This is an after action report on an unexpected and rather nasty set of battles I had in one of my systems next to Sol that ended up spilling in to Sol as well. Quite a lot of the problems arose due to some poor planning and too much complacency on my part, something I shall be bearing in mind for future games.
By way of background a short potted history of the game to date:
The year is currently 2055, having started with a standard TN game in 2025 the empire has expanded relatively slowly compared to previous games, largely driven by a very early Duranium crash that was exasperated by me focusing in on trying to get a very good quality world habitable for mining, leaving me with far too few automated mines when the stocks on earth ran out.
Over the past ten years the supply of minerals has stabilised whilst the growth in population and trade has allowed me to significantly increase my output and shipyard capacity. Research has been focused on engine and missile tech with the rest going into construction and logistics upgrades. The past five years have been spent clearing three systems of significant levels of precursors, excavating ruins and capturing a number of their 25m ton habitats.
To date I've encountered four NPRs, one with failed contact, two that have been on improving terms and a final one where I've just succeeded in making contact. The first NPR, The Moe Clan Collective, have been incredibly active in building jump gates and over the past ten years I've probably destroyed 15 or so of their jump gate constructor ships in the London system. This system is home to my main Tritanium mines and the link system to my Sorium fuel harvesters. Up to the point of this battle, despite the losses of their construction vessels to my mines, they had remained on good diplomatic terms and had continued to offer me trade access although I hadn't accepted this.
London B-IV is a terraformed planet with a population of 50 off million colonists, it's home to 50 mines, 10 construction factories, 40 maintenance facilities and 3 PDCs.
Two of the PDCs, the Resolution Class, were built during the days of the Duranium crash making them a minimalist design:
Resolution - Mk 2 class Planetary Defence Centre 4,150 tons 542 Crew 605.2 BP TCS 83 TH 0 EM 0
Armour 6-23 Sensors 1/240 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 40
Magazine 190
Size 4 ML ROF 60 (10) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 60
Missile Fire Control FC63-R120 (1) Range 63.1m km Resolution 120
Active Search Sensor MR135-R50 (1) GPS 12000 Range 135.8m km Resolution 50
The Resolute is a more modern AMM design with significantly improved sensors, better armour and a far higher magazine capacity. Although built over five years ago the Resolute on London never received it's stock of AMMs as resources were diverted to fighting the precursors.
Resolute class Planetary Defence Centre 6,500 tons 538 Crew 1361 BP TCS 130 TH 0 EM 0
Armour 7-31 Sensors 1/420 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 25
Magazine 700
Size 1 ML ROF 10 (25) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
Missile Fire Control FC17-R1 (5) Range 17.3m km Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor MR506-R120 (1) GPS 50400 Range 506.1m km Resolution 120
Active Search Sensor MR18-R1 (1) GPS 168 Range 18.5m km Resolution 1
The Imperial Navy is small but growing relatively fast. With five military ship yards now in place around Mars, the Navy has just commenced construction of its third generation of missile attack ships and has recently completed the equivalent AMM and Jump Leader scout ships. The first of the Navy's aircraft carriers is currently in construction and a full 60 strike fighters have been built and are currently sat on Earth waiting for their rides to complete.
There are two full fleets in operation: Striker Alpha and Striker Bravo. Both have recently been in action against the Precursors and Striker Alpha is currently in for an overhaul. Each fleet comprises of the following ships:
3 x ATK JP - Each ship houses sensors and can combat jump five ships
8 x ATK M - The offensive punch of the fleets, they suffer from low speed and ordnance capacity at this time
4 x ATK AM - The defensive ships, totally reliant on AMMS, they have reasonable magazine capacity and powerful sensors that allow multiple launches against incoming missiles.
