Here is an optional light Corvette . . . one built with sub-capital weapons. Just for you to consider, Drakensis.
SLS Reuben James
Overview:
SLS Reuben James was an experimental prototype commissioned in 2766. Designed as an Escort Corvette (designated as hull number DLE-1477), this vessel incorporated the first known examples of what would later become known as 'sub-capital' weaponry. In reality, these weapons were based upon the original armament for capital ships that were quickly superseded by newly developed Naval Autocannon, Naval Lasers, and Naval PPCs during the early decades of the 24th Century.
The design itself proved a success during the war against Stefan Amaris and the campaign to liberate Terra from his occupation. Unfortunately, with the original design schematics and shipyards the victims of a nuclear terror attack at Caph, it would prove impossible to duplicate the systems during this time. EDIT: Recently a complete copy of the original schematics and blue-prints of SLS Reuben James has been discovered in the secure archives of the North New Zealand Castle Brian. Although Titan Yards is now capable of restarting production on this class of WarShip, it is not currently known as to whether or not the (now relatively financially destitute) SLDF will assign new resources to the project.
Capabilities:
In order to save time and expense, the development team for the Reuben James project decided to use a mothballed Vincent class Corvette. The basic design and hull form were retained, as were the powerful transit drives and well-tested K/F compact core. The interior of the ship was completely gutted, however, and the internal decks and fixed weapons revamped.
Much of the refit consisted in the installation of larger fuel tanks, with a total onboard storage capacity of 14,228 tons of fuel in four armored fuel bunkers. This nearly unprecedented quantity of fuel provided the Reuben James with the ability to maneuver at high g-ratings for an extended time, and also provided more than sufficient stores to replenish the tanks of its dozen aerospace fighters and four small craft. Two grav decks (each measuring 115-meters in diameter) were installed directly forward of the transit drives, alleviating yet another failing of the old Vincent-class. The crew quarters were given special attention, and each spacer aboard--including aerospace fighter pilots, techs, and small craft crews--were provided with their own private compartment. These quarters, while they were admittedly spartan and cramped for space, provided each spacer with their own private space, a luxury that the first crew aboard the Reuben James praised quite often to any SLDF spacers who were willing to listen.
Total crew requirements increased to three hundred and thirteen men and women, including gunners, officers, parasite crews, technical support teams, and the twenty-eight man strong Marine Rifle Platoon embarked for shipboard security. In addition, space was provided for up to forty-seven passengers. Provisions and life support were stocked in sufficient quantities to allow for deployments of up to one standard year before requiring resupply, and sixty escape pods were fitted to the hull allowing for the evacuation of the entire ship's complement in the event of a catastrophe.
The internal structure of the ex-Vincent was heavily reinforced to support the installation of 502 tons of ferro-carbide armor plating--giving the Reuben James better protection than a Fleet Destroyer massing a quarter of a million tons more than the new ship. Twenty-one thousand tons of spare parts was stored aboard ship, and space was provided for an additional twenty-one thousand and fifteen tons of general cargo.
All of the remaining tonnage was spent on weapons, cooling systems, and auxiliary power generators. The Reuben James retained the two nose mounted Barracuda launchers of the older Vincent, along with the Class 10 Naval Autocannon in the fore-quarters, but all other weapons were removed in toto. The Barracuda magazines were increased to a total of sixty missiles, while each of the NAC-10s was provided with 50 rounds of fire.
In addition to these true Capital guns, a diverse assortment of Sub-capital guns was installed. The nose featured two Light SC Cannons (50 rounds each), four Light SC Lasers, two Stingray SC Missile Launchers (30 missiles each), two Medium SC Cannons (50 rounds each), and two Medium SC Lasers. This armament was repeated on the fore-quarters, broadsides, and stern-quarters arcs. In addition, the six flank arcs also mounted two Piranha SC Missile Launchers with 30 missiles each. The stern was the weak point of the design, possessing the Piranhas, but removing the Stingrays. Six hundred and thirty-eight tons of heat sinks, power amplifiers, auxiliary power generators, and heat exchangers were installed to allow the Reuben James to make full use of its extensive firepower.
The final result was an Escort ship that still cost less than two billion Star League dollars, yet had more than six times the firepower of a Vincent. Firepower that could be used against hostile small craft and aerospace fighters much easier than standard Capital weapons. Combined with the vessels high rate of thrust and heavy armor plating, this weapons arrangement even posed a threat to other Capital ships, albeit at closer ranges than most Corvette skippers cared to maintain.
During the Liberation of Terra, the Reuben James engaged regiment after regiment of Rim Worlds fighters as they attempted to attack the vulnerable troop carriers she was escorting; but time and time again, the plucky little corvette made short work of Amaris's aerospace assets. Her crew's valor during the campaign prompted General Kerensky himself to award the vessel a Distinguished Unit Citation, which the commanding officer had framed in brass and welded to the aft bulkhead on the vessel's bridge.
