Point Defenseless: Difference between revisions

Line 2:

[[File:death_star_point_defence_1684.jpg|link=Star Wars|frame|[[Plot Armor]]: offering more protection than [[Deflector Shields]] since [[A New Hope|1977]].]]

"Point defense" is a military term referring to the active protection of a single asset, such as a ship or a building. In modern terms, this means computerized systems with sophisticated targeting sensors that [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/~~Close-~~in_weapon_system~~ automatically engage] incoming enemy aircraft or missiles. In fiction, this can apply to space combat as well. But when a target is [[Point Defenseless]], these systems never actually ''work''. They may be able to swat [[Mook]] swarms from the sky or slag a [[Red Shirt]] or two, but even in the best of cases they're mysteriously unable to touch any main character. Their primary purpose seems to be offering an impressive light show.

"Point defense" is a military term referring to the active protection of a single asset, such as a ship or a building. In modern terms, this means computerized systems with sophisticated targeting sensors that [[wikipedia:Close-in weapon system|automatically engage]] incoming enemy aircraft or missiles. In fiction, this can apply to space combat as well. But when a target is [[Point Defenseless]], these systems never actually ''work''. They may be able to swat [[Mook]] swarms from the sky or slag a [[Red Shirt]] or two, but even in the best of cases they're mysteriously unable to touch any main character. Their primary purpose seems to be offering an impressive light show.

This may be in part because many fictional point defense system still use WWII-style manually operated, visually targeted cannons instead of the automatic systems that replaced them (even when the story ostensibly has a [[Schizo Tech|higher]] tech level than modern day), but even the most futuristic AI-controlled [[Frickin' Laser Beams|laser-firing]] point defenses can fall victim to this trope. Attackers may be forced to jink and dodge, or they may be able to cruise in straight and level while bullets whizz past them, but even if the point defenses manage to take out some of the attackers, it will never be able to stop them all.

This may be in part because many fictional point defense system still use WWII-style manually operated, visually targeted cannons instead of the automatic systems that replaced them (even when the story ostensibly has a [[Schizo-Tech|higher]] tech level than modern day), but even the most futuristic AI-controlled [[Frickin' Laser Beams|laser-firing]] point defenses can fall victim to this trope. Attackers may be forced to jink and dodge, or they may be able to cruise in straight and level while bullets whizz past them, but even if the point defenses manage to take out some of the attackers, it will never be able to stop them all.

This is an application of the [[Rule of Drama]]; it's far more dramatic when ''people'' have to defend a target, rather than faceless machinery. It can also be a form of [[Plot Armor]], when point defense can shoot down [[Mook|Mooks]] and [[Red Shirt|Red Shirts]] but not main characters. After all, how ignoble would it be for [[The Hero]] to get shot down by something as abrupt and impersonal as an automated turret, without even a chance to demonstrate their [[Improbable Piloting Skills]] with some [[Old School Dogfighting]]? It can be part of [[Acceptable Breaks From Reality]] if the game system explicitly intends for a [[Tactical Rock-Paper-Scissors]] scheme. At its simplest, you could have something like fighter/torpedo boat wolfpacks (INSPACE!) nibbling big-gun battleships to death, which in turn get shredded by PD-heavy escorts or screening elements, which in turn get blown away by battleships...

Line 33:

== Film ==

* The ''[[Star Wars]]'' franchise does this frequently.

** The climactic battle in ''[[A New Hope]]'' has the Death Star's ([[Schizo Tech|manually aimed]]) point defense unable to hit more than one or two [[Red Shirt|Red Shirts]], forcing Darth Vader and his TIE fighters to go out for some [[Old School Dogfighting]] action. This is noted in the Rebel mission briefing as the reason they sent only fighters; the Empire considered one-man craft to be a negligible threat to the station and so they're basically taking potshots with anti-capital ship weapons. In ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', the Empire learns its lesson and builds thick anti-fighter gunnery and surrounds the whole station in a massive energy shield during construction.

** The climactic battle in ''[[A New Hope]]'' has the Death Star's ([[Schizo-Tech|manually aimed]]) point defense unable to hit more than one or two [[Red Shirt|Red Shirts]], forcing Darth Vader and his TIE fighters to go out for some [[Old School Dogfighting]] action. This is noted in the Rebel mission briefing as the reason they sent only fighters; the Empire considered one-man craft to be a negligible threat to the station and so they're basically taking potshots with anti-capital ship weapons. In ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', the Empire learns its lesson and builds thick anti-fighter gunnery and surrounds the whole station in a massive energy shield during construction.

