Now Hear This

Originally posted by Wedge009
I personally don't like corvettes. They don't have the firepower or defences of a true capship, nor the manoeuvrability or speed of even a bomber. The only good thing about them is that they're cheap. Apparently so, anyway.

According to the offcial Plunkett-development history LOAF provided us with, a group of Pirate corvettes destroyed 2 PLunkett-class cruisers and damaged one heavily.
But I agree that in most WC games -if you only go by the stats- the corvettes seem to make no real sense (except maybe the price tag).
 
Ouch! Any ideas just how many corvettes were in this pirate group? Beating up on three Plunketts, with all their firepower and armour, would take a lot of doing.

As for the usefullness of corvettes, I think the torpedo would be a big equaliser when they tangled with larger ships. Their speed and agility would give them a godd chance of getting into firing position first, and a torp spread doesn't care how big you are.

Best, Raptor
 
IIRC the story behind this was that these were the first model of Plunkett, which lacked lower calibur AA guns -- so they were unable to fend off pirates in maneuverable corvettes at short ranges.
 
Here's the story:

The original layout of the Plunkett class cruisers mounted 2 anti-fighter missile turrets in place of the 2 particle cannon turrets on the center pylon. (...)

Shortly after her commisioning, the Plunkett and two sister-ships (Cernan, Borman) were involved in a brief skirmish with a group of pirate corvettes. Through the course of the engagement, the Cernan and the Borman were destroyed as the faster and more manueverable corvettes repeatedly flanked the two cruisers.
The Plunkett was eventually able to force the remaining pirate vessels to disengage, and returned to port with heavy damage. Following this encounter, all the remaining ships in the class were scheduled for refit, which involved removing the two missile turrets, strengthening the pylon and mounting the particle cannons.


I found it a bit strange that two small AA missile turrets were replaced by two massive Anti-Capship gun turrets with no reduction in any other field. Well maybe there were, I just don't know.
 
Originally posted by Raptor
As for the usefullness of corvettes, I think the torpedo would be a big equaliser when they tangled with larger ships.
I suppose that's a good point. Occasionally I would forget that Barracudas in SO mount torpedos, which they launch while I target the fighters first.
 
Back
Top