I wanted to post some designs for reference, comment and/or discussion. I'm up past episode 90, and still on ion engine tech. With that being said, I have been using gunboats (ie FAC's) to some extent. Here are the current designs:
GM(M) - "Mike Boat" - Missile attack boat used for anti-shipping, currently on the 5th generation design
GB(M)-5 class Gunboat 1 000 tons 4 Crew 168.9 BP TCS 20 TH 128 EM 0
6400 km/s Armour 3-8 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 9
Maint Life 5.03 Years MSP 26 AFR 32% IFR 0.4% 1YR 2 5YR 26 Max Repair 16 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 months Spare Berths 0
Magazine 60
Fighter 32 EP Magneto-plasma Drive (4) Power 32 Fuel Use 336.02% Signature 32 Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 30 000 Litres Range 1.6 billion km (69 hours at full power)
Size 4 Box Launcher (15) Missile Size 4 Hangar Reload 30 minutes MF Reload 5 hours
MFC-LAM-2 Missile Fire Control FC36-R60 (1) Range 36.4m km Resolution 60
LAM-2 (15) Speed: 22 400 km/s End: 24m Range: 32.2m km WH: 6 Size: 4 TH: 112/67/33
ECM 10
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
GB(C) - "Charlie Boat" - Command and control version, used to provide long range sensor support to gunboats and fighters. I often have one attached to each carrier wing.
GB(C)-2 class Gunboat 1 000 tons 7 Crew 377 BP TCS 20 TH 128 EM 0
12800 km/s Armour 2-8 Shields 0-0 Sensors 11/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 0
Maint Life 0.96 Years MSP 24 AFR 80% IFR 1.1% 1YR 25 5YR 375 Max Repair 112 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 months Spare Berths 3
Stealth FTR 32 EP Magneto-plasma Drive (8) Power 32 Fuel Use 336.02% Signature 16 Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 75 000 Litres Range 4.0 billion km (3 days at full power)
AGS-M-Lite-2 Active Search Sensor MR1-R1 (1) GPS 14 Range 2.0m km MCR 213k km Resolution 1
AGS-CFTR-3 Active Search Sensor MR49-R10 (1) GPS 1120 Range 49.6m km Resolution 10
Northrop Grumman Thermal Sensor TH1-11 (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 11m km
ECM 10
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
GB(HK) - "Killers" - Hunter Killers - Designed to kill fighters and other gunboats. Very effective against precursor gunboats.
GB(HK)-2 class Gunboat 1 000 tons 4 Crew 201.4 BP TCS 20 TH 160 EM 0
8000 km/s Armour 3-8 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 7.2
Maint Life 1.48 Years MSP 13 AFR 80% IFR 1.1% 1YR 7 5YR 100 Max Repair 39 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 months Spare Berths 0
Magazine 48
Fighter 32 EP Magneto-plasma Drive (5) Power 32 Fuel Use 336.02% Signature 32 Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 25 000 Litres Range 1.3 billion km (46 hours at full power)
Size 4 Box Launcher (12) Missile Size 4 Hangar Reload 30 minutes MF Reload 5 hours
MFC-CFTR-2 Missile Fire Control FC52-R10 (1) Range 52.1m km Resolution 10
LAM-2 (12) Speed: 22 400 km/s End: 24m Range: 32.2m km WH: 6 Size: 4 TH: 112/67/33
ECM 10
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
GB(S) - "Sierra Boats" - Scouts, used for long range passive scanning, newer designs will have one of these used like a seaplane with each modern cruiser
GB(S)-2 class Gunboat 1 000 tons 7 Crew 265.5 BP TCS 20 TH 80 EM 0
8000 km/s Armour 1-8 Shields 0-0 Sensors 88/14/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 0
Maint Life 2.18 Years MSP 41 AFR 32% IFR 0.4% 1YR 12 5YR 174 Max Repair 88 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.1 months Spare Berths 3
Stealth FTR 32 EP Magneto-plasma Drive (5) Power 32 Fuel Use 336.02% Signature 16 Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 85 000 Litres Range 4.6 billion km (6 days at full power)
Northrop Grumman Thermal Sensor TH8-88 (1) Sensitivity 88 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 88m km
Hopkins Dynamics EM Detection Sensor EM1-14 (1) Sensitivity 14 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 14m km
ECM 10
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes