NationStates Jolt Archive


Empire of Valinon Star Armada on Review!

Valinon
29-10-2003, 04:10
Imperial Star Armada Review

The continued strength of His Majesty’s Star Armada represents one of the key apexes in the continued strength of the Empire of Valinon. Without the Star Armada, order across the stars and the various possessions of the Empire would breakdown, trade would become a most dangerous undertaken, and movement of the Armies of the Five Worlds would be virtually impossible. The Lords of the Admiralty have now announced that the most immediate portions of the vast naval buildup and rearmament known as Project Renaissance has been completed, although it is expected that secondary operations could continue for as long as an additional five years. This is the review of the ships of His Majesty’s Star Armada, the sword and shield of the Empire.

Athena-class super dreadnought (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/battleship_greatyamato2.jpg)

Class: Athena
Type: Super Dreadnought
Length: 9,185.8 meters
Mass: 118.7 million metric tons
Crew: 1,900
Troop Capacity: 80,000
Fighters: 72 fighters (7 squadrons)
Power: 10 fusion reactors
Duration: 2.5 years
Weapons: 1 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon
16 heavy missile silos
18 light missile silos
8 heavy particle beam cannons
20 heavy pulse cannon turrets
8 heavy railgun turrets
10 medium pulse cannon turrets
42 light pulse cannon turrets
35 rapid-fire short-range pulse cannons
Defense: 85-92 meter armored hull
34 Mk. IV defense grids
10 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Athena is the pinnacle of the power of the Star Armada, the greatest symbol of the combined might of the Empire of Valinon. Only two of these massive juggernauts exist: the HMS Resolution and the HMS Absolution. The super dreadnoughts dwarf their sister ships, the Ares class dreadnoughts, and are the most powerful ships constructed in the 13 years since the end of the Outer Dominion Wars. In their brief service terms neither ship has ever been deployed outside of the Alpha Centauri system, in fact the current Star Armada order of battle calls for these ships to be stationed at Proxima Centauri as the flagships of the forces that defend the planet that is the Fatherland of the Empire and the bustling center of the Alpha Centauri system and the Proxima Centauri Defense Initiative international alliance.

Ares-class dreadnought (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/battleship_yamato17.jpg)

Class: Ares
Type: Dreadnought
Length: 1,992.4 meters
Mass: 66.8 million metric tons
Crew: 1,200
Troop Capacity: 40,000
Fighter: 42 fighters (4 squadrons)
Power: 8 fusion reactors
Duration: 2 years
Weapons: 12 heavy missile silos
16 light missile silos
2 heavy particle beam cannons
9 heavy pulse cannon turrets
9 light pulse cannon turrets
6 rapid-fire short-range pulse cannons
Defense: 65-75 meter armored hull
25 Mk. III defense grids
6 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Ares class dreadnought was until Project Renaissance the largest and most powerful capital ship in the Star Armada, and although it may not equal the Athena class in terms of force or power, the Ares is a more practical ship to deploy. Currently fifteen Ares class dreadnoughts are in the service of the Star Armada ranging from the newest, the HMS Gustav Alderman, to the oldest, the HMS Royal Oak. Immediately after the Outer Dominion Wars, further construction of Ares were halted, but 3 more were constructed and the original 12 received massive overhauls as part of Project Renaissance. Current Star Armada order of battles leaves six of these ships deployed at Proxima Centauri at all times, while two others are on station to the Outer System Rim Patrol Force and another to the Sol System Task Force. The Ares dreadnoughts supplanted the Hyperion class dreadnoughts formally used by the Star Armada following the Second Outer Dominion War and have continued to grow in precedent of Armada policy since the end of the Outer Dominion Wars.

Gemini class battlecruiser (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/battleship_lazerous.jpg)

Class: Gemini
Type: Battlecruiser
Length: 1,821.6 meters
Mass: 58.9 million metric tons
Crew: 850
Troop Capacity: 18,000
Fighter: 36 (3 squadrons)
Power: 6 fusion reactors
Duration: 18 months
Weapons: 6 heavy particle beam turrets
6 heavy pulse cannons
12 partilce cannons
12 pulse cannons
8 high-yield missile launchers
Defense: 55-65 meter armored hull
22 MK III defense grids
5 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Gemini class battlecruiser sits at the heart of the typical Star Armada battle task force. Typically a task force shall have one or two battlecruisers, rarely exceeding four, unless it is a full battle line. These ships act as a task force command center, the heart and soul of Star Armada mobile fleets across the stars. Heavily armed and heavily armored, these battlecruisers easily stand behind par of the Taurus class battleships and are only surpassed by the larger Ares and Athena classes.
However, the Gemini, like its cousin Taurus, is prone to lack of fighter compliments. Therefore carriers or smaller ships support them to assist in fighter or fast-attack defenses. But with the creation of the Mobile DOS system, this problem may soon be a thing of the past, at last using the shipboard AIs of the Star Armada to their greatest potential. The Gemini is a reliable and dependable capital ship that can go in and slug it out with multiple other capital ships and still come out on top.

