Roderik von Brinkerhoff
First Order Ace
DOCTRINE OVERVIEW
The Starfighter Corps doctrine is built around the precepts of speed and maneuverability. Both are vital to surviving prolonged engagement with an enemy force of starfighters. Speed will allow a TIE Fighter pilot to dictate when an engagement will occur, and the most maneuverable (or, the best use of a maneuver in any given scenario) starfighter will generally win out the engagement itself.
The TIE Fighter is best used in the traditional dogfighting role, in which its turn radius (in a turn of any spherical angle, with the 'galactic plane' as the constant for alignment rolls) is used to peak advantage. As shown in Figures 1, 2.
Figures 3, 3, illustrate the use of starfighter agility while conducting engaged maneuvering.
PURSUIT TRAJECTORIES / TACTICAL INTERCEPTS
Pursuit curves can generally be categorized three ways. Lead pursuit curves consist of placing your flight-path trajectory ahead of your opponent, effectively flying towards where you believe your opponent will be, resulting in a merge of your flight path. A lag pursuit is where you position your TIE Fighter at an off-angle, mirroring the opponent's movements and speeds. You will be incapable of achieving a firing solution, but you will have far less chance of critically misjudging the enemy and initiating a dangerous flight-path overshoot, putting you in their gun sights. The final, or pure pursuit, is generally the moment a a firing solution is attempted, from a dead astern position, or in-advisably a frontal attack within the opponent's line of fire as well.
Tactical intercepts can be considered a larger-scale format to pursuit curves. They are generally classified as forward quarter intercepts, in which the opponent is met 'face to face', and stern-conversion intercepts, in which by either way of trajectory interception path, or final approach maneuvering, the opponent is met from their rear blind spot.
FIGHTER MISSIONS
- Fighter Sweep - The fighter sweep is generally conducted within hostile territory, where a known or suspected enemy force is operating. It is the most favored mission of any self-respecting fighter pilot, and the sole objective is to locate and annihilate the opponent's starfighters compliment. A force of any size, up to and including entire Wing-sized units operating simultaneously, can be deployed.
- Point/Area Defense - The inverse of a fighter sweep, this is where fighters are arrayed to meet an enemy starfighter force in a defensive 'swarm' around an indicated point in space, or specific asset; such as defending a star destroyer from close-range bombers. This defensive posture eliminates many of the tactical advantages of TIE Fighters, but may provide an increase in survive-ability of the capital ships or assets they protect.
- Combat Air Patrol - Commonly referred to as simply a 'patrol', as pirates, mercenaries, smugglers, and other spacer malcontents generally provide for at least one target of opportunity on every mission. In peace and wartime, they are conducted by starfighters patrolling way-points along navigational paths intended for fleet movements. Essentially, clearing the way for the larger capital ships.
- Ground Alert Interception - Generally a planetary garrison mission, when hostile forces are detected by ground and orbital-based sensors. The scrambling of all garrison alert forces is to happen in a timely manner, with the intercept trajectory intended to be the quickest available option.
- Strike Escort - A more fluid mission style than area/point defense, allowing for TIE Fighters to engage enemy starfighters in the most tactically sound manner. Consider this essentially a coordinated, more maneuverable 'swarm' surrounding a TIE Bomber or gunship force.
- Detached Escort - This is a 'gaggle' formation, in which the escort target is constantly shifting as opportunities present themselves. TIE Fighter pilots are instructed to defend the higher priority targets first, but not at the expense of any unnecessary casualties. The detached escort is generally conducted by element and flight-level formations, with the 'lead' pilot' calling out defensive targets.
- ​Miscellaneous Escort - The catch all escorting job, generally consisting of escorting High Command between capital ships, or to planetary locations and back. Usually in a sector designated friendly, with no expected resistance.
STANDARD ENGAGEMENT TACTICS
The element of two starfighters, a leader and a wingman, is the standard combat formation of the Starfighter Corps. Two major fighting doctrines exist at this level, both with merit and drawbacks. The first standard is known as the 'fighting wing' doctrine, and consisting of the leader designating a target and initiating an attack run while the wingman maintains defensive coverage to protect himself and his leader from enemy starfighter counter-attacks. The other, known as the 'double attack' doctrine has both leader and wingman initiating cooperative attack runs. In this scenario, both pilots also devote partial time to defensive coverage.
Flight combat consists of two elements, and the same basic principles exist. Mutual support between the two flights allow for a modified fighting wing doctrine, with one element initiating the attack while the other maneuvers to defend, and additionally, to attempt to force the enemy formation to break apart further.
Squadron-level combat is a rarity, though does happen in extreme 'swarm' style assaults - primarily frontal attacks. The standard doctrine for squadron combat is to attempt to bait the opposing starfighter force into breaking down formations to follow our TIE Fighters into prolonged engaged maneuvering battles.
Additionally, Group and Wing level engagements are generally inadvisable, and as such, the same doctrine is intended. To break down enemy formations, forcing them to engage our TIE Fighters with our greatest advantages.
