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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 6167193" data-attributes="member: 177">In theory, yes, we could produce an estimate.  In practice... dude, I do have other things to do with my time, you know.  If I were writing a novel with this as part of the basis, I'd go through the math.  For this discussion, I'll go with, "we don't have the materials necessary," as sufficient.A few notes on munitions:  There is a theoretical maximum speed you can reach with a bullet using chemical explosives, based on the speed of burn of the propellant.  Rockets/missiles of a given size have similar issues, based on the fact that they have to carry their fuel with them.  So, we have some limits of how much momentum we can impart to any given class of weaponry.  Specifically, the limits are stronger for smaller munitions - it you want to try to hit a moving target with something the size of an ICBM... well, good luck with that.  If their skin is really tough, "bullets" might not do it.So, Janx, I think suggested we make things the size of mecha fists and launch them.  He seems to have missed the basic problem that they don't disappear once they've been launched - you still have this huge thing capable of damaging the kaiju, and therefore damaging the buildings around it bouncing around, hit or miss.  Now, sure, in this fight there's going to be collateral damage, but perhaps we want to leave the ricochets to a minimum.  Not to mention that truck-sized launching platforms do have a mobility and reloading problem...I cannot give you a solid reason why mecha *must* be used - there's too much speculation involved.  All I can do is give you vaguely plausible reasons why it might be done that way.  I think the geopolitical answer is actually a pretty good one.  I can add a "spinoff tech" answer - a mecha program would be expected to create far more NASA-style spinoff technologies that can be used in the civilian sector than any plain old explosive rocket, missile, and bullet program.  In the long run, NASA more than pays for itself with tech spinoffs.  This could render the mecha program not just effectively cheaper, but outright profitable to the economies that engage in it.  You think that's going to happen from making better bullets?</blockquote>

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