Taurus class battleship (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/battleship_vladivostok.jpg)

Class: Taurus
Type: Battleship
Length: 1,717.3 meters
Mass: 43.2 million metric tons
Crew: 650
Troop Capacity: 18,000
Fighters: 36 (3 sqaudrons)
Power: 4 fusion reactors
Duration: 18 months
Weapons: 2 particle beam turrets
6 heavy pulse cannons
12 pulse cannons
12 rapid-fire laser cannons
6 high-yield missile launchers
Defense: 45-55 meter armored hull
20 Mk. III defense grids
4 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Taurus class battleship is the premier heavy first response ship of His Majesty’s Star Armada. The Taurus class supplanted the older Fortunato class in terms of ships in service following the conclusion of the first part of the Outer Dominion Wars. The current Taurus is a substantial improvement over even its Outer Dominion Wars predecessor. They know feature updated shield systems, increased armor, increased weaponry, and among the best ship defense systems in the Empire.
However, like the Gemini class battlecruiser, the Taurus does not have a massive fighter capacity. The three squadrons onboard are more effectively used for interception missions or running interference. This is why the Taurus is paired with carrier support, or lighter capital ships.
The Taurus also served as the test-bed for Valinon’s current anti-gravity technology: the Magnetic Ring System (MRS). Magnetic rings of varying polarity create gravity by spinning in opposite directions throughout the ship. This is far more efficient and stable than the old rotating sections design used in generations passed. In fact, two-thirds of the MRS system must be disabled before the gravity will fail completely ship wide. Even then vital areas, such as the bridge and combat bridge, can maintain gravity with their own independent systems. With the success of this system on the Taurus class, it was implemented fleet wide across the Star Armada following the Outer Dominion Wars.

Scorpio class super carrier (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/gamilon/trippletwincarrier_garumman.jpg)

Class: Scorpio
Type: Super carrier
Length: 1,920.9 meters
Mass: 60.6 million metric tons
Crew: 975
Troop Capacity: 2,000
Fighters: 144 (12 squadrons)
Power: 5 fusion reactors
Duration: 18 months
Weapons: 2 heavy pulse cannons
6 medium pulse cannon turrets
12 pulse cannons
22 twin pulse cannons
4 high-yield missile launchers
Defense: 35-40 meter armored hull
18 Mk. III defense grids
4 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Scorpio class super carrier was a direct result of the prolonged Outer Dominion Wars. In that series of wars, the Dominion of Outer Centauri kamikaze attacks took a heavy toll on the Star Armada, but none in a greater area than the Armada’s carrier force. By the end of the Outer Dominion Wars, it is estimated that 58% of the Armada’s total carrier force had been destroyed. The fighter support wing of the Star Armada was now frightfully low, and the Admiralty ordered that a solution be found. One year later the first Scorpio class super carrier sailed free of Sanctuary’s orbital docks. Before Project Renaissance, the Star Armada had only constructed 5 super carriers, but now at the end of this project 9 are in service and a tenth is planned. This massive carrier holds two full wings of star fighters, but the Scorpio has one glaring weakness. The super carrier cannot take on large capital ships single-handed. Its relatively light armament means that the super carrier would lose a ship-to-ship battle with a heavier capital ship, but its primary weapon by design is its fighter squadrons and if used effectively can make the Scorpio as deadly as a battleship.

Libra class carrier (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/comet/twindeckcarrier_vengeful.jpg)

Class: Libra
Type: Carrier
Length: 56.8 million metric tons
Crew: 868
Troop Capacity: 1,555
Fighters: 72 (6 squadrons)
Power: 4 fusion reactors
Duration: 18 months
Weapons: 8 medium pulse cannon turrets
10 pulse cannons
28 twin pulse cannons
4 high-yield missile launchers
Defense: 30-35 meter armored hull
18 Mk. III defense grids
4 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Libra class carrier has once again become one of the most common ships in the Armada, recovering from drastically reduced numbers following the Outer Dominion Wars. The Libras still form the backbone of the Armada’s fighter support system, but have seen one large change in their form. The carriers built since the Outer Dominion Wars concluded feature increased armaments than their predecessors, and while still dependent on support from other ships and fighters to take on heavier ships, can expect to hold off a heavier ship for at long enough for more support to arrive.

