FFG Tactics?

[Christophertar]

I really hate this ship for a number of reasons, but first and foremost is my inability to avoid incoming missiles. I remember from Fleet Command that the only way to take out surface vesels with missiles was to saturate the target with them, and that tactic seems to hold good in DW. How then do you avoid getting taken out when the enemy has loosed a number of missiles at you? Jinking, chaff and flares can take out a few, as can the gun, and the CWIS, but ultimately one or even two still evade all the heat that I throw up and zap me! What more can I do? Is there another manual I must download?

[Molon Labe]

Missile defense is a bitch with the FFG. You should be a bit relieved though, since the real FFG does not have any anti-missile missiles; even the old SM-1 it used to carry could not be used this way. So you've got much better capability in DW than in real life.

The best advice for missile defense is to be next to a Tico or a Burke and let them handle it. When that isn't possible, your next best bet is to remain undetected and not get shot at. That means staying slow and keeping your radars and active sonar off. Again, this won't always be an option, especially in the small Op Areas DW matches usually take place in. Plus, the FFG isn't particularly good at hiding anyways. But, the helo does give you a great capability of detecting the enemy--both sub and surface--without giving your own position away. Use buoys and REMRO to detect your threat at arms reach while staying hidden whenever possible.

Now, if you actually have to get shot at, then you may well be in trouble. The SM-2 and CIWS perform well against subsonic missiles. If you're dealing with more than 6 or so at a time, you're in danger. Against supersonic missiles, you are in a world of hurt. You may not even detect it until it hits you--particularly with the SS-N-27 ASM. If you do detect it, chaff is your best bet. The SM-2 is about 40% effective against these guys if you see them coming, and the CIWS is about 0%.

One way to even things up a bit is to refuse to play fair. If there are neutrals around, stay close to them. That will make you both harder to identify (if you're EMCON) and harder to actually shoot both because they might be deterred from shooting and because the neutral might actually missile sponge for you a bit.