[X3:AP] Looking for cost-effective, fast, anti-M1 fighter wing method

[Jimmy C]

I got up fight rank Conqueror and can get M1s on combat missions now. My goal is to capture these ships for their marines.
On Defend Station missions, this is straightforward, although it needs more Flails than capturing M2s. I simply keep ahead of the M1 until I've swatted all its fighters.
But there's the time pressure on Assassination missions. I have less than 10 minutes to complete the mission. Since I need a margin of (at least) 4 minutes 30 seconds to capture the target, that means I need to destroy all the fighters in about 5 minutes.
So, I would like to ask, does anyone know a way to destroy two dozen fighters in under 5 minutes that isn't too costly?
I have to add, I'm looking forward to capturing a Hoshi. Also, at this rank, the easier level combat missions are the ones that have more skilled marines.

[Lone Jedi]

I got up fight rank Conqueror and can get M1s on combat missions now. My goal is to capture these ships for their marines.
On Defend Station missions, this is straightforward, although it needs more Flails than capturing M2s. I simply keep ahead of the M1 until I've swatted all its fighters.
But there's the time pressure on Assassination missions. I have less than 10 minutes to complete the mission. Since I need a margin of (at least) 4 minutes 30 seconds to capture the target, that means I need to destroy all the fighters in about 5 minutes.
So, I would like to ask, does anyone know a way to destroy two dozen fighters in under 5 minutes that isn't too costly?
I have to add, I'm looking forward to capturing a Hoshi. Also, at this rank, the easier level combat missions are the ones that have more skilled marines.

Cost-effectiveness is a relative concept. Since you are going to capture their M1, do you use the value of that M1 to justify?

IMO the fastest, brainless way to kill those fighters is to use barrages of Flails. They will also quickly switch to next target after the initial one is dead. Don't fire too much at a time or the M1 might also be killed.

If that is still costly to you, fly close in a ship full of FAAs, SCCs or PSGs.

[hisazul]

I have to agree, the easiest way would be to barrage with flails/ghouls. But like anything involving M7M you need to make your own missiles. Agamemnon fully fitted with PSG is good a call. Pteranodons could work too... but speed difference isn't hat good for leading, that ship is good at assaulting not luring but it's very good at frying small things.

Aside from that... it's a huge maybe/probably and full of opinions and preferences. And a lot of micromanagement. Just sending a bunch of ships in... isn't going to work so well when they start tripping over each other while all furiously trying to chase after 1 guy.

Drones could work, but not if time is issue. Just lead ahead and escorts will naturally leave their m1 behind. But drones aren't particularly fast at doing their thing... effective and cheap just not fast.

Option 3... is not for the faint of heart and prone to mishaps of various degrees. MINES. I love mines... I finished some really frustrating missions where you are suppose to have loses by simply doing them with TL loaded with mines. But... with fighters... it's a huge maybe on whether they will step on a mine or not. Second issue would arise from mines that fighters didn't trigger and left behind, that cap ship slowly shambling behind everyone probably going to trigger those mines which can be helpful but it can also be not so helpful.

[DrBullwinkle]

there's the time pressure on Assassination missions. ... I need to destroy all the fighters in about 5 minutes.

Or you could ignore the fighters.

The fighters are not a threat to your marines, and they are not a threat to, say, a Deimos's shields (best pirate ship in the game). Use ISR's in the Deimos' front guns to suppress the target's shields, and let your flak cannons repel the fighters. Remote launch marines from an M7M.

Clean up any remaining fighters after your marines are on board the target.

You can do all of that, comfortably, during Assassination missions.

[Jimmy C]

Well, Flails and M7Ms are my current method. As I said, I find I'm using quite a few more Flails than I do against other ships. When whittling down the fighter wing of Galleon, I'm reminded of how I can spend nearly 100 Flails to swat the fighter wing of a Shuri.
But if that does happen to be the most effective way to do it, I'll stick with it. Just have to work faster on them.

[OniGanon]

An Argon Griffon and a lot of Tempest Missiles?

[Jimmy C]

It's a thought, but I'm not sure if I like the thought of adding more ships to the operation.
The thing is, on Assassination missions, I tend to leave the M6 I'm normally flying behind for safety and get into my M7M to go after the target. Especially if the target is Yaki, since they're hostile to me.
In the past, before I got a Jump Beacon, I jump the M7M to the mission location, jumped there myself, switched to the M7M and ordered the M6 to follow. Sometimes, the M6 would go off to shot at the enemies, perhaps because they had hit my ship. You can guess how that ended if it was an M7.

[astreus]

An very effective method to cap M1 is a Astraeus Hauler, loaded with PBC (from LT). No mods, just plain vanillia.
It's faster than any M1, you make a short attack and get away to a direction where no collision objects, just free space. Hold distance so the following M1 can't hit you (M1 have just M7 guns in front) but you can hit the M1 with your left or right side PBC. (work with IBL also but PBC much better)
First blow away all annoying escorts. Use Typhoons or Wasp to make them go for a close attack. Then you put down the M1 shields, exactly to 0 shield but 100 hull (no repairs, I use 100% in all marines)- it's easy, no danger.
On that point your M7M have to be in position, when pod on their way, use wasp's to freeze the M1 missle defence.
The M7 has also good maneuverability to collect all the M1 marines after successful boarding. There always some very good stuff for free.
Works also on M7 - but not for M2 or Q. Their front weapons will blast your M7 quickly.
If you go for M2, same method but use a Boreas with back PPC. A Split turbo booster is a good insurance.

[Jimmy C]

Interesting. I don't know if I can pull off that kind of coordination, unfortunately.
And I managed to capture Hoshis. They have a hilarious quirk!
First, ships with hangar bays will have their marines listed under the Owned Ships list after ejecting them. Naturally, M1 have all their fighters listed here too.
When I was swatting the Hoshi's fighters, I saw that the number of Owned Ships wasn't going down. It was only after I captured the ship and could take the time to examine the situation that I realized what was going on.
Each time I killed a fighter, it was being replaced by one launched from the Senator Badlands shipyard! They don't get far once they enter the CW sectors though.
I wonder if I'll see this behavior from CW M1s. There are no shipyards for Pirate M1s to replace their fighters.

[astreus]

I do not have fight exp. against Yaki M1/M2 within their territory as I always get them friend, to use their space for hide aways. If you feed the fac in Weavers T. you have 'your own' space fuel and IBL source, because nobody except you can trade there. If you do bulding mission - you will have your mini universe in Yaki space.
Normally Pirate or .. Paranid ...M1 won't get their fighter replacement in time. I watched somtimes - that after my boarding crew is at work - docked fighter leave the M1 and escape to ?. Aynway, you just should get rid of all M1 fighter because after the M1 turns yours, nearby M1 fighter will turn and attack your shieldless M1.