After the barge and exhumer posts, I thought I’d post a selection of Orca fits for those who are unfamiliar with fitting them.
Basics
The Orca is primarily used for mining support, with additional use as an impromptu hauler for high-value large items (high-value small items go into Blockade Runners).
As a mining support ship, your role is to survey scan for the best/largest rocks and ice, tractor jet cans into your ore bay, and provide mining foreman links. In ideal circumstances, you will also have a hauler to empty your fleet bay for you, but if pushed, you can dump the ore in a nearby station yourself.
As an impromptu hauler, you haul medium amounts of stuff around and hope you’re tough enough not to be a worthwhile target.
It’s important to note that Orcas have a large number of structure hit points, so maximising the benefit from that is important, regardless of role.
Micro-warp Drive
One cycle of an MWD (10 seconds) will let an Orca get to warp speed, instead of the ~45 seconds it normally takes, so it’s worth adding some fitting modules to achieve this where possible. Note the transverse bulkheads that make this fit ridiculously durable.
MWD + warfare link
A warfare link for mining yield is a common fit; note that a reactor control unit is now necessary. Faction ones aren’t appreciably better than tech 2, but necessary if you don’t have the skills for t2, and they’re fairly cheap.
MWD + dual warfare links
After yield, generally the next link to use is a shield resistance link, but mining laser range is also popular. Note the additional fitting module required.
MWS + triple warfare links
You will need an additional ancillary router for a third link but it’s essentially the same.
Afterburner fits
Using two cycles of an afterburner will help you get to warp speed, but not as effectively as an MWD. Still, the power grid savings are huge, as can be seen by this fit.
As a hauler
If you need a tanked hauler, then use a standard MWD fit. Fitted ships will fit in the maintenance array; other stuff will fit in the ore or fleet bays.
If you need a hauler with a larger cargo bay (but not ship maintenance bay), then you could fit expanded cargo bays and rigs, but your EHP drops to 85k which is probably not a prudent situation when you’re hauling expensive stuff in an expensive ship. Perhaps try a Bustard instead.