Javelin. Corp Javelin

[Igax]

[jive]

I like to think of them as bureaucratic failures. The UEE ordered the design of the destroyer but before production, they had to cut back their funding per ship. So they scrapped the original design and came up with something that fit the original production line and met the UEE's new specs. Unfortunately the dorsal section of the ship that mirrored the ventral had to be scrapped, leaving a relatively underarmored and undefended belly with thinner armor.

Helps me sleep at night. =P

[Calignos]

lol

I would imagine, if they give an in-lore reason, to be along the lines of intended fleet formation. Ie. Destroyer is a defensive fleet support ship, and given that the formation it would be in in large scale capital ship battles would best be served by turrets placed on the bow, port and starboard.

There are 5 ATA turrets on the ventral side of the ship, 2 on the front and 3 not visible in most of the concept art. There just happens to be 8 on the Dorsal side. Not a huge discrepancy. Also, one of the class 7's is ventral, though with no vertical rotation, it's not useful for ventral defense.

Boils down to:
4 forward firing turrets (maybe more depending on visibility)
5 port firing turrets (2 fore, 3 port dedicated)
5 starboard firing turrets (2 fore, 3 starboard dedicated)
8 dorsal firing turrets (2 fore, 6 port/starboard)
5 ventral firing turrets (2 fore, 3 ventral)
0 aft

[jive]

[Calignos]

[EchoSeven]

How might this affect how we deploy & use the Jav?

[jive]

It basically means that the Javelin should be the spearhead of the fleet (...drum-kick).

Puns aside, fielding it forward and slightly above it's escort provides the best defensive formation for the destroyer itself. By having the bulk of the fleet slightly below and behind the craft, it is able to focus on offense while the support craft can cover its rear and ventral weak spots.

In the absence of larger cap ships, two to three Constellations would probably be great support for a Javelin. They are fast and have strong anti-fighter/bomber ordinance. If they hang around the flanks of the ship, they could fend off the strongest threats to the destroyer's safety.

The ship itself is a barreling juggernaut compared to most opposition, barring a large Vanduul capship or a player org escort carrier. But I would also be wary of spinal mounts on Idris-M frigates, which may be faster and quicker to acquire a firing solution than the Jav's own torpedo bays.

The primary role of the Javelin is that it will cut through enemy fighter screens. Once fully equiped we may find we have enough force to capture a space station early in the PU. I believe this was the intent of making the hangar designed around the Redeemer. A static-emplacement boarding vessel is necessary once the fleet reaches the station.

Hope that helps spark your thinking!

[Calignos]

Completely agree that the Javelin needs to be front and center. Constellations and Idrises would be great to have slightly back in the formation, or perhaps whatever the Corvette turns out to be, assuming it has anti-fighter coverage as well.

While I do think an Idris-M with it's Rail Gun provides a threat to the Destroyer, I think the 2 Class 7's on the Javelin provide a greater threat to the 1 Class 7 on the Idris. I would also assume that the Idris Rail Gun isn't a quick reload weapon, while the Class 7's on the Destroyer appear to be more typical anti-capital turret. This I think would allow the Javelin to keep constant anti-capital fire on the Frigate, as opposed to occasional bursts from the Frigate.

The Idris would also have to keep the Javelin in a direct line for the spinal mounted rail gun to hit, this should make for easy targeting by the Torpedos.

All that being said, an Idris-M shouldn't be ignored.

[EchoSeven]

So then Idris M's are the key targets to take down in engagements, which makes what ships most valuable to us? It seems Gladiators and Retaliators will have those birds (Idris M's) to pick off..

[jive]