Beam Fighters

[DFNewb]

Lets agree that they are not very efective as PD, but I think that they have their uses at higher tech levels.

E.g.

Interceptor Mk2 class Interceptor      473 tons       22 Crew       195.4 BP       TCS 9    TH 225    EM 0
23808 km/s      Armour 1-5       Shields 0-0       HTK 6      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 0      PPV 5
Maint Life 6.37 Years     MSP 125    AFR 18%    IFR 0.2%    1YR 5    5YR 79    Max Repair 112.5 MSP
Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days    Morale Check Required   

Boost 3 Magnetic Fusion Drive  EP225.00 (1)    Power 225    Fuel Use 1423.02%    Signature 225    Explosion 30%
Fuel Capacity 10 000 Litres    Range 0.3 billion km (3 hours at full power)

Gauss Cannon R400-17.00 (5x5)    Range 24 000km     TS: 23 808 km/s     Accuracy Modifier 17.00%     RM 40 000 km    ROF 5       
Beam Fire Control R24-TS20000 (1)     Max Range: 24 000 km   TS: 20 000 km/s     58 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction

The hit chance is actually a bit better than it should be. Decent PD per ton, but bad PD per BP in my opinion. But it has it uses when protecting a flight of missile bombers (fighters) which are very unlikely to be targeted by AMMs and as additional protection for carrier tasks groups when on the defense.

Edit: At current tech levels a better BFC should actually help, it should hit 1-2 missiles moving at 40kkm, equal tech railguns should perform pretty similar (with a even larger R96-TS20000 BFC).

Interceptor Mk2 class Interceptor      499 tons       24 Crew       219.5 BP       TCS 10    TH 225    EM 0
22583 km/s      Armour 1-5       Shields 0-0       HTK 7      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 0      PPV 5
Maint Life 5.90 Years     MSP 127    AFR 20%    IFR 0.3%    1YR 6    5YR 93    Max Repair 112.5 MSP
Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days    Morale Check Required   

Boost 3 Magnetic Fusion Drive  EP225.00 (1)    Power 225    Fuel Use 1423.02%    Signature 225    Explosion 30%
Fuel Capacity 10 000 Litres    Range 0.3 billion km (3 hours at full power)

Gauss Cannon R400-17.00 (5x5)    Range 40 000km     TS: 22 583 km/s     Accuracy Modifier 17.00%     RM 40 000 km    ROF 5       
Beam Fire Control R48-TS20000 (1)     Max Range: 48 000 km   TS: 20 000 km/s     79 58 38 17 0 0 0 0 0 0

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction

I am finding that for early game the smallest caliber railguns are good on fighters and later lasers seem quite effective. I have long given up on guass as a source of PD or damage on fighters, the cannnons are simply too large and the reduction on chance to hit seems to hit it much harder than I thought.

[CharonJr]

Yeah, the same setup with a railgun would be slightly better (with the mentioned larger BFC). 90% chance to hit vs. 20kkm x 4 shots = 3,6 hits and this Gauss would do 79% x 17% x 25 shots = 3,36 hits using simple math.

At a ROF of 6 the Gauss should be better and I have forgotten if statistically the larger number of shots would make it more likely to hit those 3 or 4 missiles already at a ROF of 5 for the Gauss. But yes, the dual use of railguns is nice and I am using them in my new game.