Mechas: Pratical?

[moonbreaze]

Mechas are often portrayed as war machines, and the US military is actually already working on "exoskeletons" which could be compaired to a mecha. My question is though is this, how would a mecha be any more pratical than tanks and jets and ships?

I can see where a mecha might have a place in something like fire fighting or maybe even deep sea diving, but war? The mecha would be top heavy and most likily slow with modern technology.

What does anyone else think?

[AshinnIchneumon]

moonbreaze

Mechas are often portrayed as war machines, and the US military is actually already working on "exoskeletons" which could be compaired to a mecha. My question is though is this, how would a mecha be any more pratical than tanks and jets and ships?

I can see where a mecha might have a place in something like fire fighting or maybe even deep sea diving, but war? The mecha would be top heavy and most likily slow with modern technology.

What does anyone else think?

although a mecha would be rather difficult to manuever, it would be more manueverable than a tank, versatile, and more capable of urban warfare. although the weapons would not be as heavy as a tanks. also this kind of weapon allows for more human control.

[Nothers]

I seriously don't think mecha will ever be practical. In order for them to be 'better' than the average soldier, they would have to be heavily armored and armed. This would make them less agile and versatile than the average soldier. Not only this, but they would (likely) be rather expensive to create, and seeing as how slow (but powerful) they would be, they would be the first target for whomever you are fighting against.

As for armor, you can't put tank plating on a mecha. It would be far too heavy and it wouldn't be able to move. Even so, if it was humanoid (I assume this is what we're talking about?) it would be knocked off balance by the first heavy projectile, and wouldn't be able to right itself back upon its feet.

On the other hand, if an exoskeleton was made (and prototypes have been developed, but I can't seem to find the right link... >_< ), it could be practical, albeit expensive. I don't think this would fall under the category of 'traditional' mecha, though.

Quite a shame. gonk

(Of course, if some amazing alloy was suddenly discovered and mass-produced that had enough strength to resist heavy enemy fire, but still was light enough to be efficient, then that would be EPIC. But no. I doubt that.)

[The20]

To cite Batteltech: "Putting legs on a tank is basically asking to make it trip" - or something like that.

Anyways, a Mech, like the ones in Battletech, are very large moving tanks. While their mobility is probably better than that of a tank they also provide a way bigger target than a tank. It's not a coincidence that the US-Army wants to develop tanks with a smaller silhouette.

Exoskeletons, or "Powerarmor" like in Warhammer or StarCraft, may give infantry an advantage, though. It should enable them to carry more and larger weapons as well as heavy armor, enabling them to take on APCs and the like and making them practically invulnerable to anti-infantry weapons.

[moonbreaze]

Nothers

I seriously don't think mecha will ever be practical. In order for them to be 'better' than the average soldier, they would have to be heavily armored and armed. This would make them less agile and versatile than the average soldier. Not only this, but they would (likely) be rather expensive to create, and seeing as how slow (but powerful) they would be, they would be the first target for whomever you are fighting against.

As for armor, you can't put tank plating on a mecha. It would be far too heavy and it wouldn't be able to move. Even so, if it was humanoid (I assume this is what we're talking about?) it would be knocked off balance by the first heavy projectile, and wouldn't be able to right itself back upon its feet.

On the other hand, if an exoskeleton was made (and prototypes have been developed, but I can't seem to find the right link... >_< ), it could be practical, albeit expensive. I don't think this would fall under the category of 'traditional' mecha, though.

Quite a shame. gonk

(Of course, if some amazing alloy was suddenly discovered and mass-produced that had enough strength to resist heavy enemy fire, but still was light enough to be efficient, then that would be EPIC. But no. I doubt that.)

Yes, I was speaking about humanoid mechas.

[moonbreaze]

Here are some exoskeleton and armor links I found, It's relitive enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqa08UGZGtk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKnfHhRl7U0&feature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powered_exoskeleton

http://blog.800hightech.com/military-super-suit-exoskeleton-video/1148/ (this is my personal fav in exoskeleton.

