Point and Linear Engagement Concepts
While the Line of Battle is still our preferred form of engagement there is certainly room for more Point (as in pointing toward the enemy) Combatants that are more nimble with higher acceleration capacities and more forward focused firepower (and armor).
Point Engagements are preferable for lighter longer range units as they concentrate firepower and armor in only one arc however if that arc is compromised there is no secondary facing the fall back upon so they must accelerate to disengage from the enemy often by overtaking them.
Linear Engagements (that is Parallel lines with the enemy) while allowing for a higher offensive capacity, greater endurance, and additional difficulty in tracking the 'random walks' of an actively accelerating combatant at moderate range.
Theory Crafting and the Also Rans
Our rating system while well defined is not ironclad there is plenty of wiggle room for interpretation and development in role for particularly interesting possibilities. Due to the need for symmetry there are several other designs that have been proposed that were never built utilizing the system. This is particularly true for the Cruiser's 5 40+ bays which has led to multiple permutations of the Mythic-class for different roles. Many more designs had been proposed however.
The Vector Class Destroyer is a larger sturdier version of the Freya with improved weaponry and armoring to make it a more effective linear combatant. Unfortunately it was still deemed insufficient without any paradigm changing capabilities. Thus the Vector lost out to the Faust Heavy Corvette in simulated trials that determined that more effective Point combatants with longer range technologies were necessary. Thus the Faust is increasing in hull count at the expense of additional Coriolis and Freya hulls. The Faust also beat out the Predator Pursuit Frigate which was also something of an Improved Coriolis class with its heavy weapons in the nose and aft bays.
Two other Heavy Frigates were considering first the Paladin-class Light (Anti-Aircraft) Cruiser(/Heavy Frigate) utilized a cruciform layout with heavy weapons in the Nose and Aft Bays as well as the Broadsides with heavy Anti-Aerospace firepower all around. Unfortunately the Sharanga was deemed more useful as its missiles were not only effective in the Anti-Aerspace but for orbital bombardment. The Sharanga however almost lost to the Gibraltar-class, a heavier, sturdier, and more heavily armed non-LF version of the Granite, which utilized an 'Anchor' layout (Forward Quarterdecks, Nose, and Aft). However the Gibraltar-class did little to differentiate itself from its smaller Destroyer counterpart and was less capable in Linear warfare where Aft-firepower was not deemed worth the rate (part of the reason the Argonaut is so weak in the Aft). Much of the concepts that the Gibraltar introduced however would later be used in the Legate-class Battlecruiser.
Vector Fleet Destroyer
Mass: 335,000 tons
Fuel: 8,000 tons (20,000)
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Weapons
Armor
Nose: 94
Fore Sides: 83/83
Aft Sides: 76/76
Aft: 50
Structural Integrity: 100
Cargo
Bay 1: Fighter (18) 4 Doors
Bay 2: Cargo (2852.0 tons) 4 Doors
Dropship Capacity: 2
Battle Value: 96,435
Cost: 6,833,523,000 C-bills
Background - The Vector is an uninspired upgrade of the Freya class, all the lightweight lasers are upgraded to the heavier version and the dual NAC/25 of the Freya are replaced by the same Triple NAC/20 as the broadsides increasing range, accuracy, and damage. Additionally the structure is increased and the armoring is replaced with more advanced Ferro-Aluminum. All of this comes at the cost of the cargo and with only a moderate increase in procurement. Its uninspired nature however was part of the reason it lost out to the Faust as the necessary expense in upgrading the production facilities was deemed onerous while the improvements while certainly useful added little functionality compared to the swift and shiny Faust.
Sail Integrity: 4
KF Drive Integrity: 9
Heat Sinks: 1650 (3300)
Ammunition:
1,440 rounds of Anti-Missile System [IS] ammunition (120 tons),
135 rounds of NAC/20 ammunition (36.4 tons),
80 rounds of Heavy SCC ammunition (160 tons),
40 rounds of Barracuda ammunition (1,200 tons)
Grav Decks: 1 (100 m)
Escape Pods: 0
Life Boats: 15
Crew: 29 officers, 83 enlisted/non-rated, 57 gunners, 36 bay personnel
Notes: Mounts 670 tons of improved ferro-aluminum armor.
