General War AU: The Capellan Conundrum

[Liam's Ghost]

One has to wonder exactly how Ursula Liao reacted to the news of the Taurian Victory in the Malagrotta War. On the one hand it must have delighted her to see an old enemy of the Capellan Confederation brought so low by a periphery state.

On the other hand, she might have realized that the Taurian navy that had so soundly beaten the Federated Suns was a monster of the Confederation's creation. It was the bloody Rim War nearly two centuries before which convinced the Taurians that they needed such a strong navy, which led them to build and buy ships and train crews so relentlessly until they were the second largest naval power in known space. Perhaps it's no surprise that even before pundits in the Taurian media started agitating over "Taurian souls still bound in Capellan chains", the Capellan Navy was already preparing for the next war.

The Capellans had never been a great naval power, and losses during the recent Third Andurien War had cut deeply into what strength they had. Even reactivating their small reserve fleet wasn't likely to be enough to repel the Taurian navy. While Ursula Liao hoped that negotiation might prevent, or at least delay a war, the Confederation still needed ships, it needed them quickly, and it needed the ones it already had in top form. While inquiries went out to the Hegemony to purchase additional ships, the handful of ships remaining in the reserve were being pulled out, examined, and scheduled for upgrades that would serve as templates for modernizing the fleet.

The Capella Prime class was the first target of this effort. A design nearly two centuries old, the existing ships had already been brought out of mothballs to fight in the Third Andurien War, and it had long proven both reasonably reliable and quick to build. As a consequence it took little time to draw up plans for a moderately upgraded design featuring improved armor and turning the original dropshuttle bay into extra cargo storage. The first examples went from laying down to service in under two years, and as production ramps up, it is expected that the Confederation will get that number down to as little as six months per hull. In the meanwhile, as new modern Capella Primes enter service, they are replacing older ships already in service, which are being sent back to the yards for upgrading.

Much less of a success story has been the Du Shi Wang, which represent's the Capellan Navy's only true large combatant. A single example, badly damaged during the Andurien War and kept in reserve, has been pulled in for an extensive overhaul and refit, which like the Capella Prime is intended to form the basis for modernizing the entire class. In this case, the improved design is expected to receive additional, heavier gun batteries both fore and aft, a massive upgrade to its already impressive armor protection, and an expanded fighter complement, but constant delays, caused by the poor condition of the ship and unforseen technical problems, has already set the program back by years. With tensions between the Confederation and the Concordat rising, it's unlikely that the refits on the first ship will be completed in time to fight, much less any upgrades to the rest of the class.

One of the major weaknesses of the Confederation fleet is its heavy dependence on Terran built hulls, something that hit them hardest in 2578 when the Hegemony announced it was ceasing export of Terran built WarShips for the foreseeable future to avoid "feeding a disastrous arms race." A decision that the Capellans, already feeling pressure from their neighbors, took as a particularly pointed betrayal. To this end, it may come as no surprise that the Confederation's first destroyer class, the Akula, bears rather blatant resemblance to the Hegemony's Essex, without either shame or any offer of licensing fees. Though it features a more robust hull, superior armor, and a heavier weapons load, the Akula's KF drive, transit drive, many of its sub systems, and even the placement of its heavy weapons is a direct copy of the Essex. Since the Confederation already has a number of Essex class ships in their fleet, this is a massive benefit to the Capellan navy, for while they have so far only brought two Akulas into service, they now have a steady source of supply for their existing fleet, immune to any Hegemony embargo.

The most humble of the Confederation's upgrade program is the Cruiser class. Considered wholly obsolete for front line service even with the badly weakened Capellan navy, even these ancient ships are still being called up to provide second line fire support for the main fleet. In this role, the massive dropshuttle bay has been turned into a large capacity multi-role hangar deck, and it is rumored that the Confederation is experimenting with using the ships as light carriers, which these old and badly worn ships out of the line of battle while still adding a valuable capability to the navy.

