Snowden (Space Station class)

Snowden Mining Station
Production information
Manufacturer	Taurus Majoris Metals
Type	Space Station
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Cost	4,383,284,000 C-bills
Introduced	2390
Technical specifications
Mass	51,000 tons
Length	650 meters
Width	300 meters
Thrust	Station Keeping Only
Fuel (tons)	510 tons
Fuel (days)	0.977
LF battery	None
Armament	2 x PPCs 4 x Large Lasers 20 x Medium Lasers 12 x Small Lasers
Armor	Standard
Structural Integrity	1
Docking Collars	None
Crew/Passengers
Grav Decks	250-meter & 150-meter diameter
Escape Pods/Life Boats	0 / 150
Heat Sinks	79
BV (1.0)
BV (2.0)	2,798

Description

The Snowden Class Mining Station was created by the Taurian Concordat in 2390 help exploit the mining riches of that realm. The station is designed to be semi-mobile, with the ability to be attached to a JumpShip moved where it is needed. The station has been given the name of "Biker Station", due to its two Gravity Decks that give the station the appearance of a bicycle.

The Snowden was developed when heightened tensions were raised regarding its Davion neighbours. The station was designed with a considerable amount of armor and weaponry, despite its civilian employment as a mining station.

The Succession Wars era removed the ability to construct the Snowden, however, eighteen of the stations are still maintained in the Concordat with help of spare parts factories. These stations are under the control of the Taurus Majoris Metals.

Weapons and Equipment

The station has a considerable array of laser weaponry to protect itself from attack. These include four paired Large Lasers mounted in forward and rear arcs. The station also has single PPC found in each of its forward side sections. A large array of Medium Lasers have been employed to protect the forward and aft sides of the Snowden. Paired Small Lasers round out the station's protection being found in all sections of the station except for the aft-sides.

The Snowden is protected by 166 tons of standard armor. However due to its civilian nature the internal structure is extremely vulnerable should anything get through the station's armor.

The typical version of the Station employs 30 space-capable IndustrialMechs, notably the Space Hound Prospector Mech.

The station has Repair facilities capable of repairing spacecraft weighing up to 15,000 tons.

The station's most notable equipment is its KF-Boom, which allows the station to be docked to a JumpShip to be transported to a new solar system in one piece instead being dismantled.

Cargo

• Bay 1 - IndustrialMechs (30) & Cargo (5,000 tons) - 4 Doors
• Bay 2 - Small Craft (22) & Cargo (5,000 tons) - 3 Doors
• Bay 3 - Pressurized Repair Facilities (5,000 ton capacity) - 1 Door
• Bay 4 - Unpressurized Repair Facilities (15,000 ton capacity - 1 Door
• Bay 5 - Cargo (15,412 tons) - 0 Doors
• Bay 6 - Ore Processing Equipment (6,000 tons) - 0 Doors

Variants

• Snowden Mining Station Mk.I -The original version of the Snowden, instead of holding IndustrialMechs, Bay 1 was used to launch 15 additional Small Craft in support of the station's activities. Bay 2's Small Craft compliment was originally 20 Small Craft instead of the modern version's 22 Craft capacity. Also, Bay 2 had a lesser weight capacity of 4,400 tons. The most noted feature of the Mark 1, is its K-F Boom. The K-F Boom allows the station to attach to JumpShips and be transported. BV (2.0) = 2,798.

Named Stations

• Snowden - The namesake of the Class, the first station was launched on August 10th, 2390 when it was deployed to the Hyades Cluster. One of the eighteen stations that survived to 3067.

Notes

• The Snowden, featured in the article in Historical: Major Periphery States is considered to be the modern version of the Snowden class. Unlike the earlier Mark 1, modern Snowdens lack the KF-Boom, which makes it impossible for it to link to a JumpShip for transport to a new destination. The original author confirmed that the Snowden is supposed to have a KF-Boom as part of its equipment.

Bibliography

• Handbook: Major Periphery States