I've recently started experimenting with Modular Ship Design: designing ships in seperate sections (or modules), with the pieces held together by Tractor Beams. It actually works!
Here's a low-tech AMM module intended to be towed behind any ship requiring anti-missile protection. It has rather thin Armor, but not very much will be needed since the module is only 2,500 tons and has no engines, so it is hard to detect and harder to target from typical missile ranges. It carries a res-1 sensor, two PD FCs, six size-1 PD missile tubes, a 166-missile magazine, enough life support for the minimal crew and enough engineering sections to repair the biggest component on-board (the active sensor). No engines or fuel... instead, it carries a Tractor Beam, to lock it onto the mission ship.
The mission ship does not need a Tractor Beam!Parasite AMM class Module 2,500 tons 215 Crew 600 BP TCS 50 TH 0 EM 0
1 km/s Armour 2-16 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 2 PPV 6
Maint Life 4.11 Years MSP 300 AFR 25% IFR 0.3% 1YR 28 5YR 426 Max Repair 252 MSP
Magazine 166 Tractor Beam
Size 1 Missile Launcher 2000 (6) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
Missile PD Fire Control FC10-R1 (2) Range 10.1m km Resolution 1
Size 1 AAM 1-2.2-2003 (166) Speed: 39,300 km/s End: 0.9m Range: 2.2m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 288 / 173 / 86
Active Search Sensor MR20-R1 (1) GPS 252 Range 20.2m km Resolution 1
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Towing this module slows down a 20,000-ton Beam Warship from 5,000-odd kps to 4,500-odd kps... a -10% loss of performance. Naturally, the module can be dropped after the mission ship has weathered the enemy's missile fire, or once it has pulled in close enough that the PD module can cover the rest of its approach-run.
Think of the possibilities! Civilian ships can tow weapons modules. Carriers can be towed hangars instead of ships. In long, marathon battles, Fuel and Missiles can be towed, with the supply module dropped when empty. Jump Drives can be towed to the entry point of a contested system, then dropped at the jump point. Your whole task force can be faster and more agile if they don't need to carry jump drives. Tow a Box Launcher module, fire it off, and dump it, to be recovered later!
Other advantages: Modular ships can be built in sections, using smaller slipways. You can have a potent navy earlier in the game. They are also cheaper, and much easier to upgrade. Developed a new sensor suite and new missile launchers? Instead of upgrading your battle-line, just upgrade the AMM and ASM modules, or build some new ones!.
Comments and suggestions?