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Line 1: {{InfoBoxWarShip {{InfoBoxWarShip | image = [[File:Soyal.jpg|191px]] | image = [[File:Soyal.jpg|191px]] − | name = ''Soyal'' + | name = Soyal − | manufacturer = [[Delhi WarShips]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21">''Field Report 2765: CCAF'', pp. 21–22: "Soyal (Heavy Cruiser)"</ref> + | manufacturer = [[Delhi WarShips]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21">''Field Report: Capellan Confederation 2765'', p. 21-22, "Soyal (Heavy Cruiser)"</ref> | Use = Heavy Cruiser<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | Use = Heavy Cruiser<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> Line 14:
Line 14: | Fuel = 25,000 tons<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | Fuel = 25,000 tons<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | Burn Rate = 39.52<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | Burn Rate = 39.52<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> − | Safe Thrust = 1.5 g<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> + | Safe Thrust = 3 g<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> − | Top Thrust = 2.5 g<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> + | Top Thrust = 5 g<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | Sail Integrity = 7<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | Sail Integrity = 7<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | KF Drive Integrity = 30<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | KF Drive Integrity = 30<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | LF Battery = None | LF Battery = None − | Armament = <span></span> + | Armament = 1x [[Medium Mass Driver]]<br> 4x [[Heavy N-Gauss]]<br>6x [[NAC/30]]<br>6 x [[NAC/20]]<br>12 x [[NL45]]<br>6 x [[Killer Whale]] − * 1x [[Medium Mass Driver]]+ | Armor = 1,880 tons of [[Standard Armor]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> − * 4x [[Heavy N-Gauss]] − * 6x [[NAC/30]] − * 6x [[NAC/20]] − * 12x [[NL45]] − * 6x [[Killer Whale]] − | Armor = 1,880 tons of [[standard armor]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | DropShip Capacity = 3<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | DropShip Capacity = 3<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | Crew = 70 officers<br>345 enlisted/non-rated<br>46 gunners<br>130 bay personnel<br>28 marines | Crew = 70 officers<br>345 enlisted/non-rated<br>46 gunners<br>130 bay personnel<br>28 marines Line 36:
Line 30: | BV (2.0) = 130,574<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/><ref>[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/6984/soyal-standard MUL Profile for the Soyal (Standard) - BV2 and Introduction Year]</ref> | BV (2.0) = 130,574<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/><ref>[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/6984/soyal-standard MUL Profile for the Soyal (Standard) - BV2 and Introduction Year]</ref> }} }} − ==Description== ==Description== − The '''''Soyal'''''-class heavy cruiser was a design which was offered to the [[Star League Defense Force]] as a candidate [[WarShip]] class to replace the ''[[Avatar (WarShip class)|Avatar]]''-class heavy cruiser following the SLDF call for a successor WarShip. + The '''''Soyal'''''-class heavy cruiser was a design which was offered to the [[Star League Defense Force]] as a candidate [[WarShip]] class to replace the ''[[Avatar (WarShip)|Avatar]]''-class heavy cruiser following the SLDF call for a successor WarShip. ==History== ==History== ====Design Development and Sale to Great Houses==== ====Design Development and Sale to Great Houses==== − The ''Soyal'' was designed by [[Nicholas Shipyards]]<ref name="ER:2750p86"/> - apparently a part of a larger company, [[Delhi WarShips]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> - and was one of two candidates to make it to the final competition stage; however, thanks to political pressure from the Chief Executive Officer of [[Blue Nose Clipperships]], [[Craig Kovac]], the ''[[Luxor (WarShip class)|Luxor]]''-class vessel designed by Blue Nose ClipperShips won the competition.<ref name="ER:2750p86">''Era Report: 2750'', p. 86: "Craig Kovac"</ref> + The ''Soyal'' was designed by [[Nicholas Shipyards]]<ref name="ER:2750p86"/> - apparently a part of a larger company, [[Delhi WarShips]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> - and was one of two candidates to make it to the final competition stage; however, thanks to political pressure from the Chief Executive Officer of [[Blue Nose Clipperships]], [[Craig Kovac]], the ''[[Luxor]]''-class vessel designed by Blue Nose ClipperShips won the competition.