Volga

Volga (Transport) TRO3057.png
Volga
Production information
Manufacturer Eaton AeroSpace
Introduced 2709
Production Year 2709[1]
Use Transport
Tech Base Star League
Cost 5,336,756,000 C-Bills
Technical specifications
Mass 780,000 tons
Length 715 meters
Sail Diameter 1205 meters
Fuel 1,900 tons (4,750)
Burn Rate 39.52
Safe Thrust 1 g
Top Thrust 1.5 g
Sail Integrity 4
KF Drive Integrity 16
LF Battery No
Armament
Armor Fore: 120 (SL), 150 (Clan)
Fore-Sides: 106 (SL), 132 (Clan)
Aft-Sides: 106 (SL), 132 (Clan)
Aft: 112 (SL), 140 (Clan)
Improved Ferro-Aluminum
DropShip Capacity 4
Crew 280
Grav Decks 2x (120 and 145 meter diameters)
Escape Pods/Life Boats 20/20
Heat Sinks 477 (954)
Structural Integrity 75
BV (1.0) 53,948[2]



Description[edit]

The Volga-class tranport was developed in response to an SLDF commission for an armored cargo transport vessel able to ensure the steady supply and support of Star League bases in the Periphery states. Eaton AeroSpace used the hull of the mothballed Quixote-class frigate as the basis of their design; the small drive that doomed the Quixote enabled the Volga to carry an unusually large amount of cargo - almost 25 percent of the vessel's mass.[3][2]

The well armored Volga saw extensive action during the war to liberate Terra, but a lack of firepower and a poorly designed coolant system resulted in the destruction of more than 200 Volgas during the Amaris crisis. Only about two dozen of the class survived to join the Exodus fleet, finally returning to the Inner Sphere in the fleets of several Clans in the wake of the Battle of Tukayyid, transporting troops and matériel between the occupation zones and Clan Homeworlds.[3][2]

Armament[edit]

Intended as a transport, the Volga carries a weapons array geared towards defense against aerospace fighters, a rarity for Star League era craft, proving only marginally effective against other WarShips. In the nose bay, two NAC/20s, an NL45, and four ER large lasers, medium lasers and medium pulse lasers each provide notable head-on firepower, backed up by two NAC/30s, another NL45 along with another four ER large and medium lasers in each front quarter. Each broadside carries two NL35s and a heavy N-Gauss cannon, backed up four ER PPCs and medium pulse lasers. The aft quarters carry two NL45, four ER PPCs, four large pulse lasers, directly aft mirroring the nose bay, save for excluding the naval laser. The Volgas lack of firepower is further hampered by a poorly designed coolant circuit, allowing only 45 percent of its weapons to operate at any given time.[3][2]

Cargo[edit]

The Star League version of the Volga has a single large cargo bay, capable of carrying 213,517 tons of cargo, flanked by two fighter bays.[3][2]

The Clan version of the Volga has a single large cargo bay, capable of carrying 204,473,5 tons of cargo, flanked by two fighter bays.[3][2]

Variants[edit]

  • Clan Upgrade - Beyond periodic maintenance upgrades such as using new computers and life-support, the sole major modification between the SLDF and Clan Volgas is the addition of a Lithium-Fusion Battery System. BV (1.0) = 58,630[3][2][4]

See Also[edit]

Related WarShips[edit]

  • Quixote - Eaton AeroSpace decided to construct the new Volga-class transport by heavily modifying the hulls of the decommissioned, mothballed Quixote-class frigate.

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Wolga.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Volga
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, pp. 144-145, "Volga Ship Profile"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Technical Readout: 3057, pp. 146-147, "Ship Profile"
  4. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 297

Bibliography[edit]