Post by argonbalt on Oct 3, 2016 1:19:46 GMT
So ever since it was mentioned in the game readings i found the idea of drop tanks absolutely fascinating. This is one of the places were space combat would overlap with jet fighter techniques and strategies. After all flying with a tanker is never as efficient, because you always then have to waste Delta-v on the tankers power supply, crew, radiators etc. However the game itself does not really have actual drop tanks, which is disappointing seeing as they would be a big plus to any "invasion style" missions, especially for gas giants. Here are my attempts at a work around:
1 Explosive Bisection
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So this one is pretty blunt ill admit, it basically went something along the lines of "Well if the game wont blow off extra tanks, i'll damn well do it. " Unfortunately at best the entire ship explodes (namely from flare type payloads auto detonating). At worst the ship has some moral disagreements with mounting people and a (mostly) harmless payload onto the same frame. Needless to say this design does not really work. However if one were to say launch a harmless missile and then have a very slow flare launcher spit out a flare next to a large spacer between the stages of the fuel tank, then that might work.
2:Internally mounted
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This one arguable works the best(as in it works at all) Essentially it involves mounting a Drop tank launcher, then inside loading the drop tank as a single payload. When needed it then launches the drop tank and your ship can siphon off the fuel with a refuelling node. While functional it has some serious drawbacks. 1: heavy launcher is non disposable, 2: You now need to have a refueler and it's radiator available for use, as well as stuffing this inside your armour, making yet more weight. Namely the biggest problem is that unlike an ideal system where fuel is drawn from drop tanks first, then once under a certain limit you switch to on-board containers, and ditch the external tanks, this system is reversed, were the on-board tanks are used first, and then one needs to switch to drop tanks.
3:Finally this was more of a hybrid system
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The idea is that the "drone" would ferry a payload of the manned Mobile Armour, then launch it, essentially using the far lighter remote controlled carrier as a super first stage, then the manned internal stage is used. This however does not work because the game will not start a mission with a drone, even if it is technically carrying the appropriate amount of crew for the ship as well.
I will continue exploring designs that maximise fuel efficiency and can be easily mounted on a ship.
1 Explosive Bisection
Attachment Deleted
So this one is pretty blunt ill admit, it basically went something along the lines of "Well if the game wont blow off extra tanks, i'll damn well do it. " Unfortunately at best the entire ship explodes (namely from flare type payloads auto detonating). At worst the ship has some moral disagreements with mounting people and a (mostly) harmless payload onto the same frame. Needless to say this design does not really work. However if one were to say launch a harmless missile and then have a very slow flare launcher spit out a flare next to a large spacer between the stages of the fuel tank, then that might work.
2:Internally mounted
Attachment Deleted
This one arguable works the best(as in it works at all) Essentially it involves mounting a Drop tank launcher, then inside loading the drop tank as a single payload. When needed it then launches the drop tank and your ship can siphon off the fuel with a refuelling node. While functional it has some serious drawbacks. 1: heavy launcher is non disposable, 2: You now need to have a refueler and it's radiator available for use, as well as stuffing this inside your armour, making yet more weight. Namely the biggest problem is that unlike an ideal system where fuel is drawn from drop tanks first, then once under a certain limit you switch to on-board containers, and ditch the external tanks, this system is reversed, were the on-board tanks are used first, and then one needs to switch to drop tanks.
3:Finally this was more of a hybrid system
Attachment Deleted
The idea is that the "drone" would ferry a payload of the manned Mobile Armour, then launch it, essentially using the far lighter remote controlled carrier as a super first stage, then the manned internal stage is used. This however does not work because the game will not start a mission with a drone, even if it is technically carrying the appropriate amount of crew for the ship as well.
I will continue exploring designs that maximise fuel efficiency and can be easily mounted on a ship.