Spring Y170: Campaign for the Duke's Starbase

 The Klingons are throwing everything they have in the northern theatre at the Duke's Starbase:

As usual the defending Kzinti forces are very powerful because of the station and their fighters, while the attacking Klingons have loads of ships.

The first engagement goes the way of the Kzinti. The Klingons come in as two distinct groups, while the Kzinti are quite nicely concentrated near the Starbase. The first Klingon groups comprises their cruiser-class ships: a D5 Squadron; a D7 Wing; and a group comprising a D6M Mauler and a D7 Battlecruiser, together with an Orion CR mercenary. This lot wipes the floor with large numbers of Kzinti fighters, but sees little action against the defending vessels.

The second Klingon battle group comprises the carriers, the Dreadnought, and a Tug carrying Drone pods. This lot also destroys a whole load of Kzinti fighters, but takes the brunt of the fire from the entire Kzinti fleet. The results are not pretty. The Klingons lose every single fighter they have; the F5E is heavily damaged, the E4E crippled and the D6 CV completely destroyed. The F5V and F5C are both heavily damaged, and the C8 crippled. The Kzinti ships are unscathed, but they lose 40 fighters.

Second Battle

The Klingons replace their ships like for like, except that an E4 Escort replaces the larger F5E because of the damage it has sustained. The Kzinti simply forward more fighters from their rear echelons in their usual fashion.

On this occasion, more of the damage affects ships, as opposed to mainly fighters, especially on the Kzinti side. The main Klingon force is a combination of a D5 Squadron together with a D7 Wing; these manage to draw a line on some of the Kzinti light ships, crippling a Destroyer and forcing two Light Cruisers to retire with heavy damage, in return for a D7 heavily damaged. The rest of the Klingons destroy the equivalent of two full Kzinti fighter squadrons. In return, the Kzinti mostly get to concentrate on a relatively isolated, albeit powerful, force on the Klingons right. Here the big cats cripple the Orion CR mercenary, which was saved by virtue of doubling its engine output; they also inflict heavy damage on another D7 and an E4E, with the second E4E crippled. The Klingons lost 9 fighters. So a reasonably good time was had by all. No ships were destroyed outright this time.

Third Battle

Battle Mat:

The Klingons replace their recent losses almost like for like, while the Kzinti have to dig into their less powerful and smaller vessels because of the loss of availability of the Destroyer and two Light Cruisers from the previous engagement. They still seem to be okay for replacement fighters at this stage of the ongoing campaign.

This time the Klingons concentrate on Kzinti fighters, destroying 44 of the little sods; they also heavily damage the Drone Cruiser. In return, the Kzinti wipe out the entire Klingon fighter contingent and also get to concentrate on the D5 Squadron. The D5C is heavily damaged; one D5 is crippled; and the other D5 is completely destroyed.

Fourth Battle

This is becoming a bit of an epic:

The Klingons replace like for like, while the big cats are starting to feel the attrition on their fighters. They also have to replace the Drone Cruiser with a Scout Drone Frigate.

This one is a great little battle - nicely short and sharp. The Klingons deploy as a group, offset to one side of the Starbase, with their D7 Wing on the inside of the formation, closest to the base itself. The engagement pretty much develops in three phases, as well as the usual mangling of fighters:

1: The D7 wing swoops in and smashes the little flotilla of Police ships.

2: The D7s then take the brunt of the main Kzinti missile wave.

3: The Kzinti Battlecruisers turn in through the debris and blast off at the F5s.

And that's it - the Klingons retire gracefully at this point without either side's heavy ships really becoming engaged at all.

The Kzinti lose 24 fighters, with a Police Corvette destroyed and the other crippled; the Police Carrier takes heavy damage. The Klingons have two D7s crippled and the other heavily damaged, plus an F5 crippled with heavy damage to the second. They also lose all of the fighters from the D6CV.

Fifth Battle:

Both sides are starting to run out of fighters, although of course the Klingons have superiority in numbers:

 

The Klingons are still able to replace losses like for like, while the Kzinti are starting to run out of their lighter ships. This time they will be down two full fighter squadrons, and are having to pad out the force with another Escort Carrier doubling up as a Light Cruiser, and a couple of Escort Frigates instead of ships with more powerful offensive weaponry. The big cats still have a decent number of heavy ships in reserve, though, as well as quite a few Frigate-class Scouts. 

On this occasion, the Klingons lead with their D7 Wing; the three Battlecruisers get close enough to inflict heavy damage on a couple of Escort Frigates before they themselves are forced to disengage by the Kzinti Battlecruisers. In the meantime, the rest of the Klingon fleet has been merrily wiping fighters, without even bothering to advance their own very far. The final act comes when the Kzinti CVS groups destroys the front shield of the D5C and inflicts some internals, this is then followed by some superb medium-range sniping from the Kzinti auxiliaries, who actually put enough damage through the D5C's open front to force it to leave as well, limping heavily. Overall, the Kzinti lose two Escort Frigates heavily damaged and 23 fighters; the Klingons lose two D7s heavily damaged and a third crippled, and a D5C heavily damaged.