Stats are as follows:
Atk DD JP - Mk2 class Destroyer 8,000 tons 659 Crew 1563.2 BP TCS 160 TH 640 EM 0
4000 km/s JR 5-50 Armour 5-35 Shields 0-0 Sensors 12/32/0/0 Damage Control Rating 9 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 56% IFR: 0.8% Maint Capacity 2099 MSP Max Repair 420 MSP Est Time: 3.7 Years
J8000(5-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 8000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 5
Magneto-plasma Drive E6 (8) Power 80 Fuel Use 60% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 400,000 Litres Range 150.0 billion km (434 days at full power)
Active Search Sensor MR506-R120 (1) GPS 50400 Range 506.1m km Resolution 120
Thermal Sensor TH2-12 (1) Sensitivity 12 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 12m km
EM Detection Sensor EM4-32 (1) Sensitivity 32 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 32m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Atk DD AM - Mk 2 class Destroyer 8,000 tons 659 Crew 1375.8 BP TCS 160 TH 640 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 4-35 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 6 PPV 20
Annual Failure Rate: 85% IFR: 1.2% Maint Capacity 645 MSP Max Repair 168 MSP Est Time: 2.5 Years
Magazine 620
Magneto-plasma Drive E6 (8) Power 80 Fuel Use 60% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 93.8 billion km (271 days at full power)
Size 1 ML ROF 10 (20) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
Missile Fire Control FC17-R1 (5) Range 17.3m km Resolution 1
Stirge 1 (620) Speed: 37,300 km/s End: 1.4m Range: 3.2m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 348 / 208 / 104
Active Search Sensor MR18-R1 (1) GPS 168 Range 18.5m 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
Atk DD M - Mk 2 class Destroyer 8,000 tons 833 Crew 1091.8 BP TCS 160 TH 640 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 4-35 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 5 PPV 48
Annual Failure Rate: 102% IFR: 1.4% Maint Capacity 426 MSP Max Repair 42 MSP Est Time: 3.98 Years
Magazine 498
Magneto-plasma Drive E6 (8) Power 80 Fuel Use 60% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 93.8 billion km (271 days at full power)
Size 4 ML ROF 60 (12) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 60
Missile Fire Control FC151-R120 (2) Range 151.8m km Resolution 120
Harpy 1 (120) Speed: 40,000 km/s End: 31.2m Range: 75m km WH: 4 Size: 4 TH: 133 / 80 / 40
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
Also in the navy are a couple of fast scouts, ships designed to track hostile ship movements whilst being able to survive limited engagements against small numbers of ships. They were built to either run down or out run most hostiles and despite having inferior engine tech they are faster then the main combat ships.
Fast Scout DD class Destroyer 8,000 tons 670 Crew 1343.2 BP TCS 160 TH 960 EM 0
6000 km/s Armour 5-35 Shields 0-0 Sensors 12/32/0/0 Damage Control Rating 9 PPV 5
Annual Failure Rate: 56% IFR: 0.8% Maint Capacity 944 MSP Max Repair 240 MSP Est Time: 3.23 Years
Magazine 155
Magneto-plasma Drive E6 (12) Power 80 Fuel Use 60% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 400,000 Litres Range 150.0 billion km (289 days at full power)
Size 1 ML ROF 10 (5) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
Missile Fire Control FC5-R1 (1) Range 5.8m km Resolution 1
Stirge 1 (155) Speed: 37,300 km/s End: 1.4m Range: 3.2m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 348 / 208 / 104
Active Search Sensor MR5-R1 (1) GPS 72 Range 5.8m km Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor MR135-R50 (1) GPS 12000 Range 135.8m km Resolution 50
Thermal Sensor TH2-12 (1) Sensitivity 12 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 12m km
EM Detection Sensor EM4-32 (1) Sensitivity 32 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 32m 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 Navy boasts a couple of laser equipped warp point defence vessels. These ships have very poor laser tech and were designed just as a stop gap ahead of further development in this area to replace the mines there were previously being used to defend the numerous jump points round Sol and on the entrance to London. They were primarily built to engage construction vessels and geo / grav survey ships. They are not expected to fair well in any armed conflict.
