It also depends on the shape of the weapons. If they're guns like those on wet navy battleships, a sphere will let you mount more of them for firing forward. You can't minimized exposed area and maximize mountable weapons at the same time, unless The weapons fire at right angles to their length (not impossible).

On Sat, Mar 12, 2016 at 3:20 PM, Richard Aiken <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sat, Mar 12, 2016 at 2:20 AM, Knapp <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mar 5, 2016 1:03 AM, "Richard Aiken" <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 5:46 PM, Kurt Feltenberger <xxxxxx@thepaw.org> wrote:
>>
>> So what happens to design when you remove them?
>
>
> I would say that - a globe being the most efficient hull shape for the amount of volume enclosed assuminb all other factors are equal - you'd likely get warships which are all variously-scaled versions of the Happy Fun Ball.
>
> E.g.
But not the best for dumping heat so a flying pankake would be better. Or, not the best for reducing front profile ca nd maxamizing weapons to bear, so a wedge might be best.


Well, since it's a warship that might want to hide when it's not under thrust, it probably doesn't want to efficiently radiant heat ALL the time; that's what retractible heat exchanger wings are for.

As to the wedge shape, unless you make it a very skinny wedge - which would lessen total hull strength and also lose you some functionality (since a lot of equipment - if built efficiently - would be too bulky to fit into such a shape) - I doubt you would end up with significantly more weapons able to bear on targets you are trying to close with . . . and since you're choosing this shape to maximize *those* weapon sites, that leaves you with few (if any) facing toward the rear, for those times when you're outnumbered and being chased. 

-- 
Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident."  Robert A. Heinlein
"I studied the Koran a great deal. I came away from that study with the conviction there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as Muhammed." Alexis de Tocqueville (1843)
"We know a little about a lot of things; just enough to make us dangerous." Dean Winchester
"It has been my experience that a gun doesn't care who pulls its trigger." Newton Knight (as portrayed by Matthew McConaughey), to a scoffing Confederate tax collector facing the weapons held by Knight's young children and wife.
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