On 3/4/07, John Lerchey <lerchey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I would counter propose that this is two formations. One is a screen and
one is your long range hitters.
John
Okay, it IS two formations. Now tell me what FT movement orders will keep the screen in the correct position as the relative bearing between the heavy hitters and the enemy changes while maintaining a linear formation across the enemy's line of approach.
>
> A possible situation in a fleet engagement is redeploying a destroyer
> screen. You have a core of ships with devastating long range capabilities
> (graser-3's or HDC-2's) that have sacrificed close in firepower, so you have
> a destroyer screen loaded with class-2 beams and submunition clusters to
> make it really expensive for your enemy to close (Note: unless your opponent
> has your equal in long range firepower, you really do want him to spend the
> time to blow away your screen, as it keeps the range open). The problem is
> having enough destroyers to completely encircle your core is equally
> expensive, so you need to be able to keep your incomplete screen between
> your enemy's fleet and your fleet's core. The formation may be too large to
> just treat is as a single ship, and you may want to turn in one direction,
> while rotating the screen in the other. Maybe your enemy has misjudged and
> moved past your formation and you need to quickly get the screen to the
> other side. Finally, as elements of the screen are destroyed, you need to
> close up the gaps.
>
> If you chose to go the HDC route for devastating long range firepower, you
> really DO have to exert finicky control of your formation to keep the gaps
> in your screen facing a likely enemy location.
>
> BTW: I do not think grasers are unbalanced. At a distance they are quite
> destructive, but at close ranges an equal mass of beam-2's cost less and
> inflict more damage. They very much trade close in hitting power for long
> range crunch.
>
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