SFB: Fleet tactics #3
Min Chen
not entirely matched in terms of BPV, and of course all comments are
welcome. This tactic will reflect the ISC pacification of the galaxy.
The fleets are somewhat out of character for standard SFB fleets as they
don't exactly follow the rules, but are fairly close as far as the fleet
rules are considered. The ISC has a slight (very slight) edge over its
opponents. This match up features the ISC taking on the Feds.
Fed:
1xSCS (12 F14, 12 F18, 6 A20, 1 SWAC (E3), 1 MRS)
1xGSCX (1 XMRS)
1xBCG (1 MRS)
2xNCA
1xCLC
1xNCL
2xNAC
1xDEA
All ships has speed 32 drones, and full load of T-bombs
ISC:
1xDN (2 MRS)
1xBCS (1 PF floatilla, 6 fighters, 1 MRS)
1xPFT (1 PF floatilla)
1xCLA
3xCL
4xDD
All ships have a full load of T-bombs
The ISC has the edge in terms of numbers, but whether they can survive a
Fed SCS group (which should be difficult to assemble during the
pacification) is questionable.
Fed Tactics: The most obvious of them all, drone the suckers to death
and use long range prox photons to hurt the PPD ships. The Fed fleet
should be going slow with a plotted speed change in the first turn. The
idea is of course to fire off the proxies at the BCS or the DN before
the ISC fleet gets into PPD range, this means range 30 from the nearest
PPD ship. The Fed formation would have the SCS and the GSCX five hexes
behind the rest of the fleet which can be put into one hex, the fleet
should be going at probably about speed 10, with an increase to 20
during mid turn. They should fire proxies once the ISC PPD ships is at
optimum range. The ISC PFs represent a difficulty as they can flank the
Feds and lob off F torps, but then thats why the Fed has three escorts
capable of whittling away half a dozen F torps on their own. The Feds
also has superiority in seeking weapons, the ISC can be drowned in waves
of drones. The ideal solution is to fire type IIIMW drones at range,
target them on a DD or two, and have the MW drones pop at range 3, which
denies the ISC ships time to turn and run from the dogfights. The Fed
ships all together has 2 B-racks, 24 G-racks and 4 GX-racks, which means
that it can put out in the first turn 15 type III MW drones each with
five submunitions, that's a total of 75 submunitions, a lot for the ISC
to counter, especially for a single gunline ship. Add to that the fact
that the Feds also has 30 fighters that can launch drones, it becomes a
major headache for anyone to deal with this force. The F14s and F18s
should also carry multi-warhead drones on special rails for the gunline,
so figure roughly 2 DDs dead after the first wave of drones, (of course
the drones are staggered to avoid T-bombing). The A20s will be using
WBP so they can keep up with the fleet and deal with the ISC PFs, any PF
wandering into range 12 should be targeted with 6 proxies from the A20s,
as well as bearing Ph-1s from the Feds. Fed fighters should be firing
phaser-3s at any ship in range 15 (preferably the PFs) every turn. The
Fed tactics simply consist of getting into range 30 from the PPD ship,
firing proxies, and turning away, then repeating every two turns. This
should in theory work for at least two runs, and that means that the Fed
can expect to knock down the #1 shield on either the BCS or the DN and
probably inflicting some damage. The Fed with ECM drones and the GSCX
should easily have EW superiority. The main concern is have five ISC
PFs coming into range 10 of a Fed ship, probably one of the NCL hulls,
bolt five Fs, and fire off five Fs (real or pseudo), this could be very
dangerous for the Feds even if they can take out a PF a turn. The Feds
should under probably keep their photon fire from their ships on the ISC
PPD ships, using ph-1s to deal with the PFs. The ISC fighters are kind
of irrelevant, but should be taken out with a wave of swordfishes (from
the F18Cs) so that they don't interfere with the drone wave headed for
the gun line. If the Fed decides to close, they could possibly use a
weaseling SWAC to suck up ISC gunline torps, have the DEA tractor in the
SWAC, then either weasel or run. Although closer up, the Feds are
exposed to the gunline and its considerable fire power.
