This Galaxy is vast; its wonders and beauty are almost unfathomable. But the galaxy also hides dark secrets, some of which have lain dormant since the beginning of time itself. There is a danger in secrets, both in seeking and in knowing. Some things are meant to be hidden from view. Some mysteries defy understanding, and sometimes even the things we think we know are untrue. Some secrets should remain untouched.
Dual Sidewinder, Heavy Flashpoint/Faction 650/750 m/s projectile, Deb Turrets, SNAC/ASURAS Spatial.
If only they would buff Catapult Missiles, because they're essentially half-damage Hellfires that eat energy right now.
On to actual mechanics.
When you're flying a SHF, you want to mash "reverse" and strafe lot (I believe "x" is the default) as the idiots in the LFs, HFs, and VHFs zoom by you. SNAC-Bombers are a real pain to deal with because you're enormous, but getting up close and personal guns blazing whilst hitting then with the missiles of your choice knocks them out of the sky in fairly short order, and if that don't work, the mines you took the liberty of dropping as you breezed by them should finish them up.
Against Gunboats, your best bet is to target hardpoints.
Assume I'm flying an ASURAS Spatial. I see the Gunboat I whose day I want to ruin. I do a preliminary target map of them and single out their shield. Whoop de doo, the ASURAS connects as I execute a flyover and mine drop on their sorry behinds. Assuming they don't use bats, I then start hammering away with my other munitions. If they do use bats, I fall back and laugh at the poor fool before coming in again with a recharged salvo. With their shield hardpoint dead, I can now do "bombing runs" with mines and other methods of Gunboat killing until they run out of bots, withdraw, or blow up. I then laugh as I tractor in the loot and go home.
That's 1v1. If you have fighters on your tail, mine drop like no tomorrow.
Against Cruisers on up, you need either backup or a Bomber Torpedo hardpoint for a SNAC/Nova. Preferably both.
Mines and Missiles are your friends, because they are more of a suppressor than actual threat. If someone's shooting at you, they're going to be not shooting at you once the mine(s) get sent at them. Use the time to reverse, strafe, and turn, and start blasting away.
With a bit of luck and you not getting ganked, you'll eventually get that *zing!* noise and a blue message will appear.