Virgo class heavy cruiser (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/battlecruiser_hood.jpg)

Class: Virgo
Type: Heavy cruiser
Length: 1,305.7 meters
Mass: 11.6 million metric tons
Crew: 418
Troop Capacity: 350
Fighters: 6 fighters
Power: 4 fusion reactors
Duration: 18 months
Weapons: 3 heavy pulse turrets
2 medium pulse turrets
12 pulse cannons
9 light pulse cannons
5 high-yield missile launchers
Defense: 40-45 meter armored hull
18 Mk. III defense grids
3 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Virgo-class heavy cruiser has become the most commonly deployed ship in the Star Armada. Less expensive to maintain and deploy than heavier capital ships and can act adequately as a small task force command ship, or as an orbital command center for ground operations. The Virgo is still often the most common capital ship seen directly out of the Alpha Centauri system. However, with Project Renaissance coming to a close, redistribution of heavier forces means that this may not long be the truth.

Capricorn class light cruiser (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/patrolcruiser_konigsberg.jpg)

Class: Capricorn
Type: Light cruiser
Length: 1,220.3 meters
Mass: 10.7 million metric tons
Crew: 348
Troop Capacity: 220
Fighters: 6
Power: 3 fusion reactors
Duration: 18 months
Weapons: 4 medium pulse turrets
12 pulse cannons
12 light pulse cannons
12 rapid-fire lasers
4 high-yield missile launchers
Defense: 30-35 meter armored hull
18 Mk. III defense grids
2 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Capricorn-class light cruiser is the Star Armada’s primary support craft. It acts as an effective defense against fighters and lighter capital ships, and in groups can hold off heavier ships until additional forces can be dispatched. The Capricorn is part of the force that forms the perimeter of the defense of any major Armada task force. It typically works in conjunction with Virgo class heavy cruisers, Pisces class frigates, Sagittarius class destroyers, and Cancer class gunships to defend the flanks of larger capital ships.

Pisces class frigate (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/frigate_airone.jpg)

Class: Pisces
Type: Frigate
Length: 1,250.7
Mass: 10.4 million metric tons
Crew: 378
Troop Capacity: 300
Fighters: 36 (3 squadrons)
Power: 3 fusion reactors
Duration: 1 year
Weapons: 6 medium pulse turrets
24 pulse canons
8 light pulse cannons
12 rapid-fire laser cannons
3 high-yield missile launchers
Defense: 25-30 meter armored hull
15 Mk. III defense grids
2 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Pisces class frigate is the premier commerce defense ship of the Star Armada. The Pisces is often seen ensuring the safety of Valinon interstellar trade across posts across the galaxy. Its well-rounded weapons complement and fighters make it an excellent choice to drive off pirates and raiders. The Pisces will usually work with destroyers or light cruisers to form a full defense group, but does often work independently. Although the Pisces is used as a flank support vessel for the main battle lines, its lighter armor means that the Capricorn-class light cruiser usually fills the void better than the Pisces.

Sagittarius class destroyer (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/battlecarrier_lexington.jpg)

Class: Sagittarius
Type: Destroyer
Length: 1,025.39 meters
Mass: 8.4 million metric tons
Crew: 216
Troop Capacity: 100
Fighters: 3 fighters
Power: 3 fusion reactors
Duration: 18 months
Weapons: 2 particle cannons
1 heavy plasma cannon
8 medium pulse cannons
2 high-yield missile launchers
4 medium-yield missile launchers
Defense: 25-30 meter armored hull
10 Mk. III defense grids
2 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

The Sagittarius class destroyers forms the frontline of any task force in the Star Armada. Its well-rounded weapons compliment means that it can effectively engage light and medium class capital ships, and in groups can engage heavier capital ships. The Sagittarius came out of Project Renaissance with an updated shield system, at last solving the plague of often-weaker shielding systems in previous generations. The Sagittarius is a solid part of the Star Armada, and is the most common ship in the fleet. It has many missions: flank support in main battle lines, commerce defense ships, reconnaissance vessel, and a capable hit-and-run attack platform.

