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MaxxQBuNine In reply to OTCPony [2017-01-21 00:10:50 +0000 UTC]

Yes.  It and the larger Keyhole II have some ability for autonomous operations.*  In a pinch, the KH can also roll wedge to protect vulnerable ship broadsides (in case the sidewall has gone down due to damage, or for other similar reasons).  It can also provide cover as well as fire control for a rolled ship that is capable of off-bore firing - prior to off-bore capability, ships had to either be facing the enemy (forward hammerhead), running from an enemy (aft hammerhead), or sideways to an enemy (broadside mounts) in order to fire on them.  Now, with KH I and II, a ship doesn't even need to see the enemy ship directly, instead getting the info from the KH and firing its missiles off-bore, and still getting good targeting info.

The disadvantage is that it is only a single wedge layer, unlike most warships which have a double layer (hence impeller rings fore and aft), which could theoretically have its frequency analysed by the enemy ship and allow for better penaid programming for inbound missiles.  OTOH, since wedges were what was first used for FTL comms, that implies that the frequency can be changed rather quickly, on the fly (similar to modern military radar systems), to prevent that sort of thing. 

*"Autonomous", as in, given programming to do something, and doing it without constant monitoring by the "mothership".  It's not a true AI, as David has said that he doesn't want completely AI-controlled ships in the Honorverse.  More along the lines of an extremely sophisticated autopilot.

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