Work Within the Story Problem 2016-02-01

[Bathorys Daughter]

Ooooo ... Blood n Guts <perk>

Wonder how one arm can be devoid of flesh yet the rest of her still in tact? Also not a good idea to be so close you get zombie innards on you. That stuff may be contagious.

I would think with your last grenade you would want to take out as many of the leaders as possible. They are the ones closest to you after all and it only takes one to turn you. The ones behind then have an obstacle to climb/trip over to boot. If there is not much distance between you and them, you have no choice but to toss it into the crowd so you don' t get hit with the shrapnel. But not too deep into the crowd. Still, with grenades most of the ejecta will go into the body and you have to hit the head to take them out. So I doubt they would be all that effective unless you can somehow get an air burst from them. Maybe put little parachutes on them?

I saw an article once that indicated weapons which automatically ejected spent cartridges can tend to jam when turned sideways such that the ejection outlet is pointed up. It was an article about a wannabe hood who thought it was cool to turn his handgun sideways like in the movies. That caused it to jam and the cops killed him with return fire. Perhaps Marine issued automatic weapons aren't quite so prone to such faults.

[AnotherFairportfan]

And while yall stand there trying to figure out the answer for the equation and discussing the finer merits of which weapons to kill a zombie with i am going to do a rapid tactical advance to the rear carrying my nice silent axe and sword. Anyone attempting to pass me will be tripped, don't get between the chubby guy and safety. No need for us all to be zombie chow.

"If you're too proud to run, step aside for a man who isn't."

[Just Old Al]

.. and yes, I know- most of you will never even get the chance to lay a hand on a submachinegun in your lifetime- well, neither will you encounter zombies...

Speak for yourself, bunky...

However, you are hopefully right on the zombies.

I have to say I LOVE panel 2 in this strip. Nadette's outfit is just such a perfect steampunk zombie killer...down to the scar on the shoulder and the damn goggles (which she should be wearing - safety first!).

Zombies in the school curriculum? Who knew?

[eee]

Huh. They didn't give story problems like this when *I* was in school. Dang it.

Has anyone worked the equation? I've tried but it's been too many years since I used higher math.

(I'd point out, movies to the contrary, firing a 12 gauge sawed off held at full extension like that would hurt you almost as much as the target unless you have super strength and steel bones. Besides, that's just one zombie, and she's surrounded. She needed to open up with her M-134 at head level.)

[DinkyInky]

I've always wondered if turning a climbing weapon sideways to do a sweep was feasible. Now I do. Thanks sarge!

Marine Waltz, you say? I prefer the Assassin's Tango.

I've always been partial to Diabolic Waltz or Devil's Trill Sonata...though of the one, I wish she could have incorporated the dub step bits in a bit better.

[FreeFlier]

1 grenade? Really? Are we talking the M-67? The Mills Bomb? A Model 24 steilhandgrenate? The Mk II?

In a well equipped zombie-hunting expedition, somebody ought to be packing at least one BLU-82 daisy cutter!

That doesn't work very well if you're in a building . . .

Has anyone read John RIngo's zombie series?

--FreeFlier

[Sgt. Howard]

1 grenade? Really? Are we talking the M-67? The Mills Bomb? A Model 24 steilhandgrenate? The Mk II?

In a well equipped zombie-hunting expedition, somebody ought to be packing at least one BLU-82 daisy cutter!

YOU gonna tote a 15,000 pund bomb in yer back pocket??

[cmdrpowers]

I worked the problem last night, making the assumption that the grenade is thrown horizontally (though realistically, you would throw it at 45 degrees). Distance = 1/2at^2. So 2=5t^2 and thus t=square root of 2/5=.635 seconds. The grenade will hit the ground in less than two thirds of a second. Since d=vt, d=.635x15=9.6 meters (or roughly 30 feet or so. It rolls around for about 4 or so seconds and explodes.

[Dave]

In a well equipped zombie-hunting expedition, somebody ought to be packing at least one BLU-82 daisy cutter!

YOU gonna tote a 15,000 pund bomb in yer back pocket??

'Course not.

I would tow it on a trailer attached to my chainsaw.

It rolls around for about 4 or so seconds and explodes.

Plenty of time for you to hope that none of the zombies was into jai alai while still alive.

[Sgt. Howard]

Ooooo ... Blood n Guts <perk>

Wonder how one arm can be devoid of flesh yet the rest of her still in tact? Also not a good idea to be so close you get zombie innards on you. That stuff may be contagious.

I would think with your last grenade you would want to take out as many of the leaders as possible. They are the ones closest to you after all and it only takes one to turn you. The ones behind then have an obstacle to climb/trip over to boot. If there is not much distance between you and them, you have no choice but to toss it into the crowd so you don' t get hit with the shrapnel. But not too deep into the crowd. Still, with grenades most of the ejecta will go into the body and you have to hit the head to take them out. So I doubt they would be all that effective unless you can somehow get an air burst from them. Maybe put little parachutes on them?

I saw an article once that indicated weapons which automatically ejected spent cartridges can tend to jam when turned sideways such that the ejection outlet is pointed up. It was an article about a wannabe hood who thought it was cool to turn his handgun sideways like in the movies. That caused it to jam and the cops killed him with return fire. Perhaps Marine issued automatic weapons aren't quite so prone to such faults.

