[HS] CEU Wildcat MLRS Corvette [MLCRV]

No Mods, Survival Capable

Missile System will only work in Develop due to current bugs with timers in Stable

This ship looks much better with the Clean Armor Mod: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=826432792

Ship Details

Class: Wildcat Type: Corvette Role: Anti-Frigate/Destroyer/Cruiser, Offensive ECM Environment: Space Crew: 3

Details

• Mass: 1,357,625Kg
• Block Count: 1250
• Length: 85m
• Width: 52.5m
• Height: 22.5m
• Maximum Forward Acceleration: 16.33m/s/s

Weapon & Support Systems

• 2 x Eviscerator MLRS (12 Optically Guided Micro Missiles Each)
• 2 x Missile Turret
• 2 x Gatling Turret
• 4 x Point Defence Turrets
• 1 x Jumpdrive
• 3 x Cryo Chamber
• Pressurised Interior with Airlock

Description

The Wildcat Corvette is a long range artillery Corvette with Twin Multiple Rocket Launch Systems. Each “Eviscerator” MLRS is capable of reloading, firing and guiding twelve optically guided missiles (MGASP). Both launchers are fired simultaneously and the resultant swarm of twenty four missiles is capable of causing chaos for AI defences.

The Wildcat was originally conceived as a Offensive ECM ship, built to distract enemy defences to allow heavier payloads to hit their targets, however during the construction it became apparent that not only did the ECM missiles cause significant damage on their own, they could also be improved with optical guidance. This provides two main benefits; The system can be used as a standalone weapon capable of hitting faster ships than a dumbfire system and the guided missiles are more useful as an ECM as they can remain in close proximity to their target.

This advanced weapon system allows the Wildcat to cause significant problems for ships much larger than itself and is especially effective versus the light armour of Frigates, Light Cruisers and some Destroyers. However, due to the light construction of the missiles, they are less effective than traditional GASPs vs heavy armour. The Wildcat is also lightly armoured with minimal defensive weaponry and should engage targets from well outside enemy turret range. This Corvette is best used in conjunction with other PMW equipped ships such as the Vulture Missile Boat or Scarab Strike Bomber to ensure their payloads reach the target. For more advanced pilots, the Wildcat's missiles can be used as a screen for direct attack ships such as the Puma and Snow Leopard corvettes.

Instructions

• Missile Controls are set up in the flight seat on the upper level
• Blueprint has missiles preloaded
• Press Toolbar 1 to view Targeting Camera.
• Press Toolbar 2 to fire missiles
• Press Toolbar 3 to reload
• Do not fire or reload while moving
• Press Toolbar 4 to stock the launcher with uranium
• Use the ships orientation to guide the missiles.

Known Issues

• Missile system does not work in stable due to timer bugs.
• The sheer number of missiles means your sim speed will drop if you don't clean up your world. If this happens the missile system will start to fall under Clang's spell.
• *While this ship theoretically works in survival, I wouldn't rely on it. Refit with rockets if you like the hull.
• Clang is watching, always.
• I did say it was experimental. :D

Background

The end of the Europa Conflict brought new land and trade for the CEU, but also taught the Union important lessons in Space Combat. While effective in the belt, the hit and run tactics most commonly used be the CEU Navy proved ineffective vs the disciplined crews of the Phoenix Republic's Heavy Fleet. Countless lives were lost in futile attacks against tightly packed Phoenix Capital vessels and while the CEU's ECM systems were able to negate some of the firepower of the massed enemy guns, the PR's strong defences were still able to intercept the heavy weapons of the CEU Navy, greatly reducing the effectiveness of the Belt's Torpedo Boats and Attack Ships. This led to a desperate battle to survive for House Tokugawa's space fleets and had it not been for House York's intervention in the later part of the war, the conflict could have ended in defeat.

Needless to say, this situation created great unease in the Belt, if the CEU could not conclusively beat another outer system faction, how could it hope to stand against the might of Terra? Whatever credits could be spared were spent on the research and development of new weapons, but to no avail.

However fate was on the side of Ceres. The Third Martian War erupted not long after the Europa Conflict. The war virtually consumed the major factions of Terra, as well as costing the Phoenix Republic significant materials. The Belt's own Amphion was also drawn into the conflict, but without formal assistance from the CEU. While these factions fought for the ruins of Mars, the Belt remained largely untouched. Through war profiteering, arms sales and increasing resource costs, the CEU was able to acquire much needed capital to replace that which had been recklessly spent on the Europa Conflict.