Posted by: Steelpoint
« on: May 20, 2020, 01:19:35 PM »
In the course of playing my first long term, conventional start, game of Aurora 4x, my exploration of the local systems by the Sol system was waylaid upon the discovery of hostile space forces in the system of Sigma Draconis in the year 2079 (start date 2025) (see attached image for state of the galaxy half a year after the conflict). The Draconis occupied the core area of the system upon the third planet. A 450 ton recon fighter made first contact, as its SOP to launch a recon fighter at any planets that show signs of life, and was promptly destroyed by a 32km/s missile barrage without warning. The Draconis never reciprocated any communication attempts.
I'm 99% sure these were precursors, no communication attempts, rejected them when made, no escape pods, never expanded past their system. First time seeing precursors however.
The fight had two major concerns, a possible hostile foreign power was on Earth's doorstep, and Humanities exploration of the stars was shut off so long as the system was occupied. As such my only hope was a desperate expansion of my light military fleet, which only consisted of a few Laser Destroyers, into a fully fledged expeditionary fleet.
After around fifteen years of industrial expansion and construction the 1st Expeditionary Fleet went to their destiny.
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I'll start from the bottom up regarding my ship design as it was throughout the war. I'll also detail my missile design at the end.
The first ship I designed, the DeLong is a Point Defence Frigate designed to provide anti-missile support. I had to hastily retrofit a newer generation Gauss turret and fire control when I realised it had very poor tracking speed.
DeLong class Frigate 4,000 tons 102 Crew 559.7 BP TCS 80 TH 300 EM 0
3750 km/s Armour 2-22 Shields 0-0 HTK 35 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 3 PPV 32.42
Maint Life 4.57 Years MSP 306 AFR 37% IFR 0.5% 1YR 24 5YR 358 Max Repair 96.8 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required
Quartersize Military 150 (Ion) (2) Power 300 Fuel Use 82.16% Signature 150 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 304,000 Litres Range 16.7 billion km (51 days at full power)
Mk2 Twin Gauss Cannon R300-100 Turret (2x6) Range 30,000km TS: 16000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 30,000 km ROF 5
Gauss Fire Control R48-TS16000 (1) Max Range: 48,000 km TS: 16,000 km/s 79 58 38 17 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mk1 Frigate Wide Array Sensor (1) GPS 1600 Range 25.7m km Resolution 100
Mk1 Frigate Narrow Array Sensor (1) GPS 2 Range 2m km MCR 175.9k km Resolution 1
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
During combat, the DeLong distinguished itself as being easily capable of destroying entire barrages of 32km/s missile strikes. My fleet consisted of 12 DeLong's.
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The Lincoln Beam Destroyer. It was originally designed as a system defence ship, but was quickly retrofitted with a bigger fuel tank for the expedition. The slow speed of this beam ship does seem a major flaw, but the ship was designed to operate as a defensive fleet in case my fleet was forced into a CQC engagement, otherwise it could provide some minor point defence support.
Lincoln class Destroyer 8,000 tons 248 Crew 981.9 BP TCS 160 TH 600 EM 0
3750 km/s Armour 3-35 Shields 0-0 HTK 59 Sensors 16/12/0/0 DCR 4 PPV 54
Maint Life 3.85 Years MSP 706 AFR 128% IFR 1.8% 1YR 75 5YR 1,129 Max Repair 150 MSP
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Morale Check Required
Halfsize Military 300 (Ion) (2) Power 600 Fuel Use 58.09% Signature 300 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 650,000 Litres Range 25.2 billion km (77 days at full power)
15.0cm C2 Near Ultraviolet Laser (6) Range 128,000km TS: 5,000 km/s Power 6-2 RM 30,000 km ROF 15
Twin 10cm C2 Near Ultraviolet Laser Turret (3x2) Range 90,000km TS: 14800 km/s Power 6-4 RM 30,000 km ROF 10
Beam Fire Control R32-TS12000 (1) Max Range: 32,000 km TS: 12,000 km/s 69 38 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Beam Fire Control R128-TS3000 (1) Max Range: 128,000 km TS: 3,000 km/s 69 63 57 52 46 40 34 28 22 16
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor R6-PB20 (4) Total Power Output 24 Exp 10%
Mk1 Destroyer Narror Array Sensor (1) GPS 16 Range 5.5m km MCR 497.5k km Resolution 1
Mk1 Destroyer Wide Array Sensor (1) GPS 1600 Range 25.7m km Resolution 100
EM Sensor EM2-12 (1) Sensitivity 12 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 27.4m km
Thermal Sensor TH2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 31.6m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
This ship saw very little action, it was adequate but inferior in shooting down missiles, but it nonetheless contributed in that regard. The ship did get to contribute during one engagement where three enemy warships ambushed my fleet at the jump point during the second engagement, but the fight was over too fast for me to check the contribution of the ship. The fleet consisted of 8 Lincoln's.