Weapons: Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat) Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV Class
Nose (253 Heat)
3 Naval Autocannon (NAC/20) 180 60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 0(0) Capital AC
NAC/20 Ammo (45 shots)
2 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda) 20 4(40) 4(40) 4(40) 4(40) Capital Missile
Barracuda Ammo (20 shots)
6 Large Laser 48 5(48) 5(48) 0(0) 0(0) Laser
5 Anti-Missile System 5 2(15) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (240 shots)
FRS/FLS (392 Heat)
6 Large Laser 48 5(48) 5(48) 0(0) 0(0) Laser
5 Anti-Missile System 5 2(15) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (240 shots)
3 Naval Laser 55 255 17(165) 17(165) 17(165) 17(165) Capital Laser
3 Sub-Capital Laser /2 84 6(60) 6(60) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
RBS/LBS (498 Heat)
3 Naval Autocannon (NAC/20) 180 60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 0(0) Capital AC
NAC/20 Ammo (45 shots)
4 Sub-Capital Cannon (Heavy) 168 28(280) 28(280) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Cannon
Heavy SCC Ammo (40 shots)
10 ER PPC 150 10(100) 10(100) 10(100) 0(0) PPC
ARS/ALS (404 Heat)
6 Large Pulse Laser 60 5(54) 5(54) 0(0) 0(0) Pulse Laser
5 Anti-Missile System 5 2(15) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (240 shots)
3 Naval Laser 55 255 17(165) 17(165) 17(165) 17(165) Capital Laser
3 Sub-Capital Laser /2 84 6(60) 6(60) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
Aft (355 Heat)
2 Naval PPC (Medium) 270 18(180) 18(180) 18(180) 18(180) Capital PPC
2 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda) 20 4(40) 4(40) 4(40) 4(40) Capital Missile
Barracuda Ammo (20 shots)
6 Large Pulse Laser 60 5(54) 5(54) 0(0) 0(0) Pulse Laser
5 Anti-Missile System 5 2(15) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (240 shots)
Predator Pursuit Frigate
Mass: 230,000 tons
Fuel: 4,000 tons (20,000)
Safe Thrust: 5
Maximum Thrust: 8
Weapons
2x NAC/30
5x Medium N-PPC
12x Light Sub-Capital Cannon
15x SCL/3
24x Large Laser
20x PPCs
18x Large Pulse Laser
12x Ultra AC/20
24x AMS
Armor
Nose: 71
Fore Sides: 60/60
Aft Sides: 54/54
Aft: 37
Structural Integrity: 100
Cargo
Bay 1: Cargo (2002.0 tons) 4 Doors
Battle Value: 56,215
Cost: 5,447,856,000 C-bills
Background - The Predator was built as an enlarged and slightly up-armed version of the Coriolis proposed as that class and the Freya's deficiencies became more apparent. It failed to provide a superior combat utility to either design however as it retained the inferior standard aerospace plate although it does mount more of it, exceeding the thinly armored and comparably flimsy Freya while being midway between the Coriolis and Freya in mass. Its weaponry however is limited and notably inferior to the Freya's design a testament to the perils of designing lightweight warships that have the lighter combatant craft of our Fleet being gradually phased out in favor of slightly heavier hull-forms like the Faust, Sharanga, and Legate.
Sail Integrity: 4
KF Drive Integrity: 7
Heat Sinks: 1200 (2400)
Ammunition:
864 rounds of Anti-Missile System [IS] ammunition (8 tons),
360 rounds of Ultra AC/20 ammunition (72 tons),
120 rounds of Light SCC ammunition (60 tons),
20 rounds of NAC/30 ammunition (16 tons)
Dropship Capacity: 1
Grav Decks: 1 (80 m)
Escape Pods: 0
Life Boats: 25
Crew: 24 officers, 67 enlisted/non-rated, 50 gunners
Notes: Mounts 124 tons of standard aerospace armor.