Sixth Battle:

The Kzinti move around some of their escorts to keep up the numbers, but are reduced to nine fighters.  Hiding under the CVS as close escorts are two brand new Medium Escort Cruisers, the first time this vessel has appeared in the war. The Klingons draft in the usual replacements, except that this time they have a Fast D7 Battlecruiser instead of one of the D7s. They now have fighter superiority!

Admiral Ulorf is fast becoming the Klingon Empire's best fighter strategist, and it shows in this nasty little fight. The Klingons concentrate in a sort of reverse V formation, with their command element of the C8 Dreadnought, D6M Mauler, FD7 Fast Battlecruiser and Tug with Drone Pods at the rear. The two cruiser squadrons lead the way. The D6CV group is off to the right of the main group, and the F5V and frigates off to the left.  

The main action takes place pretty much in the centre of the zone, near the Starbase. The Klingons spend their time destroying the few remaining Kzinti fighters and shredding escort vessels and smaller ships assigned to escort duty. They inflict heavy damage on a Destroyer and cripple the other Destroyer and the two Medium Escort Cruisers. In return, the Kzinti cripple both D5 War Cruisers, and heavily damage the D5C and both F5 Frigates.

Seventh Battle

The Klingons again are able to replace their losses like for like, while the Kzinti are having to dig into their reserves in an almost random manner:

This time, the Battle Mat shows that the Kzinti have drafted a couple of Scout Frigates into their main force, more or less as drone platforms - they'll be using their Electronic Warfare capabilities to try and keep themselves alive. Underneath the CV (no fighters) is a couple of Escort Light Cruisers. It is getting to the point where the Klingons might be able temporarily to drive off the defending Kzinti ships and start to degrade the Starbase, but we shall see.

In the event the pattern established by previous engagements continues, with damage to Kzinti lighter ships, and to Klingons fighters and War Cruisers. The Kzinti lose an FKE and EFF destroyed; two Scout Frigates crippled; and an Escort Cruiser heavily damaged. The Klingons lose eight fighters destroyed; two D7 Battlecruisers crippled; and a D5 plus a D5C heavily damaged. Now that the Kzinti fighter defences have stripped away, more and more of their ships are taking the hits.

Battle Eight

This time, the Kzinti are starting to run out of light ships, so I have allowed them to include a Battlecruiser on the second line of the Battle Mat, counting as two smaller ship equivalents:

The Klingons are almost out of fighters too, and start to replace their front line cruisers with less capable designs such as the D6.

Short and vicious, especially for the Klingon light ships. The Kzinti lose their Police Flagship and Scout Frigate heavily damaged, while the Klingons lose all of their fighters plus an F5 destroyed; an F5, their F5C and an E4 Escort crippled; and heavy damage to the other E4E.

Battle Nine

This is turning into a really long mini-campaign, although the games themselves tend to be short:

The Klingons spread the grief across their fighters and cruisers, with a D7, two D6s and a D5 all heavily damaged, in return for a Kzinti Battlecruiser damaged. However, Admiral Ulorf has obviously been studying Lyran techniques, because just before his fleet leaves, he turns in on the three Kzinti Battlecruisers that have been giving the Klingons so much hassle, only this time he is leading a powerful command continent: his C8 Dreadnought; an FD7 Fast Battlecruiser; a Tug with drone pods; and a D6M Mauler. His C8 and FD7 shred the shields on their chosen target and the the Mauler opens up; the Kzinti vessel simply disintegrates under the assault. 

Battle Ten:

This time the Battle Mat shows how the attrition is affecting both sides:

The Klingons are no longer deploying any carriers, and are padding out the main force with D6 Battlecruisers. Although the Kzinti are still hanging in there, and their reserves are composed of individually quite powerful ships, there aren't all that many of them in comparison with their attackers. The big cats are well aware that there is only one way this can end - the question is how much damage they inflict before the Starbase finally falls.

This one is fun - and exceptionally vicious. The Klingons come in with most of their fleet concentrated on the right of their deployment zone, with only a forlorn hope of the F5 squadron well off to their left. The Kzinti are deployed more or less in a line across the centre. 

Unfortunately for the F5s, they are facing a squadron of three Kzinti Battlecruisers and are simply overrun. The F5C is destroyed and one of the F5s crippled; the other F5 manages to escape with only heavy damage. 

In the main engagement, the Kzinti CVS Group encounters the majority of the Klingon fleet in mean mood. TheKzinti ships here cripple a D6 Battlecruiser, then the other D6-class vessels remove the two Escort Light Cruisers (one crippled and the other heavily damaged) and the D6M blows away the front shield of the Strike Carrier. However, it manages to turn to a fresh shield just in time as the C8 Dreadnought comes in for a reasonably close pass. The Strike Carrier leaves with heavy damage.

