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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 08:54:04 AM

Title: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 08:54:04 AM
This doesn't bode well.  <_<

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30648446/
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Valmy on May 12, 2009, 08:59:21 AM
Is nuking the Tribal areas Pakistan's new anti-Taliban strategy?
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Viking on May 12, 2009, 09:00:45 AM
If you can't keep a rag-tag band of guerillas that believe nuclear bombs are made by desert djinns more than 100 miles away from your capital then you don't deserve to have the bomb.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: DisturbedPervert on May 12, 2009, 10:51:49 AM
Not good.  The elite should be destroying their arsenal to prevent the barbarians from acquiring it, like the Afrikaners did.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Josquius on May 12, 2009, 11:14:56 AM
This is just silly.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on May 12, 2009, 11:15:53 AM
They should sell it and use the monies to move to brighter shores.  Like Lichenstein. 
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: The Brain on May 12, 2009, 11:40:59 AM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Berkut on May 12, 2009, 12:50:07 PM
Nukes are fine. We have it on good authority that even if the Taliban got nukes, they would never use them, because nobody would be so foolish.

We can count on the rational self interest of all parties, and there is no need to get worked up about any particular group getting nukes.

Excepting the one group who has already proven they lack the requisite self restraint, of course.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: DontSayBanana on May 12, 2009, 01:17:04 PM
Quote from: Berkut on May 12, 2009, 12:50:07 PM
Nukes are fine. We have it on good authority that even if the Taliban got nukes, they would never use them, because nobody would be so foolish.

:lmfao:
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Valmy on May 12, 2009, 01:18:04 PM
Quote from: Berkut on May 12, 2009, 12:50:07 PM
Excepting the one group who has already proven they lack the requisite self restraint, of course.

Amerikkka!
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on May 12, 2009, 03:58:20 PM
it's odd that using the nukes only counts for "used in battle"... as if the hundreds of nukes that were detonated as tests are somehow "not used".
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: The Brain on May 12, 2009, 04:01:32 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on May 12, 2009, 03:58:20 PM
it's odd that using the nukes only counts for "used in battle"... as if the hundreds of nukes that were detonated as tests are somehow "not used".

You count masturbation as having sex? OK.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 04:04:10 PM
How hard would it be to reprogram ICBMs to target Alien warships in low earth orbit?
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: The Brain on May 12, 2009, 04:06:36 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 04:04:10 PM
How hard would it be to reprogram ICBMs to target Alien warships in low earth orbit?

You don't program ICBMs. They are proud beasts. You cajole, threaten and reason with them.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Habsburg on May 12, 2009, 04:11:03 PM
Perhaps Durwood is correct, and there is something to that Mayan calendar?  :huh:
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Siege on May 12, 2009, 04:32:10 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 08:54:04 AM
This doesn't bode well.  <_<

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30648446/

Why can't you cut and paste the damn article?
I wanna read it here.

Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Siege on May 12, 2009, 05:59:55 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 04:04:10 PM
How hard would it be to reprogram ICBMs to target Alien warships in low earth orbit?

Why do you think the Alien warships are going to be in low orbit?
They are going to hold at their maximum effective range, and nuke our cities one by one until we submit to their rule.
If we don't, then they'll just glass our planet and wait a couple centuries to come back and start mining our resources.

Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:12:44 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 05:59:55 PM
Why do you think the Alien warships are going to be in low orbit?
They are going to hold at their maximum effective range, and nuke our cities one by one until we submit to their rule.
If we don't, then they'll just glass our planet and wait a couple centuries to come back and start mining our resources.
What makes you think that aliens would have warships?
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: garbon on May 12, 2009, 06:12:56 PM
Why would aliens use something as inefficient as nuclear weapons? :huh:
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:18:58 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:12:44 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 05:59:55 PM
Why do you think the Alien warships are going to be in low orbit?
They are going to hold at their maximum effective range, and nuke our cities one by one until we submit to their rule.
If we don't, then they'll just glass our planet and wait a couple centuries to come back and start mining our resources.
What makes you think that aliens would have warships?

It was the term Timmay used.
I don't know jack about Aliens.
Maybe a simple exploration ship is so far advanced that have the capability to nuke cities with their single energy weapon.
Technology is a bitch.
I wonder what a modern destroyer could have done against the entire Armada Invencible.

Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:20:37 PM
Quote from: garbon on May 12, 2009, 06:12:56 PM
Why would aliens use something as inefficient as nuclear weapons? :huh:

Energy weapons with an output big enough can have the same effect of nukes.

Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: garbon on May 12, 2009, 06:22:15 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:20:37 PM
Energy weapons with an output big enough can have the same effect of nukes.

That's nice, so are you going to answer my question?
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:31:24 PM
Quote from: garbon on May 12, 2009, 06:22:15 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:20:37 PM
Energy weapons with an output big enough can have the same effect of nukes.

That's nice, so are you going to answer my question?

I thought I did.
When I said nukes I was thinking in nuke-like capabilities, but not exactly nukes.
Who knows what other weapons of mass destruction exists out there and we don't know about them.

Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:35:59 PM
Quote from: garbon on May 12, 2009, 06:12:56 PM
Why would aliens use something as inefficient as nuclear weapons? :huh:
Quickly applying thrust.  Large-scale earthmoving on planets.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Razgovory on May 12, 2009, 06:40:39 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:12:44 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 05:59:55 PM
Why do you think the Alien warships are going to be in low orbit?
They are going to hold at their maximum effective range, and nuke our cities one by one until we submit to their rule.
If we don't, then they'll just glass our planet and wait a couple centuries to come back and start mining our resources.
What makes you think that aliens would have warships?

Why would they want to mine the earth?  Of all the things an advanced civilization might want with the Earth mining would seem pretty low.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Josquius on May 12, 2009, 06:41:43 PM
Aliens want us to die; we die.
Keeping nukes as a alien defence is not just silly but insane.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:47:25 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:18:58 PM
It was the term Timmay used.
I don't know jack about Aliens.
Maybe a simple exploration ship is so far advanced that have the capability to nuke cities with their single energy weapon.
Technology is a bitch.
I wonder what a modern destroyer could have done against the entire Armada Invencible.
It's unlikely that a starship would use an energy weapon, especially one that could destroy a city.  Wasteful.  Inefficient.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Razgovory on May 12, 2009, 06:47:37 PM
Btw, how did alien invasion get involved in this?
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 06:49:46 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:18:58 PM

It was the term Timmay used.
I don't know jack about Aliens.
Maybe a simple exploration ship is so far advanced that have the capability to nuke cities with their single energy weapon.
Technology is a bitch.
I wonder what a modern destroyer could have done against the entire Armada Invencible.
They would probably use kinetic energy weapons.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:50:05 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 12, 2009, 06:40:39 PM
Why would they want to mine the earth?  Of all the things an advanced civilization might want with the Earth mining would seem pretty low.
Not a bad point.  Lifting all that material into space would be a huge waste of resources.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: DisturbedPervert on May 12, 2009, 06:51:02 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 12, 2009, 06:41:43 PM
Aliens want us to die; we die.
Keeping nukes as a alien defence is not just silly but insane.

If it comes down to it, we need the nukes to destroy the planet rather than allow it to be taken.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 06:53:23 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:50:05 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 12, 2009, 06:40:39 PM
Why would they want to mine the earth?  Of all the things an advanced civilization might want with the Earth mining would seem pretty low.
Not a bad point.  Lifting all that material into space would be a huge waste of resources.
If they came for resources they'd just mine the asteroid belt, and either flatten us to get rid of the competition or sell us shiny space beads.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:54:56 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 06:49:46 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:18:58 PM

It was the term Timmay used.
I don't know jack about Aliens.
Maybe a simple exploration ship is so far advanced that have the capability to nuke cities with their single energy weapon.
Technology is a bitch.
I wonder what a modern destroyer could have done against the entire Armada Invencible.
They would probably use kinetic energy weapons.
No they wouldn't.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:55:49 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 06:53:23 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:50:05 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 12, 2009, 06:40:39 PM
Why would they want to mine the earth?  Of all the things an advanced civilization might want with the Earth mining would seem pretty low.
Not a bad point.  Lifting all that material into space would be a huge waste of resources.
If they came for resources they'd just mine the asteroid belt, and either flatten us to get rid of the competition or sell us shiny space beads.
We're not competition, and no interstellar species can be interested in commerce.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 07:20:35 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:54:56 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 06:49:46 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:18:58 PM

It was the term Timmay used.
I don't know jack about Aliens.
Maybe a simple exploration ship is so far advanced that have the capability to nuke cities with their single energy weapon.
Technology is a bitch.
I wonder what a modern destroyer could have done against the entire Armada Invencible.
They would probably use kinetic energy weapons.
No they wouldn't.
Why not, rods from God are cheaper then nukes, just as effective and cause no radiation.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Habsburg on May 12, 2009, 07:26:25 PM
Rods from God.  :mmm:
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 12, 2009, 07:38:00 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 07:20:35 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:54:56 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 06:49:46 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:18:58 PM