** Similarly, the space battle at the end of ''[[The Phantom Menace]]'' shows Naboo fighters getting blown out of the sky, but they don't seem to bother Anakin in the least.

*** These, at least, ''are'' targetted by machines. Of course, those same machines have probably downloaded all the major coursework from the [[Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy]].

* ''[[Star Trek Generations]]'' mentions that targeting and shooting a single missile aimed at the sun would have taken "eight to fifteen seconds". Though this may be justified because the missile is clearly [[Faster Than Light Travel|Faster Than Light]].

* ''[[Star Trek Generations]]'' mentions that targeting and shooting a single missile aimed at the sun would have taken "eight to fifteen seconds". Though this may be justified because the missile is clearly [[Faster-Than-Light Travel|Faster Than Light]].

** This trope is [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|gloriously, beautifully averted]] in the climactic battle of the 2009 reboot, however.

* The film version of Tom Clancy's ''[[The Sum of All Fears]]'' had a scene where an American carrier (unrealistically traveling without escorts) is set upon by Russian aircraft. It is seen firing its CIWS at the incoming missiles, to little effect. This was actually something of a transplant of a [[Red Storm Rising|scene from another Tom Clancy novel]] (see the Literature entry).

Line 42:

* ''[[Red Tails]]'' more or less plays this straight, especially for the [[Redshirt Army|hapless crews]] of the [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|Flying Fortress]] bombers. More or less [[Truth in Television]] there.

** Seemingly the sole exception in the entire movie is when {{spoiler|Junior}} gets hit by a flak gun while raiding a German airfield. {{spoiler|He survives, only to be shot down again later on. He survives that time too.}}

** Worth noting, when they fly into the range of German [[Anti Air]] guns over a bombing target, the fighter pilots have to bug out and link up with the bombers again later, since there is nothing that they can do to defend the heavies from the large anti-aircraft guns. That's certainly acceptable since since the German fighters do the same to avoid friendly fire, of course.

** Worth noting, when they fly into the range of German [[Anti-Air]] guns over a bombing target, the fighter pilots have to bug out and link up with the bombers again later, since there is nothing that they can do to defend the heavies from the large anti-aircraft guns. That's certainly acceptable since since the German fighters do the same to avoid friendly fire, of course.

Line 63:

* Generally averted on ''[[Babylon 5]]'': Many races' ships use fast-tracking "Interceptor" weapons systems, which lay down high volumes of very accurate defensive fire to neutralize incoming enemy weapons fire. Several episodes show what happens when [[Star Fighter]] pilots get too close to these systems without the support of larger warships.

** However, when there is a big enough disparity in technology or firepower, such as during the Earth-Minbari War, the weaker side will often find themselves getting [[Curb Stomp Battle|steam rolled]] without their defensive gunnery having much effect.

* This appeared to be the case for both the Colonials and the Cylons in the original ''[[Battlestar Galactica Classic ~~(TV)~~|Battlestar Galactica]]'' back in the 70's. Both sides used slow-firing, slow tracking gun turrets that were easily overwhelmed by the fast-moving Raiders and Vipers, and depended on their embarked fighter wings for effective defense.

* This appeared to be the case for both the Colonials and the Cylons in the original ''[[Battlestar Galactica Classic|Battlestar Galactica]]'' back in the 70's. Both sides used slow-firing, slow tracking gun turrets that were easily overwhelmed by the fast-moving Raiders and Vipers, and depended on their embarked fighter wings for effective defense.

* In the new ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined ~~(TV)~~|Battlestar Galactica]]'' the Cylon Basestars are literally point defenseless, with sound justification. They rely on their Raiders to intercept enemy missiles and fighters (although they can shoot enemy missiles with their own missiles), as well as get in the way of enemy shells. The Raiders are even capable of faster-than-light travel, allowing the Cylons to engage the Colonials without ever bringing their motherships close. If they find themselves in a fight sans Raiders, however, the Colonial ships usually end up pounding them into scrap. The Battlestars, by contrast, have massive gun batteries to lay down [[More Dakka|Defensive Supression Barrages]] to force the Cylons to give them some breathing room.

* In the new ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined|Battlestar Galactica]]'' the Cylon Basestars are literally point defenseless, with sound justification. They rely on their Raiders to intercept enemy missiles and fighters (although they can shoot enemy missiles with their own missiles), as well as get in the way of enemy shells. The Raiders are even capable of faster-than-light travel, allowing the Cylons to engage the Colonials without ever bringing their motherships close. If they find themselves in a fight sans Raiders, however, the Colonial ships usually end up pounding them into scrap. The Battlestars, by contrast, have massive gun batteries to lay down [[More Dakka|Defensive Supression Barrages]] to force the Cylons to give them some breathing room.

