EMP cannons?

[pugums]

So i just completed a torpedo boat i like to call the mite but she also is supposed to be equiped with an emp adv cannon. What is the best shell configuration and what is the best shell size for this as the one i have currenbtly is a 80mm shell with four emp parts, is it better to have more or less?

[FourGreenFields]

I don't really think there is a "best" advanced cannon.

You could try to do an APEMP round, that releases the EMP charge inside the enemy vehicle, at the cost of weaker EMP charge.
Also, accuracy and muzzle velocity depend on the intendet range and target.

[Chrozayis]

for EMP use the biggest shell possible, one big burst is better than a bunch of wimpy ones

[Matt]

Agree, big shells reach deeper and have a tonne more effect. make the biggest gauge gun that is reasonable for your craft.

[An Ning]

I've never had an EMP round do anything useful, myself.
Most ships don't lose much if you knock out their engines a second, they don't impact shields if you hit them first (personally I think EM rounds should knock out shields), and anything Crimson has EM shielding

[Matt]

it'll knock out AI and weapons controlers.

[Matt]

did some testing as I haven't used EMP that much. It is fairly easy to make a gun compact and fast firing as long as the shell is short. I made a servicable auxillary gun that was 500mm, fired every 3 seconds, and was able to knock out all the weapons cont on metal ships within 10sec. turns out the AI is (usually) too deep for an early strike to take it out, but the weapons are really vulnerable. this canon can oneshot smaller vessles with less protected AIs. I'd say, not as a main gun, but definately a servicable auxillary weapon.

[An Ning]

Could be I wasn't firing large enough rounds when I tried EM weapons.

I believe I was using a 300mm gun

I still think EM rounds should knock out shields when they hit shields

[Redstorm]

Not to side track, but would some rapid firing EMP AA guns be viable at knocking out light fighters?

[An Ning]

use flak or laser for light fighters

[Redstorm]

Originally posted by An Ning:

use flak for light fighters

That doesn't answer my question, I know flak is better, but I'd like to know if EMP can be useful even if not as efficient.

[An Ning]

It COULD knock out an engine.
But I don't think EM can be set to a burst shell and be effective.. I'm pretty sure it has to make direct contact.

So.. overall I'd say no. Because light fighters are usually harder to hit

[Syd Khaos]

Here is how I persoanly see the whole EMP cannon deal....
You have one of 2 options to make them a viable weapon:

1) Build em big and let AI fire them.
This to me is not the ideal way...and you will always get subpar performance out of emp this way. Its also gonna be more expensive to build. Using this method your gonna need to make the cannon on par with a main weapon system (despite emp being a support/supplemental weapon at best). RoF wont need to be as high of course, but your gonna need to be firing 400-500mm 4-8rounds out of a large complex cannon. The cost to build it will be close(ish) to a main cannon. This is due to the AI not being able to use the weapon properly....it will still be aimed and fired based on dealing damage.

2)Build a manualy fired cannon with fast surgicaly percise rounds.
Now imo THIS is when an EMP cannon really shows its worth. Not only can this be a much smaller/cheaper weapon (250-300mm 4m rounds do wonders!!) but it will be wildly more effective if used properly. A cannon like this is perfect for supplementing slower weapons by slowing craft or disabling countermeassure systems. These days every missile abd laser dedicated boat should have a small emp gun. A couple well placed shots can disable LAMs or flare launchers...making that volley of missiles alot more hurtful to the target...same idea with laserboats ya.

[Matt]

250-300mm is plenty. if you use aim point selection the AI will mostly try to shoot AI.

EMP shines against metal hull ships, more so against laser weapons. it can take out the laser pumps and massively hurt the long term DPS of laser systems.