[Space] Fighter-to-ship ratio: what is it and why?

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by SavageDoc

Historically small craft both naval and air have had many roles.

Recon. Find the other guy before he finds you. Maybe this includes being first in on jumping or wormhole-ing.

Patrol and Pursuit. Kill the other guy's Recon force. This is why WWII American 'fighters' have the P designation.

Shipping Strike. Attack the other guy's mobile targets. Dive bombers, torpedo bombers, anti ship missile dropping, torpedo boats, and their equivalents.

Ground Strike. Attack the other guy's stationary targets. Maybe his planetary shields laugh at your kinetic bombardment, or doing so is against the laws of war.

Combat Air Patrol. Kill the other guy's shipping strike.

Traffic control and policing. Customs inspection, traffic enforcement, general policing of civilian traffic and shipping.

Escort. Escorting your strike flights/forces whether against shipping or ground targets.

One thing to remember is that, unless the tech is really odd, space fighters are not really the equivalent of aircraft vs ships, but torpedo/missile boats vs bigger ships, because they both move in the same medium using the same propulsion systems.