Organizational structure and core 6DOF fighting concepts
Organizational structure and core 6DOF fighting concepts
The situation remains unclear about what was confirmed and the reasoning behind it. However, after reviewing this, a V formation would likely be employed to preserve order and ensure broad coverage over possible threats. As @ Exile clarifies, the real attack setup resembles a lead pilot circling around the target while the others provide backup for secondary targets. This is how I understand it. When flying beneath the accretion plane, a stacked arrangement could prove advantageous. For instance, the lead ship would operate near the plane with the second and third ships directly below, each positioned as close to one another as feasible. This way, from radar or direct observation, only the lead ship would be visible. Two possible outcomes emerge: 1) The target detects just one other vessel and moves in for a close encounter. The stacked formation then tightens into a cohesive unit to intercept. At full effectiveness, weapons reach their optimal range, and the lower wing ships exit from opposite sides, completely surrounding the target. This approach offers surprise and, assuming the target anticipates a direct head-on approach with full shields active, leaves its remaining ships exposed to a surprise assault. 2) The scenario mirrors scenario one but with the target unaware of our presence; tactics remain consistent, rising as a single unit until close range, then breaking away from the sides to encircle the target.
It looks like this approach could work well. The strategy might use a covert codename, such as "Piece the pie," to keep operations discreet. If the mission involves one enemy ship, the two support vessels would split the orbit into quadrants, each targeting a different shield area. This way, they avoid having to shift energy back to defenses while under attack.
Developing this concept further. Imagine a scenario where a second vessel joins the conflict, and it can only strike one enemy at a time—specifically, one of our support personnel. This would shift the attack rhythm from a straight path to a double orbit, resembling a figure-eight pattern. Once the first wing-man completes its loop around the second target and returns, the second wing-man steps in at the start of the new orbit. The lead continues circling the original target until it is eliminated, after which the team switches back to targeting the second enemy. This approach ensures the wing leader always has protection from at least one attacker while keeping the second target under constant threat.