Magellan (JumpShip class)

Magellan Class JumpShip
Production information
Manufacturer	ComStar
Use	Exploration
Tech Base	Star League
Cost	(not made available)
Introduced	2960
Technical specifications
Mass	175,000 tons
Length	590 meters
Sail Diameter	meters
Fuel	1,200 tons (6,000)
Burn Rate	19.75
Top Thrust	0.1 Gs
Sail Integrity	4
KF Drive Integrity	4
LF Battery	Yes
Armament	4 ER Large Lasers, 4 Large Pulse Lasers, 12 Anti-Missile Systems, 2 LRM-20 with Artemis IV FCS
Armor	75 tons
DropShip Capacity	1
Crew	20 crew
Grav Decks	None
Escape Pods/Life Boats	8 Life Boats
Heat Sinks	110
Structural Integrity	1
BV (1.0)	2,813
BV (2.0)	???

Description

Produced and exclusively used by ComStar at the O'Neil Yards at Terra, the Magellan class was commissioned by Primus Adrienne Sims for the Explorer Corps and has become a mainstay of the ComStar fleet.

For its role as an explorer, the vessel was equipped with a sophisticated HPG, allowing it to send messages over up to 50 light years. It also has an advanced medical facility complete with operating theater and isolation ward, containing technology not seen in the Inner Sphere since the fall of the Star League. Its impressive fuel tanks allow it to operate for more than 600 days and travel an unprecedented 1200 light years before refueling. The cargo hold can hold around 400 tons of food and supplies for crew and passengers. However, the lack of a Grav Deck means that gravity must be generated through acceleration which consumes large amounts of fuel.

The ship is equipped with a Lithium-Fusion Battery.

Armament

The unassuming Magellan is in fact one of the most heavily armed and armoured civilian JumpShip classes. One ER Large Laser and one Large Pulse Laser each cover the forward and aft firing arc on either side. The bow and stern each mount one LRM-20 launcher slaved to an Artemis IV fire control system. In addition, there are two anti-missile systems in each firing arc. 24 tons of anti-missile ammunition and 4 tons of long range missiles are provided. Even with all this hardware, the Magellan, like all JumpShips, is not a combat vessel and cannot stand up to a prolonged engagement.

ComStar meant to protect their technological secrets at all costs, and until the dissemination of HPG technology following the failure of Operation Scorpion, ComStar's First Circuit considered the loss of a Magellan and its crew preferrable over it falling into non-ComStar hands.

Cargo

Designed with long-range exploration in mind, the Magellan received generous amounts of fuel. It is not used for mercantile pursuits, and its 434 tons of cargo space are used to store food, supplies and spare parts for extended missions.

Besides its crew of 20, the vessel accomodates a platoon of marines or explorers in 28 well-equipped staterooms.

Variants

No variants of the Magellan are known.

Notable vessels

• Free Spirit
• Kobayashi
• Persephone - Modified beyond recognition, this ship appears to be a dilapidated freighter of indeterminate class. The weapons and HPG have been removed. Secret compartments can hold contraband or specialized equipment, including a secret cargo bay that can accomodate up to four BattleMechs or vehicles. Besides its eight lifeboats it also has a shuttlebay for a single ST-46 shuttle. The Persephone was deployed with the Explorer Corps after 3052 and in 3058 was sent on a covert mission to Schwartz to gather intelligence on Clan Smoke Jaguar forces there. Over the course of this mission the Persephone became entangled in the Manassas affair.

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• Mercenaries Supplemental
• Technical Readout 3057, pp. 106-107
• Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, pp. 98-99