In 2v2, I think it's a bit OP.
That sounds like an OP argument to me.
And you can retaliate, with all of the information that has been provided so far in the thread. If you just ignore all of it, well then thats on you.
Prevention isn't really the same as retaliation.
Consider the double hwachas again. If they come in hard... you take out their weapons, but their engines are on the other side of the hull. Then can go full reverse and just run. If you *do* get their engines... hwachas have a long reload, time the rebuild to just after a volley and try to get away, or rebuild your own weapon-destroying weapon (hwacha or whatever) and take out mine before they cycle. There are ways to counter that counter and it might just fail, but, seems a lot easier to pull off to me.
Flechette... best defense that's worked for me is, as you say, stay high and don't let them get close. That's prevention though.
But I guess I shouldn't complain while I'm using it. It's a pretty sweet setup for all the DM achievements and watching people rage
is funny as all hell.
edit: Well let me just put it this way: It's *one* component that's attackable from any angle and dies quickly and disables the whole target vessel more thoroughly and safely than anything else.