It was the term Timmay used.
I don't know jack about Aliens.
Maybe a simple exploration ship is so far advanced that have the capability to nuke cities with their single energy weapon.
Technology is a bitch.
I wonder what a modern destroyer could have done against the entire Armada Invencible.
They would probably use kinetic energy weapons.
No they wouldn't.
Why not, rods from God are cheaper then nukes, just as effective and cause no radiation.
That's true, but they'd never use them.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: garbon on May 12, 2009, 07:39:40 PM
Neil has touched(?) Aliens, so he knows.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Siege on May 12, 2009, 10:36:58 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:55:49 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 12, 2009, 06:53:23 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:50:05 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 12, 2009, 06:40:39 PM
Why would they want to mine the earth?  Of all the things an advanced civilization might want with the Earth mining would seem pretty low.
Not a bad point.  Lifting all that material into space would be a huge waste of resources.
If they came for resources they'd just mine the asteroid belt, and either flatten us to get rid of the competition or sell us shiny space beads.
We're not competition, and no interstellar species can be interested in commerce.

Why is that?

Trade seems to be a constant in all forms of civilization.

Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Siege on May 12, 2009, 10:38:04 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 12, 2009, 06:50:05 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 12, 2009, 06:40:39 PM
Why would they want to mine the earth?  Of all the things an advanced civilization might want with the Earth mining would seem pretty low.
Not a bad point.  Lifting all that material into space would be a huge waste of resources.

Maybe they have cheaper ways to lift stuff into orbit.

Space elevators come to mind.

Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Tonitrus on May 12, 2009, 11:37:18 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:18:58 PM

I wonder what a modern destroyer could have done against the entire Armada Invencible.

It would probably run out of ammunition.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Siege on May 13, 2009, 01:11:21 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on May 12, 2009, 11:37:18 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 06:18:58 PM

I wonder what a modern destroyer could have done against the entire Armada Invencible.

It would probably run out of ammunition.


Destroyer have armor, right?
Can it just ram and cut in half a 16th century galleon?

We need to send this to the mythbusters.

Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: saskganesh on May 13, 2009, 01:18:31 AM
aliens don't travel by physical means and they are already here. invasion and ... trade are out of the picture.  :P
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 13, 2009, 06:56:12 AM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 10:36:58 PM
Why is that?

Trade seems to be a constant in all forms of civilization.
Because we don't have anything to offer, and because an interstellar civilization will have had to have moved past buying and selling as the organizing principle of their economy.  The strictures of interstellar flight demand it.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:00:11 AM
Quote from: Siege on May 12, 2009, 10:38:04 PM
Maybe they have cheaper ways to lift stuff into orbit.

Space elevators come to mind.
Too slow.  Also, there's nothing on Earth that could justify such a monumental effort or expense.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:04:02 AM
Quote from: Siege on May 13, 2009, 01:11:21 AM
Destroyer have armor, right?
Can it just ram and cut in half a 16th century galleon?

We need to send this to the mythbusters.
I'm sure it could ram and destroy those ships, but it would take damage doing so.  It would be more effective to use the deck gun, and then send a Tomahawk to Madrid.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 07:06:18 AM
Being alien would mean we had no idea what their motives would be.  They would be by defintion "alien".
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:31:09 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 07:06:18 AM
Being alien would mean we had no idea what their motives would be.  They would be by defintion "alien".
Well, we can make some assumptions, based on what we know about them, and what we would have in common.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 13, 2009, 07:42:13 AM
Quote from: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:31:09 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 07:06:18 AM
Being alien would mean we had no idea what their motives would be.  They would be by defintion "alien".
Well, we can make some assumptions, based on what we know about them, and what we would have in common.
Look how varied humans can be though in their cultures and motives, an alien may be similar to one, or complete different beyond our frame of reference.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 07:43:52 AM
Quote from: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:31:09 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 07:06:18 AM
Being alien would mean we had no idea what their motives would be.  They would be by defintion "alien".
Well, we can make some assumptions, based on what we know about them, and what we would have in common.