Weapons: Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat) Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV Class
Nose (267 Heat)
2 Naval Autocannon (NAC/30) 200 60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 0(0) Capital AC
NAC/30 Ammo (20 shots)
8 Large Laser 64 6(64) 6(64) 0(0) 0(0) Laser
3 Anti-Missile System 3 1(9) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (108 shots)
FRS/FLS (187 Heat)
8 Large Laser 64 6(64) 6(64) 0(0) 0(0) Laser
3 Anti-Missile System 3 1(9) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (108 shots)
3 Ultra AC/20 24 9(90) 9(90) 0(0) 0(0) AC
Ultra AC/20 Ammo (90 shots)
3 Sub-Capital Laser /3 96 9(90) 9(90) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
RBS/LBS (175 Heat)
10 PPC 100 10(100) 10(100) 0(0) 0(0) PPC
3 Anti-Missile System 3 1(9) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (108 shots)
6 Sub-Capital Cannon (Light) 72 12(120) 12(120) 12(120) 0(0) Sub-Capital Cannon
Light SCC Ammo (60 shots)
ARS/ALS (183 Heat)
6 Large Pulse Laser 60 5(54) 5(54) 0(0) 0(0) Pulse Laser
3 Anti-Missile System 3 1(9) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (108 shots)
3 Ultra AC/20 24 9(90) 9(90) 0(0) 0(0) AC
Ultra AC/20 Ammo (90 shots)
3 Sub-Capital Laser /3 96 9(90) 9(90) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
Aft (930 Heat)
5 Naval PPC (Medium) 675 45(450) 45(450) 45(450) 45(450) Capital PPC
6 Large Pulse Laser 60 5(54) 5(54) 0(0) 0(0) Pulse Laser
3 Anti-Missile System 3 1(9) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (108 shots)
6 Sub-Capital Laser /3 192 18(180) 18(180) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
Paladin Light Cruiser(Heavy Frigate)
Mass: 480,000 tons
Fuel: 10,000 tons (25,000)
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Weapons
2x NAC/35
6x Screen Launchers
8x NL/55
10x Medium Naval-PPCs
4x Heavy Sub-Capital Cannon
12x Manta Ray Sub-Capital Missile Launchers
20x SCL/2
15x Large Lasers
15x Large Pulse Lasers
10x PPCs
10x Ultra AC/20s
24x Laser AMS
Armor
Nose: 205
Fore Sides: 171/171
Aft Sides: 153/153
Aft: 101
Structural Integrity: 150
Cargo
Bay 1: Cargo (6348.0 tons) 4 Doors
Dropship Capacity: 2
Battle Value: 81,394
Cost: 7,615,902,000 C-bills
Background - The Paladin was devised as part of the same program that eventually resulted in the Sharanga Missile Frigate based on a stripped down Argonaut. Conceived of as an Anti-Aerospace Cruiser the Paladin proved unable to perform in this role due to the lack of enough Anti-Aerospace Firepower compared to the Sharanga which despite its onerous logistical burden has enough missiles to shoot down whole squadrons of Aerospace Fighters with each volley. It almost was resurrected to fulfill the planetary assault role but lost out to the Troy Planetary Assault Cruiser. Ultimately despite its potential in a Linear engagement the Argonaut is more capable in that role and continues to dutifully fulfill its mission.
Sail Integrity: 4
KF Drive Integrity: 11
Heat Sinks: 2916 (5832)
Ammunition:
300 rounds of Ultra AC/20 ammunition (60 tons),
180 rounds of Manta Ray ammunition (3240 tons),
20 rounds of NAC/35 ammunition (20 tons),
60 rounds of Screen Launcher ammunition (600 tons),
40 rounds of Heavy SCC ammunition (80 tons)
Grav Decks: 1 (120 m)
Escape Pods: 27
Life Boats: 15
Crew: 38 officers, 153 enlisted/non-rated, 78 gunners, 60 passengers
Notes: Mounts 1,440 tons of improved ferro-aluminum armor.
Weapons: Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat) Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV Class
Nose (368 Heat)
2 Naval Autocannon (NAC/35) 240 70(700) 70(700) 0(0) 0(0) Capital AC
NAC/35 Ammo (20 shots)
3 Screen Launcher 30 45(450) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) Screen Launcher
Screen Launcher Ammo (30 shots)
3 Screen Launcher 30 45(450) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) Screen Launcher
Screen Launcher Ammo (30 shots)
5 Large Laser 40 4(40) 4(40) 0(0) 0(0) Laser
4 Laser AMS 28 1(12) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
FRS/FLS (271 Heat)
5 Sub-Capital Laser /2 140 10(100) 10(100) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
3 Sub-Capital Missile Launcher (Manta Ray) 63 15(150) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Missile
Manta Ray Ammo (30 shots)
5 Large Laser 40 4(40) 4(40) 0(0) 0(0) Laser
4 Laser AMS 28 1(12) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
RBS/LBS (912 Heat)