<ref name="ER:2750p86">''Era Report: 2750'', p. 86, "Craig Kovac"</ref> − Delhi WarShips had previously produced the ''[[Vincent]]'' family of corvettes<ref name="TRO:2750p126">''Technical Readout: 2750'', p. 126: "Vincent"</ref> for some three hundred years and the opportunity to bid for the contract to replace the ''Avatar'' represented an opportunity for Delhi Ships to not only step up into the market for larger WarShips but to do so with a design that promised to be revolutionary. The reason Delhi WarShips were so confident that their ''Soyal'' design would be a success was the incorporation of a new and highly-classified weapon system that had only just reached maturity: the [[Mass Driver]]. The promise of being able to deliver massive amounts of damage in the opening volley of any naval engagement seemed certain to provide Delhi WarShips and the ''Soyal'' a clear advantage over any designs offered by competitors.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> + Delhi WarShips had previously produced the ''[[Vincent]]'' family of corvettes<ref name="TRO:2750p126">''Technical Readout: 2750'', p. 126, "Vincent"</ref> for some three hundred years and the opportunity to bid for the contract to replace the ''Avatar'' represented an opportunity for Delhi Ships to not only step up into the market for larger WarShips but to do so with a design that promised to be revolutionary. The reason Delhi WarShips were so confident that their ''Soyal'' design would be a success was the incorporation of a new and highly-classified weapon system that had only just reached maturity: the [[Mass Driver]]. The promise of being able to deliver massive amounts of damage in the opening volley of any naval engagement seemed certain to provide Delhi WarShips and the ''Soyal'' a clear advantage over any designs offered by competitors.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> The reality was somewhat different; Delhi WarShips gained much more limited access to the Mass Driver research and technology than they had originally planned, and the company ended up over-engineering the design of the ''Soyal'' substantially to compensate for what they believed to be the predicted stresses of operating a Mass Driver. The required mass of the ''Soyal'' to incorporate a [[Medium Mass Driver]] resulted in the design massing a million and a half tons when completed - larger than any other cruiser in service save the ''[[Potemkin]]'', and rivalling the established ''[[Farragut]]'' and ''[[Texas]]'' classes of battleship for sheer weight. Delhi WarShips also skimped on secondary weapons, confident that the Mass Driver combined with a predicted combat doctrine that would see the ''Soyal'' engage opponents bow-on would make the need for secondary weapons largely redundant.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> The reality was somewhat different; Delhi WarShips gained much more limited access to the Mass Driver research and technology than they had originally planned, and the company ended up over-engineering the design of the ''Soyal'' substantially to compensate for what they believed to be the predicted stresses of operating a Mass Driver. The required mass of the ''Soyal'' to incorporate a [[Medium Mass Driver]] resulted in the design massing a million and a half tons when completed - larger than any other cruiser in service save the ''[[Potemkin]]'', and rivalling the established ''[[Farragut]]'' and ''[[Texas]]'' classes of battleship for sheer weight. Delhi WarShips also skimped on secondary weapons, confident that the Mass Driver combined with a predicted combat doctrine that would see the ''Soyal'' engage opponents bow-on would make the need for secondary weapons largely redundant.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> Line 52:
Line 45: The ''Soyal'' would likely have ended with its failure to win the replacement contract if not for the efforts of the [[Capellan Confederation]], which was seeking to expand and modernize its WarShip fleet and which saw the ''Soyal'' as both similar to the existing ''[[Du Shi Wang]]''-class of battleships already in service with the Confederation and as a modern WarShip suitable for use in their expanding black water navy. The design required some changes before it could be manufactured for the Confederation, both to remove technology that was proprietary to the Star League and to incorporate changes required by the Confederation, such as the provision of quarters for [[Maskirovka]] detachments, but was judged suitable by the Confederation and resulted in an initial order for four ships with the first entering service in [[2731]].<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> The ''Soyal'' would likely have ended with its failure to win the replacement contract if not for the efforts of the [[Capellan Confederation]], which was seeking to expand and modernize its WarShip fleet and which saw the ''Soyal'' as both similar to the existing ''[[Du Shi Wang]]''-class of battleships already in service with the Confederation and as a modern WarShip suitable for use in their expanding black water navy. The design required some changes before it could be manufactured for the Confederation, both to remove technology that was proprietary to the Star League and to incorporate changes required by the Confederation, such as the provision of quarters for [[Maskirovka]] detachments, but was judged suitable by the Confederation and resulted in an initial order for four ships with the first entering service in [[2731]].