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Corvettes offer stronger firepower and durability over strike craft and provide moderate effectiveness against frigates. Like most Homeworld: Cataclysm craft, though, the corvettes are specialized and should be implemented into specific situations. For instance, the Beast heavy corvette offers moderate effectiveness against enemy fighters and frigates (though performing better against fighters). The Beast multigun corvette is best used against fighters; use them to guard ships to protect them from strike craft attack. Finally, the missile corvette offers more effectiveness against frigates than strike craft. Corvettes can be used like strike craft in similar formations.
The Somtaaw multibeam frigate is a mainstay of the fleet and should be used heavily as a bridge between strike craft and the larger capital ships. Its coverage isn't bad, but you'll need protection against enemy strike craft and attack bombers. The hive frigate launches a form of miniature fighters that swarm around enemy frigates and capital ships, but provide most protection (and aggression) against enemy strike craft. The new ramming frigate can turn the tide in a capital ship war. Escort the ramming frigate into the battle and push the enemy capital ship away from the fight. The enemy may divert its forces to annihilate the ramming frigate; while the enemy's forces are occupied, blow them apart!
The Beast's ion array frigate's slow moving, but carries a devastating beam and the ability to cloak (once researched). Cloak some in your attack fleet to disguise your power. Or, cloak some and sneak them around into your enemy's resource group. Distract your foe with an assault elsewhere, then decloak the ion array frigates and annihilate the resource units. Protect them from strike craft attack with multigun corvettes. Use the Beast's defense field frigate to protect ally ships against fighter attack; the defense field frigate provides protection against bullets and plasma bombs.
Capital ships compose the largest ships in the Homeworld: Cataclysm fleet. They're expensive and occupy a large amount of support units - which usually means you will be forced to retire or scuttle smaller ships to make room for these beasts. The carrier, available for both the Somtaaw and Beast fleet, can be upgraded with its own support units to provide further unit availability for your fleet. Carriers can build their own strike craft and serve as a dock and repair for strike craft, corvettes, and frigates. Don't expect these mobile hangers to be effective in combat, though; protect carriers or keep them away from the battle.
There's nothing really wrong with the Somtaaw destroyer. It's a nicely priced killing machine that should become the core of your fleet. Protect the destroyer from various forms of attack, including ramming frigate and leeches (if playing a Somtaaw player). Keep these powerful ships healed during big battles by assigning workers to heal the destroyers. You should also research repair bots in extended games; the technology lets frigates and capital ships heal slowly over time.
The dreadnaught provides a step above the destroyer - more firepower and armor at the expense of price, support units, and maneuverability. Devastating against larger ships, protect the dreadnaught from its vulnerabilities - against Beast corvettes and, to a lesser extent, strike craft. Upgrade the dreadnaught with its repulse weapon to push enemy ships away.
The Beast's heavy cruiser fits nicely between the Somtaaw destroyer and dreadnaught in power, with one wild card - infection. Like the Beast command ship and carrier, the heavy cruiser can infect and capture Somtaaw ships. Further, it's simply a strong killing machine. Try not to get overmatched against a dreadnaught group. Protect your heavy cruisers against enemy frigates with corvettes and strike craft.
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