cthia wrote:I didn't consider a commerce raiding scenario. But do you think that would call for insane numbers of g-torps to be launched? Commerce raiding is an attack on immobile assets. That can be done from afar and much more accurately. How many were used during Oyster Bay?
At any rate, I would expect enormous numbers of them to be used in a defense of Darius. Or during an all out attack on an enemy star system.
However, I was strictly thinking it would only be feasible to recover those launched in their own Home System. In their own back yard.
I remember that the cost of RMN missiles was given at one point. I can't regurgitate those figures on demand, but I remember being shocked at the price tag of a single missile. Especially considering the RMN's habit of using "demonstration launches."
I can't imagine the price tag of a g-torp. And that isn't even considering how limited they might be.
At any rate, if the RMN ever attacks Darius, as I said once before, I don't think round one will go in the RMN's favor. But they will come back with new tactics and loaded for bear. The MA may need their unspent ordnance.
Not necessarily an insane amount. But if the spider was lurking beyond the hyper limit and trying to punch out a convoy that was zig zagging randomly as it headed out system you might want to hit each target ship with at least 2 Gtorps; but because they've got at least as much acceleration as the torp, and are making random course changes, you might want to widely spread extra torps so no mater which way they go some will be within range. I'm thinking possibly up to 16 Gtorps per target -- basically pairs, well out, each 45 degrees around the target -- so no mater which way they break they'll be moving towards at least 1 pair.
But there's no need to waste the Gtorps that the convoy didn't end up dodging into the crosshairs of of -- not when they've got the endurance to turn around and rendezvous with you so you recover them for future use.
Of course a convoy would only be routinely dodging after folks became aware that commerce raiding was being done with invisible (but slow) weapons. So even if a spider equipped force adopted that tactic (and the MAlign might never do so) their first few attacks would catch people entirely by surprise and would have no need to use all those precautionary Gtorps.
But yes, if possible, they'd also want to recover any system defense Gtorps that weren't able to make an intercept before hitting "bingo" and reaching minimum endurance to still be able to make it back to base.