Space Combat - Did I miss something?

[J. L. Brown]

Torpedoes are losers vs point-defense.

A Small Missile Bay launches 12 missiles (1 dTon) per shot; a Small Torpedo Bay launches 3 torpedoes (1 dTon) per shot.
For standard missiles, that is 150 KCr for 12x 4D of damage, and 12 points of Point Defense to shoot them all down.
For standard torpedoes, that is 450 KCr for 3x 6D of damage, and 6 points of Point Defense to shoot them all down.

For Multi-Warhead munitions:
Standard MW-missiles cost 750 KCr for 12x 3x 3D of damage, and 36 points of Point Defense to shoot them all down.
Standard MW-torpedoes cost 1200 KCr for 3x 3x 3D of damage, and 18 points of Point Defense to shoot them all down.

Plus, as you point out, each Anti-Torpedo Missiles destroys 'Effect' of Torpedoes, while Fragmentation Missiles each destroy only one incoming missile. There are no Anti-Torpedo nor Anti-Missile torpedoes at all. Missiles can be fired without penalty at all targets; torpedoes have a -2 vs targets below 2000 dTons.

EW rules also favor missiles; and do not get me started on 'Barbettes'.

It looks like the only advantages that torpedoes have are:
1} that they do not suffer losses after 5 full turns of flight -- which is only a factor (for standard missiles) at ranges beyond 'Very Long'. Even then, halving the number of missiles in flight once only puts missiles at parity with (not a disadvantage to) torpedoes.
2} they do more damage per (non-nuclear) individual, which gives them an advantage vs targets with (especially heavy, about 13+) armor.

 

[Condottiere]

Torpedoes are tougher to shoot down.

 

[J. L. Brown]

Torpedoes are tougher to shoot down.

Please read my post. That is already accounted for.

 

[rinku]

There may be other factors when you look at the variant ordnance, especially a torpedo that is particularly hard to kill or splits into several missiles. Dunno, I'm not invested enough to check.

It does occur to me, though, that a drone designed to be fired from a standard missile or torpedo launcher might be worth looking at. A torp sized one that maneuvers to (or is launched at) close range and starts shooting a laser or does something else fancy.