Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea.jpg
Mauna Kea Command Vessel
Production information
Manufacturer Earthwerks Incorporated
Production Year 2463[1]
Mission Flagship
Mobile HQ
Fire Support
Pirate Patrol
Troop Transport
Naval Combatant
Type Surface Naval
Technical specifications
Mass 85 tons
Armor Republic Ultraweave
Engine GM 225 Turbine ICE
Speed 54 km/h
Communications System CBR CommSat
Targeting Tracking System Corean B-Tech
Heat Sinks 0
Armament
BV (1.0) ???
BV (2.0) 872[2][3][4]


Description[edit]

First conceived by the Terran Hegemony company Earthwerks Inc of Calloway VI in 2463, the Mauna Kea was designed to fill the role of force projection on small bodies of water. Easily transportable via DropShip, this class saw service in wet navies throughout the worlds of the Inner Sphere and Periphery. It fulfilled a multitude of roles, from antipiracy to defense against planetary assaults, thanks to its ability to travel where other units cannot. In the ensuing centuries since its introduction, Earthwerks licensed the design out to many buyers on other planets so they could build the ship locally, including sending construction kits with the necessary parts, while reaping profitable fees in return.[2]

The ship was named for Terra's Hawaii Islands mountain by the same name.

Armaments & Capacities[edit]

The Mauna Kea has a turret-mounted Mydron Model B Autocannon/10 with a Holly Fifteen-tubed Long-Range Missile launcher. Each is fed by two tons of ammunition, giving them the necessary endurance for a sustained firefight. For close-quarters and anti-infantry combat, the ship is armed with five 20mm Gatling Machine Guns with a half-ton of ammunition. The guns are placed in pairs on the port and starboard sides of the ship, while a single gun is mounted in the aft for rear protection.[2]

The ship was also designed to serve as a command vessel, so it includes a ton's worth of Communication Equipment fitted onto the vessel, while a nine-ton Infantry Bay allows it to transport troops to hard-to-reach locations. The ship has room for six additional tons of cargo which was set aside for owners to customized the ship as they saw fit, such as allowing for two additional platoons of troops to be carried and expansion of the command facilities.[2]

Variants[edit]

  • Mauna Kea (LRM Variant) - Constructed during the Star League era, this variant increases the ship's firepower by adding a front-mounted LRM-15. The ship's infantry bay is reduced to 2 tons. BV (2.0) = 1,005[5], 1,022[6]
  • Mauna Kea (LRT Variant) - Also designed during the Star League era, this variant designed for the antisubmarine role. The turret-mounted LRM is exchanged for a 15-tubed Long-Range Torpedo Launcher, which has been given 2 tons of ammunition. BV (2.0) = 872[7], 1,022[8]
  • Mauna Kea (LB-X Variant) - Introduced during the Jihad, this upgrade of the ancient Mauna Kea updates the ships' weaponry with modern versions. The classic Mydron Model B autocannon is exchanged for an LB 10-X autocannon. The LRM launcher is enhanced by Artemis IV Fire Control System. Both enhanced weaponry retain their 2 ton ammunition allotments. BV (2.0) = 932[9][10]

Named Vessels[edit]

  • Acero - The ship served during the Age of War era as flagship for the small blue water navy on Helm operating in the Yehudan Sea near the city of Durandel. The Acero was noted for its final action against littoral pirates in 2532, where it led its small squadron of revenue cutters and machine gun-armed hydrofoils against the pirate force. In the ensuing battle, the Acero was lost, but she and her entire force sunk and shot down all of the pirates' hovercraft, displacement missile boats and VTOLs.[2]

Notes[edit]

Technical Readout: 3075 entry for the Mauna Kea differs from Record Sheet version. These differences include; Cargo changed to Infantry Bays, Lifeboat and communication equipment is excluded from the design. Writers with Catalyst Game Labs have noted due to limitation with design program. Record sheets slightly differ from TRO entry. They have said that record sheets maybe revised later date.[11]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Mauna Kea
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Technical Readout: 3075, pp. 256-257, "Mauna Kea Profile"
  3. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 245
  4. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 162
  5. Record Sheet: 3075 Unabridged, p. 246
  6. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 164
  7. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 247
  8. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 165
  9. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 245
  10. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 163
  11. Writers note problems with designing software led to differences in Record Sheets from original TRO entry. (dead link)

Bibliography[edit]