Details of my battle fleet, circa 2045

[Stellen (OP)]

I tend to start games, play them a while, and then start new ones.   Each time, I've learned something new about the game which has made me want to restart, complete with that new knowledge.

This is my current battle fleet, which I'm pretty happy with now.    The last two NPRs I met with it, with older versions of the same ships, were conquered without my fleets suffering a single casualty, so I know it works.   I used to play a great deal of Harpoon 2 and 3, mainly as the Soviets, and that experience has also factored into how I play Aurora.   

Currently my battle fleet contains 4 Carriers:

Carrier 2044 class Carrier    58,850 tons     897 Crew     7816. 8 BP      TCS 1177  TH 3840  EM 1500
3262 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 6-134     Shields 50-300     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 20     PPV 0
Maint Life 0. 6 Years     MSP 5830    AFR 2770%    IFR 38. 5%    1YR 9742    5YR 146135    Max Repair 2065 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 36 months    Flight Crew Berths 0   
Hangar Deck Capacity 12000 tons     Magazine 1500   

J60000(3-50) Military Jump Drive 2041     Max Ship Size 60000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
320 EP Magneto-plasma Drive 2043 (12)    Power 320    Fuel Use 21. 47%    Signature 320    Exp 8%
Fuel Capacity 4,500,000 Litres    Range 64. 1 billion km   (227 days at full power)
Delta R300/300 Shields 2041 (20)   Total Fuel Cost  250 Litres per hour  (6,000 per day)

CIWS-160 2044 (4x8)    Range 1000 km     TS: 16000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
Size 1 Anti-missile Missile 2043 (300)  Speed: 19,200 km/s   End: 107. 1m    Range: 123. 4m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 102/61/30
Size 2 Anti-ship Missile 2043 (600)  Speed: 19,200 km/s   End: 53. 6m    Range: 61. 7m km   WH: 4    Size: 2    TH: 70/42/21

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

Each carrier houses 1 x AWAC, 10 x FAC, 2 x Gunboats

6 Destroyers:

Destroyer 2044 class Destroyer    28,650 tons     634 Crew     4532 BP      TCS 573  TH 1920  EM 750
3350 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 5-83     Shields 25-300     Sensors 6/18/0/0     Damage Control Rating 20     PPV 63
Maint Life 1. 45 Years     MSP 1989    AFR 656%    IFR 9. 1%    1YR 1047    5YR 15712    Max Repair 593 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 72 months    Spare Berths 0   
Magazine 462   

J30000(3-50) Military Jump Drive 2044     Max Ship Size 30000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
320 EP Magneto-plasma Drive 2043 (6)    Power 320    Fuel Use 21. 47%    Signature 320    Exp 8%
Fuel Capacity 1,500,000 Litres    Range 43. 9 billion km   (151 days at full power)
Delta R300/300 Shields 2041 (10)   Total Fuel Cost  125 Litres per hour  (3,000 per day)

Single 20cm C4 Far Ultraviolet Laser 2044 Turret (4x1)    Range 192,000km     TS: 15000 km/s     Power 10-4     RM 5    ROF 15        10 10 10 10 10 8 7 6 5 5
Single 12cm C4 Far Ultraviolet Laser 2044 Turret (2x1)    Range 192,000km     TS: 20000 km/s     Power 4-4     RM 5    ROF 5        4 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2
Single Gauss Cannon R4-67 2037 Turret (1x4)    Range 40,000km     TS: 15000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 4    ROF 5        1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
CIWS-160 2044 (2x8)    Range 1000 km     TS: 16000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
Fire Control S16 96-16000 2039 (2)    Max Range: 192,000 km   TS: 16000 km/s     95 90 84 79 74 69 64 58 53 48
Stellarator Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 2037 (4)     Total Power Output 24    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 2 Missile Launcher 2039 (4)    Missile Size 2    Rate of Fire 20
Size 1 Missile Launcher 2039 (4)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 10
Missile Fire Control FC133-R50 2040 (1)     Range 133. 6m km    Resolution 50
Size 1 Anti-missile Missile 2043 (100)  Speed: 19,200 km/s   End: 107. 1m    Range: 123. 4m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 102/61/30
Size 2 Anti-ship Missile 2043 (181)  Speed: 19,200 km/s   End: 53. 6m    Range: 61. 7m km   WH: 4    Size: 2    TH: 70/42/21

Active Search Sensor MR123-R150 2040 (1)     GPS 25200     Range 123. 5m km    Resolution 150
Active Search Sensor MR6-R1 2039 (1)     GPS 105     Range 6. 3m km    Resolution 1
Thermal Sensor TH1-6 2025 (1)     Sensitivity 6     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  6m km
EM Detection Sensor EM3-18 2041 (1)     Sensitivity 18     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  18m 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