<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> − It isn't known if Nicholas Shipyards constructed the class from their shipyards at [[New Earth]]<ref name="H:LoTV1p72">''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 72: "Command of the Stars"</ref> but the appearance of the first ''Soyals'' in the Confederation fleet caused something of a stir, gaining enough interest from other markets that the [[Free Worlds League]] soon placed an order for a number of ''Soyals'' for their navy.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> By [[2765]] the Confederation had no less than ten ''Soyals'' in service, making them the most numerous WarShip in the Confederation fleet at more than a quarter of the total fleet size,<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp5">''Field Report 2765: CCAF'', p. 5: "Guarding the Vault of Heaven"</ref> and also leading to enough calls from an uninformed public to force the SLDF into developing and testing the [[Surprise|SLS ''Surprise'']],<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> a modified ''[[Kimagure]]''-class patrol cruiser mounting a Mass Driver.<ref>[http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,34523.msg805984.html#msg805984 Comment from author Jellico linking the SLS ''Surprise'' with the Kimagure-class SLDF testbed WarShip]</ref><ref name="ISP3:IEp24">''Interstellar Expeditions: Interstellar Players 3'', p. 24: "Mundo Nublar"</ref> + It isn't known if Nicholas Shipyards constructed the class from their shipyards at [[New Earth]]<ref name="H:LoTV1p72">''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 72, "Command of the Stars"</ref> but the appearance of the first ''Soyals'' in the Confederation fleet caused something of a stir, gaining enough interest from other markets that the [[Free Worlds League]] soon placed an order for a number of ''Soyals'' for their navy.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> By [[2765]] the Confederation had no less than ten ''Soyals'' in service, making them the most numerous WarShip in the Confederation fleet at more than a quarter of the total fleet size,<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp5">''Field Report: Capellan Confederation 2765'', p. 5, "Guarding the Vault of Heaven"</ref> and also leading to enough calls from an uninformed public to force the SLDF into developing and testing the [[Surprise|SLS ''Surprise'']],<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> a modified ''[[Kimagure]]''-class patrol cruiser mounting a Mass Driver.<ref>[http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,34523.msg805984.html#msg805984 Comment from author Jellico linking the SLS ''Surprise'' with the Kimagure-class SLDF testbed WarShip]</ref><ref name="ISP3:IEp24">''Interstellar Players 3: Interstellar Expeditions'', p. 24, "Mundo Nublar"</ref> For all of the public interest in the Mass Driver and the confidence Delhi WarShips had in the design, the ''Soyal'' delivered a few spectacular successes in the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]] but many more embarrassing defeats. The Mass Driver dictated an all-or-nothing strategy, and the ''Soyal'' was frequently defeated by ships that were faster and more maneuverable, capable of avoiding the limited arc of fire the Mass Driver possessed.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> For all of the public interest in the Mass Driver and the confidence Delhi WarShips had in the design, the ''Soyal'' delivered a few spectacular successes in the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]] but many more embarrassing defeats. The Mass Driver dictated an all-or-nothing strategy, and the ''Soyal'' was frequently defeated by ships that were faster and more maneuverable, capable of avoiding the limited arc of fire the Mass Driver possessed.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> ====The Succession Wars==== ====The Succession Wars==== − During the First Succession War, the ''Soyals'' were used as escorts for larger ships. Many times during the course of the [[First Succession War]], the ships were used for retribution against opponent's worlds by conducting orbital bombardment. However, the ship's inherent design weaknesses would lead to them being destroyed in course of the War.<ref>''First Succession War'', pp. 57–58: The New Delos Massacre/Fallout - Pair of ''Soyal''-Class Ships during a naval action as part retribution force during the First Succession War.</ref> + During the First Succession War, the ''Soyals'' were used escorts for larger ships. Many times during the course of the [[First Succession War]], the ships were used for retribution against opponent's worlds by conducting orbital bombardment. However, the ship's inherent design weaknesses would lead to them being destroyed in course of the War.<ref>First Succession War, pp. 57-58, The New Delos Massacre/Fallout - Pair of ''Soyal''-Class Ships during a naval action as part retribution force during the First Succession War.</ref> − By the [[Second Succession War]], only a single example of the class had survived and was one of the last WarShips in the Free Worlds League in [[2838]].