Space Combat and the use of Starfighters

[Rodglas]

In the thread for my Battleship Mod the topic came up concerning the use of fighters in space combat.

I suggested that fighters are of arguable utility in space combat, and as people were quick to defend starfighters I thought a seperate topic might be worthwhile.

So what do you think and why...

Rod

 

[Knight]

I think it depends greatly on the kind of fighter, and the kind of mission its deployed on as to how useful they are. We've seen fighters used both effectively, and ineffectively, and even somewhere in between.

For example, in Star Wars they tend to use fighters for everything, including anti capital ship combat, hence carrying proton torpedos, and are thus seen to be used in combat with great effectiveness.

In Andromeda, fighters are used ... well, in huge space battles they seem somewhat ineffective (for example against pyrian warships), however, we've also seen them used effectively for penetrating planetary defenses that would pulverise the Andromeda.

And in BSG, they are somewhere in the middle... i think the Viper's would be very ineffective against cylon basestars, but we've seen them to be effective in defending the fleet from cylon fighters and some missiles...

 

[Majestic]

I think it depends greatly on the kind of fighter, and the kind of mission its deployed on as to how useful they are. We've seen fighters used both effectively, and ineffectively, and even somewhere in between.

For example, in Star Wars they tend to use fighters for everything, including anti capital ship combat, hence carrying proton torpedos, and are thus seen to be used in combat with great effectiveness.

In Andromeda, fighters are used ... well, in huge space battles they seem somewhat ineffective (for example against pyrian warships), however, we've also seen them used effectively for penetrating planetary defenses that would pulverise the Andromeda.

And in BSG, they are somewhere in the middle... i think the Viper's would be very ineffective against cylon basestars, but we've seen them to be effective in defending the fleet from cylon fighters and some missiles...

Yeah what he ^ said.

 

[Rodglas]

This article sums up the counter arguement better then I ever could

http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/rocket3x.html#fighters

Its from Atomic Rockets.

I personally like the space fighter as a dramtic instrument but I do not see it a practical in a real world context.

Rod

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

I agree with Rod and the Atomic Rocket article here.

A fighter could probably not provide enough protection against the hazards of space. Retrieval and Launch "costs" are in no way proportional to the amount of possible weapons carrierc etc pp.

 

[Steven Kodaly]

In terms of sheer practicality, I agree with you, Rodglas. Fighters require more maintenance than unmanned, throwaway missles. If one is defending a relatively stationary target, however (e.g. Babylon 5) then some sort of mobile defensive force could be quite useful. A number of the objections raised were concerning how to get a fighter to and from the enemy; if the enemy can be depended upon to come to you, that should help.

Of course, there are some questions that need to be answered:
1) What is the effective range of your weapon?
2) How is that weapon controlled? Is it completely autonomous, depends entirely upon the mothership, or something in-between?
3) Given the above answers, is there an appreciable communications lag between the weapon and it's control?
4) How is your weapons platform powered and propelled?

And, perhaps the most important question:
5) What's your cash-flow like? What kind of space-borne military craft can you afford to build, crew and maintain?

Given what I read at the link you provided, Rodglas, I have to state that the pinnace is the Honorverse's closest equivalent to a fighter craft. The LAC (Light Attack Craft) does not qualify, and is in fact closer to a miniature starship in its construction; it is designed for protracted deployment, with a power plant and propulsion system rendering it capable of crossing a star system and coming back to its starting point. Being able to harness artificial gravity waves helps in that regard.

This holds true even in later Honor Harrington novels, where massive redesigns occur in LAC construction - treating it more like a fighter, in fact - with some types brought down to operational periods of seventy two hours.

Given the fire envelopes in the Honorverse, the limits of lightspeed communications become quite apparent - at least, when participating in a missile duel at three light-minutes. Having a less capable sensor package and targeting computer at a closer range is, under such circumstances, a potentially acceptable trade-off. And considering the acceleration rates for a LAC, if you can provide lots of them, the enemy finds himself under a missile or energy barrage at fairly close range, with less time to react and more targets - and their accompanying jammers and decoys - to sort out.

Of course, if you've read Honor of the Queen, then you know that there are ways around the lightspeed limit . . .

 

[Jaing Skirata]

I have. Pulsing waves.... like Morse Code. Anyway, fighters serve several purposes.

1. Unlike a missile's computer, a fighter pilot cannot be jammed.
2. Fighters can pack a heavier punch and durability than a missile.
3. Fighters generally have better propulsion and endurance than a missile.
4. They are relatively easy to mass produce, like a missile. And god knows none of us would like hoards of either of them after us!

 

[La Patience]

Well after seeing how you should and should not use fighters i believe it depends entirly on the mission:

fighters are not a good option against a huge load of starships howver they are small and more manuverable and thus can be used as bait ( a bit risky but usfull none the less ) however most poeple can tell when there being lured hee.

Fighters are a good obtion if you have huge squadrons of them with good pilots and good weapons but like as not itll cost you much so basicaly its all down to MONEY hee sad really but very true.

anyway me personaly don't like fighter because they dont have the protection of starships or the firepower and id rather use starships anyway but thats just my oppinion hee.

Hope you don't mind my imput.

 

[Phoenix]

All of you have to admit one thing:
A capital ship can only go in so far. A fighter can, if of the correct size, get in close and nail vulnerable points before the enemy even knows they are there, depending on said fighter's stealth of course, which can bring the so-loved capital ship to its proverbial knees.

And then, there's always the Death Stars......

 

[La Patience]

You do make a good point although i would have thought that the emporer would have made ammendments to the decine ater the first ones destructon to fighters heh.

 

[Phoenix]

I'd think so too! Firstly, not so many open spaces inside, and secondly.....A LOT MORE ANTI-FIGHTER LASER ARRAYS!!!!