Edward VII class Frigate 3,650 tons 374 Crew 811.6 BP TCS 73 TH 440 EM 0
6027 km/s Armour 5-21 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 12
Annual Failure Rate: 26% IFR: 0.4% Maint Capacity 556 MSP Max Repair 168 MSP Est Time: 4.48 Years
ICF Drive E6.1 (4) Power 110 Fuel Use 60% Signature 110 Armour 0 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 82.2 billion km (157 days at full power)
10cm C3 Near Ultraviolet Laser (4) Range 90,000km TS: 6027 km/s Power 3-3 RM 3 ROF 5 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 0
Fire Control S08 96-6000 (1) Max Range: 192,000 km TS: 6000 km/s 95 90 84 79 74 69 64 58 53 48
Tokamak Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (3) Total Power Output 24 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Active Search Sensor MR18-R1 (1) GPS 168 Range 18.5m km Resolution 1
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Finally the Navy has a loan mine layer. This vessel was launched in hurry once several NPRs were spotted in the SOL system and whilst the rest of the Imperial Navy was still largely non-existent. Most recently the vessel has been pressed into use as the fleets only collier, however its missile capacity is woefully inadequate for the task and its taken months for the vessel to start moving stocks of ASM and AMM to several colonies with PDCs built.
Minelayer class Minelayer 5,000 tons 449 Crew 658.4 BP TCS 100 TH 480 EM 0
4800 km/s Armour 4-26 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 20
Annual Failure Rate: 66% IFR: 0.9% Maint Capacity 247 MSP Max Repair 80 MSP Est Time: 2.54 Years
Magazine 320
Magneto-plasma Drive E6 (6) Power 80 Fuel Use 60% Signature 80 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 120.0 billion km (289 days at full power)
Size 20 Missile Launcher (1) Missile Size 20 Rate of Fire 600
Missile Fire Control FC63-R120 (1) Range 63.1m km Resolution 120
Kraken 1 (16) Speed: 0 km/s End: 1440d Range: 0.5m km WH: 0 Size: 20 TH: 0 / 0 / 0
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 next wave of military ships are being designed and built, however none have yet to receive any fleet training and are currently considered to be unprepared for active service. To date four of the latest jump ships and anti missile ships have come off the production line.
Atk DD JP - Mk3 class Destroyer 8,000 tons 675 Crew 1752.6 BP TCS 160 TH 880 EM 0
5500 km/s JR 5-50 Armour 6-35 Shields 0-0 Sensors 16/32/0/0 Damage Control Rating 10 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 51% IFR: 0.7% Maint Capacity 2369 MSP Max Repair 420 MSP Est Time: 4.2 Years
J8000(5-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 8000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 5
ICF Drive E6.1 (8) Power 110 Fuel Use 60% Signature 110 Armour 0 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 500,000 Litres Range 187.5 billion km (394 days at full power)
Active Search Sensor MR506-R120 (1) GPS 50400 Range 506.1m km Resolution 120
Thermal Sensor TH2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 16m km
EM Detection Sensor EM4-32 (1) Sensitivity 32 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 32m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Atk DD AM - Mk 3 class Destroyer 8,000 tons 672 Crew 1551.4 BP TCS 160 TH 880 EM 0
5500 km/s Armour 5-35 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 7 PPV 20
Annual Failure Rate: 73% IFR: 1% Maint Capacity 848 MSP Max Repair 168 MSP Est Time: 3.23 Years
Magazine 700
ICF Drive E6.1 (8) Power 110 Fuel Use 60% Signature 110 Armour 0 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 300,000 Litres Range 112.5 billion km (236 days at full power)
Size 1 ML ROF 10 (20) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
Missile Fire Control FC17-R1 (5) Range 17.3m km Resolution 1
Stirge 1 (700) Speed: 37,300 km/s End: 1.4m Range: 3.2m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 348 / 208 / 104
Active Search Sensor MR18-R1 (1) GPS 168 Range 18.5m 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
As the engagement started there was a single fast scout ship and one Edward VII ship in system along with a fuel tanker and a reasonable number of commercial haulers and colony ships.