<ref name="SSWp50-51">''Second Succession War'', pp. 50–51: "The Battles for the Andurien"- The FWL Soyal-Class ''Kumbha'' only known noted action during the war and only named ship of the class mentioned in service.</ref> + By the [[Second Succession War]], only a single example of the class had survived and was one of the last Warships in the Free World League in [[2838]].<ref name="SSWp50-51">''Second Succession War'', p. 50-51, "The Battles for the Andurien"- The FWL Soyal-Class ''Kumbha'' only known noted action during the war and only named ship of the class mentioned in service.</ref> ==Armament== ==Armament== − The ''Soyal'' was designed around the single Medium Mass Driver mounted to fire from the nose. In addition to the Mass Driver the ''Soyal'' mounted a pair of [[Heavy Naval Gauss]] firing into the nose arc, with two more covering the rear arc. The ''Soyal'' also mounted banks of four [[Naval Laser 45]]s in the rear, forward left and forward right arcs, with the remainder of the ''Soyal'''s secondary weapons being a mixture of [[Naval Autocannon]] and missiles. A single [[Naval Autocannon/30]] and [[Naval Autocannon/20]] was mounted in each arc of the ''Soyal'' other than the nose and rear, and a pair of [[Killer Whale]] launchers was mounted into each of the left and right hand broadsides as well as the left and right rear arcs.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> + The ''Soyal'' was designed around the single Medium Mass Driver mounted to fire from the nose. In addition to the Mass Driver the ''Soyal'' mounted a pair of [[Heavy Naval Gauss]] firing into the nose arc, with two more covering the rear arc. The ''Soyal'' also mounted banks of four [[Naval Laser 45]]s in the rear, forward left and forward right arcs, with the remainder of the ''Soyal's'' secondary weapons being a mixture of [[Naval Autocannon]] and missiles. A single [[Naval Autocannon/30]] and [[Naval Autocannon/20]] was mounted in each arc of the ''Soyal'' other than the nose and rear, and a pair of [[Killer Whale]] launchers was mounted into each of the left and right hand broadsides as well as the left and right rear arcs.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> ==Cargo== ==Cargo== Line 71:
Line 64: ==See Also== ==See Also== − * [[:Category:Individual Soyal-class WarShips|List of named ''Soyal'' class WarShips.]] + *[[:Category:Individual Soyal-class WarShips|List of named ''Soyal'' class WarShips.]] + ==Notes== ==Notes== − * Comments on the design of the ''Soyal'' from the [http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,34939.0.html official Catalyst Game Labs forum] by the writer responsible for the design as published in ''[[Field Report 2765: CCAF]]'' have been reproduced with permission on the [[Talk:Soyal|Talk Page for this entry]]. + * Comments on the design of the ''Soyal'' from the [http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,34939.0.html official Catalyst Game Labs forum] by the writer responsible for the design as published in ''[[Field Report: Capellan Confederation 2765]]'' have been reproduced with permission on the [[Talk:Soyal|Talk Page for this entry]]. + + * As of this Writing, the ''Soyal'' Heavy Cruiser record sheet is only found in Field Manual: Capellan Confederation 2765. − * As of this writing, the ''Soyal'' Heavy Cruiser record sheet is only found in ''Field Report 2765: CCAF''. ==References== ==References== Line 82:
Line 77: ==Bibliography== ==Bibliography== + * ''[[First Succession War (Source Book)|Battletech: First Succession War]]'' + * ''[[Second Succession War (Sourcebook)|Battletech: Second Succession War]]'' * ''[[Era Report: 2750]]'' * ''[[Era Report: 2750]]'' − * ''[[Field Report 2765: CCAF]]'' + * ''[[Field Report: Capellan Confederation 2765]]'' − * ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]'' * ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1]]'' * ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1]]'' − * ''[[Interstellar Expeditions: Interstellar Players 3]]'' + * ''[[Interstellar Players 3: Interstellar Expeditions]]'' * ''[[Master Unit List]]'' * ''[[Master Unit List]]'' − * ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]'' * ''[[Technical Readout: 2750]]'' * ''[[Technical Readout: 2750]]''
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{{InfoBoxWarShip | {{InfoBoxWarShip | ||
| image = [[File:Soyal.jpg|191px]] | | image = [[File:Soyal.jpg|191px]] | ||
| − | | name = | + | | name = Soyal |
| − | | manufacturer = [[Delhi WarShips]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21">''Field Report 2765 | + | | manufacturer = [[Delhi WarShips]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21">''Field Report: Capellan Confederation 2765'', p. 21-22, "Soyal (Heavy Cruiser)"</ref> |
| Use = Heavy Cruiser<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | | Use = Heavy Cruiser<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
| Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | | Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
| Fuel = 25,000 tons<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | | Fuel = 25,000 tons<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
