Royal Navy Deployed Laser Weapons During the Falklands War 139
Zothecula writes "Despite recent demonstrations by the US Navy, we still think of laser weapons as being things of the future. However, previously-classified British documents prove that not only were the major powers working on laser weapons in the 1970s and 80s, but that they were already being deployed with combat units in war zones. A letter from the Ministry of Defence released under the 30-year rule reveals that laser weapons were deployed on Royal Navy ships during the Falklands War in 1982, and that the British government was concerned about similar weapons being developed behind the Iron Curtain."
Re:"We" who? (Score:5, Funny)
Do you see any sharks?
Well, do you?
Not even a mutant sea bass here.
We're waiting....
Re:Yes, but... (Score:5, Funny)
"no actual damage"? They could permanently blind pilots.
Look on the bright side. When they were blinded while flying fifty feet off the ground, they would only have about two seconds to worry about whether their eyesight would ever return.
Soviet laser tank (Score:4, Funny)
Yeah, it was just designed to blind optical sensors (and eyeballs), but still: SOVIET LASER TANK.
Re:Yes, but... (Score:2, Funny)
"no actual damage"? They could permanently blind pilots.
Look on the bright side.
I see what you did there.
Re:Yes, but... (Score:5, Funny)
Look on the bright side. When they were blinded while flying fifty feet off the ground, they would only have about two seconds to worry about whether their eyesight would ever return.
such pesssimism! they'd have their whole lives to worry about their eyesight returning.
Re:Yes, but... (Score:5, Funny)
turns out aluminium can catch fire
Silly Brits, they should have used aluminum instead!