The Battle of San Diego

[Erik L (OP)]

The admiral?s aide knocked on the door to his office, ?Sir, Admiral Saltz is here.?

Admiral Fite looked up from his paperwork, ?Send her in.?

Rear Admiral Kathleen Saltz walked into the office and saluted. Melvin Fite looked her over for a brief moment, noting the slightly haunted look in her eyes before gesturing for her to sit down.

?I?ve read the report Admiral, but I?d like to hear it in your words.?

Kathleen Saltz was a middle-aged woman, just over 50 years old. She took a deep breath and ran a hand through her short black hair.

?We entered the San Diego system on the 26th of July 2040. Our initial scans were clean. Without any idea of where to find the ship that had destroyed SF2, we headed in-system. As we approached SD-III, I ordered the scouts to go active on their sensors. Within minutes, we?d picked up 2 bogeys bearing 280 degrees off our course. We headed for the closest which I instructed TacOps to designate ?Wraith?. At 20,000 km the Auchinleck and the Mark Anthony opened fire with their missiles. I do believe the Auchinleck?s missile crews need additional training as they were firing nearly 5 seconds slower than the Mark Anthony. Wraith managed to destroy the first salvos as we continued to close. The Wraith locked onto DE Guernsey and started battering her. I ordered Tactical to open fire with everything we had. Sir, I respectfully submit that our fire control needs a serious upgrade. The computers were rejecting firing solutions even when Wraith was right on us.?

Admiral Fite nodded briefly, ?I?ve had a talk with Dr. Prescott in R&D based on your initial report. And Admiral Holtz at BuShips is planning upgrades for the Intrepids, Fletchers, and Spruances.?

Admiral Saltz sighed and continued, ?After the Guernsey was destroyed, I ordered the remaining ships to switch to PD firecontrol in hopes that the tracking software would be able to cope with the Wraith. The Spruances and the Fletchers started getting hits and reduced the shielding, which Commander Fox estimates was around 25 times more powerful than ours. The missiles from the two CG, even at point blank range were getting shot down by the PD of Wraith. Nearly 10 minutes into the fight, we?d lost the Saipan also and Wraith was destroyed. I ordered the fleet to target and pursue Bogey Two, designated Ghost. Sir, we chased that bastard for nearly a week, and it was pulling away from us, so I ordered the fleet to stand down, and return home.?

Admiral Fite leaned back and looked at the weary officer in front of him. ?So Kathleen, tell me. If you could make any change you wanted to your fleet, what would you do??

Admiral Saltz blinked in surprise, ?Anything?? At the admiral?s nod she continued, ?Rip out the main fire control installations. Put in PD installations in all of them. My flagship was useless in the battle. Eight PA guns that might have been able to save the Saipan at least if the damn computers had been able to track Wraith. Add the Home Fleet to mine, and let me go back to San Diego and find that other ship. Improve the rate of fire on the missile launchers, possibly with an increase in missile size. Double the magazine space. At least double the amount of shielding our ships carry. It wasn?t enough. And increase our speed.?

Admiral Fite nodded, ?That mirrors most of my suggestions too.? He stood and shook her hand, ?I?ll see you again tonight at the award ceremony for you and your officers.?

Ships of the Terran Federation -

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Lexington A class Jump Ship 7500 tons     780 Crew     1098 BP      Signature 150-540
3600 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 1     Shields 8-300     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control 3-1
Replacement Parts 30    

J3-50(5) Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 7500 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (9)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.0    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Max Fuel Capacity 400,000 Litres    Range 230.4 billion km   (740 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (5)   Total Fuel Cost  75 Litres per day

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Size 10: 0.6m km     Detect Size 100: 6m km


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Intrepid class Command Cruiser 7500 tons     885 Crew     961 BP      Signature 150-400
2666 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 8-300     Sensors 4/4/0/0     Damage Control 2-1    Command Bonus 1
Replacement Parts 25    

Nuclear Pulse Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 40    Engine Efficiency 1.0    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Max Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres    Range 115.2 billion km   (500 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (5)   Total Fuel Cost  75 Litres per day

