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2018-10-02 Science & Technology
US subs would be sitting ducks for new Chinese 'Death Star' laser satellite that will be able spot them 1,600ft below the surface
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Posted by Skidmark 2018-10-02 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ]  Top
 File under: Commies 

#1ʉۢThe artificial laser beam could be one billion times brighter than (t)he sun

Like the one coming out of my ass? Totally believable!
Posted by Raj 2018-10-02 00:22||   2018-10-02 00:22|| Front Page Top

#2 If it did exist it will be the first target before hostilities begin
Posted by 3dc 2018-10-02 04:13||   2018-10-02 04:13|| Front Page Top

#3 Since it's probably a copy of something anyway, someone would know where the thermal exhaust port is located.
Posted by Mullah Richard 2018-10-02 08:07||   2018-10-02 08:07|| Front Page Top

#4 Totally believable! My "Gell-Mann amnesia" is in full operation! Get those submarines hidden now!
[PANIC mode]
[PANIC mode]
Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839 2018-10-02 08:30||   2018-10-02 08:30|| Front Page Top

#5 Rah is right. total fantasy.

Current lasers can city through steal easy enough but require a large room full of support cabinets and power amps. Such a satellite would be massive and thus a target; lasers are finicky and need attention; laser gasses would have to be replaced; laser beams are always expanding or contracting and thus have limits on range and this is long range; atmosphere and water are going to kill the power to nothing before it can hit a sub.
Posted by Rjschwarz 2018-10-02 08:36||   2018-10-02 08:36|| Front Page Top

#6 "Could be", "May be"
Posted by Frank G 2018-10-02 08:44||   2018-10-02 08:44|| Front Page Top

#7 Uh huh....

I guess the same PR guy that works for Iran is now doing work for China.
Posted by DarthVader 2018-10-02 09:12||   2018-10-02 09:12|| Front Page Top

#8 Up to 1600ft down? Somehow I don't think so but I'm sure the journalists will be all over this one.
Posted by CrazyFool 2018-10-02 09:24||   2018-10-02 09:24|| Front Page Top

#9 "A 'laser'"
Posted by Frank G 2018-10-02 09:28||   2018-10-02 09:28|| Front Page Top

#10 'Death Star' lunar circling degrades reception, the downside.
Posted by Besoeker 2018-10-02 09:28||   2018-10-02 09:28|| Front Page Top

#11 So they can get DirecTV in a submarine?
Posted by Skidmark 2018-10-02 09:48||   2018-10-02 09:48|| Front Page Top

#12 I keep thinking Goldfinger.
Posted by Woodrow 2018-10-02 11:50||   2018-10-02 11:50|| Front Page Top

#13 'Diamonds are Forever'?
Posted by Mullah Richard 2018-10-02 15:08||   2018-10-02 15:08|| Front Page Top

#14 Jill St. John. Wait, what were we talking about?
Posted by SteveS 2018-10-02 15:25||   2018-10-02 15:25|| Front Page Top

#15 Assuming this is legit, an obvious countermeasure would be unmanned decoy submarines.

Cheap hulls in the right shape, plus some simple propulsion and a computer putting these contraptions on a random but plausible course would probably look like real subs to Guanlan's first iteration.

Of course this would only be the first step in an arms race. Both decoys and detectors would improve.
Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2018-10-02 15:32||   2018-10-02 15:32|| Front Page Top

#16 Japan takes the lead!

Posted by Thrise Shomble3667 2018-10-02 17:30||   2018-10-02 17:30|| Front Page Top

#17 

007 got Exclusive look at Chinese satellite!
Posted by Bright Pebbles 2018-10-02 18:29||   2018-10-02 18:29|| Front Page Top

#18 Wait, did someone mention Jill St. John? Mmmmmmm
Posted by Frank G 2018-10-02 20:03||   2018-10-02 20:03|| Front Page Top

#19 As a counter-measure I would (1) use mirrored decks on surface ships that would deflect the bulk of a laser strike (2) Tactics to have subs roll and dive to ensure the laser can't continue to hit the same spot for more than a few seconds (3) Constant ground based lasers aimed at the satellite to encourage self-tasing and prevent the thing from firing at all.

The cool temperature of the ocean would also be wonderfully helpful for subs to defuse the laser heat before it could cut into the subs hull.

Posted by rjschwarz 2018-10-02 23:19||   2018-10-02 23:19|| Front Page Top

#20 "artificial laser beam"? Oh the environmentalists will protest that they should be using Natural laser beams in the ocean.

Is this the Weekly World News? Is BatBoy aiming the lasers?

I guess the inverse square law and refraction of moving water, and the air, and the air-water interface do nothing at all to dissipate that.
Posted by Injun Bucket8891 2018-10-02 23:43||   2018-10-02 23:43|| Front Page Top

23:59 JohnQC
23:43 Injun Bucket8891
23:38 Injun Bucket8891
23:37 Injun Bucket8891
23:19 rjschwarz
23:19 Hillary
23:15 Zenobia Floger6220
23:13 Thing From Snowy Mountain
23:09 Zenobia Floger6220
22:52 Zenobia Floger6220
22:50 Rob Crawford
21:47 Anomalous Sources
21:25 Anomalous Sources
21:15 trailing wife
21:14 Anomalous Sources
21:12 Anomalous Sources
20:07 Frank G
20:06 Frank G
20:03 Frank G
19:53 Frank G
19:53 Frank G
19:51 magpie
19:43 Lone Ranger
19:25 Anomalous Sources









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