Cloaking Device
This article contains information relevant to both the C# and VB6 versions of Aurora. Where differences exist, they are noted in the appropriate sections.
A Cloaking Device allows you to reduce the sensor cross section of a ship.
Description
[edit]The maximum ship size for a Cloaking Device is given by
Efficiency * Base Size
A cloaked ship will appear on enemy active sensors as if it were smaller than it actually is. This makes your ship harder to detect, especially if it brings your effective size below the resolution of enemy sensors.
Usage
[edit]Cloaking Devices are very useful for scout ships and survey craft which are trying to stay undetected. A cloak only protects against active sensors, so reduced thermal engines and low EM emissions are needed to make a true stealth craft.
Cloaking Devices need a significant amount of research in order to be very good, and thus are usually a later game technology.
Components
[edit]Cloaking Efficiency
[edit]| Efficiency | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RP cost | 4,000 | 8,000 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 60,000 | 125,000 | 250,000 | 500,000 |
Cloaking Device Size
[edit]Cloaking Devices have a minimum size. This limits your ability to have extremely small stealth ships.
| Size | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RP cost | 500,000 | 250,000 | 125,000 | 60,000 | 30,000 | 15,000 | 8,000 | 4,000 | 2,000 | 1000 |
Cloak Sensor Reduction
[edit]| Reduction (%) | 75 | 80 | 85 | 90 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 99.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RP cost | 4,000 | 8,000 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 60,000 | 120,000 | 250,000 | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
Example
[edit]Cloaking Device HS150-75% Max Ship Size: 150 (7500 tons) Cloak Size: 50 HS Efficiency: 3 Cloak HTK: 10 Cost: 1250 Crew: 100 Materials Required: 1250x Corbomite Development Cost for Project: 12500RP (VB6) / 2500RP (C#)
This low-tech cloaking device would reduce enemy active sensor range by 75% as long as the ship carrying it has a total mass of 7500 tons or less. Note the high research cost of the component, especially in VB6. Also note that with an efficiency of 3, the device itself already has a mass of 2500 tons. An efficiency of 5 would allow reducing its size to 1500 tons.
List of Components
[edit]Engines and Power Plants: Engine • Fuel Storage • Jump Engine • Power Plants
Beam Weaponry: Beam Fire Control • Lasers • Particle Beams • Mesons • High-Powered Microwave • Plasma Carronade • Railguns • Gauss Cannons
Missile Weaponry: Missile Fire Control • Missile Launchers • Magazines
Defensive Systems: Armor • Shields • CIWS • Sensor Jammer • Fire Control Jammer • Missile Jammer • Decoy Launcher • Cloaking Device
Maintenance and Repairs: Engineering Spaces • Maintenance Storage Bay • Damage Control • Maintenance module
Carriers and Fighters: Hangar deck • Fighter Pod Bay
Sensors: Active Sensor • EM Sensor • Thermal Sensor • Geological Survey Sensors • Gravitational Survey Sensors • ELINT Modules
Command and Control: Bridge • Flag Bridge • Auxiliary Control • Science Department • Main Engineering • Combat Information Centre • Primary Flight Control
Transportation: Cargo Hold • Troop Transport Bay • Cryogenic Transport • Passenger Accommodation
Logistics: Cargo Shuttle Bay • Refuelling System • Ordnance Transfer System • Tractor Beam
Production: Orbital Mining Module • Sorium Harvester • Terraforming Module • Jump Point Stabilisation Module • Salvage Module