Yeah we can.  But since it based on what we know about them which is nothing at all then our assumptions have little validity.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:51:22 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 07:43:52 AM
Yeah we can.  But since it based on what we know about them which is nothing at all then our assumptions have little validity.
We know that they are technically proficient and capable of surviving interstellar transit.  That allows us to draw certain conclusions.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:54:39 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 13, 2009, 07:42:13 AM
Quote from: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:31:09 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 07:06:18 AM
Being alien would mean we had no idea what their motives would be.  They would be by defintion "alien".
Well, we can make some assumptions, based on what we know about them, and what we would have in common.
Look how varied humans can be though in their cultures and motives, an alien may be similar to one, or complete different beyond our frame of reference.
Nothing is beyond my frame of reference, because I use reason.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Octavian on May 13, 2009, 08:33:57 AM
Quote from: The Brain on May 12, 2009, 04:01:32 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on May 12, 2009, 03:58:20 PM
it's odd that using the nukes only counts for "used in battle"... as if the hundreds of nukes that were detonated as tests are somehow "not used".

You count masturbation as having sex? OK.

:lol:
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 08:50:59 AM
Quote from: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:51:22 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 07:43:52 AM
Yeah we can.  But since it based on what we know about them which is nothing at all then our assumptions have little validity.
We know that they are technically proficient and capable of surviving interstellar transit.  That allows us to draw certain conclusions.

They could have simply stolen someone elses techonology.  They could be intergalactic highjackers like in "High Crusade".
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 13, 2009, 09:37:21 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 08:50:59 AM
Quote from: Neil on May 13, 2009, 07:51:22 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 13, 2009, 07:43:52 AM
Yeah we can.  But since it based on what we know about them which is nothing at all then our assumptions have little validity.
We know that they are technically proficient and capable of surviving interstellar transit.  That allows us to draw certain conclusions.

They could have simply stolen someone elses techonology.  They could be intergalactic highjackers like in "High Crusade".
Then they'd use it to destroy themselves.  If people are socially and psychologically unprepared, decades or more in interstellar space can be devastating.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: grumbler on May 13, 2009, 12:42:33 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on May 12, 2009, 11:37:18 PM
It would probably run out of ammunition.
Not until long after the Armada ran out of ships!
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 13, 2009, 01:04:22 PM
Quote from: grumbler on May 13, 2009, 12:42:33 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on May 12, 2009, 11:37:18 PM
It would probably run out of ammunition.
Not until long after the Armada ran out of ships!
One would imagine so.  Actually, I wonder what the effects would be of a single modern 5" shell hit on an old-style ship.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: The Brain on May 13, 2009, 01:44:21 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 13, 2009, 01:04:22 PM
Quote from: grumbler on May 13, 2009, 12:42:33 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on May 12, 2009, 11:37:18 PM
It would probably run out of ammunition.
Not until long after the Armada ran out of ships!
One would imagine so.  Actually, I wonder what the effects would be of a single modern 5" shell hit on an old-style ship.

A Soviet galleon? It would just shrug it off thanks to its vastly superior armor.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Berkut on May 13, 2009, 01:49:31 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 13, 2009, 01:04:22 PM
Quote from: grumbler on May 13, 2009, 12:42:33 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on May 12, 2009, 11:37:18 PM
It would probably run out of ammunition.
Not until long after the Armada ran out of ships!
One would imagine so.  Actually, I wonder what the effects would be of a single modern 5" shell hit on an old-style ship.

Well, I think the opening days of the ACW pretty much put to rest the idea of the wooden navy in the time of the rifled shell, and those things were surely not particualrly powerful compared to a modern shell.

But then, 5" isn't THAT big - I wonder how it compares to a ACW era naval rifle in size?

Of course, at the range we are talking about, if 1 doesn't do the trick, no problem, pump in a couple more.
Title: Re: Pakistan rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal
Post by: Neil on May 13, 2009, 06:16:05 PM
Quote from: Berkut on May 13, 2009, 01:49:31 PM
But then, 5" isn't THAT big - I wonder how it compares to a ACW era naval rifle in size?
The US used Parrott heavy artillery rifles in 60, 100 and 150-pound sizes, and they bored 5.3, 6.4 and 8 inches.  There were also some smaller ones.  Merrimack used 6 and 7 inch rifles against Monitor.
QuoteWell, I think the opening days of the ACW pretty much put to rest the idea of the wooden navy in the time of the rifled shell, and those things were surely not particualrly powerful compared to a modern shell.
I'd say that it had already been done at Sinope, eight years earlier.  The American navies were a bit behind the curve.