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The Warrior class Destroyer Escort, equipped with a suite of hastily constructed AMM's. The ultimate theory is the AMM capabilities of the Warrior should provide the fleet with another layer of anti-missile defence. Sadly, the limits of our technology, at the time, limited the speed of the missiles, as discussed later in the missile section.
Warrior class Destroyer Escort 8,000 tons 184 Crew 1,437.3 BP TCS 160 TH 600 EM 0
3750 km/s Armour 3-35 Shields 0-0 HTK 60 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 2 PPV 20
Maint Life 2.09 Years MSP 624 AFR 256% IFR 3.6% 1YR 191 5YR 2,871 Max Repair 150 MSP
Magazine 615
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Morale Check Required
Halfsize Military 300 (Ion) (2) Power 600 Fuel Use 58.09% Signature 300 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 535,000 Litres Range 20.7 billion km (63 days at full power)
Size 1 Missile Launcher (20) Missile Size: 1 Rate of Fire 10
AMM Missile Fire Control FC39-R1 (4) Range 39.6m km Resolution 1
Ranger AMM (615) Speed: 25,000 km/s End: 2.1m Range: 3.2m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 250/150/75
Mk2 Destroyer Wide Array Sensor (1) GPS 8400 Range 58.8m km Resolution 100
Mk1 Destroyer Narror Array Sensor (1) GPS 16 Range 5.5m km MCR 497.5k 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
For a AMM ship I felt it functioned adequately, the missiles clearly were less effective than they could be, having only a rough 33% intercept chance on enemy missile strikes, and the ship itself would expend its ammo after around two enemy barrages. A newer generation of AMM's I feel would breath new life into it. The fleet consisted of 6 Warriors.
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The Ironside, the pride of the UFN fleet. It is a Missile Destroyer. Designed with the goal of engaging the enemy fleet outside of their missile strike range. Designed to fire size 6 missiles, with an expected firing range of 250 mkm through the Archer missiles. Evidently, the ship simply did not have the room to mount a large enough active sensor to detect at such a long range, as such that duty was delegated to another ship, however the Ironside retained a 58 mkm range sensor as a backup.
Ironsides class Missile Destroyer 8,000 tons 204 Crew 1,418.3 BP TCS 160 TH 600 EM 0
3750 km/s Armour 3-35 Shields 0-0 HTK 48 Sensors 16/12/0/0 DCR 3 PPV 24
Maint Life 2.62 Years MSP 732 AFR 171% IFR 2.4% 1YR 150 5YR 2,254 Max Repair 224 MSP
Magazine 449
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required
Halfsize Military 300 (Ion) (2) Power 600 Fuel Use 58.09% Signature 300 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 645,000 Litres Range 25 billion km (77 days at full power)
Size 6.00 Missile Launcher (4) Missile Size: 6 Rate of Fire 25
ASM Fire Control FC259-R100 (2) Range 260m km Resolution 100
Archer - IV - Anti-Ship Missile (72) Speed: 19,600 km/s End: 212.7m Range: 250.2m km WH: 9 Size: 6 TH: 196/117/58
Mk2 Destroyer Wide Array Sensor (1) GPS 8400 Range 58.8m km Resolution 100
Mk1 Destroyer Narror Array Sensor (1) GPS 16 Range 5.5m km MCR 497.5k km Resolution 1
EM Sensor EM2-12 (1) Sensitivity 12 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 27.4m km
Thermal Sensor TH2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 31.6m km
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
The Ironside showcased itself as the pride of the fleet. After improving over the Archer missile design the ship was able to easily overwhelm enemy point defence systems and eventually led the way to winning the conflict. The main drawback was the Federation was constantly exhausting its Tritanium supplies to construct more missiles.