[/pre]
Capella Prime class Corvette (2580)
Mass: 150,000 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Introduced: 2580
Mass: 150,000
Battle Value: 10,185
Tech Rating/Availability: E/E-X-E-F
Cost: 4,106,124,000 C-bills

Fuel: 3,000 tons (15,000)
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Sail Integrity: 3
KF Drive Integrity: 5
Heat Sinks: 313
Structural Integrity: 30

Armor
    Nose: 16
    Fore Sides: 15/15
    Aft Sides: 15/15
    Aft: 14

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Small Craft (12)        2 Doors   
    Bay 2:  Cargo (18857.0 tons)    1 Door   

Ammunition:
    160 rounds of Killer Whale ammunition (8,000 tons)

Dropship Capacity: 0
Grav Decks: 1 (80 m)
Escape Pods: 0
Life Boats: 0
Crew:  15 officers, 60 enlisted/non-rated, 15 gunners, 60 bay personnel, 40 marines      

Notes: Mounts 90 tons of improved ferro-aluminum armor.

Weapons:                                       Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat)                                 Heat  SRV     MRV     LRV      ERV    Class       
FRS/FLS (172 Heat)
2 Naval Laser 45                           140  9(90)   9(90)   9(90)    9(90)   Capital Laser
4 Large Laser                              32   3(32)   3(32)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
RBS/LBS (172 Heat)
2 Naval Laser 45                           140  9(90)   9(90)   9(90)    9(90)   Capital Laser
4 Large Laser                              32   3(32)   3(32)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
ARS/ALS (40 Heat)
2 Capital Missile Launcher (Killer Whale)  40   8(80)   8(80)   8(80)    8(80)   Capital Missile
    Killer Whale Ammo (80 shots)
[/pre]   

Du Shi Wang Battleship (2583)
Mass: 900,000 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced) 
Introduced: 2583
Mass: 900,000
Battle Value: 70,742
Tech Rating/Availability: E/E-X-E-F
Cost: 9,507,040,000 C-bills

Fuel: 5,000 tons (12,500)
Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Sail Integrity: 5
KF Drive Integrity: 19
Heat Sinks: 2,100
Structural Integrity: 150

Armor
    Nose: 390
    Fore Sides: 187/187
    Aft Sides: 187/187
    Aft: 167

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Fighter (40)            6 Doors   
    Bay 2:  Cargo (60000.0 tons)    4 Doors   
    Bay 3:  Cargo (59579.0 tons)    4 Doors   

Ammunition:
   None

Dropship Capacity: 2
Grav Decks: 2 (150 m, 70 m)
Escape Pods: 15
Life Boats: 25
Crew:  60 officers, 233 enlisted/non-rated, 32 gunners, 80 bay personnel, 5 passengers, 60 marines      

Notes: Mounts 2,025 tons of improved ferro-aluminum armor.

Weapons:                 Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat)           Heat  SRV     MRV     LRV      ERV    Class       
Nose (1,800 Heat)
4 Naval PPC (Heavy)  900  60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 60(600)  Capital PPC 
4 Naval PPC (Heavy)  900  60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 60(600)  Capital PPC 
FRS/FLS (210 Heat)
3 Naval Laser 45     210  14(135) 14(135) 14(135) 14(135)  Capital Laser
RBS/LBS (280 Heat)
4 Naval Laser 45     280  18(180) 18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  Capital Laser
ARS/ALS (210 Heat)
3 Naval Laser 45     210  14(135) 14(135) 14(135) 14(135)  Capital Laser
Aft (900 Heat)
4 Naval PPC (Heavy)  900  60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 60(600)  Capital PPC 

   

  
Akula class Destroyer
Mass: 560,000 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced) 
Introduced: 2581
Mass: 560,000
Battle Value: 68,996
Tech Rating/Availability: E/E-X-E-F
Cost: 6,096,872,000 C-bills

