SMX-25

The SMX-25, as seen in-game

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## Background History

The SMX-25 is a diving frigate developed by the French ship building company, DCNS. The ship is planned to be armed with 16 multi-function missiles and four torpedo tubes.

## Overview

The SMX-25 is a ship design that is currently undergoing RND by DCNS. It's design is meant to allow it to make high speed surface dashes to distant targets before diving and then striking with it's missiles from under water. In that respect, the ship is actually eerily similar to the earliest submarines which were simply surface ships with the ability to dive if needed rather than true submarines.

## Tactics

### Playing as a SMX-25

SMX-25 is one of the best submarines in the game, alongside with SMX-31 and CN Type 096. Because of its speed, it's the fastest submarine in the game. It is recommend to go down into the water only just when there is a missile launch, as it has an extremely low oxygen capacity. Air defenses can help you to protect from planes, but should not be relied upon. Because it has a low health pool (Lower than CN Type 096, but higher than SMX-31), You shouldn't go off by yourself to attack any enemy, but let teammates do the spotting and recon work.

As you will be surfaced most of the time, your choice of missiles should reflect this. Unlike most other subs which have the choice between surface firing or underwater launch capability, you are pretty much forced to prioritize surface launch missiles in the SMX-25 due to its nonexistent oxygen supply. On the bright side, things like the P-700 Granits are available.

### Playing alongside with a SMX-25

The SMX-25 would need a lot of help from allies in order to reach its potential due to its lackluster HP pool and nonexistent oxygen capacity. Allies should escort a SMX-25 and help provide air defense during the early stages of a match because of their inability to stay underwater for long and lack of proper air defenses for their tier will make them easy prey to carrier flight groups.

Later on in a match allies should provide support to the SMX-25 whether it be sinking the enemy carrier or helping in keeping enemy submarines at bay. The latter goes two ways as if the submarine ever turns it's attention towards you, the SMX can jump back in and abuse its high speed to perform hit and runs on the enemy sub not to mention it could have a full load of RUM-139 Swarmers.

### Playing against a SMX-25

Like usual, the bane of everything submarine is the CN Type 096 due to its relentless YU-7 torpedo spam and high speed and agility. However, the SMX-25 is more than capable of defending itself from the Type 096 and can abuse it's speed to stay out of the YU-7's lock on range and dive under whenever a missile is sent it's way. Trying to kill a competent and skilled SMX-25 player as another submarine is most likely going to result in a trip back to port and so outside of the Type 096, SMX-31 and other SMX-25's, all other subs should steer clear.

The true bane of the SMX-25 is carriers. It's pitiful AA defense and lack of O2 capacity means a patient carrier captain can just camp a SMX-25 player to death by loitering bombers, strike fighters, or helicopters over it until its oxygen supply inevitably runs down and it is forced to surface.

Surface ships have an extremely lopsided matchup against the SMX-25 as it cannot stay underwater like most other submarines, allowing you long windows of attack time where you can pelt the sub with relentless grenade launcher and gunfire, quickly sending the ship to Davy Jones Locker. Beware though, skilled SMX-25 captains are well aware of their downsides and will absue their advantages to always fight on their terms. That is, stay far back outside effective gun range, and constantly harass you with missiles and torpedoes and then dive under whenever you retaliate with missiles of your own.

## Suggested armaments setup

The ship, with its flexible armaments setup, can be armed with various weapons that will furthermore improve the ship's performance. Below are some suggested weapons setup. But, bear in mind that these are just suggestions.

* First missile slot: RUM-139 Swarmer, P-700 Granit, DF-17, Zircon (If accessible).
* Second missile slot: RUM-139 Swarmer, P-700 Granit.
* First torpedo slot: Mark-48, YU-7, UGST.
* Second torpedo slot: Mark-48, YU-7, UGST.
* First anti air slot: Kashtan-M, Pantsir-ME, ANSEQ-3 (for players with the "hero" status).
* Second anti air slot: Sea RAM, Pantsir-ME, ANSEQ-3 (for players with the "hero" status).

## Advantages and Disadvantages

### Advantages

* High mobility
* Comes equipped with two separate slots of missiles and torpedoes for flexibility.

### Disadvantages

* Very low Oxygen capacity, lower than the Type 100's.
* The durability is about the same as the USS Ohio's.
* At the price of weapon flexibility is the expenses of weapon purchases and upgrades.

## Trivia

* The ship's in-game model is longer than the Yuri Dolgorukiy, even though the SMX was only planned to be 109 meters long.