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Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

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Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#41
post #32

The youtube channel smarter every day is doing a series about live aboard a nuclear attack sub (different class than the one in the article, Los Angeles class IIRC) during an exercise where they navigate under ice, called ICEX. which might be of interest if you like this article. It's obviously propaganda but it is very interesting nonetheless. actual submarine part: https://youtu.be/RXXMJAU6vY8 the leadup and contex…

>It's obviously propaganda but it is very interesting nonetheless. Sorry, how is this video obviously propaganda?

The US military isn't just doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. They want you to become a submariner!

Or at least that's what I think he's implying.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#42

FWIW: these have been reported to be in active use against the Portland protesters. It's so frustrating that HN chooses the gadget puff piece to push to the top of the front page instead of the actual deployed weapons. Most especially because the much-lower-power pocket laser pointers have been cited by the white house directly as having "permanently blinded" federal agents. (Consumer red/green lasers are extraordina…

Used against Portland protestors? From the videos I've seen, it's the "protestors" using them against the police.

https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1286914458032332800

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#43
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Based on my reading of the article this laser weapon doesn't (maybe even is not capable of without modification?) cause permanent blindness.

That would imply the use of class 1 lasers, but those lasers wouldn't have the required range. The laser in that picture is definitely capable of much, much higher power output then a few milliwatts of low frequencies light. It's much more likely that the US simply refused to sign that treaty just like they refused to sign treaties about other horrors like land mines or chemical weapons.

The article and the manufacturer's literature explains that the laser, while capable of fairly high output, automatically reduces power using rangefinders and some sort of smart detection so that it is eye-safe at all ranges.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Based on my reading of the article this laser weapon doesn't (maybe even is not capable of without modification?) cause permanent blindness.

Correct, it’s got safeguards to ensure it’s only usable at ranges that won’t damage human eyesight.

The company's CEO could really drive this point home in a presentation video where he gets 'dazzled' repeatedly at close range.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

WORF: Captain, they are now locking lasers on us. RIKER: Lasers ??? PICARD: Lasers ???

Season 2, Episode 4 "The Outrageous Okona" ~19:20 https://www.netflix.com/watch/70177892?t=1160

I didn't knew it's possible to link to timestamps on Netflix. Is there a way to get the link from the UI, or do you have to compute the seconds yourself?

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#47
It's probably less about deterring Cole-style bombings and more about being a cheap way to tell inattentive captains that they need to change course and fuck off. There's been plenty of embarrassing news about harbor collisions with billion dollar ships, and submarines are way harder to see even when above the water.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#48
post #32

The youtube channel smarter every day is doing a series about live aboard a nuclear attack sub (different class than the one in the article, Los Angeles class IIRC) during an exercise where they navigate under ice, called ICEX. which might be of interest if you like this article. It's obviously propaganda but it is very interesting nonetheless. actual submarine part: https://youtu.be/RXXMJAU6vY8 the leadup and contex…

>It's obviously propaganda but it is very interesting nonetheless. Sorry, how is this video obviously propaganda?

I think the smarter every day guy is or was military. I remember a video he did with his boss (some kind of general or so). That just as a fact, not judging on the propaganda part.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#50

Laser pointers for Sphinx scale cats. Very informative article too. The quoted "it won't blind people, really" verbiage smells a lot like bullshit, doesn't it? The bit about "unequivocal, cross-cultural warning" tho, that i buy. A more pointed way of saying "I see you" than launching a flare.

"[...]the service is already fielding a far more powerful, hard-mounted, laser dazzler that will have a much greater range and a better ability to blind more advanced electronic optics. Named ODIN[...]"

Let's name our totally-not-intended-to-blind-people weapon after a dude who's missing an eye...

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