Aotrs Shipyards May 2023 Release: XGA01 Starfleet Wave Three

[Aotrs Shipyards]

Aotrs Shipyards May 2023 Release: XGA01 Starfleet Wave Three

Just in time for their public debut at Partizan this weekend, this month I have for you the third wave of XGA01 vessels!

XGA303 Alien Superdreadnought

These lumbering but powerful vessels are largest XGA01 ship so far observed. The XGA01-SV10-SDN Superdreadnought has a powerful array of weapons.

On the dorsal hull, there is series of three rows of five circular depressions, bearing a resemblance to the “ladder” structure on the dorsal surface of the SV10 vessels. Each of these, however, appears to house a missile system (presumed, but not confirmed, to be a rack rather than a launcher). The battle observations confirmed what was initially suspected. While the missile racks on the SC05-SC-M Missile Scale appear to only have an accuracy envelope of 500 000km, the slightly larger missiles on the SV10-SDN have an accuracy envelope of closer to one million kilometres, very close to Aotrs weapon ranges. These warheads are estimated at a rating of 270-300TXq. The SV10-SDN was observed firing repeated salvos of 75 missiles, decimating the Sorrow Killer vessels.

Nor was this the vessel’s only weapon. The four globular structures at the vessel’s fore are particle accelerators arrays. Unlike those of the smaller SV04-BS Battleship, these appear to be all-aspect systems. Here there is a disparity. Of the three observed vessels, two appeared to have at accuracy envelope of about 500 000 kilometres and a combined out of 4216TXq, but the third appeared to have a 1 million kilometre accuracy envelope and a combined output of 4380TXq. It is believed these are two separate configurations; in all other aspects, they appear to be identical, so the second configuration has been labelled SV-10-SDN-A.

The vessel has a single spinal-mount laser cannon array, the largest weapon of that type so far seen. This enormous weapon has an accuracy envelope of an estimated 1 050 000 kilometres, and an output of 1370TXq all by itself; the fire arc is, of course, by necessity restricted, and further so by the SV10-SDN’s low mobility.

Finally, blasterbeam point defence systems that amount to approximately 6930TXq in combined have been observed across the vessel’s surface. As with most other XGA01 arrays, the precise location of each system is unclear.

The SV10-SDN has a moderate level of protection for a vessel of its size. Both shield and armour integrity rating are respectable – the shields are estimated at approximately 6400TXq and the armour integrity at approximately 5400TXq. However, the vessel is slow and cumbersome, making it a predictable target to hit. It appears to only manage about 50 MEUs at best, with a low acceleration of only 4.7mc. This seems in keeping with many other XGA01 vessels; proportionally under-protected compared to vessels of roughly the same technology. (The similarly-sized Liches’ Wrath has roughly 12% higher-rated shields and armour integrity and almost twice the speed and manoeuvrability.) In the context of the observed vessels being essentially disposable, relatively quickly produced units, this makes a certain degree of sense. However, that such a large vessel is treated in a similar “disposable” fashion rings several alarm bells about the potential size and scale of XGA01 as a power overall. There is an uneasy number of correlations that suggest it might be larger in scope than any other known power.

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XGA302 Alien Shell

The XGA01-SV09-SH Shell is the size of a dreadnought. The vessel appears to be a heavy weapons platform, designed to close to closer range and destroy enemy vessels that the longer range “artillery” ships or lighter vessels have stripped of defences.

Most prominently on the superstructure are five Psionic Sphere Swarm Shooter turrets. These are identical in size and structure those seen on Site Beta, and are likely of comparable output, around 3150TXq in total. This enormous firepower is merely a supplement to the main weapon however. The “rim” of the shell is a single cohesion disrupter array. This titanic weapon system is estimated to have an output of around 7500TXq and an estimated accuracy envelope of perhaps 500 000km. The array likely can only fire in the forward hemisphere, however, judging by the placement.

The cohesion disrupter array must take up at least 20% of the vessel’s mass however, which means it likely has few other weapons than point defence arrays likely at similar in quantity and quality to those of the SV04-BS, which would put them slightly south of 4000TXq in output. This would be roughly consistent with the observed shielding and drive capability. The shields are rated at around 3800TXq. The SV09-SH appears to be very average in acceleration and manoeuvrability. It was observed at an acceleration of 7.1mc and its agility is rated at a conservative 80 MEUs.

Assuming the armour correlates to currently known XGA01 data and doctrine, we estimate the armour integrity rating at around 4000-4400TXq.

The SV09-SH appears very slightly too wide to fit into the shipyard chambers of the size observed at Site Beta. That the difference is only a few metres suggests that if the vessel was intended to fit, it would have been relatively easy to modify. While it is possible the vessel could launch from such a facility on its side (especially considering gravitic drives), it seems unlikely to have been a design consideration, given that for the sake of four or five metres, such a problem could have been averted.

Together with the SV10-SDN Superdreadnought, this indicates – perhaps concerningly – that either XGA01 has built additional, larger facilities, or perhaps has been deploying forces from their home location (perhaps through the K7III-XGS1 portal or something like it).

