Goa'uld Shields, Armor and Non-Newtonian fluids

[Christopher]

In the Stargate Series th Goa'uld had shields that could be penetrated by slow moving objects, but not energy weapons and bullets.

 

The thing is there are liquids with similar properties - they get harder the stronger they are put under stress. There are liquids that will shatter like a solid rather then flow out of the way of a bullet. Or just be solid and stop bullet speed objects like a solid ceramic plate. These liquids are called Non-Newtonian fluids:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Newtonian_fluid

 

There actuall experiments to make this into wearable armor. Greatest issues so far might be the longterm viability of the material (it ages poorly and fast) and cooling of the body protected by it (it won't let air and sweat through, leading to a heat buildup).

 

The entire idea of armor piercing is to apply more force on a even smaller surface. But with non-newtonian fluid armor you would actually need an (initial) surface area in molecular size. And then it still might get stuck half the way through.

The bow might actually be make a comeback soonish...

[Sundog]

Low velocity flechettes would be my guess for defeating such devices. Of course, a layer of more conventional armour could defeat those...

[pinecone]

I remember a book called Dune, that was one of my favorites.   Though it seems like chemical and/or Biologicals would be an "easy" work around...? Or from my own 13 year old mind...a "Bang stick" (used to kill sharks) a stick with a shotgun shell on the tip, push through, fires by contact, or by trigger. You could always use a Grenade on a stick, the shield would keep you alive.   (likely still brak you fingers or wrist.  )

[Outsider]

I always figured a flamethrower would do a number on a Dune type shield wearer.    Just hose down the wearer with a (relatively fast moving) jet of flaming jellied gasoline, then it slowly drips through onto the wearer.   Sure, flamethrowers tend not to have a lot of shots, but its still better than going at one's enemy with a knife.

[pinecone]

I always figured a flamethrower would do a number on a Dune type shield wearer.    Just hose down the wearer with a (relatively fast moving) jet of flaming jellied gasoline, then it slowly drips through onto the wearer.   Sure, flamethrowers tend not to have a lot of shots, but its still better than going at one's enemy with a knife.

Word, I always wondered why nobody used Pike formations, LOL  They did use poison darts though, maybe they have a weird honor code? They did forbid the use of nukes anyway.

[Christopher]

I always figured a flamethrower would do a number on a Dune type shield wearer.    Just hose down the wearer with a (relatively fast moving) jet of flaming jellied gasoline, then it slowly drips through onto the wearer.   Sure, flamethrowers tend not to have a lot of shots, but its still better than going at one's enemy with a knife.

 

Word, I always wondered why nobody used Pike formations, LOL  They did use poison darts though, maybe they have a weird honor code? They did forbid the use of nukes anyway.

Why not Flamethrowers:

Shield were to rare. No other suiteable target for an FT. And every grunt with a knife can kill that guy.

FT went out of use in our modern age, and only partially because of PR issues. Maintaining a weapontype is only suiteable if it has a good supply footprint vs. utility in a conflict. And FT's don't have enough suiteable targets to field anymore.

[Outsider]

Flamethrowers were pretty much a specialist tool for defeating bunkers before the advent of man portable rockets with decent accuracy and payload.   

 

As to the prevalence or shields in Dune, If they were rare, their existence wouldn't have had much if any effect on the arms or tactics used by armies.   All armies would still be using firearms, and dealing with the occasional shielded opponent by shooting all of his unshielded troops, then pig piling him with bayonets.   

 

Really, I think Herbert just wanted to write a 'blades and intrigue' story in a science fiction setting, so he had to come up with a means of getting rid of guns, and he didn't think about it too hard.

[Old Man]

Holtzman shields in Dune had a couple of annoying side effects: One, they attract and enrage sandworms; and two, shooting one with a lasgun sets off a thermonuclear explosion at the location of the shield, the lasgun, or both.

 

So, rare.

[pinecone]

Holtzman shields in Dune had a couple of annoying side effects: One, they attract and enrage sandworms; and two, shooting one with a lasgun sets off a thermonuclear explosion at the location of the shield, the lasgun, or both.

 

So, rare.

Well rare in the desert, but I did not think they were rare anyplace else. No giant sandworms except on Dune, outside the shield rocks...

 

Lasguns, those were rare..I thought that whole planting an active shield was a trick to keep the invaders from using Lasguns willy nilly?

[Christopher]

Holtzman shields in Dune had a couple of annoying side effects: One, they attract and enrage sandworms; and two, shooting one with a lasgun sets off a thermonuclear explosion at the location of the shield, the lasgun, or both.

 

So, rare.

Okay. Talk about mutually assured destruction....