Recon Patrol solution?

[ebeyer]

I keep getting my rear end handed to me on the recon patrol mission. My strategy so far is to get in behind the squadron, really close, then blast the first ship with missles and take off at top speed, with the intent of picking the rest off one by one.

My problem is that the fed patrol ships are more maneuverable, getting out of my sites way before I can turn around and target them again. This happens even if I boost power to engines all the way and set throttle to 50%, which is supposed to give me the best turning radius.

How have the rest of you managed to best the patrol?
EB

 

[Hellhawk666]

I keep getting my rear end handed to me on the recon patrol mission. My strategy so far is to get in behind the squadron, really close, then blast the first ship with missles and take off at top speed, with the intent of picking the rest off one by one.

My problem is that the fed patrol ships are more maneuverable, getting out of my sites way before I can turn around and target them again. This happens even if I boost power to engines all the way and set throttle to 50%, which is supposed to give me the best turning radius.

How have the rest of you managed to best the patrol?
EB

Take out 2 ships as fast as possible with missiles and gun. Don't be subtle. Once you've halved the odds it is much easier. If you let 2 or 3 get on your tail it's curtains.

 

[Zieman]

How have the rest of you managed to best the patrol?
EB

Spoiler

Target the one which flies at back of the pack (in Alpha 2.0 one comes first, three a bit later), close the distance to somewhere between 300 & 800 meters, shoot 5+ times with the laser first and then 3 missiles in rapid succession. Rinse & repeat.

This video shows that the method works even with poor tactics (wrong fighter targeted first):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrIY9PwE2s8

 

[X2Eliah]

What I found was that you really need to take out *two* of the fighters asap, not just one.

Basically, target one, lock on, fire 3-4 missiles + some lasers, it should die. Then, switch to another enemy asap, and again use missiles etc.

Then you can try to break off (strafing seems to help against AI opponent fire too) and deal with them more tactically.

 

[Perseus]

Another way is to manage your heat and sneak up on 'em.

 

[Gen-Han-Solo]

Its an ambush you are their to destroy the recon wing as fast as possible . Try and get to the jump point and target the first fighter with guns as soon as you get target lock fire 2 missiles then change targets kill the first two fighters as fast as possible then target the third , you should be able to take out three fighters before getting any hits on your shields . Then its just one on one so try and out fly the last fighter and kill with guns , use missiles if you get the chance but one on one I normally use just the gun .

I keep getting my rear end handed to me on the recon patrol mission. My strategy so far is to get in behind the squadron, really close, then blast the first ship with missles and take off at top speed, with the intent of picking the rest off one by one.

My problem is that the fed patrol ships are more maneuverable, getting out of my sites way before I can turn around and target them again. This happens even if I boost power to engines all the way and set throttle to 50%, which is supposed to give me the best turning radius.

How have the rest of you managed to best the patrol?
EB

 

[Keeval]

Yep - use silent running and the missiles.. they won't know what hit em