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XGA304 Alien Conifer-Carrier

The XGA01-SV12-CV “Conifer Carrier” takes its designation from the shape, which bear as passing resemblance to a stereotypically-imagined pine tree. The SV12-CV, as it moniker suggests, is the first dedicated carrier vessel observed in the XGA01 fleet.

Comparatively small for a carrier, the SV12-CV appears to have dedicated the bulk of this mass to that function alone. The drives appear to be quite small, with an estimated acceleration of only 4.2mc and an accompanying rating of only 54 MEUs. It shows the typical ratio of preferred armour-to-shields seen in XGA01 vessels, with an estimated armour integrity rating of around 3200TXq compared to shields of around 2000TXq – significant defences, but with a slow and predictable flight path it would need every last scrap.

Analysis suggests that, like the majority of the XGA01 vessels, it shares the usual level of passive defences. However, it terms of active defence and offense, it appears to only have point-defence blasters with a total of 3960TXq of combined output. While this is about the same as for the other similarly sized XGA01 vessels, the SV12-CV appears to have no other weapon systems at all.

The rest of the vessel appears to be devoted to carrier operations. Each of the three bulbs in the middle of the vessel appears to be a hangar bay. Like the hangars observed on the SV03-CE Collector Ellipsoid, the doors to the hangar bay are seamless and invisible when closed. It is estimated that the vessel carriers approximately three squadron’s worth of fighters. However, it may also serve as something of a troop ship as well. Curiously, the SV12-CV observed was seen releasing a swarm of almost 300 DR12 Sphere Drones from one of its bays.

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XGA002 Alien Fighter

The XGA01-SV11-FA “Fighter” (technically “attack fighter”) is the first XGA01 fighter craft observed. This craft is highly distinctive due to its variable geometry “fins,” a feature not seen in any other XGA01 craft so far. The SV11-FA‘s fins have an unknown function, but which seems to directly affect its speed and manoeuvrability. The current theory is that the fins somewhat modulate the gravitic drive, switching between maximum speed (when “closed”) and maximum agility (when fully “open.”)

We have only minimal data so far, as the SV11-FAs have not been seen at the extreme ends of their fin profiles. However, by calculating the physical limits of how much the fins can move and applying approximate performances we have observed with the attitude of the fins, we can extrapolate what these maximum values could be. This is more approximate towards the “agility” end of the spectrum, since the observations we have of SV114-FA have been primarily at fairly high velocities, as opposed to dogfighting or strafing engagements where maximum manoeuvrability would be most of use.

The projections suggest that, when in the “speed” profile, the SV11-FA’s acceleration may be as much as 64mc with an estimated 480 MEUs. More tentatively, we estimate that in the “manoeuvrability” profile, the SV11-FA could rate up to 720 MEUs, but with an acceleration of only about two-thirds the “speed” profile (around 41-42mc).

The SV11-FA has an XGA01 FTL drive, as evidenced as in neither of the first two sightings (of only three) was a carrier vessel spotted. It is possible, of course, that one or more of the ships spotted with them in the second such encounter are previously unknown carrier configurations, but this seems less likely given the later encounter.

The SV11-FA appears to be a strike fighter. The trilaterally symmetrical “lobes” each carry a single torpedo launcher. These launchers appear to be larger bore than many typical fighters. As XGA01 warhead technology is approximately on parity with Aotrs technology, given the size of the tubes and thus warheads, we estimate their capability at 150-175TXq yield and a tentative Warhead Capacity Rating equivalent of 3 (roughly comparable to the Aotrs HR-2D Horror or SY-4D Slayer). However, given the size of the launchers, it is possible the warhead yield could be significantly higher (comparable to the Slayer) if the warheads are dedicated anti-ship weapons. We do not know yet if XGA01 has hybridised warhead/torpedoes likes the Aotrs S-series, but as their munitions appear to be either missiles or torpedoes in separate weapon systems, intelligence does not believe this as likely.

We expect, given the volume requirements that each tube would carry no more than three (possibly only two) torpedoes each – this would give the SV11-FA slightly more (27) than the comparable standard warhead capacity of the Foul Wing’s bays (24). However, as we have not seen the weapons used in action, this remains somewhat speculative – nor does it account that, like the Aotrs, the XGA01 may utilise a varying number of warheads.

A trio of Psionic Sphere Swarm Shooters are placed in the fighter’s bow. Given the quad-S system has a fairly predictable power curve due to the standard size of the rings, we can give a reasonably confident estimate of each having about 24-26TXq each.

This is considerable firepower, especially coupled with the speed and manoeuvrability, even at the extremes. The estimates of the SV11-FA’s shields and hull armour rating place them at 150-250TXq and 75-150TXq rating respectively, which is about in line with what we would expect from a heavy fighter.