Cancer class gunship (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/destroyer_gearing.jpg)

Class: Cancer
Type: Gunship
Length: 444.24 meters
Mass: 6.6 million metric tons
Crew: 20
Power: 2 fusion reactors
Duration: 18 months
Weapons: 4 pulse cannons
2 twin particle beams
4 medium-yield missile racks
2 medium-yield missile launchers
Defense: 10-15 meter armored hull
4 Mk. III defense grids
1 energy shield projector
Limited Mobile DOS “Funnel” System

Armed but not well armored, the Cancer class gunship is often called the “tin-can” of the Star Armada. The Cancer is the smallest capital ship in the Armada and is also the smallest capital ship in military service fitted with a Verner jump space drive. The Cancer’s soul mission is to engage enemy fighters and light attack craft. In groups they usually work together to hold the flanks of carriers, super carriers, battlehips, battlecruisers, dreadnoughts, and super dreadnoughts. They are also often deployed as commerce defense ships. The Cancers are deployed in groups of three and are called “wings.” Up from a “wing” is a “flight” that is six Cancers that typically work in conjunction with a destroyer, light cruiser, or frigate. The Cancer was almost scrapped until the Hortch Star Development Corporation finally managed to lower the crew requirement from 47 to 20. This came at the expense of the ships two fighters and a third reactor. Following Project Renaissance the Star Armada has very few fighter carrying pre-Outer Dominion Wars Cancers. Most of them were destroyed in the heavy fighting around Prometheus Centauri and the Belt. The ones left are mostly in the hands of the ISSSF or other private security agencies and corporations, not in the service of the Star Armada.

Leo class Long-range fleet tender (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/gamilon/mobilesubdock_protector.jpg)

Class: Leo
Type: Long-range fleet tender
Length: 1,000.8 meters
Mass: 20 million metric tons
Crew: 35
Power: 4 fusion reactors
Duration: 2 years
Weapons: 2 medium pulse cannons
14 light pulse cannons
Defense: 10-15 meter armored hull
8 Mk. III defense grids
2 energy shield projectors
Mobile DOS "Funnel" System

The Leo class long-range fleet tender is the ship that keeps the Star Armada going. It has almost twixe the internal volume of a battleship, and needs only a bare skeleton crew of 35 to maintain optimum efficiency. The Leos are a common sight to long-range patrollers, Magellan class science vessels, and distant colonies and stations. These ships represent the life-blood of the Star Armada, rearming and refueling the various starships that the Armada employs. It even can deploy contruction frames extending its length to 1,600 meters so that it can act as a modular dry-dock and repair facility for various ships involved in seiges or blockades.

His Majesty’s Star Armada’s Fighter Core

Longshard Star Fighter Interceptor (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/gamilon/superiorityfighter_arrowlt2.jpg)

Class: Longshard
Type: Star Fighter Interceptor
Length: 9.56 meters
Mass: 48 metric tons
Power: 3 fusion batteries
Duration: 5 hours
Accel: 1km/s (non-boost)
Crew: 1
Agility: Class A
Weapons: 4.40 mm pulse cannons
2.35 mm pulse cannons
8 missile hard points various yields
Defense: 4.2 centimeter reinforcedhull
1 fighter-grad shield projector
Special: Nova Flare Booster System

Javelin Medium Star Bomber (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/fighter_cosmotiger2.jpg)

Class: Javelin
Type: Medium Star Bomber
Length: 10.21 meters
Mass: 52 metric tons
Power: 3 fusion batteries
Duration: 5 hours
Accel: .9 km/2 (non-boost)
Crew: 1
Agility: Class A
Weapons: 1.32 mm Gatling Railgun
6.40 mm pulse cannons
10 missile hard points various yields
Defense: 4.2 centimeter reinforced hull
1 fighter-grad shield projector
Special: Nova Flare Booster System

Goliath Heavy Star Bomber (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/fighter_cosmozero.jpg)

Class: Goliath
Type: Heavy Star Bomber
Length: 15.54 meters
Mass: 52 metric tons
Power: 1 experimental micro-fusion reactor
2 fusion batteries
Duration: 4 hours (batteries only)
Accel: .9 km/s (non-boost)
Crew: 2 (Pilot, Bombardier)
Weapons: 4 linked unidirection 40 mm pulse cannons
2 1.32 Gatling Railguns
6.40 mm pulse cannons
12 missile hard points various yields
Defense: 5.6 centimeter reinforced hull
1 fighter-grad shield projector
Special: Nova Flare Booster System

Major Space Installations of His Majesty’s Star Armada


Sanctuary (http://www.shipschematics.net/b5/images/earthforce/station_babylon4.jpg)

Sanctuary is the nerve center of His Majesty’s Star Armada. Orbiting Proxima Centauri, this massive station serves as the central command station of the entire Armada, as well as a shipyard, dry-dock, and maintenance facility.

