The described Andromeda formation contains one heavy cruiser, four deep standoff attack ships, sixteen group-defence frigates, nine long-range surveillance ships, and four supply and maintenance ships. Its missile ships offer substantial firepower, but need other vessels to find targets and keep opponents away. The proposed alternative replaces the four attack ships with three more heavy cruisers while retaining balanced frigates, surveillance, and support. That would give the formation more ships able to survive and fight independently. The missile-heavy arrangement is judged more plausible against a defended planetary system, where the enemy is tied to a location, than against manoeuvring forces in open space.
Notable Point · 1:18:54-1:22:18
Andromeda's missile ships and the cost of their supporting fleet
A missile-heavy battle group raises the question of whether additional self-defending cruisers would use the same resources better.