ISC tactics: The Feds are the first drone race to be encountered, and
from here on, things simply gets worse. The PFs must be employed to
stop the Feds, and the ISC need to close the formation for drone defense
while closing the distance to the Fed fleet to effectively employ the
gunline and the PPDs. Target the PPDs on the BCG first, or may be one
of the escorts, although there are too many escorts to make effective
use of the PPDs. The ISC should keep its phasers for the drones, sadly
the rear firing Fs will mostly be wasted as the Feds probably won't try
to outflank you. One possible option in this game would be to send both
PF floatillas around to the backside of the Feds, then have them use
Ph-1s (a total of 20 Ph-1) from both floatillas on the SCS or the GSCX
(probably the former) and hope that the Feds get their attention
diverted. If at all possible, kill the SWAC and the A20s, they're the
most dangerous. One approach may be attacking on both flanks, and
targeting plasma Fs at range 13 (just beyond the reach of the A20s) on
the A20s from both sides, eliminating the A20s gives you a huge
advantage in the freedom of the PFs to operate, and while drones are
annoying, they can be outrunned by the PFs. Don't hesitate to have a DD
drop a #1 shield in order to T-bomb, another plausible tactic is to drop
a #2 or #6 shield as the drones apporach to mutually cover each other
with T-bombs on arrival. Staggered drones are a problem, and the ISC
need to time T-bombs properly for maximum effect. Then hope the phasers
can take care of the rest. The fighters also need to be put to work
against the drones, and use the CLA (its an AEGIS ship) to stop some of
the drones with its limited number of plasma Ds. Overall, this is a
losing proposition for the ISC even if they had a scout with them. But
it is possible to seriously cripple the Fed fleet so that the next
echelon can roll right through. One possible tactic is for the PFs to
go on a suicide run against the SCS and the GSCX, that will surely get
the Feds attention for a while, and it might even succeed.
So, these are the tactics, once again, your comments are welcome. Post
your tactics and how you would handle the situation depending on whose
side you're on.
Min
gook
In a
rticle <QjO9TIC00...@andrew.cmu.edu>
mc...@andrew.cmu.edu "Min Chen" writes:
> This is the third fleet tactics that I'm posting, again, the fleets are
snip
>
> Fed:
> 1xSCS (12 F14, 12 F18, 6 A20, 1 SWAC (E3), 1 MRS)
> 1xGSCX (1 XMRS)
> 1xBCG (1 MRS)
> 2xNCA
> 1xCLC
> 1xNCL
> 2xNAC
> 1xDEA
> All ships has speed 32 drones, and full load of T-bombs
>
> ISC:
> 1xDN (2 MRS)
> 1xBCS (1 PF floatilla, 6 fighters, 1 MRS)
> 1xPFT (1 PF floatilla)
> 1xCLA
> 3xCL
> 4xDD
> All ships have a full load of T-bombs
>
> Fed Tactics:
> snip
I think keeping the Main PPd ships at 25+-30, is probably the first order of
things, Proxy the least ECM'd PPD ship with as many photons as possible. Use
the considerable fighter forces to screen the fleet. They can cause damage to
a direct assault from the PFs and weaken any massed plasma launches from the
gunline. Some Type III MWs should be sent after the Pfs who will probably try
to flank the fleet. WBP on A20's make them very acceptable targets for PF p1s,
so drop them as soon as position has been obtained, they are useful drone
platforms.
The flank ISC gunline ships should be overwhelmed by a steady stream of
staggered mixed package drones, these ships have the least support and are the
easiest drone targets.
Keep the speed up or you are likely to have him rush you, PPD something major
15-24 and wheel away again. Keep the fleet tight or loose ships will be cut
out by the Pfs and anihilated. Every thing must be done to reduce the number of
PPds who are the principle threat, remember they strip 3 shields at a time.
The PFs should be dealt with by massed phaser fire, enough on each firing to
strip shields and cause internals, everything including P3s should be used. If
he bolts he will be in useful phaser range, if launches with speed around 24
he will have to get very close or no damage will be caused. Slowed and wounded
Pfs should be droned to death by F 18s who could be detached for this purpose.
If you get below range 11 the PPds will do 1+4+1 60% of the time and with 8
that is 8+32+8 per pulse or roughly 24+96+24, which will do for most ships and
the subsequent phaser dump will kill it, even the SCS will have trouble.
keep your distance, grind the gunline down with drones, fire at a PPD ship
with proxies just enough to kill the weapon then move on to the next target, use
phasers to keep the Pfs amused.
> ISC tactics:
snip
The ISC should keep up the speed, close as close as feasable, PPD with max
available EW and choose something nice, BCG, SCS, or any of the photoned CLs.
Cream it and roll out to avoid drone storms, drop staggered Tbombs to catch
the staggered drones, gunline ships fire at the PPD target or if it is crippled
any fighters with WBPs (double damage).
The PFs sweep wide launch a dummy raid when PPDs are recycling get him to launch
drones then withdraw. Any ships detatched such as the GSCX or SCS should be
targetted en masse, even if you loose 6 PFs it will be worth taking out either
of those ships, and will make life easier for the PPD boys. With any luck the
distraction will be so effective that you will be able to get to Range 10, then
its scratch one fed capital vessel.
Speed is essential to close the range and to get you out of trouble on the
roll out. The plasmas should not be squandered but hoarded to over load his
defences on say the third pass.
> So, these are the tactics, once again, your comments are welcome. Post
> your tactics and how you would handle the situation depending on whose
> side you're on.
These tactics are similar to Mins but sufficiently different to warrant a
distinguishing post.
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GOOK