Leaders? Zombies- mindless, loathsome, walking contagion that never stops it's pursuit of living flesh. Used to be human. Has mental capacity of a cockroach. Leadership does not apply.
A weapon designed for full-automatic fire will by nature use a far more robust ejection system than a semi-automatic handgun. The bolt draw of the 1928 Thompson is about 1.5 inches longer than needed to assure that the empty hull is kicked clear- you get pelted by that brass at about five feet, I assure you it HURTS!!! I have seen photos where I could count seven spinning brass in the air from one gun.- and they travel before they hit the ground. Shooting port-side up is not an issue.

OH- Al... MOST of these people will never lay hands on a submachinegun. You and I (and a select few others) have triggertime on many of such things- currently, I am in a non- class III state, otherwise I would own one... or build one. But remember- full auto is a LOT of fun if SOMEBODY ELSE IS BUYING THE AMMO.

[Sgt. Howard]

Huh. They didn't give story problems like this when *I* was in school. Dang it.

Has anyone worked the equation? I've tried but it's been too many years since I used higher math.

(I'd point out, movies to the contrary, firing a 12 gauge sawed off held at full extension like that would hurt you almost as much as the target unless you have super strength and steel bones. Besides, that's just one zombie, and she's surrounded. She needed to open up with her M-134 at head level.)

Short barrel Howdahs loose enough velocity that recoil is marginalized- besides, at that range clay loads are adequate. Stuff a 'Dead Mule' in the pistol grip if you're worried.

[Catawampus]

I've seen shotguns used to make improvised grenade-launchers before. Granted that doing such a thing is not generally advisable for many different reasons, but it can be done. Perhaps Nadette is just building on the problem's scenario rather than bypassing it.

Obviously the question is oversimplified. Everyone knows that gravitational pull is actually 9.8 m/s^2, don't they?

Perhaps the zombie plague is a result of some alien invasion plot, and the mass of all the spaceships has added significantly to the planet's gravitational pull.

Or the need to work out math problems has greatly added to the gravity of the situation.

(I'd point out, movies to the contrary, firing a 12 gauge sawed off held at full extension like that would hurt you almost as much as the target unless you have super strength and steel bones.

Given who she is, there's no telling how or what her arm is composed of in any given scenario. For all we know, the shotgun could actually be a part of her (and if not, then I suppose that such an adaptable shape-changer could at least make her hands into all sorts of interesting axes and blades).

. . .you get pelted by that brass at about five feet, I assure you it HURTS!!!

Especially if it gets in your collar and goes down into your shirt.

[Sgt. Howard]

In a well equipped zombie-hunting expedition, somebody ought to be packing at least one BLU-82 daisy cutter!

YOU gonna tote a 15,000 pund bomb in yer back pocket??

'Course not.

I would tow it on a trailer attached to my chainsaw.

It rolls around for about 4 or so seconds and explodes.

Plenty of time for you to hope that none of the zombies was into jai alai while still alive.

Paul Bunyon's limbing saw... re: 'rolls around for 4 seconds or so'- THAT'S why you let the puppy 'cook' in your hand for two seconds.

[AnotherFairportfan]

. . .you get pelted by that brass at about five feet, I assure you it HURTS!!!

Especially if it gets in your collar and goes down into your shirt.

The M1 carbine throws its brass high and back. Firing prone can be an interesting experience for the left-handed, as the hot brass tends to land right in the small of the back...

[lake_wrangler]

I would tow it on a trailer attached to my chainsaw.

Good luck, once you run out of gas...

[Sgt. Howard]

I would tow it on a trailer attached to my chainsaw.

Good luck, once you run out of gas...

Hey- that was DAVE came up with that hair-brained idea, not me...

[Dave]

Hey- that was DAVE came up with that hair-brained idea, not me...

All you need to do is accessorize it properly, and there's no problem at all. The proper response to a zombie apocalypse should include supplies for incineration, as well as for mulching.

[FreeFlier]

. . .you get pelted by that brass at about five feet, I assure you it HURTS!!!

Especially if it gets in your collar and goes down into your shirt.

The M1 carbine throws its brass high and back. Firing prone can be an interesting experience for the left-handed, as the hot brass tends to land right in the small of the back...

The C1896 "broomhandle" Mauser puts its brass 15-20 feet in any direction . . . randomly.

Including straight up to drop down the back of your shirt, or straight back to balance on top of your glasses against your eyebrow.

--FreeFlier

[oldmanmickey]

Mythbusters did a special on fighting zombies. They showed through testing that a two headed axe with handle was the best weapon to use. Shotguns and automatic weapons ran out of ammo and with reloading time wound up sooner or later with you becoming zombie chow. They also act as a giant dinner bell calling all local zombies to eat. The problem with bombs is that unless you destroy the head you are just spreading half zombie landmines all over the area. A single hand grenade would be like bring a knife to a gun fight. Did i mention i spend wayyy to much time reading zombie stories?

[GlytchMeister]

*quietly observing the conversation while leaning against a wall near a corner of the room, smiling from under my hood*

I love this forum.