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I'd expect the defending ships to T-bomb your III-MW drone wave out of existence (or close enough), so the defending fighters will not be eliminated.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 01:24 am: Edit

>> Expect the BATS to have the Z-Y as a barrier. Have F-14 launch Type-III MW drones.

If I were the base commander I'd keep the Z-Y fighters quite close to the base and have them rotate in and out in small groups to fire drones and reload. The more base fighters that stay alive, the more drone defense the base has.

Having the Z-Y squadron head out away from the base against the vastly superior Fed fighters just means a lot of dead Z-Ys for not much gain.

--Mike

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 08:17 am: Edit

Ginger,

Don't forget there should also be two more possible fighter groups:
- 12xF-14A, 12xF-18B
- 12xF-14A, 6xF-101B

I mention this because, while photons are cool and all, having the ability to throw *that* many more drones is its own virtue. Don't know whether that would help or not, but I thought I'd mention that as a possibility.

(I don't know whether the added drones would help in the face of Ph-Gs and ESGs or would be pointless. I don't honestly know.)

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 08:43 am: Edit

We're using the groups for Y178 as specified in J2. The ones I gave are the only ones listed. He has to do the same with any carriers he buys.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 10:41 am: Edit

OK. Fair enough.

For the record, the first item is allowed by (J4.8934). This says that A-10s can always be replaced by F-18s (but not any other fighters). The second item is allowed by the F-101 description in CL#35. (Note that the comment in (J4.8934) that says only F-18s can replace A-10s and not any other fighters doesn't stop the use of F-101s. The F-101s aren't replacing the A-10s; they are replacing the F-18s that already replaced the A-10s.)

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 10:52 am: Edit

Thanks! I didn't see that. I'll have to rethink my choices. I haven't looked much at those fighters because I didn't realize they were available.

Though I do like the ability to hurl and extra 10 photons at a base instead of drones which will hit a layer of ESG, be countered by the fighters, or weaseled away.

The weasel part does have the benefit that it shuts off the scout channels which are probably loaning ECM to his fleet.

By Jeff Guthridge (Jeff_Guthridge) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 10:54 am: Edit

Ummm, not to sound a wet blanket on this, but would you have the drone points to outfit two salvos of IIIMWs for the 14’s?

(Yes, I went there. That ugly quagmire of pre-game time-sink, accounting.)

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 02:27 pm: Edit

Just doing some quick mental math, I assumed this was not an equal BPV engagement but rather a what-if? Fed carrier groups with top quality fighters and escorts and a good selection of drones are mad expensive!

--Mike

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 03:01 pm: Edit

Jeff, there won't be enough availability for two full loads. There's enough for one if I forego speed 32 ones. I'll have a better idea of what to bring once I know what he has. MW drones are much less useful if it's just the 24 Class I fighters. Armor and speed will be more useful then. But if he has a carrier I want as many of the little buggers as I can get.

Mike, it's The Admiral's Game. I'll be attacking a base but don't yet have any idea what will be defending it. I'm assuming a strong fleet but not as much BPV as mine because he only has half of his ships in round one.

I actually have two goals. 1) take out the base and 2) take out his capital ships and/or carriers he brings. Those are the most damaging losses in the long run. The making of anything but the most basic of plans will have to wait until we reveal our forces so I know what I'm up against.

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 08:31 pm: Edit

Just a thought, a LDR BATs has 4 ESGs and 3 ph-Gs, More drones is a very good idea here, IF you want drone hits. 2 ESG per turn, plus the gatlings, plus 24 ph-3s on the fighters, will not be an easy drone hit.

Of course, if he takes ZYPs your A10s will be looking at 12 ph-2s, but no ph-3s on the fighters.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 08:48 pm: Edit

He's limited to Class I fighters by the campaign rules.

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar3) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 09:57 pm: Edit

A ZYP is class 1 (with Y178 YIS) ...