Fuel: 3,000 tons (7,500)
Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Sail Integrity: 4
KF Drive Integrity: 13
Heat Sinks: 1,000
Structural Integrity: 50

Armor
    Nose: 62
    Fore Sides: 61/61
    Aft Sides: 61/61
    Aft: 60

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Small Craft (6)         1 Door    
    Bay 2:  Fighter (6)             1 Door    
    Bay 3:  Cargo (118587.0 tons)   1 Door    

Ammunition:
    40 rounds of NAC/10 ammunition (8 tons), 
    400 rounds of NAC/20 ammunition (160 tons)

Dropship Capacity: 0
Grav Decks: 1 (60 m)
Escape Pods: 25
Life Boats: 25
Crew:  35 officers, 122 enlisted/non-rated, 52 gunners, 42 bay personnel      

Notes: Mounts 560 tons of improved ferro-aluminum armor.

Weapons:                         Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat)                   Heat  SRV     MRV     LRV      ERV    Class       
Nose (208 Heat)
2 Naval Autocannon (NAC/20)  120  40(400) 40(400) 40(400)   0(0)   Capital AC  
    NAC/20 Ammo (80 shots)
8 Medium Laser               88   10(104) 6(64)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
    8 Large Laser
FRS/FLS (434 Heat)
3 Naval Autocannon (NAC/20)  180  60(600) 60(600) 60(600)   0(0)   Capital AC  
    NAC/20 Ammo (120 shots)
3 Naval Laser 45             210  14(135) 14(135) 14(135) 14(135)  Capital Laser
4 Medium Laser               44   5(52)   3(32)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
    4 Large Laser
RBS/LBS (268 Heat)
1 Naval Autocannon (NAC/20)  60   20(200) 20(200) 20(200)   0(0)   Capital AC  
    NAC/20 Ammo (40 shots)
4 Naval Laser 35             208  14(140) 14(140) 14(140)   0(0)   Capital Laser
ARS/ALS (282 Heat)
1 Naval Autocannon (NAC/10)  30   10(100) 10(100) 10(100)   0(0)   Capital AC  
    NAC/10 Ammo (20 shots)
4 Naval Laser 35             208  14(140) 14(140) 14(140)   0(0)   Capital Laser
4 Medium Laser               44   5(52)   3(32)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
    4 Large Laser
Aft (368 Heat)
4 Naval Laser 45             280  18(180) 18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  Capital Laser
8 Medium Laser               88   10(104) 6(64)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
    8 Large Laser

Cruiser (Carrier)
Mass: 500,000 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced) 
Introduced: 2579
Mass: 500,000
Battle Value: 90,167
Tech Rating/Availability: E/E-X-E-F
Cost: 5,799,454,000 C-bills

Fuel: 5,000 tons (12,500)
Safe Thrust: 2
Maximum Thrust: 3
Sail Integrity: 4
KF Drive Integrity: 12
Heat Sinks: 1,891
Structural Integrity: 75

Armor
    Nose: 64
    Fore Sides: 58/58
    Aft Sides: 58/58
    Aft: 52

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Small Craft (60)        8 Doors   
    Bay 2:  Cargo (40119.0 tons)    1 Door    

Ammunition:
    480 rounds of NAC/10 ammunition (96 tons), 
    120 rounds of White Shark ammunition (4,800 tons), 
    240 rounds of Barracuda ammunition (7,200 tons)

Dropship Capacity: 0
Grav Decks: 1 (100 m)
Escape Pods: 150
Life Boats: 0
Crew:  50 officers, 150 enlisted/non-rated, 90 gunners, 300 bay personnel, 90 marines      

Notes: Mounts 750 tons of standard aerospace armor.

