Casual Heavy Fighter Play test Rules

(5H.0) CASUAL HEAVY FIGHTER SQUADRONS

This rule allows players to experiment with the concept of deploying Casual Heavy Fighters in much the same manner as casual PFs are deployed using (5P.0) Casual PF Flotillas, published in Captain's Log #16 (November 1994). These may be used separately or combined with Casual PF Flotillas.

(5H.1) SQUADRONS

(5H.11) Any race may deploy casual heavy fighters. Each race is provided with four casual Heavy Fighter Counters and cannot add more. Each Heavy Fighter Squadron counts against the limit of Casual PF Flotillas. Exception: The Lyrans and Gorns (both of whom were traditionally not big fighters users) are provided with two. (5H.12) A casual Heavy Fighter Squadron is, in effect a Carrier without a Carrier. It represents several standard warships fitted with Heavy Fighter Mech-links and given the needed supplies to maintain and operate the Heavy Fighters. (5H.13) These casual Heavy Fighter Squadrons are received at no cost, but originally include no Heavy Fighters. Any Heavy Fighters assigned to a casual Heavy Fighter Squadron must be purchased at 2 EP per fighter factor.

(5H.2) Assignment

(5H.21) Each casual Heavy Fighter Squadron counter is assigned to a group of ships all within the same hex (and all in the same fleet) but not to specific ships within the group. (A typical fleet will normally have many times the required level, making an exact count unnecessary.) Individual ships may join and leave the group at will without affecting the casual Heavy Fighter Squadron so long as enough ships remain at all times to support the Squadron (5H.24). Unbreakable groups carrying casual Heavy Fighters count as individual ships. (5H.22) Casual Heavy Fighter Squadrons may not be assigned to or carried by PFTs, SCSs, Police Ships, Andro Ships, Aux Carriers, Aux PFTs, & Aux SCSs, Monitors, FRDs, Convoys, PDU/PDG, or Bases. (5H.23) Casual Heavy Fighter Squadrons may not be assigned to or carried by foreign or captured ships. They cannot function if not in supply. (5H.24) A casual Heavy Fighter Squadron can contain up to six Heavy Fighters. Each "ship" (5H.21) can carry a number of Heavy Fighters as follows:

Ships with less than 7 factors *	1 Heavy Fighter
Romulan FAL; Gorn HDS, LTT	1 Heavy Fighter
Ships with 7 or more factors *	2 Heavy Fighters
Battleships	4 Heavy Fighters

If, at any time, there are not enough friendly ships in the same hex and fleet as the casual Heavy Fighter Squadron to support it, any surplus is destroyed immediately and does not produce "minus points". Each Heavy Fighter has a ComPot of 1.5. Odd numbers are rounded down. Example: 3 Heavy Fighters would have an Attack Factor of 4. 3 x 1.5 = 4.5 rounded down to 4. * Use the higher of the attack or defense factor. (5H.25) Individual Heavy Fighters can be transferred to and from a casual Heavy Fighter Squadron just as they could to or from any carrier that could operate them. These Heavy Fighters can come from or go to any legal carrier/base of the same race. (5H.26) Casual Heavy Fighter Squadrons cannot be adopted or used in Expeditionary Forces. (5H.27) No battle force can have more than one casual Heavy Fighter Squadron. (5H.28) No pod (except carrier pods with 6 or more fighter factors) or SCS pods can carry casual Heavy Fighter Squadrons. Tugs/LTTs (including the Lyran SR) can carry casual Heavy Fighters only if carrying a carrier pod with 6 or more fighter factors or an SCS pod.

(5H.3) Movement

(5H.31) A casual Heavy Fighter Squadron moves with the ships which carries it. They cannot be left behind during movement, nor may the Heavy Fighter Squadron be moved separately from the ships during Reaction Movement. (5H.32) A casual Heavy Fighter Squadron is counted for pinning purposes just as regular fighter factors are counted. (5H.33) When the races receives its casual Heavy Fighter Squadron Counters (5H.11), they can be assigned to any group of ships which is in supply from the capital. If at any time a casual Heavy Fighter Squadron is empty (i.e. has no Heavy Fighters assigned), the counter can be removed and reassigned to any other group of ships which is in supply from the capital.

(5H.4) Combat

(5H.41) Casual Heavy Fighter Squadrons cannot be assigned to a Battle Force unless there are enough ships in that Battle Force to carry then all; see (5H.24). Between Combat Rounds individual casual Heavy Fighters could be transferred to Carriers capable of operating them. (5H.42) Each casual Heavy Fighter Squadron (or portion thereof) is treated for purposes of Command, as a Carrier Squadron operating independently of its carrier and counts against the command limits.