Klackon strategic doctrine
Classified level Rho
Cruisers (large) form the backbone of the IKN. With an emphasis on shielding and maneuverability, these birds of war are the fastest ships in the navy. Because of that emphasis, they are always the first ships to utilize advances in shielding and propulsion technology. This allows each class to have a much longer effective service life than one would expect. Even in obsolescence, they age gracefully. The extra maneuverability afforded to them lets them dodge enemy fire far more effectively than cruisers of other races, adding greatly to their survival rates. In terms of weaponry, they rate only average, although they come with the best targeting computers available to make every shot count. Unlike more heavily armed, but slower cruisers of other races, especially the Silicoids, their heavy shielding and high maneuverability ensure that the cruiser will survive long enough for its weapons array to actually make a difference.
Weapons sets depend entirely on what sizes of ships the enemy is using. Against fighter (small) and gunboat (medium) laden fleets, extensive usage of anti-stack weapons such as the graviton beam are highly recommended if available, if not then smaller beam weapons are to be used. For cruiser and destroyer (huge) dependent fleets, heavy beam weapons are to be use. Also unlike other races, Klackon cruisers are never mixed use, instead they are always exclusively used for space superiority, giving the IKN a massive defensive punch. From the smallest skirmish to the largest fleet battle, the Klackon cruisers are always on call to hold the line in the name of the Empress and the Empire.
Destroyers are the centerpieces of every major IKN fleet. Huge and powerful, weighing in at 6 times the hull armor of a cruiser, assuming same materials are used, and 5 times the anti-spacecraft armament, they are a reliable and constant source of agony for enemy fleet commanders. Like their cruiser escorts, they are always intended to use the strongest shield systems available. Unlike cruisers, Klackon destroyers have much less of an emphasis placed on speed and more on pure firepower. That being said, they are in reality only a few paces behind cruisers in that regard, and so they are typically much faster and more maneuverable than their counterparts from the IKN’s rivals, even if they are slightly less heavily armed.
Also unlike IKN cruisers, destroyers are intended to be used for offensive roles, so in addition to packing a dozen or more heavy beam cannons they are also loaded as heavily as possible with the latest in Klackon anti-planetary bombs. However, if the IKN is being overwhelmed by enemy incursions and/or enemy missile and planetary shield technology exceeds Klackon ships’ defensive and bombing abilities, then the IKN will roll out a new “beam only” version whose sole task is defending Klackon space. These cases are rare, however. In order to supplement its intended offensive role against planetary missile bases, destroyers are always equipped with the latest in ECM technology as well as whatever special anti-missile equipment is available.
Unless the IKN is being overrun with swarms of fighters and/or gunboats, then all destroyers are equipped with the latest in heavy beam weaponry. Their targets are cruisers and other destroyers, most of which it can take down with ease. To further bolster its defenses, whenever an automated repair system becomes available a destroyer must have it onboard. The automated repair will restore a certain percentage of the ship’s total hitpoints after every combat turn, so because of the large number of hitpoints on a destroyer, this makes it extremely difficult to destroy them. Destroyers should also never operate alone, and should be escorted at all times by at least 4 cruisers. It's only when the fleet is being pushed to its limits that one would ever find these behemoths alone.
EDIT: Added more paragraphs