** A first season episode with Galactica's Viper wing launching a raid on a Cylon asteroid base subverted this trope. Even when using a [[Kansas City Shuffle]] to fake out the Cylons' Raider defenders, and Wild Weasel tactics to suppress the Cylon anti-<s>air</s>space defenses, the Viper pilots still get swatted like helpless flies due to the [[More Dakka|sheer volume of enemy fire]]. While the Redshirts are dying, however, {{spoiler|Lee manages to pull off an [[Airstrike Impossible]] by flying through a tunnel to get inside the base's defenses.}} In Galactica terms, this would be called "Pulling a Starbuck".

* Zig-zagged in ''[[Andromeda]]'', the titular ship has both Point-Defense Lasers and remote drones but enemy missiles still manage to hit it often.

Line 136:

== Real Life ==

* In reality, modern point defense systems are last-ditch desperation weapons primarily intended for use against incoming missiles; a missile only gets close enough to be engaged by point defenses if someone else has already screwed up. Given the difficulty of hitting a relatively small target hurtling toward you at multiple times the speed of sound in the few seconds between when you can first detect it and when it hits you, even modern anti-missile systems are far from foolproof, though they certainly aren't useless.

** It should be noted that the US [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS~~ Phalanx CIWS] is actually very accurate and effective when automated. The downside is that it can't be kept automated for long periods of time due to the chance of false positives and friendly fire. Most systems will alert a human operator before actually engaging a potential threat.

** It should be noted that the US [[wikipedia:Phalanx CIWS|Phalanx CIWS]] is actually very accurate and effective when automated. The downside is that it can't be kept automated for long periods of time due to the chance of false positives and friendly fire. Most systems will alert a human operator before actually engaging a potential threat.

* A notable cause of failure in modern point defense is actually ''programming errors''.

** Older model Patriot systems used in the first Gulf War had a critical rounding oversight in the internal clock, totally insignificant at first, but which snowballed hour after hour until they couldn't hit an idling zeppelin. Until the software was patched, they had to be manually rebooted every few hours to stay accurate.

** Because they were originally designed to engage planes, Patriot missiles tended to detonate too slowly when fired at SCUD missiles (which travel much ''faster'' than manned aircraft), resulting in actual performance falling short of test results until a later software update.

** In the Falklands War a number of British [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Type_42_destroyer~~ Type 42 destroyers] got hit by not only guided anti-ship missiles but also Argentine aircraft lobbing unguided munitions at them. The early iterations of the class were fitted with GWS30 Sea Dart surface-to-air missile system for anti-air defense; problem was, if aircraft or missiles managed to close to within a certain range, software issues with the SAM system caused them to be unable to properly track and fire at targets because they were too close. This limitation was the reason why the class was latter fitted with two Mk.15 Phalanx CIWS.

** In the Falklands War a number of British [[wikipedia:Type 42 destroyer|Type 42 destroyers]] got hit by not only guided anti-ship missiles but also Argentine aircraft lobbing unguided munitions at them. The early iterations of the class were fitted with GWS30 Sea Dart surface-to-air missile system for anti-air defense; problem was, if aircraft or missiles managed to close to within a certain range, software issues with the SAM system caused them to be unable to properly track and fire at targets because they were too close. This limitation was the reason why the class was latter fitted with two Mk.15 Phalanx CIWS.

** The newer Sea Wolf SAM fitted to a few ships in the fleet had a problem with its fire-control software that most likely inspired the example in ''[[Red Storm Rising]]'' described above; when multiple Argentine fighter-bombers approached in line-abreast formation, the program threw a fit because it was supposed to target the closest threat first.

* There's actually a group of people dedicating to make this trope [[Truth in Television]] -- the [[Wild Weasel]] units' mission is the suppression of enemy anti-air fire. They do this primarily by ''[[We Need a Distraction|deliberately drawing fire]]'' and then letting other members of the team destroy the AA facilities that revealed themselves by attacking. Appropriately, their unofficial motto is "YGBSM", which stands for "you gotta be shittin' me", supposedly the response of one of the original Wild Weasel team members upon being told the details of his new assignment.

Line 154:

[[Category:Weapons and Wielding Tropes]]

[[Category:Point Defenseless]]

[[Category:Trope]]