FT: Pulse Torpedoes vs. Submunition Packs

The list has been too quiet.

I've given some thought to the 'useless' Pulse torpedo.  Mark
Kochte isn't the only one who seems to have trouble making 
the to-hit rolls for the things.  I too have never been 
enamoured with them.

A pulse torpedo will generate the following average points
of damage:

		    0-6"    6-12"   12-18"  18-24"	  
Pulse Torpedo	    2.31    1.75     1.16    0.58

By comparison a single submunition pack will do the following:

Submunition Pack    2.00    1.33     0.66    0.00

If you compare the two weapons by a comparable mass basis,
where a Mass 5 PT has the same mass as 5 sub packs, the 
single turn damage potential for five sub packs is:

5 x SubPacks	   10.00    6.66     3.33    0.00 

Given that both weapons have the same one-arc restriction, 
the torpedo destroyer is not as good of a purchase than a
close assault destroyer mounting 5 subpacks, and either 
a C Battery and a PDAF, or two PDAFs.

A close assault destroyer will have a much better chance to
unload the subpacks against the heavier capital ships and 
score far more damage than a comparable torpedo destroyer.

Jon Davis
davis@albany.net