Pocket Carrier

[Kiero (OP)]

I was looking for a cheap and easy-to-implement way to protect my colonies and trade routes from raiders.
An idea that has worked quite well:

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Kyriazis PD-12B "Wasp" class Pocket Carrier      15 000 tons       284 Crew       1 928.7 BP       TCS 300    TH 1 500    EM 0
5000 km/s      Armour 3-54       Shields 0-0       HTK 71      Sensors 5/0/0/0      DCR 19      PPV 10.88
Maint Life 2.38 Years     MSP 1 223    AFR 200%    IFR 2.8%    1YR 296    5YR 4 434    Max Repair 250 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 3 000 tons     Magazine 360   
Commander    Control Rating 1   BRG   
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months    Flight Crew Berths 60    Morale Check Required   

Lessard Drives IP-2 EP-500 (3)    Power 1500    Fuel Use 40.0%    Signature 500    Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 750 000 Litres    Range 22.5 billion km (52 days at full power)

Twin Lawrence Cannon Mk-II R200-67.00 Turret (1x6)    Range 20 000km     TS: 16000 km/s     Power 0-0     RM 20 000 km    ROF 5       
Fiers-Bond Systems Targeting Computer R96-TS16000 (1)     Max Range: 96 000 km   TS: 16 000 km/s     90 79 69 58 48 38 27 17 6 0

Lawrence Ordnance Torpedo SR-2 (4/0.9) "Scimitar" (180)    Speed: 36 600 km/s    End: 0.4m     Range: 0.9m km    WH: 4    Size: 2    TH: 122/73/36

Active Search Sensor AS5-R1 (1)     GPS 20     Range 5.6m km    MCR 507.8k km    Resolution 1
Fiers-Bond Systems Raider Detector AS38-R17 (1)     GPS 2040     Range 38.9m km    Resolution 17
Thermal Sensor TH1.0-5.0 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  17.7m km

Strike Group
15x Kyriazis I-4 "Bates" Interceptor   Speed: 6265 km/s    Size: 3.99

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
This design is classed as a Carrier for auto-assignment purposes

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Kyriazis I-4 "Bates" class Interceptor      200 tons       1 Crew       29.4 BP       TCS 4    TH 25    EM 0
6265 km/s      Armour 1-3       Shields 0-0       HTK 1      Sensors 0/0/0/0      DCR 0      PPV 1.8
Maint Life 30.95 Years     MSP 34    AFR 3%    IFR 0.0%    1YR 0    5YR 1    Max Repair 12.5 MSP
Magazine 12   
Lieutenant Commander    Control Rating 1   
Intended Deployment Time: 2 days    Morale Check Required   

Ion Drive  EP25.00 (1)    Power 25    Fuel Use 1431.08%    Signature 25    Explosion 20%
Fuel Capacity 16 000 Litres    Range 1.01 billion km (44 hours at full power)

Lawrence Ordnance Size 2.0 Torpedo Pod (6)     Missile Size: 2    Hangar Reload 70 minutes    MF Reload 11 hours
Lawrence MFC FC14-R20 (1)     Range 14.2m km    Resolution 20
Lawrence Ordnance Torpedo SR-2 (4/0.9) "Scimitar" (6)    Speed: 36 600 km/s    End: 0.4m     Range: 0.9m km    WH: 4    Size: 2    TH: 122/73/36

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 Fighter for production, combat and planetary interaction
This design is classed as a Fighter for auto-assignment purposes
One squadron of five interceptors can effectively neutralise a single raider.
The first use allowed a capture of an enemy ship.

The speed difference between this carrier and the enemy is ~600 km/s. Allows to maintain distance or close a gap for an attack.
Of course, Carrier provides an active lock for interceptors
And SR-2 (4/0.9) "Scimitar" Torpedo with a size of 2 (I can transport and produce a lot of them) with WH:4 have a nice punch...
Also, despite its short range, it allows attacking targets outside the range of the enemy's beam weapon.

I'm thinking of replacing the Gauss turret, with a single long-range laser (spinal mount). For finishing off cripled enemies.

What do you think?

[sneer]

wouldn't bigger magazine better ?
it's only 2 spare reloads
you may and probably will encounter bigger raids

[Kiero (OP)]

That's just 1 ship that can disable 3 enemy ships. I can deploy more if required.

[Cobaia]

Question: Isn't it possible to reduce the Fuel and MFC size to gain more speed at your current level?

[Kiero (OP)]

I have an MFC that is 15t. I can scale it down but I wanted to have the option to target fighters and keep a 1m range for it, it needs to be 15t, for now.
More room for it is in the fuel tank size. But the next engine size will reduce the range significantly.

[Kiero (OP)]

A small update:
Pocket Carrier "MUS Adm. Dagmara Szymanek", met with a raiding party consisting of 4 raiders and 2 escorts, each weighing about 9,000t.
The skirmish was won by the carrier, with only minor armor damage to it.

So a 15,000 t carrier with a load of 3,000t fighters, destroyed 54,000t of enemy ships...

PS. Of course, this is only possible if you have a speed advantage