| Burn Rate = 39.52<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | | Burn Rate = 39.52<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
| − | | Safe Thrust = | + | | Safe Thrust = 3 g<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> |
| − | | Top Thrust = | + | | Top Thrust = 5 g<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> |
| Sail Integrity = 7<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | | Sail Integrity = 7<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
| KF Drive Integrity = 30<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | | KF Drive Integrity = 30<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
| LF Battery = None | | LF Battery = None | ||
| − | | Armament = | + | | Armament = 1x [[Medium Mass Driver]]<br> 4x [[Heavy N-Gauss]]<br>6x [[NAC/30]]<br>6 x [[NAC/20]]<br>12 x [[NL45]]<br>6 x [[Killer Whale]] |
| − | + | | Armor = 1,880 tons of [[Standard Armor]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | |
| − | |||
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| − | |||
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| − | | Armor = 1,880 tons of [[ | ||
| DropShip Capacity = 3<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | | DropShip Capacity = 3<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
| Crew = 70 officers<br>345 enlisted/non-rated<br>46 gunners<br>130 bay personnel<br>28 marines | | Crew = 70 officers<br>345 enlisted/non-rated<br>46 gunners<br>130 bay personnel<br>28 marines | ||
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| BV (2.0) = 130,574<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/><ref>[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/6984/soyal-standard MUL Profile for the Soyal (Standard) - BV2 and Introduction Year]</ref> | | BV (2.0) = 130,574<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/><ref>[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/6984/soyal-standard MUL Profile for the Soyal (Standard) - BV2 and Introduction Year]</ref> | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | The '''''Soyal'''''-class heavy cruiser was a design which was offered to the [[Star League Defense Force]] as a candidate [[WarShip]] class to replace the ''[[Avatar (WarShip | + | The '''''Soyal'''''-class heavy cruiser was a design which was offered to the [[Star League Defense Force]] as a candidate [[WarShip]] class to replace the ''[[Avatar (WarShip)|Avatar]]''-class heavy cruiser following the SLDF call for a successor WarShip. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
====Design Development and Sale to Great Houses==== | ====Design Development and Sale to Great Houses==== | ||
| − | The ''Soyal'' was designed by [[Nicholas Shipyards]]<ref name="ER:2750p86"/> - apparently a part of a larger company, [[Delhi WarShips]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> - and was one of two candidates to make it to the final competition stage; however, thanks to political pressure from the Chief Executive Officer of [[Blue Nose Clipperships]], [[Craig Kovac]], the ''[[ | + | The ''Soyal'' was designed by [[Nicholas Shipyards]]<ref name="ER:2750p86"/> - apparently a part of a larger company, [[Delhi WarShips]]<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> - and was one of two candidates to make it to the final competition stage; however, thanks to political pressure from the Chief Executive Officer of [[Blue Nose Clipperships]], [[Craig Kovac]], the ''[[Luxor]]''-class vessel designed by Blue Nose ClipperShips won the competition.<ref name="ER:2750p86">''Era Report: 2750'', p. 86, "Craig Kovac"</ref> |
| − | Delhi WarShips had previously produced the ''[[Vincent]]'' family of corvettes<ref name="TRO:2750p126">''Technical Readout: 2750'', p. 126 | + | Delhi WarShips had previously produced the ''[[Vincent]]'' family of corvettes<ref name="TRO:2750p126">''Technical Readout: 2750'', p. 126, "Vincent"</ref> for some three hundred years and the opportunity to bid for the contract to replace the ''Avatar'' represented an opportunity for Delhi Ships to not only step up into the market for larger WarShips but to do so with a design that promised to be revolutionary. The reason Delhi WarShips were so confident that their ''Soyal'' design would be a success was the incorporation of a new and highly-classified weapon system that had only just reached maturity: the [[Mass Driver]]. The promise of being able to deliver massive amounts of damage in the opening volley of any naval engagement seemed certain to provide Delhi WarShips and the ''Soyal'' a clear advantage over any designs offered by competitors.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> |