The killer drawback to this ship is its reliance on other ships for its active sensor detection, if that ship were destroyed or knocked out the Ironsides would be at a major disadvantage. The fleet consisted of 12 Ironsides with an additional 18 Ironsides organised in a Auxiliary fleet later in the conflict.
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The Berguent Missile Cruiser was intended as the heavy hitter of the fleet. Designed around four size 20 missile launchers. The Bolt missile, with its warhead strength of 21, was intended to punch through heavy armour.
Berguent class Missile Cruiser 16,000 tons 461 Crew 2,554.7 BP TCS 320 TH 1,200 EM 0
3750 km/s Armour 4-56 Shields 0-0 HTK 107 Sensors 16/12/0/0 DCR 18 PPV 80
Maint Life 1.84 Years MSP 1,198 AFR 256% IFR 3.6% 1YR 448 5YR 6,716 Max Repair 300 MSP
Magazine 930
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Morale Check Required
Fullsize Military Engine 600 (Ion) (2) Power 1200 Fuel Use 22.82% Signature 600 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 488,000 Litres Range 24.1 billion km (74 days at full power)
Size 20 Missile Launcher (4) Missile Size: 20 Rate of Fire 35
ASM Fire Control FC259-R100 (2) Range 260m km Resolution 100
Bolt Anti-Ship Missile (46) Speed: 17,250 km/s End: 243.4m Range: 251.9m km WH: 21 Size: 20 TH: 184/110/55
Mk1 Destroyer Narror Array Sensor (1) GPS 16 Range 5.5m km MCR 497.5k km Resolution 1
Mk1 Destroyer Wide Array Sensor (1) GPS 1600 Range 25.7m km Resolution 100
EM Sensor EM2-12 (1) Sensitivity 12 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 27.4m km
Thermal Sensor TH2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 31.6m km
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
During engagements against solo or small groups of enemy forces its missiles proved to be exceptional in destroying ships with very few warheads needed, but against heavy concentrations of enemy PD it faltered.
I feel the ship will improve once better missile technologies come around. Nonetheless it proved very effective in destroying ships when given the chance. The fleet had 4 Berguents.
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A humble recon carrier. The Horizon was simply slapped with the biggest and best EM, TH and ELINT modules the Federation Navy had. Its designed to give the fleet the ability to operate with active sensors off and gain a better tactical advantage before engaging the enemy.
Horizon class Recon Craft 16,000 tons 431 Crew 2,769.9 BP TCS 320 TH 1,200 EM 0
3750 km/s Armour 3-56 Shields 0-0 HTK 73 Sensors 400/400/0/0 DCR 11 PPV 0
Maint Life 2.03 Years MSP 1,190 AFR 186% IFR 2.6% 1YR 384 5YR 5,757 Max Repair 400 MSP
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Morale Check Required
Halfsize Military 300 (Ion) (4) Power 1200 Fuel Use 58.09% Signature 300 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,006,000 Litres Range 19.5 billion km (60 days at full power)
Thermal Sensor TH50-400 (1) Sensitivity 400 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 158.1m km
EM Sensor EM50-400 (1) Sensitivity 400 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 158.1m km
ELINT Module (5) Sensitivity 40 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 50m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
It proved effective in this role, almost every engagement conducted was on my terms. The fleet had two of these.
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The unintended lynchpin of the fleet. The Vision Surveillance Cruiser, above average armour, a personal CIWS system, and the biggest active sensors available. It has extra defences as its expected it'll be easily detected by enemy ships once its sensors are online.
