WYN "fish ships" in open space?

[Nerroth]

As noted in the WYN Cluster portion of the FC Tactics Manual, most battles involving the WYN Navy would be fought on the inside of their infamous radiation shell - a barrier akin to that which surrounds the Core region of the Lesser Magellanic Cloud. Indeed, most of the WYN fleet is heavily modified or overcooked due to their not expecting to fight "on the outside".

However, there are two major exceptions to this rule (that we know about thus far).

The first was during the War of Return of 2586-87, when the Usurper took most of the "fish ships", WYN-Orion vessels, and other units still capable of crossing the barrier as a part of his audacious effort to (re-)claim the Patriarchal throne for himself - and in honour of his grandfather, the original Usurper, who had fled to the Cluster back in 2516.

The second was during Operation Unity of 2601-2602, when the WYN government (now free of the Usurper's influence) agreed to send a force of nine "fish ships" to fight as a part of this grand anti-Andromedan campaign.


In Federation Commander terms, any historical scenarios set during the War of Return would see "fish ships" fight alongside (and against) both Kzinti and Orion Pirate vessels - while Operation Unity would of course involve battles against the Andromedans (with the potential of working alongside - or falling afoul of "misunderstandings" against - the four surviving playtest LMC factions).

Notably, since both campaigns take place after 2580, all WYN (and Kzinti and Orion) ships involved would have access to speed 32 drones under (4G3b), which might make things that much more interesting.


So, my question is this: how well can the "fish ships" hold their own in open space under the FC rules, against (or alongside) their historical counterparts? What option mount choices would work best against which foes? (Presumably one might avoid taking ADDs for the ships taking part in Operation Unity.) And how might the use of fast drones (against the Andros on the one side, or against speed 32 Kzinti drones on the other) affect the overall dynamic?

[DNordeen]

The fish ships are some of the best ships in the game. They can more than hold their own against any equal force.