The reality was somewhat different; Delhi WarShips gained much more limited access to the Mass Driver research and technology than they had originally planned, and the company ended up over-engineering the design of the ''Soyal'' substantially to compensate for what they believed to be the predicted stresses of operating a Mass Driver. The required mass of the ''Soyal'' to incorporate a [[Medium Mass Driver]] resulted in the design massing a million and a half tons when completed - larger than any other cruiser in service save the ''[[Potemkin]]'', and rivalling the established ''[[Farragut]]'' and ''[[Texas]]'' classes of battleship for sheer weight. Delhi WarShips also skimped on secondary weapons, confident that the Mass Driver combined with a predicted combat doctrine that would see the ''Soyal'' engage opponents bow-on would make the need for secondary weapons largely redundant.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | The reality was somewhat different; Delhi WarShips gained much more limited access to the Mass Driver research and technology than they had originally planned, and the company ended up over-engineering the design of the ''Soyal'' substantially to compensate for what they believed to be the predicted stresses of operating a Mass Driver. The required mass of the ''Soyal'' to incorporate a [[Medium Mass Driver]] resulted in the design massing a million and a half tons when completed - larger than any other cruiser in service save the ''[[Potemkin]]'', and rivalling the established ''[[Farragut]]'' and ''[[Texas]]'' classes of battleship for sheer weight. Delhi WarShips also skimped on secondary weapons, confident that the Mass Driver combined with a predicted combat doctrine that would see the ''Soyal'' engage opponents bow-on would make the need for secondary weapons largely redundant.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
| Line 52: | Line 45: | ||
The ''Soyal'' would likely have ended with its failure to win the replacement contract if not for the efforts of the [[Capellan Confederation]], which was seeking to expand and modernize its WarShip fleet and which saw the ''Soyal'' as both similar to the existing ''[[Du Shi Wang]]''-class of battleships already in service with the Confederation and as a modern WarShip suitable for use in their expanding black water navy. The design required some changes before it could be manufactured for the Confederation, both to remove technology that was proprietary to the Star League and to incorporate changes required by the Confederation, such as the provision of quarters for [[Maskirovka]] detachments, but was judged suitable by the Confederation and resulted in an initial order for four ships with the first entering service in [[2731]].<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | The ''Soyal'' would likely have ended with its failure to win the replacement contract if not for the efforts of the [[Capellan Confederation]], which was seeking to expand and modernize its WarShip fleet and which saw the ''Soyal'' as both similar to the existing ''[[Du Shi Wang]]''-class of battleships already in service with the Confederation and as a modern WarShip suitable for use in their expanding black water navy. The design required some changes before it could be manufactured for the Confederation, both to remove technology that was proprietary to the Star League and to incorporate changes required by the Confederation, such as the provision of quarters for [[Maskirovka]] detachments, but was judged suitable by the Confederation and resulted in an initial order for four ships with the first entering service in [[2731]].<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
| − | It isn't known if Nicholas Shipyards constructed the class from their shipyards at [[New Earth]]<ref name="H:LoTV1p72">''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 72 | + | It isn't known if Nicholas Shipyards constructed the class from their shipyards at [[New Earth]]<ref name="H:LoTV1p72">''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 72, "Command of the Stars"</ref> but the appearance of the first ''Soyals'' in the Confederation fleet caused something of a stir, gaining enough interest from other markets that the [[Free Worlds League]] soon placed an order for a number of ''Soyals'' for their navy.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> By [[2765]] the Confederation had no less than ten ''Soyals'' in service, making them the most numerous WarShip in the Confederation fleet at more than a quarter of the total fleet size,<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp5">''Field Report: Capellan Confederation 2765'', p. 5, "Guarding the Vault of Heaven"</ref> and also leading to enough calls from an uninformed public to force the SLDF into developing and testing the [[Surprise|SLS ''Surprise'']],<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> a modified ''[[Kimagure]]''-class patrol cruiser mounting a Mass Driver.<ref>[http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,34523.msg805984.html#msg805984 Comment from author Jellico linking the SLS ''Surprise'' with the Kimagure-class SLDF testbed WarShip]</ref><ref name="ISP3:IEp24">''Interstellar Players 3: Interstellar Expeditions'', p. 24, "Mundo Nublar"</ref> |
