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Auto-targetting missiles versus drones?
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Bata Kylarro
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#1 - 2013-10-30 16:44:26 UTC
Can a missile boat (launchers only, no power drain high slot) heavy missiles succesfully defend against active ECM drones with FoF missiles (targetting range 114 km) + dps approx. 390? In this case a Cerberus vs. a BC (drone capacity 50).

Due to its long targetting range (over 100 km) and speed the Cerberus can keep range of the BC and any launched ECM enemy drones will first be targetted with webifier + scourge fury heavy missiles, but if they close in and become active (the ECM drones) than the remaining defence are the FoF-missiles which have to take out the ECM drones before the BC closes in with its power drain.

So,my question: can the FoF (auto targetting missiles) succesfully do that, would it be a viable strategy/tactics or would it be better (in this specific case) to avoid engagements with the BC's?
RavenPaine
RaVeN Alliance
#2 - 2013-10-30 22:02:32 UTC
You have some contradictory info in your question, sorta.

If you can kite the BC at 100, his drone control range will probably be 60 km max. He couldn't even set them on you.
If they get close enough for you to web them, They will be close enough to jam you, so web will dis-engage.
In most cases, you would shoot drones with Faction or Javelin missiles, not Furies.
Jammed or not, you should still be able to control range, so you can gtfo if needed.
But remember, range works both ways, if you can't tackle him, he will also have the option to just warp away.
If you're actually tackled:
FoF missiles work with well tanked ships. For something as thin as the Cerb hull, I think you will be dead before you can switch ammo and actually kill anything.
Baron' Soontir Fel
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#3 - 2013-10-30 23:40:41 UTC
While FoFs will be your best chance at getting away from/killing dishonor drones, I really don't think Heavy Missiles will hit drones well. You're going to be spending a lot of time just trying to kill those drones.
Bata Kylarro
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#4 - 2013-10-31 02:06:01 UTC
Thanks for your confirmation adn clarification: yes, I feared the Cerberus had a really serious Achilles' Heel there: though reaching easily micro warp speed over 2000 ms and superb targetting range and great dps (HM 570 w/o OH and HAM approx 800 w/o OH) it somehow remains just a "hit & run vessel" not being capable of doing any serious damage.

And if closing in for a real fight...well...some cheap ECM-drones would easily cripple it down first...and subsequently any ship being able to fit a cheap power drain would close in and powerdrain the Cerberus (which having no defences at that point whatsoever) and take the Cerberus out. Such would be childs play for any oppenent, obviously.

Yes, I feared this would be the case. Actually I asked this question on behalf of some one else: that person has lined up 5x Cerberus (3x HAM + 2x HM) fitted for 480mil. each to be used as some adventurous vessels, focussed on conducting real entertaining solo fighting in low-sec. Clearly that person was mistaken. I will advise that person to strip those ships down and sell them at Jita for say 150 mil each.

Again, thanks for taking your time to confirm and clarify.
Chessur
Full Broadside
Deepwater Hooligans
#5 - 2013-10-31 04:00:13 UTC
Bata Kylarro wrote:
Thanks for your confirmation adn clarification: yes, I feared the Cerberus had a really serious Achilles' Heel there: though reaching easily micro warp speed over 2000 ms and superb targetting range and great dps (HM 570 w/o OH and HAM approx 800 w/o OH) it somehow remains just a "hit & run vessel" not being capable of doing any serious damage.

And if closing in for a real fight...well...some cheap ECM-drones would easily cripple it down first...and subsequently any ship being able to fit a cheap power drain would close in and powerdrain the Cerberus (which having no defences at that point whatsoever) and take the Cerberus out. Such would be childs play for any oppenent, obviously.

Yes, I feared this would be the case. Actually I asked this question on behalf of some one else: that person has lined up 5x Cerberus (3x HAM + 2x HM) fitted for 480mil. each to be used as some adventurous vessels, focussed on conducting real entertaining solo fighting in low-sec. Clearly that person was mistaken. I will advise that person to strip those ships down and sell them at Jita for say 150 mil each.

Again, thanks for taking your time to confirm and clarify.



You are wrong, just flat our wrong. All of your assumptions are farce, because you should never be piloting an HML / HAM cerb in the first place. RLM cerb will be one shotting ECM drones from 75K. ECM drones do not counter HACs, they counter everything. However that being said- HAC's have a much higher sensor strength than most other cruisers, so you do have a lower % chance of getting jammed.

You are correct, strip down those cerbs, and then fit RLMs- don't sell them in jita.
Stalking Mantis
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#6 - 2013-10-31 11:26:56 UTC
One:

You need to really look into and understand explosion radius on missles like HAMS and HML's. THEN you need to look at the signature radius of a drone. Then how fast the drone is moving i.e. how fast it will leave the explosion radius. OR you can just take out word for it and realize HMLS and HAMS (auto targeting or not) will do diddly squat damage to a drone going full speed.

Two:

Train the appropriate (as per your sensor type) sensor compensation skill and you will find being jammed is not as common as before.

Three:
If you REALLY hate being jammed then look into implants. Talons for Caldari.

Four:
If at all possible fit an eccm mod or a low sensor strength booster (again as per your race). Flying a long range CERB i'm sure you can spare an extra low slot.

Peace.

Amarr Liason Officer Extraordinare -->Check Out Amarrian Vengeance/Amarr FW History from 2011 to 2014 https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=352629&find=unread
Stalking Mantis
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#7 - 2013-10-31 11:28:58 UTC
Almost forgot.

Did you ever see what a smart bomb (even a small one) does to drones? Blink

Amarr Liason Officer Extraordinare -->Check Out Amarrian Vengeance/Amarr FW History from 2011 to 2014 https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=352629&find=unread
Bata Kylarro
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#8 - 2013-10-31 14:02:36 UTC
#5 Chessur: RLM launchers...certainly interesting to look into. Saw 2x promising loadouts on Battleclinic. Thank for the advise.

#6 & #7 Mantis: Thank you for the constructive input, will certainly look into it.