15/1 C3 Particle Accelerator (4)    Range 60,000km     Power 5-3     Range Modifier 1    Rate of Fire 10        6 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
Fire Control S01 001-2400 (1)    Range: 10,000 km   TS: 2400 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (3)     Total Power Output 27     Armour 0    Exp 5%

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT2-4 (1)     Strength 4     Detect Signature 10: 0.4m km     Detect Signature 100: 4m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP2-4 (2)     Strength 4     Detect Size 10: 0.4m km     Detect Size 100: 4m km


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Fletcher A class Destroyer 7500 tons     885 Crew     899 BP      Signature 150-400
2666 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 8-300     Sensors 4/4/0/0     Damage Control 2-1
Replacement Parts 25    

Nuclear Pulse Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 40    Engine Efficiency 1.0    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Max Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres    Range 57.6 billion km   (250 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (5)   Total Fuel Cost  75 Litres per day

15/1 C3 Particle Accelerator (2)    Range 60,000km     Power 5-3     Range Modifier 1    Rate of Fire 10        6 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
12cm C3 Near Ultraviolet Laser (4)    Range 120,000km     Power 4-3     Range Modifier 3    Rate of Fire 10        4 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 1
PD Fire Control S04 001-9600 (1)    Range: 10,000 km   TS: 9600 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fire Control S01 001-2400 (1)    Range: 10,000 km   TS: 2400 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (3)     Total Power Output 27     Armour 0    Exp 5%

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT2-4 (1)     Strength 4     Detect Signature 10: 0.4m km     Detect Signature 100: 4m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP2-4 (1)     Strength 4     Detect Size 10: 0.4m km     Detect Size 100: 4m km


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Spruance B class Destroyer Escort 7400 tons     865 Crew     1066 BP      Signature 148-540
3648 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 8-300     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control 3-1
Replacement Parts 25    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (9)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.0    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Max Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres    Range 145.9 billion km   (462 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (5)   Total Fuel Cost  75 Litres per day

10cm C3 Near Ultraviolet Laser (8)    Range 90,000km     Power 3-3     Range Modifier 3    Rate of Fire 5        3 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 0
Fire Control S01 004-2400 (1)    Range: 40,000 km   TS: 2400 km/s     88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
PD Fire Control S04 001-9600 (1)    Range: 10,000 km   TS: 9600 km/s     50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (3)     Total Power Output 27     Armour 0    Exp 5%

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Size 10: 0.6m km     Detect Size 100: 6m km


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Enterprise B class Missile Cruiser 7400 tons     905 Crew     1110 BP      Signature 148-600
4054 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 8-300     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control 2-1
Magazine 400   Replacement Parts 25    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.0    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Max Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres    Range 145.9 billion km   (416 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (5)   Total Fuel Cost  75 Litres per day

Missile Launcher 02-020 (8)    Missile Size 2    Rate of Fire 20
Missile Fire Control S01-040 (1)    Range: 400k km
Avalanche (44)  Speed: 5,000 km/s   Endurance: 50 secs    Range: 250k km   Warhead: 1    Size: 2

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Size 10: 0.6m km     Detect Size 100: 6m km


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Coontz A class Scout 5350 tons     570 Crew     776 BP      Signature 107-600
5607 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 8-300     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control 1-1
Replacement Parts 30    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.0    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Max Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres    Range 201.9 billion km   (416 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (5)   Total Fuel Cost  75 Litres per day

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Size 10: 0.6m km     Detect Size 100: 6m km

OOB
Lexington A 001
CC Arrow (Intrepid)
DD Aegean (Fletcher A)
DD Amazon (Fletcher A)
DD Amur (Fletcher A)
DD Bosporus (Fletcher A)
DE Honshu (Spruance B)
DE Kyushu (Spruance B)
DE Okinawa (Spruance B)
DE Palawan (Spruance B)
DE Rhodes (Spruance B)
DE Saipan (Spruance B) lost in battle
DE Guernsey (Spruance B) lost in battle
CG Claude Auchinleck (Enterprise B)
CG Mark Anthony (Enterprise B)
SC Buzzard (Coontz A)
SC Canary (Coontz A)
SC Cockatoo (Coontz A)
SC Cockatrice (Coontz A)

The Bosporus sustained damage to 1 PA, 1 Crew Quarter, 1 12cm Near UV Laser and her main Fire Control (which was no loss)

All in all, a challenging (and somewhat frustrating) battle.