The Kzinti Dreadnought then roars up for a close assault on one of the three D5 War Cruisers. Its phasers shred the War Cruiser's facing shield and then the whole spread of overloaded disruptors completely misses. This leaves the Kzinti flagship facing three angry War Cruisers, who proceed to damage it so badly that the Kzinti Dreadnought leaves. If it had hit with even average probability on the D5, the cruisers would have been down one ship and unable to muster the firepower needed to force the Kzinti to retreat.

The D6M then turns in and disintegrates the little Kzinti Scout Drone Frigate which has been left exposed by the departure of the Dreadnought. The Kzinti Battlecruisers arrive and cripple the Mauler. The Klingon fleet leaves, exhausted, just as the Starbase cripples another D6 at medium range.

Great stuff. The Klingon losses:

F5 heavy damage

F5 crippled

F5C destroyed

2 x D6 crippled

D6M crippled

In return for:

Scout Drone Frigate destroyed

Escort Light Cruiser heavily damaged

Escort Light Cruiser crippled

Strike Carrier heavy damage

Dreadnought heavily damaged

Some of the D6 Battlecruisers even managed to get some shots off at the Kzinti Auxiliaries, and a batch of drones even closed in on the garbage. It handled them easily, of curse, but this is a sign of things to come as the Kzinti defence starts to buckle under the pressure.

Battle Eleven:

The Kzinti are out of small ships pretty much, and have no fleet Scouts left. The Klingons just keep coming, although their pool of reserve ships is starting to dwindle:

This is an extremely even battle, with the disparity in ships made up by the power of the Starbase. Both sides decide to deploy off to one side of the base, and as it happens, it's the same flank. The Klingons use their Mauler accompanied by two D6 Battlecruisers to mask the base itself, deliberately flaunting them as a damage sponge. This works well, with all three ships crippled but not destroyed. The Kzinti Dreadnought and CVE trade shots at close range with the D5 and F5 squadrons; the D5C is heavily damaged and so is the Kzinti flagship. The rest of the combat works out badly for the Kzinti Battlecruisers, with two of them crippled and another heavily damaged.

Battle Twelve:

The Kzinti really are starting to run out of ships now, while the Klingons are starting to use second rate vessels such as a D6J Penal Cruiser:

The D5 Squadron meets the Kzinti Battlecruisers and comes out on the losing end of it. A D5 is completely destroyed and the D5C crippled in return for a Battlecruiser crippled. At the other end of the line, the Klingon frigates have an equally poor time of it against multiple Kzinti heavier vessels at medium range; one F5 is crippled and the other heavily damaged. The Klingons pull back to re-group yet again.

Ulorf is beginning to wonder when the Kzinti will just go away - he knows from sensor readings that they don't have many ships left, and he is guessing they will mostly be heavier carrier types that the cats will not wish to risk in large numbers, since they are just too valuable. After all, why chance it in defence of a base that is going to fall anyway? One piece of good news for the attackers is that in the middle of the battle the D6 Battlecruisers managed to get enough shots in to cripple the small auxiliary drone ship; the Kzinti have evacuated the crew and scuttle the vessel. 

Battle Thirteen:

This could be the final one. Just look at this Battle Mat:

The only reserves the Kzinti have are the larger carriers that fed so may fighters into the initial stages of the campaign here, so Ulorf's reasoning is correct. Even though it is now really only a matter of time before the base is destroyed, there are large gaps starting to appear in the Klingon order of battle. Not enough, though, for the Kzinti.

And this is in fact what happens. The Kzinti flagship deploys centrally and takes most of the heat, ably supported by electronic warfare from the large auxiliary scout. Eventually, though, the Dreadnought has to leave or be crippled, and the Klingon follow-up cripples the Escort Carrier and heavily damages one of the Escort Medium Cruisers. They don't go quietly, though, inflicting so much grief in return that the Klingons have to retire once again. The attackers lose a D6 and an F5 destroyed; the FD7 crippled; and a D6, F5 and F5C all heavily damaged. 

All this leaves the Kzinti, though, is a few reserve carriers, and rather than risk them, they vacate the premises. They take as many of the crew members of the auxiliaries and the Starbase with them as they can, leaving enough behind to make the Klingons fight for it again before the inevitable happens.

The end of the Duke's Starbase:

It does not go down with a fight, destroying a D5 War Cruiser and an F5C Frigate Leader before succumbing.

Total campaign losses are:

K Cripples: 3 x E4E; C8; CR; 5 x D7; F5 x 4; F5C; 2 x D5; D5C; 4 x D6; 2 x D6M; FD7 (25 ships)

K Killed: D6CV; 3 x D5; 2 x F5; 2 x F5C; D6 (9 ships)

Z Killed: POL; FKE; EFF; BC; SDF; SAD (6 ships)

Z Cripples: 2x DD; POL; 2 x ECM; 2 x SF; ECL; 3 x BC; CVE (12 ships)