Quetzalcoatl (JumpShip class)

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This article is about the JumpShip class. For the eponymous vessel, see Quetzalcoatl (Individual Quetzalcoatl-class JumpShip).
Quetzalcoatl.jpg
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 become regarded as 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.

The exact modifications to the original Quetzalcoatl remain uncertain; this ship reportedly had room for twenty aerospace fighters.[2] The established standard refit to Quetzalcoatl-Scout class as of ca. 3026 would be to remove the hardpoint, small craft bay and some other components from a 90,000 ton Scout to install twelve fighter cubicles, although such ships could reportedly support up to twenty fighters when operating them in shifts.[1]

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 vessel 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, unlike the twelve fighter bays later regarded as regular for the class.[2]

At least one Quetzalcoatl is known to have deployed several small craft, which cannot operate from fighter bays; although explicitly described as a Quetzalcoatl-class vessel it evidently featured several small craft bays (whereas the regular Scout has one, and the standard Quetzalcoatl has none of these).[3]

Named Vessles

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 126
  2. 2.0 2.1 DropShips and JumpShips, p. 16
  3. The Voidjumper III from the short story Echoes in the Void

Bibliography