Space Command - Full Thrust space combat system

We are aware that some of you may already be experienced fighter commanders or simply keen to get to the heart of the matter. If this is the case we would recommend familiarising yourselves with sections 4 & 6 at least. We obviously hope, however, that you will find time to study all of the sections and find some new insights there. We are all students in the never ending lessons of war and as my deck officer is fond of telling his subordinates "a closed mind is like a Phalon fighter crew - a load of inanimate matter sitting around inside some gloop waiting for someone to tell it what to do…" Well, enough said.

1.INTRODUCTION

Like it or not the fighter has become an inescapable part of space combat. Whether in an assault role or as part of a defensive strategy this versatile weapon has become a vital part of most fleet commanders' offensive/defensive planning.

Of course like all tools they require some skill and understanding on the part of the user. Unsupported or isolated they can become as worthless as the career prospects of the commander who got them into that situation. However, used with the correct timing and properly supported, they are a deadly weapon that is both flexible and adaptable.

History is replete with relevant examples:

Henry's bowmen at Agincourt (25th October 1415) repelled an army 5 times the size of Henry's. But the much vaunted English Longbow, like any other weapon system, was only as good as its application. Henry's tactics were carefully considered. His position between two woods and his placing of the archers on his flanks created a concentrated kill zone that the French only realised too late.

Consider the entrenched French anti-tank forces in 1940, rendered completely useless by the surprise attack of thicker armoured German tanks from an unexpected area, not slowed down by the infantry that text books claimed were always needed to accompany them. With no massed French armour to respond in kind, the highly mobile German force was soon behind the French lines - a shocking and sudden introduction to a new kind of warfare called "blitzkrieg" or "lightning strike". This tactic was also well applied by combined Chinese and North Korean forces in 2046 in the taking of South Korea's capital.

July 10th 1940. Hitler's plan to invade Britain depends on the destruction of British Fighter Command and its ability to protect the English Channel. Now famously known as "The Battle of Britain" this phase of WW2 saw concentrated bombing of cities and supply lines, and an attempt to destroy the RAF and its airfields en masse. Bizarrely this tactic was a return to a form of attack already proven to be outdated by the very army now readopting it (see above). Britain's response was to use everything in its power to wear down the would-be invaders. The spitfire, despite its excellent performance and more importantly the brave pilots who flew it, did not save Britain alone. Organised anti aircraft defence, naval defence, propaganda and judicious use of airpower wore down the Luftwaffe before they could complete their objective.

All of the above show us that it is not the weapon but its tactical application that has the final say in how successful it is. Henry did not rely solely on the superiority of the English Longbow but did what he could to negate the French numerical advantage before an arrow was even fired. The German commanders did not trust their success only to their new improved armour but created a fast, mobile force to attack the French in an area where they could not effectively test it. And the RAF did not put all their hopes in the superiority of the Spitfire, but in a raft of defensive measures all designed to help give their pilots the upper hand.

Successful fighter application is no different and the aim of this brief guide to fighter combat in the 22nd Century is to help prospective commanders better understand how to deploy this effective, highly mobile and little understood weapon in combination with all the resources available in today's fleets.

>> 2.Fighter Threat


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FULL THRUST AERONEF BATTLEGROUP PANZER GRENADIER BATTLETECH FISTFUL OF TOWs FULL THRUST GENERAL DE BRIGADE HAMMER SLAMMERS FULL THRUST MENU HOME SCENARIOS GALLERY BATTLE REPORTS DOWNLOADS & ARTICLES	FIGHTER SCHOOL By Commander Toby R. *PREFACE* Welcome to Fighter School Commander. We hope you will find the information here useful in your ongoing operations and ever increasing challenges of your particular command. As we are sure you know there is no "colour by numbers" method for every tactical situation, but knowledge is power and it is with this in mind that we hope you will find the contents of this resource both useful and insightful.	1.Introduction *2.Fighter Threat* *3.What can Fighters do for me* *4.Anti-Fighter Weapons Systems* *5.Carrier and Fighter Types* *6. Fighter Tactics*
Several opposing fighter groups engaged in a dog fight. This common feature of space combat is affectionately called a "Furball" by pilots and crews due to its appearance from distance. The group in the background have just arrived on the scene and consequently are still in formation and the number of explosions suggests this is a particularly bloody encounter. "...it is not the weapon but its tactical application that has the final say in how successful it is."	We are aware that some of you may already be experienced fighter commanders or simply keen to get to the heart of the matter. If this is the case we would recommend familiarising yourselves with sections 4 & 6 at least. We obviously hope, however, that you will find time to study all of the sections and find some new insights there. We are all students in the never ending lessons of war and as my deck officer is fond of telling his subordinates "a closed mind is like a Phalon fighter crew - a load of inanimate matter sitting around inside some gloop waiting for someone to tell it what to do…" Well, enough said. 1.INTRODUCTION Like it or not the fighter has become an inescapable part of space combat. Whether in an assault role or as part of a defensive strategy this versatile weapon has become a vital part of most fleet commanders' offensive/defensive planning. Of course like all tools they require some skill and understanding on the part of the user. Unsupported or isolated they can become as worthless as the career prospects of the commander who got them into that situation. However, used with the correct timing and properly supported, they are a deadly weapon that is both flexible and adaptable. History is replete with relevant examples: Henry's bowmen at Agincourt (25th October 1415) repelled an army 5 times the size of Henry's. But the much vaunted English Longbow, like any other weapon system, was only as good as its application. Henry's tactics were carefully considered. His position between two woods and his placing of the archers on his flanks created a concentrated kill zone that the French only realised too late. Consider the entrenched French anti-tank forces in 1940, rendered completely useless by the surprise attack of thicker armoured German tanks from an unexpected area, not slowed down by the infantry that text books claimed were always needed to accompany them. With no massed French armour to respond in kind, the highly mobile German force was soon behind the French lines - a shocking and sudden introduction to a new kind of warfare called "blitzkrieg" or "lightning strike". This tactic was also well applied by combined Chinese and North Korean forces in 2046 in the taking of South Korea's capital. July 10th 1940. Hitler's plan to invade Britain depends on the destruction of British Fighter Command and its ability to protect the English Channel. Now famously known as "The Battle of Britain" this phase of WW2 saw concentrated bombing of cities and supply lines, and an attempt to destroy the RAF and its airfields en masse. Bizarrely this tactic was a return to a form of attack already proven to be outdated by the very army now readopting it (see above). Britain's response was to use everything in its power to wear down the would-be invaders. The spitfire, despite its excellent performance and more importantly the brave pilots who flew it, did not save Britain alone. Organised anti aircraft defence, naval defence, propaganda and judicious use of airpower wore down the Luftwaffe before they could complete their objective. All of the above show us that it is not the weapon but its tactical application that has the final say in how successful it is. Henry did not rely solely on the superiority of the English Longbow but did what he could to negate the French numerical advantage before an arrow was even fired. The German commanders did not trust their success only to their new improved armour but created a fast, mobile force to attack the French in an area where they could not effectively test it. And the RAF did not put all their hopes in the superiority of the Spitfire, but in a raft of defensive measures all designed to help give their pilots the upper hand. Successful fighter application is no different and the aim of this brief guide to fighter combat in the 22nd Century is to help prospective commanders better understand how to deploy this effective, highly mobile and little understood weapon in combination with all the resources available in today's fleets. *>> 2.Fighter Threat*	German armour 1939 The iconic spitfire was not enough to win the Battle of Britain alone.
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FULL THRUST

FIGHTER SCHOOL

1.INTRODUCTION