Draco (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/deingil/capitalship_uruku.jpg)

Draco is a former asteroid mine that has since been depleted. The asteroid was moved into a stable orbit around the jovian planet Prometheus Centauri and now serves as the command center for the Outer System Rim Patrol Force. The facility has dry-docks and shipyards as well, performing the function of Sanctuary on a smaller scale. Draco is also the primary Star Armada coordinating point for any missions to the Sol System.

Grenada (http://www.shipschematics.net/startrek/images/romulan/borderdefenseoutpost_x3.jpg)

Grenada is the first of three such stations being constructed in the Sol System. They are Voltaic, Grenada, and Solomon of the inner, mid, and outer Sol System regions, respectively. Although Grenada is the first station completed, and is strategic allowing fast access to both the inner and outer Sol System, Lord Marshal Reynard Adonis intends to move the command center to Voltaic when it is completed. But for now Grenada acts as a command center, dry-dock, and limited shipyards for the Sol System Task Force.
29-10-2003, 04:11
Why is the battlecruiser more powerful than the battleship? In Reality, a Battlecruiser is a Battleship with less armor so it goes faster.
Valinon
29-10-2003, 04:13
Because I go by a different system, and because I choose to make my more powerful. After all, in Starcraft the battlecruisers were more powerful than the old Thunderchild battleships. The same goes for Master of Orion III, Babylon 5, Mobile Suit Gundam, the Honor Harrington Series, and a host of others. It all depend what system you use.
Sunset
29-10-2003, 04:15
OOC: You've got quotes on the end of a lot of those links. Nice of you to put them as links instead of in-line images though.

On a side note - whats the numbers on the fleet? OOC if you like, or TG em to me.
Valinon
29-10-2003, 04:18
OOC: I will TG them to you later. Some numbers are included, such as the Athena super dreadnoughts, Ares dreadnoughts, and super carriers.
Valinon
30-10-2003, 04:30
BUMP! I might be persuaded to sell somethings as well. Maybe, and for the right price.
Iansisle
12-11-2003, 04:33
(Er, as a fan of the MoO and Honor Harrington series, I must stick up in their defense. In MoO III, the battlecruiser is size value 08, where as a battleship is size value 11. In the Honorverse, battlecruisers are more lightly armored, less massive, and much faster than battleships or dreadnoughts. I'm not familiar with Babylon V or Mobile Suit Gundum, so I can't speak for them. But like Attican said, battlecruisers aren't meant to be put in a line of battle against proper battleships. And frankly quoting Starcraft (which made a mockery of almost every established military tradition) isn't going to win you any favors.)
Valinon
12-11-2003, 04:47
OOC: Merely pointing out there are other systems, if need be I can cite some others if you would find them more to your liking. I know that the battlecruiser isn't as strong as say a dreadnought in the Honorverse, but in the chart in the back of A Short Victorious War it ranks above a regular cruiser and a battleship.
Iansisle
12-11-2003, 05:04
(Actually, the chart which you refer to (comparing tonnages between the RMN and the People's Navy) lists an average battleship (Havenite only) at 4,500,000 tons, with an average Manticoran battlecruiser (the larger of the two) coming in at about 878,000 tons. It goes on to say that:

The large number of battleships in [the People's Navy's] order of battle were intended not for the wall of battle, where their smaller size would place them at a grievous disadvantage against "proper" ships of the wall, but to cover occupied systems against anything smaller than a wall of battle ship.

Later, it says that:

The [battlecruiser's] combination of acceleration and firepower made it ideal for raids on the orbital industrial infrastructure of enemy star systems, and the RMN had refined these tactics to a fine art over the centuries.

Clearly, neither the battleship nor the battlecruiser were meant for the main wall of battle in the Honorverse, but it remains clear that the battleship emphasized armor and weapons, while the battlecruiser wanted speed and weapons. Therefore, having a battleship that is more lightly armored and less massive than a battlecruiser is a misnomer.)
Valinon
13-11-2003, 02:10
OOC: But once again here is the beauty of combining systems. The Imperial Navy of Japan built the Yamamoto as a battlecruiser, and it was far heavier, larger, and better armored than their typical battleship. In fact the belief it was the first in the "super-battleship" class was coined by the United States.
Valinon
13-01-2004, 19:11
Bump, so I want lose this.
Auman
18-01-2004, 02:08
OOC:
Whoa Valinon...we use the same style of ship construction. I posted pictures months ago when I got into that fleet battle with Crimmond, using Starblazers as a base, I still use the AUSS Yamato as my flagship...though heavily upgraded.