Overview
A guide to the classifying ships based on both real world examples and fictional examples.
Intro
Disclaimer: this guide is dated and contains errors. A completely new guide is in progress and will be up as soon as I finish it. 🙂
This guide was made for players whom want to add some role playing into their ships and want to make ships based on ship classes found both in real life and fiction. I was inspired to make this guide after looking at a guide to ship naming and I would highly recommend it. These Classes are inspired by real life with modifications from myself. I currently have no pictures to display for the classes and would greatly appreciate if some readers would send me some screenshots of their own creations to use. (credit would be given) Brought to you by APEX Space Weapons Solutions INC.
Terminology
Battery– A group of guns, launchers, etc…
Lightly Armored– Protected by light armor blocks used
Medium Armor– Protected by a combination of light and heavy armored blocks used with light armor being used more
Heavily armored– Protected by a majority of heavy armor
Torpedoes- Player made weapon that is “flown/guided” to target, cylindrical in shape, sometimes armed with a warhead. ( Guided missiles etc..)
Railgun– Player made weapon that launches objects using gravity and mass. (Mass Accelerator Cannons, etc..) small= less than or equal to 1/4 the size of the ship, Medium sized= less than half the size of the ship while large sized means greater than half the size of the ship.
Artillery- player made weapon turrets designed for engaging enemy ships. (For me its batteries you would see on a WWII Battleships
Ship docking bays– Where ships are stored and maintained. In addition to where players can board a ship.
Air– Small ships such as fighters, bombers, intercepted, gunships, etc…
CIWS– Close In Weapon System, designed to take out incoming enemy missiles but are useful for shooting down enemies.
SAMS- Surface to Air Missiles, made to shoot down enemy air but also works similar to the Gatling turret.
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses– (SEAD) , the tactic or weapon designed to to overwhelm or take out enemy defenses ( see small ships)
Electronic Counter Measures– (ECM) defeating, countering or rendering enemy missiles useless through the use of decoys or other electronic means.
Electronic warfare- Tactic involving jamming, destroying, hacking or using enemy electronics against them.
Small Ships
Fighters– small ships designed to be fast and maneuverable. They are made to engage other small ships in addition to escorting bombers. Fighter engage in close range battles with their Gatling Guns and rockets.
Bombers– Small ships Designed to attack large ships and space stations utilizing bombs, rockets torpedoes, and their Gatling Guns if needed (Gatling Guns are optional on bombers). Bombers typically target priority targets such as Thrusters, Command Bridges, communications systems, and primary weapons systems. Skilled pilots will take out reactors or solar panels first to shut down the enemies mobility and ability to efficiently defend.
Interceptors– Small ships designed to engage other small ships from a medium to long range. Interceptors are primarily tasked with taking out bombers and eliminating fighters from a distance. They are different from fighters in the fact that they are less maneuverable but fast and that they are equipped with multiple missile launchers to engage the enemy far before it is close enough to be a threat. A secondary role they take is intercepting and eliminating Torpedoes.
SEAD/ECM Ships– Small heavy ships designed for destroying enemy Defenses and jamming electronics. These ships will deploy decoys to draw the fire of enemy CIWS and SAMS and then destroy these weapons. Use of decoy varies but some known examples are: Decoy torpedoes (torpedoes equipped with heavy armor and a decoy but no explosives), Decoy swarm (Releasing 10+ decoys at enemy overwhelming defenses, a clever tactic would be to attach a beacon to the decoys and naming them “bomber 1”, “bomber 2″… driving the enemy into focusing fire on decoys), or decoys encased in heavy armor on the SEAD/ECM Ship away from vital systems (not recommended)
Gunships– small heavily armored and armed ships designed to provide support to a landing party. These ships can be brought in, after enemy air defenses are destroyed, to assist in the destruction of enemy units. These can also double as landing/boarding crafts.
Drop ships/Transport ships– small ships designed to deliver troops, supplies or ground vehicles (if they aren’t capable of self transport). These are best used for boarding parties.
MedEvac ships– small ships designed to serve as respawn points, healing stations, or evacuation for casualties
Corvettes
Corvettes are small to mid-sized, fast, lightly armored ships designed to out-maneuver enemy battle groups and engage in close range in addition to taking out enemy air targets. Corvettes are armed with 8 Gatling turrets 4 missile turrets, one missile battery and a torpedo launcher (optional). They are equipped with a mid range antenna 2 transport ships and a beacon laying team. The corvettes can also function as intelligence ships, gathering information and using beacons (laid by either ground teams or other methods such as bombers.) to relay information or designate targets for the longer range missiles, torpedoes, railguns or artillery to strike. Corvettes are essential to any fleet since they get close to the enemy, destroy enemy air, and function as a quick strike vessel.
Frigates
Frigates are medium sized and armored ships designed to engage enemy ships at close to mid-ranged combat. Frigates come armed with 1-2 mid sized railguns (or 20 Gatling guns if using small ship parts), 2 missile batteries (one on each side for broadsides) 4 CIWS turrets and 2 missile turrets. They are equipped with a mid ranged antenna, and a docking bay holding 2 fighters. Frigates are the backbone of most fleets, using their main gun batteries to damage enemy ships from mid range and relying on their broadside batteries for close range engagements. Why guns for mid range and missiles for close range on frigates you ask? Enemy CIWS will destroy missiles launched from a distance efficiently but it cant target bullets and rail guns are very hard to fire at close range and rockets are harder to block when they are too close.
