PHANTOM: COVERT OPS - Enemy Patrol Boats
Most encounters involve ground based targets, allowing you to slip away into the safety of darkness and murky waters. The patrol boat fleet disrupts that safety-net by occupying and dominating the same waterways you traverse.
--------------------
Often well armoured and often well-armed, most boat encounters are best left alone or evaded if possible.
--------------------
With the exception of the Rigid Raider fleet, a smaller more nimble craft with low draft, all boat crew members remain protected behind armoured crew cabins. This serves two purposes. One being it offers a significant foe that cannot be sniped or defeated via traditional means, therefore posing a severe threat. The second, it reduces the complexity in both rendering and computing, affording us more enemies per encounter, whilst maintaining hardware performance.
The Patrol Boat Fleet
- Rigid Raider (RR)
- Medium Patrol Gun-boat (PGB)
- Armoured Patrol Boat (APB)
"Get out of there. Quick!"
Remotely operated cannons deal explosive rounds at alarming rates. When caught within its sights it's most likely too late.
Upward increments in hull size, calibre and armour, although deadly, exposes new weaknesses.
"Dealt with from a far"
Luring and distracting Patrol Boats close to mines, explosives, or environmental hazards makes for smarter, survivable tactics.
Medium Armoured Boat - Concept
With the larger Patrol Boat showing navigational issues in tighter areas, and the smaller open Rigid Raider proving vulnerable to sniper attack, the Med' Patrol became a very versatile and competent adversary on the waters.
The Med' Patrol had specific, tough design requirements:-
- 360 degree weapon coverage
- Achieve a low angle of fire (minimise exploit)
- Minimise blind spots
- Small enough for narrow routes
- Have an armoured crew cabin
Large Armoured Patrol Boat (APB)
Deadly from far or mid-range. With rapid firing cannons, if spotted there's rarely time to escape.
With limited articulation on the cannons and a long hull, blind spots are close and be exploited when necessary.
"Evasion"
You'll need to time the sweeping search patterns in order to decide to hide or get in close. Anything in between is most likely fatal.
The Patrol Boat Fleet
- Rigid Raider (RR)
- Medium Patrol Gun-boat (PGB)
- Armoured Patrol Boat (APB)