Weapons:                                      Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat)                                Heat  SRV     MRV     LRV      ERV    Class       
Nose (240 Heat)
6 Naval Autocannon (NAC/10)               180  60(600) 60(600) 60(600)   0(0)   Capital AC  
    NAC/10 Ammo (60 shots)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda)    30   6(60)   6(60)   6(60)    6(60)   Capital Missile
    Barracuda Ammo (30 shots)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda)    30   6(60)   6(60)   6(60)    6(60)   Capital Missile
    Barracuda Ammo (30 shots)
FRS/FLS (270 Heat)
6 Naval Autocannon (NAC/10)               180  60(600) 60(600) 60(600)   0(0)   Capital AC  
    NAC/10 Ammo (60 shots)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (White Shark)  45   9(90)   9(90)   9(90)    9(90)   Capital Missile
    White Shark Ammo (30 shots)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (White Shark)  45   9(90)   9(90)   9(90)    9(90)   Capital Missile
    White Shark Ammo (30 shots)
RBS/LBS (240 Heat)
6 Naval Autocannon (NAC/10)               180  60(600) 60(600) 60(600)   0(0)   Capital AC  
    NAC/10 Ammo (60 shots)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda)    30   6(60)   6(60)   6(60)    6(60)   Capital Missile
    Barracuda Ammo (30 shots)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda)    30   6(60)   6(60)   6(60)    6(60)   Capital Missile
    Barracuda Ammo (30 shots)
ARS/ALS (180 Heat)
6 Naval Autocannon (NAC/10)               180  60(600) 60(600) 60(600)   0(0)   Capital AC  
    NAC/10 Ammo (60 shots)
Aft (240 Heat)
6 Naval Autocannon (NAC/10)               180  60(600) 60(600) 60(600)   0(0)   Capital AC  
    NAC/10 Ammo (60 shots)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda)    30   6(60)   6(60)   6(60)    6(60)   Capital Missile
    Barracuda Ammo (30 shots)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda)    30   6(60)   6(60)   6(60)    6(60)   Capital Missile
    Barracuda Ammo (30 shots)

   

Why hello there! If you've read this far, please accept as a reward a design challenge. While the Capellan Confederation will never fall, the Celestial Wisdom is none the less concerned that even with these upgrades to the fleet, the Confederation remains at risk from its enemies. As such, he calls upon you to produce a frigate/cruiser class ship along the broad parameters set out here: 2580 tech base, improved ferro aluminium armor, no lithium fusion battery or naval comm scanner, introductory only standard weapons, any available capital weapons aside from naval gauss guns (naval energy weapons seem to be a Capellan theme). 700,000 to 800,000 tons.

[Liam's Ghost]

Another thing I spent a bit of time about was whether or not the capellans should also have an early destroyer design. Ultimately, I came down against it because canonically, the Capellan Confederation stole the plans for the Essex I and Vincent just before the first succession war and built those en-mass to supplement their own fleet. So my figuring was that either the Capellans didn't have plans for anything they could build quickly in that category already (and thus bought any destroyers in their fleet rather than building them their selves) or any destroyers they had previously built were unsatisfactory compared to first buying and then mass building a first generation Terran hegemony design.

But if anybody would like to take a crack at building an early destroyer for the Capellan fleet that would be less desirable than buying an Essex I, I'm happy to take submissions. 

[Atarlost]

One of the major weaknesses of the Confederation fleet is its heavy dependence on Terran built hulls, something that hit them hardest in 2578 when the Hegemony announced it was ceasing export of Terran built WarShips for the foreseeable future to avoid "feeding a disastrous arms race."

Hegemony Naval Historians will be cursing Ian Cameron for this for generations.  The Terran Hegemony was being paid to maintain and expand its shipbuilding infrastructure by its competitors at the expense of their own shipbuilding industry and Ian Cameron threw it away for nothing because even if the Capellans get wiped out the Marik-Calderon-Davion arms race is still going forwards.  And if the Capellans don't lose their shipyards to Taurian or Davion conquest, Ian's given up his best lever against them. 

[Liam's Ghost]

Since I got no takers on the Capellan Cruiser...

