Chronicles of Sol: The Fall

Missiles, torpedoes, bombs, rockets, all terms applied to a projectile with a warhead. Each refers to a different form of projectile, but what exactly do those terms mean in space? That is something we will explore today, along with anything else that carries a warhead such as mines. Many of these weapons are logistically expensive, but thanks to several key advantages have maintained relevance even as other forms of projectile weaponry I.E kinetics have fallen into general disuse. At least outside of certain niche applications.

To understand why we would have to look at the various weapons in this category. The first item on the list might be the one you are wondering about the most. The bomb. Afterall what exactly does that mean in space? Traditionally the bomb is simply a warhead in a casing, often delivered from above, and relying on gravity to deliver them to the target. Afterall bombs have no engines with which to reach a target.

Naturally the method of delivery has changed with the change in domain, but the bomb remains true to its fundamental core. A high-yield destructive payload secured in a casing, with no guidance or engines of it own. A bomb isn’t much more than a warhead, but many have a few little gizmos to increase their effectiveness such as proximity sensors, or shield penetrators. How then are they delivered if they have no engine or guidance system of their own? Afterall gravity can’t be a valid method of delivery in space, can it? Well yes, and no. In certain niche cases, such as being in orbit of a planet or moon, that method could be valid. Although perhaps not the best option.

What then is the preferred method of delivering these simple, unguided warheads to a target? The answer is remarkably simple, an electromagnetic catapult a technology derived from railguns and gauss cannons. More specifically the gauss cannon. These catapults are used to accelerate a bomb towards a target, and allow it to be aimed to a degree. The effective range of these weapons isn’t any better than a traditional kinetic weapon, and the rounds are definitely more expensive. Since a warhead costs a good deal more. On the flipside, their destructive power is several orders of magnitude greater lending such weapons to certain roles.

Those factors bring to mind, what kind of ship would carry them? A capital ship wouldn’t carry them, would they? Well, yes and no. For ship-to-ship combat, a capital ship would have no use for them, as typical combat ranges would exceed the effective range of these weapons. However they are useful in certain niche roles, and since their maximum range is effectively infinite a few options are available that would not be for energy weapons. They are often useful for planetary bombardment, and for striking large slow moving targets from long range. Outside of those few niche roles, there is only one reason for a capital ship to carry them. As a reserve supply for smaller ships.

The main use of bombs is in fact on smaller ships, specifically fighters, and corvettes. Both of which are small enough, and agile enough to get in close where these weapons are most effective. Bombs are in fact used heavily by small ships as a heavy anti-ship weapon. A few well-placed hits with these weapons can be devastating. Enabling smaller vessels to outright cripple or even destroy ships many sizes larger than themselves. Especially those with insufficient protection.

Next up, the torpedo. Now what exactly is a torpedo? What does that term mean in space? As it turns out the term torpedo typically refers to a large catapult launched projectile with a limited guidance system, and maneuvering drive combined with a high-yield payload. Such weapons lend themselves to the anti-ship role. They are often found on ships of all size classes and are often used against larger targets that can’t easily avoid them. In a larger context, any guided projectile with a warhead and intended to be an anti-ship weapon has been applied the term torpedo.

Plasma torpedoes have also been given the moniker torpedo. They are large anti-ship weapons, and they do have limited guidance. However, they don’t fit the traditional definition of a torpedo. The reason being that they do not fit the standard definition of a projectile. In fact they are not part of this category of weapon, and instead fit in the category of Guided Energy Projectiles. Which in turn means they are effectively a torpedo in name only.

Torpedoes often make up the main battery of long-range anti-ship weapons on human vessels, and quite a few alien vessels as well. These weapons while logistically expensive make extremely effective first strike weapons. Able to fire on ships well outside of the effective range for most energy weapons, and thanks to their limited agility, and guidance they have a decent chance to hit. Many of them are outfitted with little gizmos meant to increase effectiveness as well such as shield penetrators, proximity sensors, and more. Like other warhead-equipped projectiles, a single good hit could cripple or even destroy an enemy vessel. One factor to note is that torpedoes are of little use against smaller ships such as fighters, and corvettes which are both highly agile, and easily able to escape a torpedo volley without being hit. Larger ships such as a cruiser however might be able to evade one or two, but not the whole volley.

Moving on, missiles. In space this term is most often applied to any projectile with a full engine, a warhead, and a guidance system. Missiles lend themselves to being useful against smaller, faster, more agile targets such as fighters, and corvettes. Having a full engine of their own allows them to better track, and adjust in response to the movements of the target, but all the extra systems means less space for a warhead. As a result, missiles tend to have less destructive power than a torpedo or bomb of the same size Like torpedoes, and bombs they can be catapult launched, but unlike those weapons they do not require a catapult to be launched.

Missiles are typically used by ships of all sizes, and often used for engaging smaller vessels. Although some missiles are actually intended for use against larger vessels. They make both an effective first strike weapon, and a potent defensive weapon against enemy fighter attacks. Missiles are also commonly found in fighter loadouts for use against other fighters. It is worth noting however that missiles are the most logistically expensive weapon in this category of weaponry.

Up next mines, you might not think there is much to cover here, and to some degree you would be right. These weapons at their core are no different from their naval counterparts, albeit more expensive. Whereas naval mines were relatively inexpensive, the nature of space makes a space mine a bit more expensive to manufacture. Mines aren’t of much use if the enemy sees them before they can strike. Internally the mine has evolved, it isn’t just a warhead cast adrift in the void and waiting for the enemy to strike. The modern space mine is equipped with a stealth coating, proximity sensors, a shield penetrator, and a leap drive as standard toys to ensure their deadliness.

Now you might ask what a leap drive is. The answer is simple, its a potent if rudimentary single-use engine. Once a mine detects a target in range, this small engine can catapult the mine towards the target. Allowing it to careen into hulls that may have otherwise slipped past the mine unscathed.

These weapons have become somewhat niche in their use, but the deployment of a minefield remains a potent method of area denial. In addition, they can even be used to deny an enemy a retreat if one has a chance to prepare for a battle before it starts. Like most examples of weapons utilizing a warhead, they are also somewhat expensive logistically.