Another 1 Trillion ISK Vaporized
As the end of the month approaches, it's time to review and summarize the most notorious EVE Online battle of April 2024. This conflict was not merely a matter of the staggering 1 trillion ISK in losses; it also occurred in a famously precarious lowsec system - a crucial point on a map for many capsuleers navigating the shortest route between Jita and Amarr. Yup, I am referring to Ahbazon (0.4), a system that frequently features in the autopilot settings of those seeking a faster, albeit riskier, path across the stars.
For those unfamiliar, Ahbazon is a low-security system that offers a significant shortcut. Opting for this route means risking hostile engagements but reducing the journey to just 11 jumps, compared to the safer 45-jump route, by including another famous system Uedama 0.5 system, which is a well-known hunting ground for gankers. Anyways, let’s look at what happened this month.
Battle Report: The Ahbazon Conflict
Location: Ahbazon 0.4
Date: 2024-04-06
Time: Around 1AM ET
Conflict sides: Imperium vs Pandafam
Involved Parties: Goonswarm Federation, Brave Collective, Snuff, The Initiative VS Pandemic Horde, Deepwater Hooligans, Fraternity, Pandemic Legion and various other alliances.
Initial Conflict
Deepwater initiates the conflict by reinforcing an Imperium Fortizar in Ahbazon.
Pandafam is called upon for assistance by Deepwater; concurrently, Imperium summons Snuff for support.
Fleet Compositions
Imperium: Deployed Rokhs for standard structure defense, a wing of about 40 Retributions from The Initiative. into Hykkota gate and a dreadnought fleet ready in case of escalation.
Pandafam and Allies: Included TFI's from Deepwater, nightmares from BFL, Scorpion Navy and Ferox Navy from Main Horde, and Armor HACs from FRT.
Key Engagements
The first Goonswarm dreadnought is destroyed at 2:22, 3 minutes later the Pandafam lose their first cap too.
Snuff's decisive intervention with 87 dreadnoughts around 3:07 significantly shifted the battle's momentum, directly engaging Deepwater's dreadnoughts. Initially, support wings, primarily from The Initiative, were taken aback by Snuff's appearance and mistakenly began to target Snuff's dreadnoughts. However, communication quickly clarified the common enemy, and the battle resumed as anticipated.
Turn of Events
Around 3:42, the last dreadnought falls.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Snuff's intervention disrupts the opposing fleets, leading to tactical withdrawals by Pandafam and Deepwater forces.
At 4:13, a significant skirmish unfolded in the Hykkota (0.8) system, where Pandafam lost dozens of logistics and T2 cruisers without inflicting any notable damage on the Imperium forces.
Damage Assessment
Analysis of the killmails highlighted poor damage performance of the Panfam’s SNI fleet, considering their minimal impact despite the fleet's size of 98 hulls.
The tactical positioning of Zirnitras and Revelation Navy by the Imperium at a strategic range significantly limited their vulnerability, enhancing both their survival and effectiveness. This strategy is supported by data showing that, despite Snuff's dreadnoughts entering the battlefield nearly an hour after the capital fight began, they managed to contribute 42.7% of the total damage inflicted by Imperium forces. Remarkably, only 4 out of the 87 deployed dreadnoughts were lost
Casualties and Losses
Significant dreadnought losses on both sides, with a final tally hinting at a trillion ISK in loses.
Here is a full battle report - LINK.
And video report by the participant - Snuffer Out POV
Final Thoughts (Personal Opinion)
I have mixed feelings about the tactical decisions made during the battle, particularly concerning the effectiveness of missile doctrines in large-scale engagements affected by Time Dilation (TiDi). The performance of specific fleets, like the SNI and Phoenixes, raises questions.
The outcome of the battle underscores the critical importance of timely reinforcements and strategic positioning in nearby systems, as well as the need for careful fleet composition adjustments in large-scale warfare. These elements proved crucial in determining the battle's direction and outcome.
o7