The Lancer was intended to bring a new, modern large capital ship to the Capellan Navy to fill a critical gap in its battle line, or the lack thereof. Intended to pack the firepower necessary to engage an Atreus or one of the Federated Suns planned heavy fleet units on a smaller, cheaper hull, the Lancer has been described as remarkably overgunned, mounting twenty heavy naval PPCs in its main battery, supplemented by three times that number of naval lasers and dozens of smaller anti-fighter and point defense lasers, along with all the extra fire control systems and space for gunners necessary to properly direct and coordinate its many many weapons. Unusual for a modern WarShip but similar to the layout of the Du Shi Wang, the Lancer is designed for foward end on engagements, with its entire main battery concentrated in a single confined arc dead ahead. While in theory this allows the already formidable battery to be concentrated on a single target and thus overwhelm the armor of even a battleship, it shares the same weaknesses that led to the destruction or crippling of four Du Shi Wangs during the Third Andurien war. To mitigate this weakness in broadside and running engagements, the Lancer carries a much heavier secondary battery to protect its flanks and aft quarter.

Basing their efforts on the Taurian model, each Lancer is expected to operate as the center of a task group of smaller ships, with up to four of the new ten thousand ton Azard class Escorts permanently assigned to each cruiser. This dropship support, along with the Lancer's own reinforced fighter wing, is expected to be an easy match for a Taurian heavy frigate and its escorts or even an Atreus in single combat, and to provide a critical edge in fleet engagements. Only time will tell if these expectations will match reality.

Lancer class Cruiser
Mass: 800,000 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced) 
Introduced: 2580
Mass: 800,000
Battle Value: 130,768
Tech Rating/Availability: E/E-X-E-F
Cost: 10,926,846,000 C-bills

Fuel: 6,000 tons (15,000)
Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Sail Integrity: 5
KF Drive Integrity: 17
Heat Sinks: 9,061
Structural Integrity: 100

Armor
    Nose: 182
    Fore Sides: 182/182
    Aft Sides: 182/182
    Aft: 110

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Fighter (39)            6 Doors   
    Bay 2:  Small Craft (4)         1 Door    
    Bay 3:  Cargo (46376.5 tons)    1 Door    

Ammunition:
    40 rounds of White Shark ammunition (1,600 tons)

Dropship Capacity: 4
Grav Decks: 2 (100 m, 100 m)
Escape Pods: 50
Life Boats: 30
Crew:  53 officers, 152 enlisted/non-rated, 108 gunners, 98 bay personnel, 40 passengers, 60 marines      

Notes: Mounts 1,600 tons of improved ferro-aluminum armor.

Weapons:                                      Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat)                                Heat  SRV     MRV     LRV      ERV    Class       
Nose (4,500 Heat)
4 Naval PPC (Heavy)                       900  60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 60(600)  Capital PPC 
4 Naval PPC (Heavy)                       900  60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 60(600)  Capital PPC 
4 Naval PPC (Heavy)                       900  60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 60(600)  Capital PPC 
4 Naval PPC (Heavy)                       900  60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 60(600)  Capital PPC 
4 Naval PPC (Heavy)                       900  60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 60(600)  Capital PPC 
FRS/FLS (94 Heat)
2 Capital Missile Launcher (White Shark)  30   6(60)   6(60)   6(60)    6(60)   Capital Missile
    White Shark Ammo (20 shots)
8 Medium Laser                            56   7(72)   3(32)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
    4 Large Laser
8 Small Laser                              8   2(24)    0(0)    0(0)     0(0)   Point Defense
RBS/LBS (914 Heat)
10 Naval Laser 55                         850  55(550) 55(550) 55(550) 55(550)  Capital Laser
8 Medium Laser                            56   7(72)   3(32)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
    4 Large Laser
8 Small Laser                              8   2(24)    0(0)    0(0)     0(0)   Point Defense
ARS/ALS (914 Heat)
10 Naval Laser 55                         850  55(550) 55(550) 55(550) 55(550)  Capital Laser
8 Medium Laser                            56   7(72)   3(32)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
    4 Large Laser
8 Small Laser                              8   2(24)    0(0)    0(0)     0(0)   Point Defense
Aft (1,764 Heat)
10 Naval Laser 55                         850  55(550) 55(550) 55(550) 55(550)  Capital Laser
10 Naval Laser 55                         850  55(550) 55(550) 55(550) 55(550)  Capital Laser
8 Medium Laser                            56   7(72)   3(32)    0(0)     0(0)   Laser       
    4 Large Laser
8 Small Laser                              8   2(24)    0(0)    0(0)     0(0)   Point Defense
   

