[FT]UNSC ship ideas (was graser-1 slightly overpowered)

Quick recap: as part of discussion on the graser-1 I suggested
some new USNC ship designs to which Oerjan replied:

Lake Mk IV: replace the beam-2 and beam-1 on a III by a
third fore 3 arc graser-1.

>This makes the Lake even more sensitive to being outflanked than it
already
>is, reduces its max range by 25% (quite significant when defending a
task
>force against enemy strikeboats) and weakens its point defence by 20%,
in
>return for an increase of the FP/F/FS firepower of ~5% in the 0-12mu
band
>and 31-55% in the 12-18mu band. The refit is worth the extra points as
long
>as the ship never has to fight strikeboats, fighters or missiles,
doesn't
>get outflanked, and is always able to rapidly close the range to 18mu
or
>less; otherwise it is a bit more dubious :-/

Mountain Mk II: replace beam-2s and 1s by three 3 arc
graser-1s, port, starboard, and fore.

>In compensation the Mk II's FP/FS arcs are slightly stronger than the
Mk
>I's even at range 0-12, and its (F) arc is noticably stronger - but
when
>fighting a more manoeuvrable opponent in Cinematic, thrust-4 ships are
>rather likely to end up with enemy ships in their AP/AS arcs.
(Particularly
>if the enemy is Kra'Vak, of course... and in the GZGverse timeline the
Mk
>II would be a Xeno War refit (just like the Lake Mk III, Luna Mk II
etc.).
>However, even thrust-6 human ships can outflank the Mountain.)

I was thinking of the Mk number as denoting a variant, not
necessarily a replacement. (Similar to WWII Spitfire Mks for
photo-reconaissance or high-altitude interceptors.) They're
not compulsory! The UNSC ships are described as very modular
and being built at a time of rapid development, so should
have more variants than other human fleets.

>From the playtesting point of view, these beta designs are an
ideal opportunity to test how ships with primarily graser
armament perform. People are going to design such ships sooner
or later, why not make it sooner?

The descriptions of the Lake and Luna make it clear that the
UNSC is steadily developing graser technology as the Xeno War
continues, and fitting more and more grasers to their ships
over time. These seem quite reasonable extrapolations to me.

As to weaknesses, I'll argue that those missions are not what
they are designed for. Do you criticise a current day Aegis
for being unable to sink submarines? In the closing stages of
the Xeno War the UNSC starts building destroyers that seem
less effective against the Kra'Vak, but capable of doing
serious damage to the less agile human capital ships. Would
anyone be surprised?

(Assuming that the Human timeline in Fleet Book 3 doesn't end
abruptly in the 2190's with "NO FURTHER ENTRIES" :-) )

Flaws and all, I really think it would be a good idea for
the UNSC designs to have more all-graser variants.

	cheers,
	Hugh