Escort cruiser's

[apdsmith]

Jabba, we must not convict acelanceleot?

Shippy, I'd thought they both followed more-or-less ballistic trajectories (if anything, the smoothbore, tank-like guns would have the flatter trajectory, as they're designed to blast APDSFS out the muzzle at mach 4) - the main difference being the rifled round would stay ballistic longer as the round wouldn't tumble - have I misunderstood?

Regards,
Adam

[youboat]

Rifled guns are more stable at long range than smooth bore, however, for the same amount of propellant etc, smooth bores have a higher muzzle velocity. Trajectory or curve, are dependent on velocity, drag, weight, aerodynamics, sectional density........ Rifled guns can only fire APFSDS and HEAT ammunition with slip rings so the the projectile will not spin (you cannot spin a long rod penetrator and spin will reduce the effectiveness of HEAT jet). Smooth bores cannot fire HESH. Ships guns are rifled because they are almost always fired at targets at way beyond 3000m, nor do they use sub calibre non-exploding ammo.
Fred