Print 38 comment(s) - last by delphinus100.. on Sep 25 at 10:53 AM

CHAMP fries electronics with microwaves





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RE: Cool
By Diablobo on 9/23/2011 5:59:04 AM , Rating: 2
I heard in the Navy they fry seagulls when they switch on the radar towers of the ships. Anybody on the ground near this missile's target is gonna get zapped too. It probably won't kill them right away, but they're probably gonna die horribly and slowly from radiation exposure.

RE: Cool
By Bad-Karma on 9/23/2011 6:24:19 AM , Rating: 2
From a safe distance normal radar scans don't generate the kind of concentrated energy levels to "nuc" an organism. However, the Aegis cruisers are equipped with the Spy-1 radar which had a tracking mode nicknamed "pencil beam". Essentially all of the radars energy is frequency shaped and steered into a thin tubular (or pencil) shaped beam pattern. We're talking megawatts of highly focused energy. If the operator is good enough to be able to acquire an individual bird then he could zap it from afar. If you were to get into the path of that then yes, your toast, even at great distances.

Never piss off an Aegis cruiser, you may just wind up with funny looking kids!

There are many other radar systems capable of inflicting serious harm and death should you get to close.

Also, if you ever get the chance to see the massive Over-the-Horizon radars (OTH) then look out in front of the array and you will notice bird and bat carcasses strewn about from when they strayed to close to and into the beam.

RE: Cool
By Natch on 9/23/2011 8:29:12 AM , Rating: 2
I was on board the carrier Enterprise for 4.5 years, and never saw any seagull carcasses falling out of the sky while they were "rotating and radiating". Pretty sure that the big old dish spinning around is enough to keep the birds out of the lethal envelope.

I did have to laugh, though, when I was reading Bad-Karma's description. All I could imagine was Michael Winslow (playing the radar operator) in Space Balls, telling Dark Helmet that they had been....JAMMED!!

RE: Cool
By Bad-Karma on 9/23/2011 8:43:23 AM , Rating: 3
Only one man would dare give me the raspberry!

RE: Cool
By Bad-Karma on 9/23/2011 9:20:43 AM , Rating: 2
The Enterprise carries a AN/SPS-48C phase array air search radar which is basically a Air Traffic Control radar on steroids. While it may have high wattage it isn't particularity a high frequency radar. Its beam pattern would be pretty wide (fan like).

The Enterprise's CIWS radars have a very high RF and could do you some serious damage.

RE: Cool
By rcc on 9/23/2011 3:09:27 PM , Rating: 2
The primary threat is the high powered fire control radars for long range missile systems. Not something you find on a carrier.

I never served on a bird farm, but anytime my ships were radiating, they'd broadcast on the 1MC to keep everyone below the 06 deck exterior.

I've never seen it, but the FTMs claimed you could blow up a grapefruit by throwing it in front of the SPG-55 fire control radars.

RE: Cool
By delphinus100 on 9/25/2011 10:50:54 AM , Rating: 2

This isn't ionizing radiation. Think electromagnetic pulse.

Seagulls perched in the radars would be harmed in the microwave oven sense.

