add engines in overhaul

[Mikeck (OP)]

I am trying to get ion tech for new engines but I can't get it. I guess I have to research a reacot tech as well. At any rate, I seriously need a guided missle cruiser for defense. What I want to know is, if I build 4 now, once I have ion engines, can I put the cruisers in drydock and during overhaul, replace the engines?

Or am I stuck with heavy slow cruiser/ scrap metal

[mrwigggles]

Overhaual is just extensive repairs.


You'll need to refit the ship to change out components.

[Father Tim]

Yes, you can replace the engines with a shipyard refit, but it will almost certainly cost more than building a new (Ion-engined) cruiser from scratch.  So while not technically true, it will probably feel like you are stuck with slow pieces of scrap.

To do it, go to the F5 'Class Design' screen, use the 'Copy Design' button on your nuclear-engined missile cruiser design, then 'Rename Class' to Mark II, or -B, or whatever, swap the engines, lock the design, go to the F2 'Population & Production' screen, 'Shipyards' tab, select the cruiser shipyard, choose 'Retool for Selected Class', choose your Missile Cruiser Mark II, hit 'Set Activity', wait ~6 months for the retooling to be done, move an existing cruiser to the colony with the shipyard on it, choose the shipyard, choose refit, choose your cruiser, choose your Mark II cruiser design and assign the task to a slipway.

[sloanjh]

I am trying to get ion tech for new engines but I can't get it. I guess I have to research a reacot tech as well.

Each level of engines has a corresponding level of power-plant as a pre-req.  So you need to research the power plant first (I think it's gas-cooled fast reactor).

John

[Mikeck (OP)]

Hmmm...ok, I am wondering if I am not better of just scraping them or relegating them to defense of earth; kind of a mobile pdc or something...refit looks long, painfull and expensive.

[sloanjh]

Hmmm...ok, I am wondering if I am not better of just scraping them or relegating them to defense of earth; kind of a mobile pdc or something...refit looks long, painfull and expensive.

You'll have to judge for yourself.  Once you're retooled for the new class, you can compare the cost of building a new ship to the cost of refitting from an old one.  For me, anything over 50% makes me think about whether I'd be better off building new and keeping the old ship as a 2nd-line unit or scrapping it.  At present, I tend to leave ships that are one generation out of date as 2nd-line units, then scrap them or upgrade them when they're two generations out of date.

John

[sandman662]

I started a refit activity for my shipyard and it showed a completion time of 7+ years.... To build a new ship took less than 4 months.  What gives?

[Steve Walmsley]

I started a refit activity for my shipyard and it showed a completion time of 7+ years.... To build a new ship took less than 4 months.  What gives?

What does it say about the refit cost when you press the Refit Details button?

Steve

[sandman662]

Ok, Steve, I think I figured it out.  I was at work when I posted today and had to wait to get home to see what it was doing.  The major time was the vast difference in tonnage.  I didn't know I could hit the Details button.

Thanks for the help!