6 Escorts: (Another 2 in production)

Escort 2044 class Escort    19,600 tons     430 Crew     3000. 2 BP      TCS 392  TH 1280  EM 750
3265 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 4-64     Shields 25-300     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 18     PPV 36
Maint Life 2. 24 Years     MSP 1765    AFR 384%    IFR 5. 3%    1YR 475    5YR 7125    Max Repair 286 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 64 months    Flight Crew Berths 0   
Hangar Deck Capacity 1000 tons     

J20000(3-50) Military Jump Drive 2030     Max Ship Size 20000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
320 EP Magneto-plasma Drive 2043 (4)    Power 320    Fuel Use 21. 47%    Signature 320    Exp 8%
Fuel Capacity 1,000,000 Litres    Range 42. 8 billion km   (151 days at full power)
Delta R300/300 Shields 2041 (10)   Total Fuel Cost  125 Litres per hour  (3,000 per day)

Single 12cm C4 Far Ultraviolet Laser 2044 Turret (4x1)    Range 192,000km     TS: 20000 km/s     Power 4-4     RM 5    ROF 5        4 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2
Single Gauss Cannon R4-67 2037 Turret (2x4)    Range 40,000km     TS: 15000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 4    ROF 5        1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
CIWS-160 2044 (2x8)    Range 1000 km     TS: 16000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
Fire Control S16 96-16000 2039 (2)    Max Range: 192,000 km   TS: 16000 km/s     95 90 84 79 74 69 64 58 53 48
Stellarator Fusion Reactor Technology PB-1 2037 (3)     Total Power Output 18    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Active Search Sensor MR35-R50 2039 (1)     GPS 4200     Range 35. 6m km    Resolution 50
Active Search Sensor MR6-R1 2039 (1)     GPS 105     Range 6. 3m km    Resolution 1

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

Each Escort houses 1 Gunboat

40 x FACs:

Fast Attack Craft 2043 class Fast Attack Craft    900 tons     25 Crew     164. 4 BP      TCS 18  TH 120  EM 0
6666 km/s     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 4
Maint Life 4. 69 Years     MSP 34    AFR 21%    IFR 0. 3%    1YR 3    5YR 38    Max Repair 21 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 17 months    Spare Berths 0   
Magazine 49   

24 EP Magneto-plasma Drive 2043 (5)    Power 24    Fuel Use 136. 41%    Signature 24    Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres    Range 14. 7 billion km   (25 days at full power)

Size 2 Missile Launcher 2039 (2)    Missile Size 2    Rate of Fire 20
Missile Fire Control FC37-R100 2040 (1)     Range 37. 8m km    Resolution 100
Size 2 Anti-ship Missile 2043 (24)  Speed: 19,200 km/s   End: 53. 6m    Range: 61. 7m km   WH: 4    Size: 2    TH: 70/42/21

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

14 x Gunboats:

Gunboat 2044 class Gunboat    1,000 tons     27 Crew     207 BP      TCS 20  TH 72  EM 0
3600 km/s     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 8
Maint Life 1. 54 Years     MSP 26    AFR 40%    IFR 0. 6%    1YR 12    5YR 187    Max Repair 58 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 9 months    Spare Berths 1   

24 EP Magneto-plasma Drive 2043 (3)    Power 24    Fuel Use 136. 41%    Signature 24    Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 105,000 Litres    Range 13. 9 billion km   (44 days at full power)

Twin Gauss Cannon R4-50 2039 Turret 2044 (1x8)    Range 40,000km     TS: 14050 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 4    ROF 5        1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fire Control S03 48-8000 2044 (1)    Max Range: 96,000 km   TS: 8000 km/s     90 79 69 58 48 38 27 17 6 0

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

4 x AWACs:

AWAC 2043 class Early Warning Craft    1,000 tons     27 Crew     299 BP      TCS 20  TH 120  EM 0
6000 km/s     Armour 1-8     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/3/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 0
Maint Life 2. 75 Years     MSP 56    AFR 26%    IFR 0. 4%    1YR 11    5YR 160    Max Repair 105 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 18 months    Spare Berths 1   

24 EP Magneto-plasma Drive 2043 (5)    Power 24    Fuel Use 136. 41%    Signature 24    Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres    Range 13. 2 billion km   (25 days at full power)

Active Search Sensor MR5-R1 2043 (1)     GPS 84     Range 5. 0m km    Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor MR77-R150 2039 (1)     GPS 15750     Range 77. 2m km    Resolution 150
EM Detection Sensor EM0. 5-3 2041 (1)     Sensitivity 3     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  3m km

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

I like for the ships to be as self-sufficient as possible.   Even though most of the vessels carry scanners, after zoning into the hostile system they stay passive and run for open space.   I launch two AWACs, set their scanners to active, and start hunting targets.   Once targets have been identified, I start having the AWACs alternate which of them has their active scanners on, to confuse pursuers.   If hostile ships head towards one, it switches off and goes passive, and the other AWAC on a different bearing goes active.   I launch the FACs, who are guided to their targets by the AWACs and who can pummel their targets with their missiles.   After the missiles have reached their targets and the FACs are empty, both AWACs go passive, and they and the FACs return to the carriers.   Most enemy warships die to my FACs without firing a shot.   In the event that my main fleet is detected, all Gunboats launch and maintain position between my fleet and the inbound missiles, shooting down as many as possible, and the Destroyers can add their missiles to those fired by the FACs.   Beam fire controls are set to area defence.