[Steve Walmsley]

Not sure how you handle time increments against the precursors. However, if you see an SM-only event that a fleet has entered a system with an unknown object, there is a precursor ship in the system. Its probably best to proceed with smaller time increments or you may find at the end of a day-long increment that the precursor ship is next to you and opening fire.

Steve

[Erik L (OP)]

Not sure how you handle time increments against the precursors. However, if you see an SM-only event that a fleet has entered a system with an unknown object, there is a precursor ship in the system. Its probably best to proceed with smaller time increments or you may find at the end of a day-long increment that the precursor ship is next to you and opening fire.

Steve

I issued orders to follow the Unknown. Think the intercept time was around a week. so I incremented by 1 day until it was down to a day, then by 6 hours, then an hour. Combat was done in 5 second marks.

[Steve Walmsley]

That's good. I have a slight concern that if players use large increments before the unknown object is detected, they may not detect it more than one day away and therefore it could be on top of them without warning.

Steve

[Erik L (OP)]

That's good. I have a slight concern that if players use large increments before the unknown object is detected, they may not detect it more than one day away and therefore it could be on top of them without warning.

Steve

That is what happened to my Survey fleet. The combat fleet was pre-warned by the Survey fleet's destruction.

I sent the combat fleet back. Approx. twice as many ships, upgraded with more shields, better fire control, improved weapons, ecm/eccm. At 0km, they could not target the Ghost.  

[Erik L (OP)]

Here are the post-combat designs.

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Enterprise C class Missile Cruiser    8200 tons     970 Crew     1286 BP      Signature 164-600
3658 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 15-300     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control 2-2
Magazine 800    Replacement Parts 25    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.00    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 160,000 Litres    Range 84.3 billion km   (266 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (10)   Total Fuel Cost  150 Litres per day

Missile Launcher 02-020 (8)    Missile Size 2    Rate of Fire 20
Missile Fire Control S01-040 (1)    Range: 400k km
FM-1 Dragon (400)  Speed: 12,000 km/s   Endurance: 20 secs    Range: 240k km   Warhead: 1    Size: 2

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Size 10: 0.6m km     Detect Size 100: 6m km

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10

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Fletcher B class Destroyer    8550 tons     990 Crew     1380 BP      Signature 171-600
3508 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 22-300     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control 2-2
Replacement Parts 25    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.00    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres    Range 101.0 billion km   (333 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (15)   Total Fuel Cost  225 Litres per day

15/1 C3 Particle Accelerator (2)    Range 60,000km     Power 5-3     Range Modifier 1    Rate of Fire 10        6 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
12cm C4 Far Ultraviolet Laser (4)    Range 200,000km     Power 4-4     Range Modifier 5    Rate of Fire 5        4 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2
PD Fire Control S04 006-12800 (1)    Range: 60,000 km   TS: 12800 km/s     92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (3)     Total Power Output 27    Armour 0    Exp 5%

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Size 10: 0.6m km     Detect Size 100: 6m km

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10

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Intrepid A class Command Cruiser    8250 tons     955 Crew     1305 BP      Signature 165-600
3636 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 15-300     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control 2-2    Command Bonus 1
Replacement Parts 25    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.00    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 160,000 Litres    Range 83.8 billion km   (266 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (10)   Total Fuel Cost  150 Litres per day

15/1 C3 Particle Accelerator (4)    Range 60,000km     Power 5-3     Range Modifier 1    Rate of Fire 10        6 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
PD Fire Control S04 006-12800 (1)    Range: 60,000 km   TS: 12800 km/s     92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (3)     Total Power Output 27    Armour 0    Exp 5%

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Size 10: 0.6m km     Detect Size 100: 6m km

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10

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Oliver H Perry A class Carrier    8900 tons     2335 Crew     1867 BP      Signature 178-300
1685 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 15-300     Sensors 6/0/0/0     Damage Control 0-0
Hangar Bay Capacity 300    Magazine 400    Replacement Parts 20    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (5)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.00    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 150,000 Litres    Range 72.8 billion km   (500 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (10)   Total Fuel Cost  150 Litres per day

