Arcturus class Battleship
In class: 48
In service: 2365 (2652)
Mass: 890,000
Sail Integrity: 5
Thrust: 2 / 3*
Fuel: 800 tons
Structural Integrity: 85
Armor: 1,509 ton, Standard (N: 109, FL/R: 110, AL/R: 110, A: 109)
Docking Collars: 4
Fighters: 24
Small Craft: 4
Crew: 315 minimum (55 Officers, 260 Enlisted)
Lifeboats: 30
Escape Pods: 30
Grav Decks: 4 90 meter
Cargo: 40,521 tons
Bay 1: Fighters (24) 6 doors
Bay 2: Small Craft (4) 2 doors
Bay 3: Cargo (40,521 tons) 2 doors
Weapons: (Heat Sinks: 8,500)
Forward
4 NL-55s
8 AC/20s
8 PPCs
8 Large
Lasers
Fore Left/Fore Right
2 NAC/25s
2 Heavy
NPPCs
4 NL-55s
8 AC/20s
8 PPCs
8 Large
Lasers
Left Broadside/Right Broadside
4 NAC/25s
2 Heavy
NPPCs
4 NL-55s
8 AC/20s
8 PPCs
8 Large
Lasers
Aft Left/Aft Right
2 NAC/25s
2 Heavy
NPPCs
4 NL-55s
8 AC/20s
8 PPCs
8 Large
Lasers
Aft
4 NL-55s
8 AC/20s
8 PPCs
8 Large
Lasers
Ammo:
800
Rounds of Naval Autocannon/25 ammo
1280
Rounds of Autocannon/20 ammo
Refit Notes:
Redesignated
a Heavy Cruiser by the Lyran Navy
following the refit
Upgraded with Modern Interplanetary Drive, same thrust
rating 2/3
Armor: 1,512 ton, Ferro Carbide (N: 202, FL/R: 215, AL/R:
215, A: 202)
Crew: 327 Minimum (57
Officers, 270 Enlisted)
Cargo: 86,017 tons (total)
Heat Sinks: +3,500 (12,000 total)
16 NAC/35s replaced the 16 NAC/25s
+12 Heavy Naval PPCs
Overview:
The 1st Lyran Naval
Law passed by the nine Archons in 2346 called for the creation of four warship
designs. The first three combat vessels (the Freedom class Corvette, the
Marsden class Destroyer, and the Lyre class Heavy Cruiser) had all been
completed as scheduled. The next design to follow was supposed to be the new
Lyran Battleship class. Several Archons (mainly from Skye but also from Tamar)
advocated postponement of the Battleship and the development of a frigate to
patrol the vast Lyran frontier. The need for both ships was apparent but just
enough resources were allocated for one design. Competing for the Archons favor
once again were Sara Wallace of Wallace Ship Constructors (Kessel) with her
inspired Sentinel class Frigate and Justin Day of Commonwealth Boat
Manufacturers (Gibbs) with his huge Arcturus class Battleship. These two
shipbuilders had recently vied for the right to build the Commonwealth’s new
cruiser class warship. CBMs Lyre class Heavy Cruiser had edged out WSCs Nightstalker
class Light Cruiser during that first competition. In the contest for the forth
Lyran warship design both companies went all out. For Wallace the new warship
design was a must have for her company’s very survival. Her frigate design was
absolutely brilliant featuring the most advanced technology at the time
including the experimental Type II Fusion Drive. (Editor’s Note: It was widely believed
that Wallace called in favors from friends within the Terran Hegemony to obtain
some of the ship’s equipment). Justin Day’s young corporation was still basking
in the glow of success for their Lyre class Cruiser and winning the bid for the
Battleship would solidify his company’s standing. (Editor’s Note: Despite
winning the bidding for the Lyran Cruiser design the bitterness of the dispute
began a feud between both designers). CBM designed the Arcturus class
Battleship with their typical engineering philosophy “bigger is better”. The
massive vessel carried a vast array of weapons for unmatched firepower and
large quantities of armor for excellent protection. The competition was fierce
and the Archons decisions slow (as usual) until the Fatima disaster. Despite
Wallace’s assurances that the Sentinel (which carried large fuel tanks for
independent operations) was safe the Archons decided to go with the Battleship
as planned. The Arcturus not only cemented CBMs corporate position but also
established the classic Lyran naval mindset for generations to come.
Capabilities:
The biggest feature on this
mammoth ship was it’s immense armament. The Arcturus mounted the largest guns that
the Commonwealth manufactured at the time, sixteen Class 25 Naval Autocannons.
