Quetzalcoatl (JumpShip class)
Sarna News
- This article is about the JumpShip class. For the eponymous JumpShip, see Quetzalcoatl (Vessel).
| |
| Production information | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | |
| Use | Carrier |
| Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
| Cost | ? |
| Introduced | 2876 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 90,000 tons |
| Length | 273 meters |
| Sail Diameter | 890 meters |
| Fuel | 52 tons (520) |
| Burn Rate | 9.77 |
| Top Thrust | 0.1 Gs |
| Sail Integrity | 3 |
| KF Drive Integrity | 3 |
| LF Battery | None |
| Armament | None |
| Armor | 38.5 tons |
| DropShip Capacity | 0 |
| Crew | 17 crew, 28 passengers (pilots and technicians) |
| Grav Decks | None |
| Escape Pods/Life Boats | None |
| Heat Sinks | 91 |
| Structural Integrity | 1 |
| BV (1.0) | 549[1] |
| BV (2.0) | ??? |
Description
The Quetzalcoatl-class of JumpShips began its life as a field refit variant of the Scout-class and is therefore also known as Quetzalcoatl-Scout, but has since evolved into a class of its own. Instead of a docking hardpoint, Quetzalcoatl-class vessels feature fighter bays, allowing them to serve as mobile aerospace fighter bases and auxiliary carriers. In this fashion, they could arguably be called Jolly Rogers for being armed "civilian" JumpShips.
Like its parent design, the Quetzalcoatl lacks a Grav Deck and can only produce gravity through acceleration which requires largish amounts of fuel on extended missions. It unknown if it shares the known advantages of the Scout though (tiny emergence signature, faster quick-recharge rate for the K-F Drive, faster jump sail deployment, capable of 0.2g acceleration, up-to-date medical bay and bridge, backup generators for life support system).
The first ship to undergo such a refit was the Capellan Confederation's Quetzalcoatl, after it suffered crippling damage to its hardpoint in an enemy boarding attempt. The refit proved successful and several other ships have been refitted in this way, spawning the new class. As of 3067, more capable DropShips with better armor, firepower and fighter capacity had outstripped the demand for Quetzalcoatl conversions.
Armament and Cargo
The standard refit converts the cargo space, small craft bay and docking hardpoint of a 90,000 ton Scout into twelve fighter cubicles and 327 tons of cargo space. Operating the fighters in shifts has allowed such ships to maintain a fighter force of up to twenty.
Variants
Since the Quetzalcoatl-class is essentially a refit, it is conceivable that customized variants exist that retain the small craft bay or mount additional small craft bays instead of some or all of the fighter bays.
The original Quetzalcoatl was said to have space for up to twenty fighters.[2]
At least one Quetzalcoatl is known to have deployed small craft, which cannot operate from fighter bays.[3]
Named Vessles
References
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 126
- ↑ DropShips and JumpShips, p. 16
- ↑ The Voidjumper III from the short story Echoes in the Void
Bibliography
- DropShips and JumpShips, p. 16
- Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, pp. 126-127