Order number: 010916
Order designation: Fleet exercise i4
Allotted forces: TF 27.2.7 (iTF 7) - Red
TG 15.1.4 (iTG 4) - Blue
Exercise scenario: Contested outpost
Exercise objective: Test and validate fleet support systems aboard flotillas and gravity manipulation technology and target scramblers aboard Interdictors
From: Admiral Screed, Task Force Commander TF 27.2.7 (iTF7)
To: Admiral Langsdorff, Admiral commanding 27th Fleet; Admiral Wilhelmina and Vice Admiral Lindmann, Head of Naval Research and Development
As enclosed in Order 010916 (i4), no photographic records were made and kept. All data, analysis and reports have been encrypted using Enigma Key
Following the orders enclosed in Order 010916 (i4), iTF 7 and iTG 4 proceeded to test sector BB+ to carry out the exercise objectives. The following lists iTF 7's order of battle and equipment mounted -
REDFOR
GSD Prince Rupert the Demolisher
- Advance Proton Torpedoes
- Ordnance experts
- Intel officer
GSD Prince Albert
- Advance Proton Torpedoes
- Ordnance experts
- Intel officer
INT Mackensen the Interdictor, flagship
- Combat refit
- G8 projectors
- SW 7 ion cannons
- Engine techs
Flotillas DHL 2 and 3
- Slicer tools
517 Fighter Wing (4 squadron)
Penal Flight 17 (1 squadron)
Both fleets deployed at the far side of Test Sector BB+. Test station BB+ stands equidistant between both fleets. Upon deployment, iTG 4 deployed it's gravity well just forward of our deployment zone. Our fleet however managed to deploy well clear of the well's area of effect. 3 of 517's squadron were deployed in the well's area of effect. No significant effect was seen. For deployment, GSDs were deployed fore of each flotillas. Meanwhile, iTG 4 deployed their ISD as the vanguard, 1 Gozanti flotilla with slicer tools on their left, 1 Gozanti flotilla on their right just aft of their air group. Their air group comprises of 4 TIE Interceptors and 1 TIE Advance. Their interceptor deployed forms the rear guard. Opposing Blue fleet (BLUFOR) was commanded by Motti.
In the opening moves, DHL 2 and 3 were sent up ahead and BLUFOR responded in the same manner. When Prince Albert and Mackensen started moving, their Interdictor and ISD responded in the same manner. Meanwhile, Prince Rupert was sent on a flanking move to engage penetrate BLUFOR in between their ISD and Interdictor. At the end of the opening moves, Penal Flight 17 was sent in to engage their CAP. Both fleets continued to close the range. At this point, Penal Flight 17 was taken out by BLUFOR CAP. 4th Squadron was than sent in to engage enemy CAP.
Both forces continued to close the range. One of BLUFOR's Gozantis equipped with slicers sucessfully hacked Prince Albert's C and C thereby altering it to squadron command. Prince Rupert replied in kind by firing upon it at long range before moving in to close in the range. Meanwhile, all RED ships continued to close the range. RED ISD fired upon Prince Rupert and DHL 3 at long range but their fire was ineffective. Combat between the CAPs continued with enemy CAP taking out another squadron. 3rd squadron was sent in to engage enemy CAP.
With enemy Gozanti entering point blank range to Prince Rupert, she fired upon from both fore and starboard guns eliminating knocking out the flotilla with a combination of gun and proton torpedoes. Prince Rupert continued on its course, staying barely out of range of their ISD. DHL 3 moved in to hacking range and managed to hack into their ISD's C and C altering it to engineering command. Mean while, INT Mackensen continues to stay out of their ISD's firing range. Prince Rupert, now in range of the the enemy's Interdictor, fired ineffectively from long range before closing in. Once she got to point blank range of the enemy interdictor, she fired a full broadside into the target's port side. The enemy Interdictor activated target scramblers to full effect. Only 2 hits were obtained by Prince Rupert. The Interdictor fired upon Prince Rupert but the fire was ineffective. Combat between both CAPs continued on. 2nd squadron was sent in to engage but was destroyed. 1st squadron was sent in
Next, Prince Rupert fired a full salvo from her forward guns and scored critical hits with her proton torpedoes. Prince Rupert than moved in closer to the Interdictor's stern and unloaded a full broadside. Target scramblers were activated which reduced Prince Rupert's damage to 3. In an attempt to escape from Prince Rupert, the Interdictor attempted to move at full speed but was caught in Mackensen's gravity projectors. Prince Albert unloaded a full broadside on the Interdictor's port side. Target scramblers were activated but it minimally affected Prince Albert's fire. Critical damage was scored with proton torpedoes. Following that, Mackensen opened fire despite being blocked by Prince Albert. Token damage was scored on the target. Enemy ISD than proceeded to fire upon Prince Rupert but the damage was braced and evaded. Unable to slow down, enemy ISD continued on at full speed. The other enemy Gozantu followed the ISD. By now, all of iTF 7's CAP has been taken out by enemy CAP. Their TIE Advance proceeded to fire on Prince Albert and scored 1 hit.
Prince Albert opened fire using her stern guns and torpedo launchers and scored minor hits as well as critical hit by the proton torpedoes. Following that, Prince Albert concentrated fire from her starboard onto the enemy Interdictor's starboard. The Interdictor attempted to activate target scramblers but it's effect was negligible. The enemy Interdictor was knocked out of action. What followed next was AA action. Now free from our CAP, Prince Rupert was swarmed by their CAP. Mean while, enemy's remaining ISD and Gozanti were still making attempts to rejoin the battle. Once again, DHL 2 managed to hack into the ISD's C and C and changed the command to an engineering one.
In the closing stages of the battle, the enemy ISD managed to fire upon Mackensen at long range but the effects were negligible. The ISD attempted to move at full speed but Mackensen's G8 made it move at 2/3 speed. The ISD's C and C got hacked and sliced by DHL 3 and Mackensen fired with all the fore guns. Damage was inflicted by SW 7 ion batteries. Meanwhile, Prince Albert continued her AA defence only to be taken out by combined fire of enemy CAP. With Prince Albert knocked out of action, observers from Test Station BB+ signaled both fleets that the exercise has ended and REDFOR won the naval exercise.
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Analysis of slicers
Slicers are very useful in messing and interrupting orders from C and C. It can force selected unit to issue a command that cannot be used or block targets from using planned commands. Having redundant slicers on the field is useful as they either can be used on the same ship and/or hack various 2 ships at the same time.
Analysis of target scramblers
Target scramblers are useful if and only if enemy is shooting at point blank range. The only ones that will be fully affected by this would be our GSDs and Rebel's MC 30. Viable it maybe, I do not see enemy ships getting into point blank range. Very likely, our Rebel enemies may continue attacking us from long to medium range. Unless we force our ships to enter their point blank range, target scramblers seems situational. It might prove it's worth when fitted on our suppression refit Interdictors together with G8
Analysis of G8
Between target scramblers and G8, the latter is more useful than the former. It'll force ships to travel slower when in range and when kept in range, friendly units will find it easier to hit
Analysis of G7
G7 is only useful as an area denial weapon. Beyond that, it's a dead weight. Effects of G7 can be negated by deploying just outside of its area of effect. It's usefulness is highly dependent on the position of asteroids in the operation area
Admiral Screed
Task Force Commander TF 27.2.7 (iTF7)
Edited by cruiser2710
