Clarke argues that Andromeda's missile destroyers suit fixed planetary targets better than an enemy fleet able to close the range. Their long-range firepower does not remove the need to keep hostile ships at a distance. He criticizes a force of four destroyers supported by one Glorious Heritage cruiser. His alternative puts two pairs of cruisers forward with four destroyers firing from behind them. The proposed ratio expresses a screening requirement within the fictional setting.
Notable Point · 2:25:14-2:26:20
Protecting Andromeda's missile bombardment ships
A missile-heavy fleet needs enough forward combatants to stop an enemy reaching its bombardment ships.