Supporting the Naval Autocannons were twelve new Heavy Naval Particle
Projection Cannons, more than enough firepower to destroy any warship of the
day. Thirty two Naval Laser-55s were also part of the vessel’s main naval
armament that was instrumental in bringing down enemy dropships as well as
carrying out orbital bombardment. In addition to these massive naval grade weapons
the Arcturus also was equipped with sixty four Autocannon 20s, sixty four
Particle Projection Cannons, and sixty four Large Lasers. These smaller weapons
helped neutralize smaller craft (dropships and fighters) as well as augment the
naval weaponry against other warships. With so much weaponry, added to help Day
win the design contest with Wallace, Lyran sailors joked that the ship was
overgunned. In fact, the Arcturus was too heavily armed for it’s targeting
computers which frequently failed after intense activity (combat). Fortunately,
the first volley from the Arcturus was usually the last needed to finish off
any enemy warship. However, these computer failures were quickly rectified and
no ships were ever reported lost due to these malfunctions.
For protection the Arcturus was fitted with over one
thousand five hundred tons of advanced (today standard) armor. This armor
plating was more than enough to survive almost any attack. The vessel was
outfitted with Type I Fusion Engines that could propel the ship to a maximum of
1.5Gs. Four docking collars enabled the Arcturus to carry assault dropship
support or part of a large ground taskforce. Also on board were twenty four
aerospace fighters (an expanded wing) that helped supplement the Battleship’s
defenses. Four small craft were also included for supporting operations. For
rest and relaxation while on mission the crew could enjoy any of the ship’s
four 90 meter grav decks. With over forty thousand tons of cargo the Arcturus
was capable of some long operations but not extended maneuvers like deep raids.
When the Edict of 2650 was proclaimed limiting the number
of warships each Great House could keep the Arcturus class Battleship was
upgraded (to the amazement of many outside the Commonwealth) rather than be
scrapped or even mothballed. This highly regarded warship was upgraded with
modern Type III Fusion Engines but not make it faster. While the vessel was
still only capable of 1.5Gs the Arcturus’ already formidable armament was
increased by the addition of twelve Heavy NPPCs, doubling their total number to
twenty four. The sixteen NAC/25s were replaced by sixteen larger (but shorter range)
NAC/35s. Three thousand five hundred Heat Sinks were added to dissipate the
extra heat generated by the new weapons array. In addition, the ship’s armor
was replaced by one thousand five hundred tons of Ferro Carbide doubling the
Arcturus’ protection. With this extensive refit some within the Commonwealth
government wanted to redesignate it the Tharkad class Heavy Cruiser (after the
current Lyran capital). The Navy strongly objected to this however and vessel
was only reclassified as a Heavy Cruiser. Many who commanded and served on
these vessels still considered them Battleships. (Editor’s Note: Similar to
those who served aboard the Venture class considering them Battlecruisers).
Deployment:
Over fifty years a total of 48
Arcturus class warships were constructed by Commonwealth Boat Manufacturers of
Gibbs. Eleven ships were destroyed during the Age of War (7 to the Draconis
Combine and 4 to the Free Worlds League) but none were lost during the
Reunification War. The remaining 37 ships went on to become some of the most
storied vessels in the Lyran Navy. The Arcturus was so valued by the
Commonwealth that not one of these ships was mothballed or scrapped due to the
Edict of 2650. All of these newly refitted vessels were saw service right up to
and during the 1st Succession War. The last Arcturus, the LCS Bolan,
was destroyed in 2818 by a Marik nuclear jump point mine.
Notable Ships:
Although all of the Arcturus class warships achieved some
level of notoriety throughout their long service none compared to the LCS
Granite. Although a latter ship of the class (part of the Adamant type, which
upgraded the Fusion Drives) it saw some action during the Age of War
particularly against the House Kurita. The ship developed a reputation for
toughness when it was rammed by a Skory class Destroyer during an intense
battle against the Draconis Combine. To the shock of all the Granite didn’t
even seem phased by the ramming attack continuing to fight other Kurita ships.
Due to the heavy damaged sustained during that battle the Granite sat out a
great deal of the Age of War. Again during the Reunification War the ship was
attacked by Rim World “fire ships” and managed to survive. This time the
Granite did not withdraw but fought on through the rest of the conflict. Refitted
the ship under the command of Fleet Admiral Oscar Dewey (Editor’s Note: The
Granite was Dewey’s first naval command and so when he assumed command of the
Lyran Navy following the battle of Skondia he assigned the Granite as his
flagship) would meet it’s fate during the 3rd battle for Hesperus II
which occurred in March 2789. Just days before a Marik attack the Granite along
with the LCS Endeavor (a Venture class Heavy Cruiser) were moved to the
Hesperus system to reinforce the planet’s defenses. The Granite was quickly put
on the defensive by a furious attack by the FWLS Devastator. Admiral Dewey
quickly realized he was about to lose the battle unless drastic action was
taken. The Granite, with all the thrust it could muster, maneuvered and rammed
the Devastator. The action destroyed both ships but enabled the Lyrans to win
the 3rd Battle of Hesperus.