Meabh
Sarna News
- Bad ‘Mechs - Sentinel
- HEXTECH Review - Wave 3 Brings More Urban Options To Your Battlefield
- Your BattleTech News Round-Up For March, 2024
- Crashing 'Mechs With Jennifer Brozek, Author Of The Rogue Academy Trilogy
- Getting The Word Out With Rem Alternis, Catalyst Community & Marketing Director
- Read more →
| |
| Meabh | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Lyran Commonwealth[1][2] |
| Production Year | 2807[3] |
| Use | Naval Escort |
| Tech Base | Inner Sphere (Advanced)[1][2] |
| Chassis Type (Size) | Naval Vessel (Large, Template C)[1][2] |
| Equipment Rating | D/X-E-D[2] |
| Introduced | 2807 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 10,000 tons[1][2] |
| Cruise Speed | 80 km/h[1][2] |
| Flank Speed | 120 km/h[1][2] |
| Power Plant | fusion[1][2] |
| Fuel (Type/Range) | Unlimited[1][2] |
| Fire Control System | Basic |
| Turret(s) | 2[1][2] |
| Armament |
|
| Heat Sinks | 112[1][2] |
| Armor | Commercial Armor[1][2] |
| Barrier Armor Rating (BAR) | 7[1][2] |
| Crew | 89 (13 officers, 28 enlisted/non-rated, 48 gunners)[2] |
Contents
Description[edit]
The Meabh Heavy Cruiser was a blue water warship constructed during the Succession Wars by the Lyran Commonwealth as a naval escort and sea patrol replacement for Star League era blue-water naval cruisers. These SLDF cruisers were originally tasked with the defense of underwater command bunkers, but with the fall of the Star League the ability to maintain these ships became lost and they quickly fell to ruin. This left the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces in a debate with itself not just with a replacement but whether to retain some type of blue-water capability. As it happened most Lyran Social Generals argued in favor of a replacement, insofar as it would allow them to keep what were derisively called their "personal pleasure yachts," and after much wrangling the new Meabh-class heavy cruisers were finally approved for construction in 2807.[1][2]
In spite of their inauspicious beginnings the Meabh cruisers performed well and were highly praised. Their ability to "outgun every ship they could not outrun and outrun every ship they could not outgun" made these ships the standard by which other LCAF cruisers were measured. Streamlining and automation updates kept the Meabh current and in production well into the 2870s. However it was factors other than the ship's performance which brought about its downfall. The undersea command posts which the class had been designed to defend, expensive luxuries even during the Golden Age of the Star League, had become increasingly rare. What few bunkers remained could also be better defended by newer, cheaper vessels, namely the Neptune Submarine and its carbon copies. Additionally the LCAF made a decision in 2932 to hand off authority (and the corresponding expenses) for most naval forces, including the Meabh, to local planetary authorities. These factors resulted in the decommission of the Meabh-class heavy cruisers; those which weren't scrapped would eventually be turned into museum ships.[1][2] No effort has since been made to resurrect the class.[4]
Weapons and Equipment[edit]
The ship's main weaponry consists of six Particle Projector Cannons, mounted in trios in two turrets. A single large laser is also mounted in each turret. Along the port and starboard sides of the ships are mated pairs of two medium lasers and two Autocannon/5s, each covering the left or right firing arcs of the bow or stern, with another pair of medium lasers mounted on the bow and stern by themselves. For underwater defense, the ship mounts two ten-tube Long Range Torpedo launchers and two six-tube Short Range Torpedo launchers, one each mounted on the bow and stern covering the fore and aft firing arcs. These weapons are coordinated by a basic fire control system, while its ammunition holds contain sixteen tons of autocannon rounds, six tons of long-range torpedoes and twelve tons of short-range torpedoes.[1][2]
In addition the Meabh mounts two tons of communication equipment, a MASH unit with two operating theaters, six searchlights mounted forward, aft and on the turrets, a Helipad for taking on VTOL aircraft, two Field Kitchens and fourteen lifeboats. Accommodations are provided for with twenty second-class quarters. A 6,120-ton fusion engine gives the ship a cruising speed of 86.4 km/h.[1][2]
Cargo[edit]
The Meabh has 4 light vehicle bays, and a 976 tons standard cargo bay with 2 doors mounted (Aft-Right/Aft-Left).[1][2]
Named Vessels[edit]
Design Quirks[edit]
The Meabh-class heavy cruiser is subject of the following Design Quirks:[2]
Notes[edit]
- As of this writing, there are no published record sheets for the Meabh-class Heavy Cruiser, nor is there any official listing for its Battle Value in its profile on the Master Unit List for Catalyst Game Labs.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex, p. 164: "Meabh Heavy Cruiser"
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex Revised, p. 162: "Meabh Heavy Cruiser"
- ↑ MUL online date for the Meabh
- ↑ Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex Revised, p. 152: "Naval (Surface) Vessel Support Vehicles"