Vision class Surveillance Cruiser 16,000 tons 409 Crew 4,332.6 BP TCS 320 TH 1,200 EM 0
3750 km/s Armour 6-56 Shields 0-0 HTK 64 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 12 PPV 0
Maint Life 1.51 Years MSP 2,030 AFR 171% IFR 2.4% 1YR 1,008 5YR 15,119 Max Repair 1400 MSP
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 24 months Morale Check Required
Fullsize Military Engine 600 (Ion) (2) Power 1200 Fuel Use 22.82% Signature 600 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 534,000 Litres Range 26.3 billion km (81 days at full power)
CIWS-160 (6x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16,000 km/s ROF 5
R-Cruiser Narrow Array Active Sensor (1) GPS 1400 Range 70m km MCR 6.3m km Resolution 1
R-Cruiser Wide Array Active Sensor (1) GPS 140000 Range 325m km Resolution 100
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
It proved vital in tracking enemy forces to allow my ASM ships to actually engage targets. One of my attacks had to be called off after an ambush damaged a Vision's Wide Array Sensor, with the second Vision back in drydock for repairs. The fleet had two of these.
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My fleet also consisted of 8 Colliers, which were uninteresting and just consisted of a 16000 ton ship with 2,550 mag size.
My fleet composition was
2x Vision Surveillance Cruisers
2x Horizons Recon Cruisers
4x Berguents Missile Cruisers
8x Lincolns Beam Destroyers
12x Ironsides Missile Destroyers
6x Warriors Anti-Missile Destroyers
12x DeLongs Gauss PD Destroyers
My second Auxiliary Fleet had 18 Ironsides.
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A examination of the missiles I designed.
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Archer Mk2 Anti-Ship Missile Speed: 13,967 km/s End: 302.4m Range: 253.4m km WH: 6 Size: 6 TH: 130/78/39
Archer Mk3 Anti-Ship Missile Speed: 16,800 km/s End: 248.3m Range: 250.3m km WH: 9 Size: 6 TH: 179/107/53
Archer - IV - Anti-Ship Missile Speed: 19,600 km/s End: 212.7m Range: 250.2m km WH: 9 Size: 6 TH: 196/117/58
The Archer ASM line was designed to engage the enemy at the extreme range of 250 mkm. The first generation of the Archer missile had a engagement range of only 38 mkm, but this was discarded before the first engagement.
The Mk2 was the mainstay of the fleet for the first engagement, the Mk3 became standarad issue for most of the conflict, with the Mk4 being introduced before the final engagement. Ultimantly the Archers did what they did, they out ranged the enemy fleets and decimated them.
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Ranger AMM Speed: 25,000 km/s End: 2.1m Range: 3.2m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 250/150/75
The Ranger never saw any changes in its design during the conflict, it was moderately effective in use, but as we were able to engage most of the enemy fleets before they fired their missiles, it saw little use. At best it had a 33% interception chance against the enemy missiles. I've already designed a newer gen AMM with a speed of 45,000 km/s which I hope will be more effective.
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Bolt Anti-Ship Missile Speed: 17,250 km/s End: 243.4m Range: 251.9m km WH: 21 Size: 20 TH: 184/110/55
When first introduced the Bolt would easily destroy the alien ships if given the chance, its main weakness was that if it encountered heavy PD defence then they could not get through it.
The Bolt saw little use in the latter stages of the conflict.
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When in direct combat with the enemy fleet they moved at 5700 km/s, while our fleet only had a top speed of 3750 km/s. Nonetheless, we out ranged the enemy fleet. Whenever the enemy forces departed their home base we had no issues decimating the fleet.
The majority of enemy ships were either 7300 or 14,750 tons.
The primary issue was their home base, the planet was surrounded by a ring of 15, 59000 ton ships of unknown design, that never left the planet, that evidently had effective PD systems that intercepted the majority of my fleets Mk2 Archer missile strike in the first engagement. After withdrawing, upgrading to the Mk3 Archer and adding an additional 18 Missile Destroyers in an auxiliary fleet, my fleet was able to overwhelm the enemy forces over the course of two engagements.
After winning the space conflict. I've begun planning retrofit plans, mostly upgrading to MagPlas engines which give me speeds of 6000 km/s, and upgrading my equipment as able.
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I'd be very keen on any thoughts and feedback on the designs I've mustered.
Thanks for reading.