For all of the public interest in the Mass Driver and the confidence Delhi WarShips had in the design, the ''Soyal'' delivered a few spectacular successes in the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]] but many more embarrassing defeats. The Mass Driver dictated an all-or-nothing strategy, and the ''Soyal'' was frequently defeated by ships that were faster and more maneuverable, capable of avoiding the limited arc of fire the Mass Driver possessed.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | For all of the public interest in the Mass Driver and the confidence Delhi WarShips had in the design, the ''Soyal'' delivered a few spectacular successes in the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]] but many more embarrassing defeats. The Mass Driver dictated an all-or-nothing strategy, and the ''Soyal'' was frequently defeated by ships that were faster and more maneuverable, capable of avoiding the limited arc of fire the Mass Driver possessed.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> | ||
====The Succession Wars==== | ====The Succession Wars==== | ||
| − | During the First Succession War, the ''Soyals'' were used | + | During the First Succession War, the ''Soyals'' were used escorts for larger ships. Many times during the course of the [[First Succession War]], the ships were used for retribution against opponent's worlds by conducting orbital bombardment. However, the ship's inherent design weaknesses would lead to them being destroyed in course of the War.<ref>First Succession War, pp. 57-58, The New Delos Massacre/Fallout - Pair of ''Soyal''-Class Ships during a naval action as part retribution force during the First Succession War.</ref> |
| − | By the [[Second Succession War]], only a single example of the class had survived and was one of the last | + | By the [[Second Succession War]], only a single example of the class had survived and was one of the last Warships in the Free World League in [[2838]].<ref name="SSWp50-51">''Second Succession War'', p. 50-51, "The Battles for the Andurien"- The FWL Soyal-Class ''Kumbha'' only known noted action during the war and only named ship of the class mentioned in service.</ref> |
==Armament== | ==Armament== | ||
| − | The ''Soyal'' was designed around the single Medium Mass Driver mounted to fire from the nose. In addition to the Mass Driver the ''Soyal'' mounted a pair of [[Heavy Naval Gauss]] firing into the nose arc, with two more covering the rear arc. The ''Soyal'' also mounted banks of four [[Naval Laser 45]]s in the rear, forward left and forward right arcs, with the remainder of the ''Soyal'' | + | The ''Soyal'' was designed around the single Medium Mass Driver mounted to fire from the nose. In addition to the Mass Driver the ''Soyal'' mounted a pair of [[Heavy Naval Gauss]] firing into the nose arc, with two more covering the rear arc. The ''Soyal'' also mounted banks of four [[Naval Laser 45]]s in the rear, forward left and forward right arcs, with the remainder of the ''Soyal's'' secondary weapons being a mixture of [[Naval Autocannon]] and missiles. A single [[Naval Autocannon/30]] and [[Naval Autocannon/20]] was mounted in each arc of the ''Soyal'' other than the nose and rear, and a pair of [[Killer Whale]] launchers was mounted into each of the left and right hand broadsides as well as the left and right rear arcs.<ref name="FR:2765CCAFp21"/> |
==Cargo== | ==Cargo== | ||
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==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
| − | * [[:Category:Individual Soyal-class WarShips|List of named ''Soyal'' class WarShips.]] | + | *[[:Category:Individual Soyal-class WarShips|List of named ''Soyal'' class WarShips.]] |
| + | |||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
| − | * Comments on the design of the ''Soyal'' from the [http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,34939.0.html official Catalyst Game Labs forum] by the writer responsible for the design as published in ''[[Field Report 2765 | + | * Comments on the design of the ''Soyal'' from the [http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,34939.0.html official Catalyst Game Labs forum] by the writer responsible for the design as published in ''[[Field Report: Capellan Confederation 2765]]'' have been reproduced with permission on the [[Talk:Soyal|Talk Page for this entry]]. |
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| + | * As of this Writing, the ''Soyal'' Heavy Cruiser record sheet is only found in Field Manual: Capellan Confederation 2765. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 82: | Line 77: | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
| + | * ''[[First Succession War (Source Book)|Battletech: First Succession War]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Second Succession War (Sourcebook)|Battletech: Second Succession War]]'' | ||
* ''[[Era Report: 2750]]'' | * ''[[Era Report: 2750]]'' | ||
| − | * ''[[Field Report 2765 | + | * ''[[Field Report: Capellan Confederation 2765]]'' |
| − | |||
* ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1]]'' | * ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1]]'' | ||
| − | * ''[[Interstellar | + | * ''[[Interstellar Players 3: Interstellar Expeditions]]'' |
* ''[[Master Unit List]]'' | * ''[[Master Unit List]]'' | ||
| − | |||
* ''[[Technical Readout: 2750]]'' | * ''[[Technical Readout: 2750]]'' | ||