SLS Reuben James
Level:Custom Level 2 / 2750
Technology:Inner Sphere Warship
Tonnage:420,000 Tons
Designer:master arminas
Armory:Royal Mech Works
Faction Availability
Star League
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
Class/Model/Name: Reuben James
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2750
Vessel Type: WarShip
Rules: Level 2, Custom design
Mass: 420,000 tons
Length: 551 meters
Sail Diameter: 994 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Ferro-carbide
Armament:
2 Barracuda
16 Light SC Cannon*
32 Light SC Laser*
14 Stingray*
16 Medium SC Cannon*
16 Medium SC Laser*
2 NAC/10
14 Piranha*
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Class/Model/Name: Reuben James
Mass: 420,000 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant: Standard 100,800.00
K-F Hyperdrive: Compact (Integrity = 10) 190,050.00
Jump Sail (Detachable): (Integrity = 4) 51.00
Structural Integrity: 60 25,200.00
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Heat Sinks: 1,131 Double 638.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 14,228.00
Bridge & Controls: 1,050.00
Food & Water: (360 days supply) 648.00
Armor Factor: 438 Ferro-carbide 502.00
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Armor Value
(Capital Scale)
Fore: 75
Fore Left / Right: 75 / 75
Aft Left / Right: 75 / 75
Aft: 63
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Equipment & Options:
Cargo:
Bay 1: Fighters (12) with 6 doors 1,800.00
Bay 2: Small Craft (4) with 2 doors 800.00
Bay 3: Cargo (1) with 2 doors 21,015.00
Grav Decks:
Grav Decks #1 - 2: (115-meter diameter) 200
Escape Pods: 60 (7 tons each) 420
Crew and Passengers:
43 Officers (43 minimum) 0.00
86 Crew (86 minimum) 0.00
112 Gunners (112 minimum) 0.00
47 2nd Class Passengers 0.00
28 Marines 0.00
44 Bay Personnel 0.00
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Weapons & Equipment: Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
2 Barracuda(60 msls) Nose 4 4 4 4 20 1,980.00
2 Light SC Cannon*(100 rounds) Nose 4 4 4 -- 24 450.00
4 Light SC Laser* Nose 4 4 4 -- 96 600.00
2 Stingray*(60 msls) Nose 7 7 -- -- 24 960.00
2 Medium SC Cannon*(100 rounds) Nose 10 10 -- -- 60 1,100.00
2 Medium SC Laser* Nose 4 4 -- -- 56 400.00
1 NAC/10(50 rounds) FL/R 10 10 10 -- 60 4,020.00
2 Piranha*(60 msls) FL/R 6 6 6 -- 36 1,600.00
2 Light SC Cannon*(100 rounds) FL/R 4 4 4 -- 48 900.00
4 Light SC Laser* FL/R 4 4 4 -- 192 1,200.00
2 Stingray*(60 msls) FL/R 7 7 -- -- 48 1,920.00
2 Medium SC Cannon*(100 rounds) FL/R 10 10 -- -- 120 2,200.00
2 Medium SC Laser* FL/R 4 4 -- -- 112 800.00
2 Piranha*(60 msls) L/RBS 6 6 6 -- 36 1,600.00
2 Light SC Cannon*(100 rounds) L/RBS 4 4 4 -- 48 900.00
4 Light SC Laser* L/RBS 4 4 4 -- 192 1,200.00
2 Stingray*(60 msls) L/RBS 7 7 -- -- 48 1,920.00
2 Medium SC Cannon*(100 rounds) L/RBS 10 10 -- -- 120 2,200.00
2 Medium SC Laser* L/RBS 4 4 -- -- 112 800.00
2 Piranha*(60 msls) AL/R 6 6 6 -- 36 1,600.00
2 Light SC Cannon*(100 rounds) AL/R 4 4 4 -- 48 900.00
4 Light SC Laser* AL/R 4 4 4 -- 192 1,200.00
2 Stingray*(60 msls) AL/R 7 7 -- -- 48 1,920.00
2 Medium SC Cannon*(100 rounds) AL/R 10 10 -- -- 120 2,200.00
2 Medium SC Laser* AL/R 4 4 -- -- 112 800.00
2 Piranha*(60 msls) Aft 6 6 6 -- 18 800.00
2 Light SC Cannon*(100 rounds) Aft 4 4 4 -- 24 450.00
4 Light SC Laser* Aft 4 4 4 -- 96 600.00
2 Medium SC Cannon*(100 rounds) Aft 10 10 -- -- 60 1,100.00
2 Medium SC Laser* Aft 4 4 -- -- 56 400.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (5.00%) 21,000.00
44 Bay Personnel Quarters 308.00
TOTALS: 2,262 420,000.00
Tons Left: .00
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Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 1,905,889,024 C-Bills
Battle Value: 93,723
Cost per BV: 20,335.34
Weapon Value: 35,507 (Ratio = .38)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 2,671; MRDmg = 2,671; LRDmg = 2,109; ERDmg = 372
Maintenance Point Value: MPV = 218,815 (57,272 Structure, 137,805 Life Support, 23,738 Weapons)
Support Points: SP = 536,400 (245% of MPV)
BattleForce2: (Not applicable)