Cruiser
Cruisers are medium sized and armored ships designed to unleash missiles and torpedoes at large ships and stations from mid to long range. They are armed with 4-10 missile batteries, 2-4 torpedo launchers, 8 Gatling turrets and 2 missile turrets. In addition Cruisers are equipped with long range antennas and 2 medium sized hanger bays loaded with 4 gunship transports and 2 fighters. Cruisers are made to swarm stations and ships with missiles and then precision strikes from torpedoes to follow the initial missile salvo. Cruisers are not well equipped to defending against enemy air and should thus be escorted by either Corvettes or Destroyers at all times. Cruisers excel in providing fire support to the the forward units and when coordinated with a forward strike groups of Frigates and Corvettes, it will become a lethal instrument of mass damage.
Destroyer
Destroyers are heavily armored mid-sized ships that are made to protect the main battle group while still possessing the capabilities to press an offensive. Destroyers are armed with 1 medium railgun, 2 torpedo launchers, 3 rocket batteries, 10 Gatling turrets, and 8 missile turrets. Destroyers are also equipped with 1 close to medium range antenna in addition to 1 large hanger bay with 4 gunship transports, and 2 interceptors. Destroyers are crucial for the defense of any battle group that has at least 1 carrier. Destroyers are made to take beatings and defend against aircraft while having the ability to accurately fire ordinance in support of the front line.
Battlecruisers
Battlecruisers are heavily armored large ships designed to support their smaller sister ships, the cruisers, in the task of inflicting massive quantities of damage to ships and stations. Battlecruisers are armed with a massive array of weaponry including: 2 heavy artillery batteries, 2 medium rail guns, 4 torpedo launchers, 5 missile batteries, 20 Gatling turrets, and 8 missile turrets and a mine layer.. It also is equipped with hanger bay occupied by 2 large transport ships to ferry supplies and evacuate the crew in the event of an emergency. The battlecruiser is an impressive hulking piece of f*** you and everyone around you. This machine of ultimate destruction is made for pummeling ships and stations marked by beacons. This ship comes just a little short from the almighty queen of destruction: the Battleship.
The Battleship
Battleships are heavily armored, massive sized capitol ships created for the sole purpose is to bring as many weapons to the battlefield as possible. Battleships don’t mess around and are armed with 6 heavy rotating artillery turrets ( look at WWII battleships), 1 Heavy rail gun, 2 medium rail guns, 4 torpedo launchers, 20 missile batteries, 100 Gatling turrets, and 50 missile turrets. In addition the Battleship comes equipped with decoy launchers, 1 long range antenna, 3 hanger bays (rear,port and starboard) occupied by 4 gunships and 2 MedEvac ships. This ship is made for dominating the battle-space with its unmatched array of weapons. The battleship can be used as a command and control ship and should come equipped with a medical bay.
Amphibious Carrier
Amphibious light Carriers are mid-sized and medium armored ships designed as for carrying a boarding groups. They are only armed with 10 defensive Gatling turrets and 5 missile turrets. However they make up for their lack of weapons by having the capacity to carry 20 transport ships, 10 SEAD/ECM ships, 5 MedEvac ships and 2 hull breacher ships. In addition the ships have 1 long range antenna and 2 medical stations. These ships can be used in both stealthful sneak attacks and loud full on assaults to deploy boarding parties.
Carriers
Carriers are large heavily armored ships that carry a large array of small ships. Carriers are only armed with 40 Gatling Turrets and 10 missile turrets. However they carry 20 fighters, 15 bombers, 10 interceptors, 20 gunships, 20 transports and 20 MedEvac ships. In addition carriers are equipped with 1 long ranged antenna. Carriers give fleets larger ranged strike capabilities thus enhancing the effectiveness of the fleet. Carriers however are very vulnerable to attack and should always be escorted by at least 1 destroyer.
Supercarriers
Supercarriers are massive, heavily armored ships that act as a mobile base for fleet offensives. These massive ships are equipped with hanger bays capable of holding 230 small ships total. In a standard strike configuration super carriers hold 50 fighters, 30 bombers, 25 Interceptors, 5 SEAD/ECM ships, 50 gunships, 50 transports and 20 MedEvac ships. The Super carrier is a floating city with 2 long range antennas, 1 medium range antenna and 5 short range antennas (role playing purposes), 5 medical bays, 4 large escape pods, and decoy ECMs. The Super Carrier is a game changing vessel that is capable of unparalleled domination. Rumor has it a Battleship/Supercarrier hybrid is in the works at APEX Space Weapons Systems INC. and will be available holiday season 2015 in the Steam workshop
End Remarks
The picture used to the left of this guide’s title was found at :{LINK REMOVED} Source
Or just google StarDestroyer….
I really hope you enjoy this guide to APEX Space Weapons Solutions INC.’s guide to classifying ships… Yes that’s the Role playing name of my in game Space Engineers role play company.