5 Naval PPC (Medium) 675 45(450) 45(450) 45(450) 45(450) Capital PPC
3 Sub-Capital Missile Launcher (Manta Ray) 63 15(150) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Missile
Manta Ray Ammo (30 shots)
5 PPC 50 5(50) 5(50) 0(0) 0(0) PPC
5 Ultra AC/20 40 15(150) 15(150) 0(0) 0(0) AC
Ultra AC/20 Ammo (150 shots)
2 Sub-Capital Cannon (Heavy) 84 14(140) 14(140) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Cannon
Heavy SCC Ammo (20 shots)
ARS/ALS (281 Heat)
5 Sub-Capital Laser /2 140 10(100) 10(100) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
3 Sub-Capital Missile Launcher (Manta Ray) 63 15(150) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Missile
Manta Ray Ammo (30 shots)
5 Large Pulse Laser 50 5(45) 5(45) 0(0) 0(0) Pulse Laser
4 Laser AMS 28 1(12) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Aft (758 Heat)
4 Naval Laser 55 340 22(220) 22(220) 22(220) 22(220) Capital Laser
4 Naval Laser 55 340 22(220) 22(220) 22(220) 22(220) Capital Laser
5 Large Pulse Laser 50 5(45) 5(45) 0(0) 0(0) Pulse Laser
4 Laser AMS 28 1(12) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Gibraltar Heavy Destroyer
Mass: 580,000 tons
Fuel: 8,000 tons (20,000)
Safe Thrust: 5
Maximum Thrust: 8
Weapons
9x NAC/20s
15x Barracudas
5x Medium Naval PPCs
6x NL/55s
6x Medium Sub-Capital Cannons
16x SCL/2s
12x ER Large Lasers
10x PPCs
15x Large Pulse Lasers
24x AMS
Armor
Nose: 256
Fore Sides: 213/213
Aft Sides: 190/190
Aft: 123
Structural Integrity: 120
Cargo
Bay 1: Cargo (5877.0 tons) 4 Doors
Dropship Capacity: 2
Battle Value: 131,030
Cost: 8,268,995,000 C-bills
Background - The Gibraltar Heavy Destroyer was envisioned as a point combatant by the same team that developed the Mythic Cruiser. While it was considered ultimately the Admiralty told them to return to the boards which ultimately resulted in the Legate Battlecruiser as that hull could serve a distinct role as a Destroyer Leader and LF-capable raiding vessel while repurposing much of the factory staff that was already building the LF-capable Clairvoyance FSSS.
Sail Integrity: 4
KF Drive Integrity: 13
Heat Sinks: 1710 (3420)
Ammunition:
1,728 rounds of Anti-Missile System [IS] ammunition (144 tons),
180 rounds of NAC/20 ammunition (72 tons),
120 rounds of Medium SCC ammunition (120 tons),
150 rounds of Barracuda ammunition (4500 tons)
Grav Decks: 1 (100 m)
Escape Pods: 0
Life Boats: 15
Crew: 39 officers, 147 enlisted/non-rated, 95 gunners
Notes: Equipped with
1 Naval Comm-Scanner Suite (Small)
1,392 tons of ferro-carbide armor.
Weapons: Capital Attack Values (Standard)
Arc (Heat) Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV Class
Nose (326 Heat)
3 Naval Autocannon (NAC/20) 180 60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 0(0) Capital AC
NAC/20 Ammo (60 shots)
2 Sub-Capital Laser /3 64 6(60) 6(60) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
3 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda) 30 6(60) 6(60) 6(60) 6(60) Capital Missile
Barracuda Ammo (30 shots)
4 ER Large Laser 48 3(32) 3(32) 3(32) 0(0) Laser
4 Anti-Missile System 4 1(12) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (288 shots)
FRS/FLS (326 Heat)
3 Naval Autocannon (NAC/20) 180 60(600) 60(600) 60(600) 0(0) Capital AC
NAC/20 Ammo (60 shots)
2 Sub-Capital Laser /3 64 6(60) 6(60) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
3 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda) 30 6(60) 6(60) 6(60) 6(60) Capital Missile
Barracuda Ammo (30 shots)
4 ER Large Laser 48 3(32) 3(32) 3(32) 0(0) Laser
4 Anti-Missile System 4 1(12) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (288 shots)
RBS/LBS (180 Heat)
3 Sub-Capital Cannon (Medium) 90 15(150) 15(150) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Cannon
Medium SCC Ammo (60 shots)
3 Capital Missile Launcher (Barracuda) 30 6(60) 6(60) 6(60) 6(60) Capital Missile
Barracuda Ammo (30 shots)
6 PPC 60 6(60) 6(60) 0(0) 0(0) PPC
ARS/ALS (459 Heat)
5 Sub-Capital Laser /3 160 15(150) 15(150) 0(0) 0(0) Sub-Capital Laser
4 Large Pulse Laser 40 4(36) 4(36) 0(0) 0(0) Pulse Laser
4 Anti-Missile System 4 1(12) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (288 shots)
3 Naval Laser 55 255 17(165) 17(165) 17(165) 17(165) Capital Laser
Aft (749 Heat)
5 Naval PPC (Medium) 675 45(450) 45(450) 45(450) 45(450) Capital PPC
7 Large Pulse Laser 70 6(63) 6(63) 0(0) 0(0) Pulse Laser
4 Anti-Missile System 4 1(12) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) AMS
Anti-Missile System Ammo [IS] (288 shots)