Overall, then, the SV11-FA appears to be an extremely potent vessel, potentially more than a match one-on-one with Aotrs fighters like the Foul Wing. The only saving grace would appear to be that from what we have observed, these fighters are likely drones rather than piloted craft, and do not seem to show significantly greater intelligence than the other XGA01 fleet forces, which would hamper their effectiveness drastically.

Fleet Scale
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1:300th (6mm) Scale
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XGA003 Alien Sphere Drone Swarm

Modeller’s Note: I had to admit defeat with this one: the 36 drones here are merely representative of the swarm. Trying to do anything more “accurate” was too small and impractical, so the swarm is about 1/8th the size if “should” be.

Curiously, the SV12-SV “Conifer Carrier” observed was seen releasing a swarm of XGA01-DR12 Sphere Drones from one of its bays. The DR12s were previously observed during ground operations, essentially infantry-level units with four modular apertures. The Sphere Drones do not have the same level of stealth hull armour as their other XGA01 vessels – simply likely due to their size, so the observing vessel was able to make more sense of their sensor data, especially when compared to the existing data. It appears that for this function, the Sphere Drones have one module for the laser sniper beam previously seen on other observed configurations, and the other three aperture modules appear to be fitted with (slightly outsized) power generators. This enables the Sphere Drones to accelerate up to around 64mc and significantly increases the power of the laser sniper beam. Without the mitigating factor of atmosphere, the laser sniper beams appeared to have an range of about 20 000 kilometres; their accuracy envelope is believed to be much higher, but the beam diffusion become notable apparent beyond this distance, in a rare instance of an actual effective range being shorter than the accuracy envelope. Still, given this is in effect an enhanced infantry rifle beam this is a remarkable improvement. Even so, the Sphere Drones need large numbers to be effective. The single swarm observed was estimated at being 288 units strong.

The price for being able to operate in this fashion is that the Sphere Drones are completely unprotected apart from their default armour – and while this is reasonable compared to infantry weapons, against return fire from starship weapons, it is essentially non-existent. The only protection the DR12 has in this attack pattern is the sheer weight of numbers and the diffusion of the swarm making it slightly harder to hit an individual drone. However, given the proximity of the drones in the swarm and the fragility of the drones compared to even fighter-grade weapons means that even a single shot might penetrate more than one drone.

The agility of the drones in the swarm is very limited, perhaps only 300-400 MEUs; however the swirling mass of the swarm would make dogfighting within the swarm more difficult that this would suggest, sheerly due to the numbers. However, the Sphere Drone’s weapons are poorly suited for engaging highly mobile targets, since they cannot bring their weapons to bear and rely almost entirely on concentrated, coherent fire with their beams to effect serious damage and this scale. Their primary attack pattern appears to be to close to strafing distances (and less) and swarm over a target vessel in clusters, using their laser sniper beams in concert to slice into the vessel a piece at a time.

While they would appear to be quite devastating against capital ships if unimpeded as a collective, serious engagement by anti-fighter weapons is projected to rapidly degrade their ability to inflict such damage.

It has been noted that, should they be able to penetrate a location, the Sphere Drones could essentially conduct a boarding operation all by themselves without the need for an assault ship. Doing would perforce require the drones to lose cohesion in the swarm and their firepower would be dramatically curtailed and in the confines of a ship corridor, they would be much easier targets and vulnerable to small arms. Nevertheless, it remains one more strange tool in the XGA01’s tool box of eccentricities.

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Onto the other main event!

In addition, I have (finally!) released the 3D-printable hex-based flight stands I made during the Great British Flight Stand Shortage. These are being released as a free download at Wargames Vault. I am releasing these under Creative Commons as something of a public service. Should we ever have such a crisis again, there will always be something out there that can readily available that will do the job, if not as efficiently or cost-efficiently as injection moulding. Please do share this around!

You will have seen the printed versions on many of the various releases over the last year or so – notably the Royal Elven Navy from last year was entirely mounted on these as the first test!

You can download the files here.

(Secondarily, this serves as a test-run for doing .stl files, for both Manoeuvre Group to release a set of 3D-printable markers and for eventually the Shipyards selling the files as well.)

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Photos of the Resin versions from Only-Games.

As I mentioned we will be down at Partizan on Sunday, showcasing the XGA01, plus next month’s upcoming merchant vessels, a MASSIVE load of newly laser-cut nebulas in bring some colour variety at long last, plus our old friends the Herosine Empire and some other guys that are also an Empire, from, like, some unknown franchise called space fighting or something…!

Finally, for those of you that don’t follow the moderns releases, I would also like to bring to everyone’s attention the Wargames Directory Miniatures Manufacturers list. This is a listing of all (or at least as many as can be added) figure manufacturers by scale. Here’s the link to the 10mm list.

There is current a listing for 3, 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, 28, 30, 32, 40 and 54mm manufacturers (but not for starships specifically, at the moment). As a hobby, we distinctly lack any kind of centralised website of basis for this kind of thing, so the more we share this around, the better it is for everyone. Feel free to inform your favourite wargames Youtubers and let’s see if we can get plenty of eyes on it!

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