[Vryko Lakas]

If you need agility and mobility with heavy firepower over difficult terrain, use an attack helicopter. Faster and more maneuverable than any mech will ever be, it gains the high ground advantage automatically. If you need heavy armor and a BFG, that's a job for tanks and mobile artillery. Tanks can still be made small enough to fit into an urban warfare scenario, whereas mobile artillery just lobs enormous shells from a safer distance. Precision? I've got more faith in "smart" ammo and munitions than in big slow expensive fragile floppy robots with squishy people inside and no practical range before running out of onboard fuel.

Big mechs are fun. I make them out of Lego. They're not going to be practical war machines any more than my Lego versions are going to be lethal weapons.

[Layra-chan]

The closest thing I've seen to a practical reason to have a humanoid mech would be the aerial dogfights in Macross, where the maneuvering thrusters located on the feet could be swiveled in any direction and the guns could similarly be pointed in any direction regardless of the direction of motion. But these things could easily be accomplished without humanoid torso, head, feet or hands, and landbound humanoid mecha have no practical reason to exist.

[Golden Dysprosium]

Vryko Lakas

Big mechs are fun. I make them out of Lego. They're not going to be practical war machines any more than my Lego versions are going to be lethal weapons.

You could make pointy things on them and throw them at people you strongly dislike.

[moonbreaze]

Vryko Lakas

If you need agility and mobility with heavy firepower over difficult terrain, use an attack helicopter. Faster and more maneuverable than any mech will ever be, it gains the high ground advantage automatically. If you need heavy armor and a BFG, that's a job for tanks and mobile artillery. Tanks can still be made small enough to fit into an urban warfare scenario, whereas mobile artillery just lobs enormous shells from a safer distance. Precision? I've got more faith in "smart" ammo and munitions than in big slow expensive fragile floppy robots with squishy people inside and no practical range before running out of onboard fuel.

Big mechs are fun. I make them out of Lego. They're not going to be practical war machines any more than my Lego versions are going to be lethal weapons.

I think by the time we have the technology to make a mecha pratical, the armor itself will have solar pannals on it, or something like that anyways, to eliminate the need for "fuel" so to speak.

[Vryko Lakas]

Golden Dysprosium

Vryko Lakas

Big mechs are fun. I make them out of Lego. They're not going to be practical war machines any more than my Lego versions are going to be lethal weapons.

You could make pointy things on them and throw them at people you strongly dislike.

But that would ruin it! gonk

[viper232]

Vryko Lakas

Golden Dysprosium

Vryko Lakas

Big mechs are fun. I make them out of Lego. They're not going to be practical war machines any more than my Lego versions are going to be lethal weapons.

You could make pointy things on them and throw them at people you strongly dislike.

But that would ruin it! gonk

What's the fun of a lego if you can't take it apart when they get blowed up by other tings?

[Golden Dysprosium]

Vryko Lakas

Golden Dysprosium

Vryko Lakas

Big mechs are fun. I make them out of Lego. They're not going to be practical war machines any more than my Lego versions are going to be lethal weapons.

You could make pointy things on them and throw them at people you strongly dislike.

But that would ruin it! gonk

Then you aren't putting enough thought into structural integrity. confused

[Vryko Lakas]

Golden Dysprosium

Vryko Lakas

Golden Dysprosium

Vryko Lakas

Big mechs are fun. I make them out of Lego. They're not going to be practical war machines any more than my Lego versions are going to be lethal weapons.

You could make pointy things on them and throw them at people you strongly dislike.

But that would ruin it! gonk

Then you aren't putting enough thought into structural integrity. confused

Integrity Schmentegrity! I'm happy if they can stand up on their own and maybe hold a rifle.
Also they have to look badass.

[Mister Adequate]

Mechas do have one potentially useful role, which is to intimidate people. They could be a great compliment to an occupation force. In an actual warfighting role they have a loooooong way to go before they offer any advantage over anything else and by the time we've got that sort of technology, our other options will also have improved. It's not impossible that mechs will be useful on the battlefield, but it is unlikely.

Exosuits are another matter and will be an awesome benefit to infantry.