12cm C4 Far Ultraviolet Laser (2)    Range 200,000km     Power 4-4     Range Modifier 5    Rate of Fire 5        4 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2
PD Fire Control S04 006-12800 (1)    Range: 60,000 km   TS: 12800 km/s     92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 9    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Avalanche (200)  Speed: 5,000 km/s   Endurance: 50 secs    Range: 250k km   Warhead: 1    Size: 2

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10

Code: [Select]

Spruance C class Destroyer Escort    10000 tons     1185 Crew     1707 BP      Signature 200-720
3600 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 15-300     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control 3-1
Replacement Parts 25    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (12)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.00    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres    Range 86.4 billion km   (277 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (10)   Total Fuel Cost  150 Litres per day

12cm C4 Far Ultraviolet Laser (10)    Range 200,000km     Power 4-4     Range Modifier 5    Rate of Fire 5        4 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2
PD Fire Control S04 006-12800 (1)    Range: 60,000 km   TS: 12800 km/s     92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (6)     Total Power Output 54    Armour 0    Exp 5%

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Size 10: 0.6m km     Detect Size 100: 6m km

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10
These ships are accompanied by three new classes.

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Belknap class Tanker    6800 tons     925 Crew     1398 BP      Signature 136-600
4411 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/0/0/0     Damage Control 0-0
Replacement Parts 25    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.00    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 2,000,000 Litres    Range 1270.4 billion km   (3333 days at full power)


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Forrestal class Jump Cruiser    10000 tons     1130 Crew     1951 BP      Signature 200-600
3000 km/s    JR 4-50     Armour 1     Shields 15-300     Sensors 6/6/0/0     Damage Control 0-0
Replacement Parts 25    

J4-50(5) Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 10000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 4
Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.00    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 240,000 Litres    Range 103.7 billion km   (400 days at full power)
Beta R300/15 Shields (10)   Total Fuel Cost  150 Litres per day

12cm C4 Far Ultraviolet Laser (6)    Range 200,000km     Power 4-4     Range Modifier 5    Rate of Fire 5        4 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2
PD Fire Control S04 006-12800 (1)    Range: 60,000 km   TS: 12800 km/s     92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 AR-0 (4)     Total Power Output 36    Armour 0    Exp 5%

High Resolution Thermal Sensor HRT3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Signature 10: 0.6m km     Detect Signature 100: 6m km
Gravitational Pulse Sensor GP3-6 (1)     Strength 6     Detect Size 10: 0.6m km     Detect Size 100: 6m km

ECCM-1 (1)         ECM 10

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Iowa class Collier    9300 tons     1000 Crew     1630 BP      Signature 186-600
3225 km/s     Armour 1     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/0/0/0     Damage Control 5-2
Magazine 10000    Replacement Parts 25    

Ion Engine EE1 AR-0 (10)    Power 60    Engine Efficiency 1.00    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 400,000 Litres    Range 185.8 billion km   (666 days at full power)

AS-2 Shiva (1000)  Speed: 18,000 km/s   Endurance: 20 secs    Range: 360k km   Warhead: 1    Size: 4
FM-1 Dragon (1000)  Speed: 12,000 km/s   Endurance: 20 secs    Range: 240k km   Warhead: 1    Size: 2
LRBM-1 Hermes (1000)  Speed: 18,000 km/s   Endurance: 20 secs    Range: 360k km   Warhead: 1    Size: 4

ECM 10

You may notice the collier carries a number of size 4 missiles with no launcher capable of firing them. That was an initial oversight on my part, and the next version of the Enterprise will mount size 4 launchers.

[mavikfelna]

Why are all of your missile warheads only size 1? You can't do any damage to ships at all with a size 1 warhead.

--Mav

[Erik L (OP)]

Why are all of your missile warheads only size 1? You can't do any damage to ships at all with a size 1 warhead.

--Mav

Hmmm... I'd not even noticed that... I must have a talk to the boys in R&D.