than the nacelle with more than some bits of ballistice weave)

[hermit]

Does the Blimpsub have lasers on it's bow? I'm pretty sure it needs lasers on it's bow.

[Stahlseele]

Everything. Is better. With Pirates!
Also, of course Lasers. And Tron-Lines.