Azard class Escort
Type: Military Spheriod
Mass: 10,000 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard) 
Introduced: 2580
Mass: 10,000
Battle Value: 16,017
Tech Rating/Availability: E/D-E(F)-E-D
Cost: 545,227,200 C-bills

Fuel: 600 tons (18,000)
Safe Thrust: 5
Maximum Thrust: 8
Heat Sinks: 830
Structural Integrity: 20

Armor
    Nose: 336
    Sides: 308/308
    Aft: 280

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Small Craft (2)         1 Door    
    Bay 2:  Cargo (225.0 tons)      1 Door    

Ammunition:
    60 rounds of White Shark ammunition (2,400 tons)

Escape Pods: 0
Life Boats: 15
Crew:  13 officers, 11 enlisted/non-rated, 40 gunners, 10 bay personnel      

Notes: Mounts 72 tons of standard aerospace armor.

Weapons:                                      Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat)                                Heat  SRV     MRV     LRV     ERV   Class       
Nose (152 Heat)
12 Medium Laser                           132  16(156) 10(96)   0(0)    0(0)  Laser       
    12 Large Laser
20 Small Laser                            20   6(60)    0(0)    0(0)    0(0)  Point Defense
RS/LS Fwd (144 Heat)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (White Shark)  45   9(90)   9(90)   9(90)   9(90)  Capital Missile
    White Shark Ammo (30 shots)
9 Medium Laser                            99   12(117) 7(72)    0(0)    0(0)  Laser       
    9 Large Laser
RS/LS Aft (119 Heat)
9 Medium Laser                            99   12(117) 7(72)    0(0)    0(0)  Laser       
    9 Large Laser
20 Small Laser                            20   6(60)    0(0)    0(0)    0(0)  Point Defense
Aft (152 Heat)
12 Medium Laser                           132  16(156) 10(96)   0(0)    0(0)  Laser       
    12 Large Laser
20 Small Laser                            20   6(60)    0(0)    0(0)    0(0)  Point Defense

   

[Daryk]

39 ASF cubicles?   

[Liam's Ghost]

39 ASF cubicles?   

A standard Capellan aerowing, yes.  The Capellan aerowing contains three flights (two squadrons of six each) and a command triple of three fighters.

Notably, the Capellans make regular use of three fighter elements, and a standard squadron is generally composed of either the three standard lances or two triples. The capellans insist this gives them the edge in defensive operations with proper training.

[Daryk]

Soooo... Each Flight is 12 Fighters, meaning 36 Fighters (for 3 Flights), plus a Command Triple of 3 Fighters... Ok, that math adds up! 

[Vehrec]

You know, I felt a very....Russian spirit move me, and I felt an urge this evening to make a thing.

Code: [Select]

Volga Armored Cruiser
Mass: 600,000 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Introduced: 2581
Mass: 600,000
Battle Value: 42,187
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-F
Cost: 7,986,712,000 C-bills

Fuel: 4,000 tons (10,000)
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Sail Integrity: 4
KF Drive Integrity: 13
Heat Sinks: 1308
Structural Integrity: 70

Armor
    Nose: 110
    Fore Sides: 80/80
    Aft Sides: 80/80
    Aft: 81

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Small Craft (12)        2 Doors   
    Bay 2:  Cargo (81510.0 tons)    1 Door   

Ammunition:
    160 rounds of Killer Whale ammunition (100 tons),
    6,400 rounds of Machine Gun ammunition (8 tons)

Dropship Capacity: 2
Grav Decks: 3 (100 m, 100 m, 100 m)
Escape Pods: 30
Life Boats: 30
Crew:  78 officers, 87 enlisted/non-rated, 56 gunners, 60 bay personnel, 70 marines

Notes: Mounts 782 tons of improved ferro-aluminum armor.