I expect that many of you have been playing much longer than I have, what flaws do you think I'll run into later on?  (I know that you'll say that my fleet is slow, but it hasn't really caused me a concern yet.   I don't need the speed if I'm not spotted, and if I have enough defensive fire to defend from incoming missile swarms. )

[CharonJr]

Just a couple of quick points (just having a quick coffee after lunch):

Huge mismatch of maint life and deployment time
Long deployment time for carrier based FACs
AAMs seem fairly slow, too much fuel
Why CIWS instead of gauss turrets for ships operating together?
No flight crew berths on the carrier (redesign which lost them?)

[alex_brunius]

Long deployment time for carrier based FACs

I agree. Why months deployment time on parasites? The idea with a carrier is to have them & their crew within the mother ship most of the time to give them maximum performance.

AAMs seem fairly slow, too much fuel

Yupp, and FACs/Gunboats too. Perhaps too low max engine power mod researched or used in designs?

By magneto-plasma it should be easy to design missiles that outrun those AMM, and if your extreme you can even do designs of FAC/Figthers that outrun them

[Stellen (OP)]

Ah, the AAMs.  .  .    Yes, they're size 1s, but I use them against fast targets which my size 2s will have a low success rate against.    Small anti-ship missiles rather than as AAMs.    At least until the targets are slowed a bit and easier to hit. 

The FACs have a 17 month deployment time because the supplies needed for a 17 month deployment weighed no more than the supplies needed for a one month deployment.    Increasing it to 18 months increased the ship's total weight, hence why I left them at 17 months.    Unnecessary yes, but also harmless.   

You have a point there about the fuel on the FACs, Gunboats, and AWACs.    Looking back over previous designs, the ion engined versions had a shorter range for the same amount of fuel, so I've halved the fuel of all three types of parasites, improving their speeds to 7058, 3789, and 6315 respectively.    In theory, the enemy never sees the FACs, so never runs from them, or chases them.   The Gunboats only need to be as fast as the slowest of my capital ships, since they're only there as an anti-missile screen, not as attackers.

RE the flight berths:  It's an experiment.    My Carriers don't carry fighters, so do I still need the flight berths?  All of my carriers are currently holding their full complement of parasites, but they're not complaining about being overcrowded.    It seems that flight berths only matter for fighters. 

RE the CIWS v Gauss turrets:  The Gauss just aren't reliable enough.    Fast missiles can potentially hit before the Gauss turrets have a chance to engage them, but I know that the CIWS are always there as a last resort. 

[alex_brunius]

RE the CIWS v Gauss turrets:  The Gauss just aren't reliable enough.    Fast missiles can potentially hit before the Gauss turrets have a chance to engage them, but I know that the CIWS are always there as a last resort. 

Shouldn't Gauss turrets work just as CIWS if you put them in "Final Defensive Fire" mode? (except for entire fleet unless you choose the "Self Only" mode).

[CharonJr]

A nice, never tried having no berths for FAC carriers. Since my own fighters just became semi useless (more tracking speed than fighter speed) I will give this a shot with my carriers as well.

Personally I prefer deployment times of just a couple of days for most carrier based craft, which leads to very low fuel as well.

And yes, the key to gauss is final defensive fire.

And after taking a closer look I can see no FAC sized sensors, especially vs. a certain spoiler race this might be very hurtfull. But if your race has not met those spoilers yet this is actually quite fitting.

Finally your gunboat turret tracking speed is quite a bit faster than the FC speed. And due to the low range of the gauss guns they would be better deployed right at the fleet than trying to intercept missiles by being positioned between the enemy and the fleet.

[Stellen (OP)]

Ah, thank you, if Final Defensive Fire lets my gauss cannons work reliably as CIWS, I'll be able to redesign my escorts and destroyers to be more effective.   I'll try that out next opportunity.   And yes, in that case, the Gunboats would be better off sitting with the fleet rather than as a screen.   (Less micromanagement too. )  I haven't been happy with the tracking speed on the Gunboats' fire control either, but had to keep the weight under 1000 tons to fit inside the hangers.   In theory, since they'll always be firing at point blank range in future though, so I can increase the tracking speed at the expense of range, which will improve them as well.

Much appreciated, that'll help things.

For the FACs, the AWACs are their sensors, rather than carrying their own.   In theory, reduced weight, and made them less likely to be intercepted.   What sort of sensors would you put on them?

[CharonJr]

For sensors I usually prefer R1, R18 and R120, this should provide a decent range vs. most kind of enemies even if the range vs. very large ships is a bit lacking, but those are usually covered by passive termals.

But I tend to put the sensors on dedicated sensor ships as well to save weight on my combat craft.

[Stellen (OP)]

Yes, that's what I've done here.   Ships that small have to be a dedicated purpose.