Weapons:                                       Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat)                                 Heat  SRV     MRV     LRV      ERV    Class       
Nose (840 Heat)
8 Naval PPC (Light)                        840  56(560) 56(560) 56(560)   0(0)   Capital PPC
10 Machine Gun                              0   2(20)    0(0)    0(0)     0(0)   Point Defense
    Machine Gun Ammo (160000 shots)
FRS/FLS (250 Heat)
3 Naval Laser 45                           210  14(135) 14(135) 14(135) 14(135)  Capital Laser
4 PPC                                      40   4(40)   4(40)    0(0)     0(0)   PPC         
10 Machine Gun                              0   2(20)    0(0)    0(0)     0(0)   Point Defense
    Machine Gun Ammo (160000 shots)
RBS/LBS (330 Heat)
4 Naval Laser 45                           280  18(180) 18(180) 18(180) 18(180)  Capital Laser
5 PPC                                      50   5(50)   5(50)    0(0)     0(0)   PPC         
10 Machine Gun                              0   2(20)    0(0)    0(0)     0(0)   Point Defense
    Machine Gun Ammo (160000 shots)
ARS/ALS (290 Heat)
3 Naval Laser 45                           210  14(135) 14(135) 14(135) 14(135)  Capital Laser
4 PPC                                      40   4(40)   4(40)    0(0)     0(0)   PPC         
2 Capital Missile Launcher (Killer Whale)  40   8(80)   8(80)   8(80)    8(80)   Capital Missile
    Killer Whale Ammo (80 shots)
10 Machine Gun                              0   2(20)    0(0)    0(0)     0(0)   Point Defense
    Machine Gun Ammo (160000 shots)
Aft (630 Heat)
6 Naval PPC (Light)                        630  42(420) 42(420) 42(420)   0(0)   Capital PPC
10 Machine Gun                              0   2(20)    0(0)    0(0)     0(0)   Point Defense
    Machine Gun Ammo (160000 shots)


The Volga-class cruiser (deliberately thumbing the nose of the Terran Hegemony by stealing the name of a Terran river), is remarkable for it's un-remarkability, taking most of it's weapons choice from the Capella Prime class corvette and downscaled versions of the Du Shi Wang.  The same naval lasers are put on it's broadsides as the larger battleship, and it mounts the same rear-firing white shark missiles as the corvette.  The Volga is so plain, so ordinary, that it's really remarkable feature almost passes without notice-the fact that it is accelerating towards it's targets at the same speed as that Corvette.  At the time of it's debut, the Volga was only matched by the archaic Cruiser-class cruisers, and it had the fuel and cargo capacity to cruise for months without resupply-it even had more than ample life-boats and escape pods for the entire crew, though crews joked that some would 'lose their spots' on the more choice escape vehicles.  Upon closer inspection, the Volga is ideally suited to a life as a commerce raider, able to shoo away frigates and feast upon JumpShips and Dropships almost to it's heart's content.  It's 12 smallcraft act both as beaters to drive the prey, and to ferry boarding troops around.  The embarked Marine company can be replaced in part by prize crews, or augmented by converting recreation spaces into temporary barracks.  In addition, small capital missile launches are highly unlikely to blow through the chattering masses of 23mm machine-guns studding the surface of the Volga.  While it's armor is not as thick as a battleships, it is fairly well protected for a cruiser.

[Daryk]

Woo!   Point defenses FTW!