Black Lion

This article is about the second WarShip design to be named Black Lion and most commonly associated with the name Black Lion. For the first WarShip design named Black Lion (Block I), see Black Lion I.


Black Lion TRO2750.jpg
Black Lion
Production information
Manufacturer Boeing Interstellar
Introduced 2691
Production Year 2691[1]
Use Battlecruiser
Tech Base Star League
Cost 5,881,527,001 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 802,000 tons
Length 772 m
Sail Diameter 1,433 m
Fuel 1,000 tons
Burn Rate
Safe Thrust 1.5 g
Top Thrust 2.5 g
Sail Integrity 4
KF Drive Integrity 17
LF Battery No
Armament
Armor 841.5 tons of Lamellor Ferro-Carbide
DropShip Capacity 4
Crew 208
Grav Decks 2 - 65 and 85 meter diameter
Escape Pods/Life Boats
Heat Sinks 1837 Double Heat Sinks
Structural Integrity 75
BV (1.0) 247,597[2]
BV (2.0) 213,343[3]



Description[edit]

The Black Lion-class battlecruiser, named for former Director-General James McKenna's famous Black Lion I, was developed after it became apparent that the infamous Cameron class ships were not living up to their design specifications. Based on the antiquated original battlecruiser and bypassing the usual procedure of accepting design proposals, the Star League Defense Force awarded a contract in 2689 to Boeing Interstellar. This larger version, which sported heavier armor and weaponry as well as the ability to transport supporting DropShips, was a modified version of the design Boeing had submitted during the contract competition that led to the creation of the Cameron. Despite the unusual nature of its genesis, the Black Lion exceeded all expectations, eventually eclipsing that of its predecessor and Boeing would build two per year for the next 31 years.

The Black Lion's three Carston Pegasus interplanetary engines generate almost twice as much thrust as those used on the Cameron Class. With less weight than the Cameron, the Black Lion became one of the quickest WarShips of its size, but the size and complexity of the engines cause an increase in engine breakdowns due to maintenance difficulties. The Black Lion's second important improvement over the Cameron is increased armor protection. The ship's flight deck can carry 18 heavy aerospace fighters, and its four docking rings can handle the largest DropShips.

The Black Lions lived up to most of the admirals' expectations, leading battle fleets into action and easily dominating battles in the Periphery. However, like many Star League era WarShips, Black Lions cannot cope with swarms of enemy fighters and this proved their undoing during the Great Houses' so-called Hidden Wars and against the SDS drones surrounding Terra.

Armament[edit]

The most controversial aspect of the Black Lion is its choice of weapons: the vessel does not have a single energy weapon. The Black Lion mounts exclusively cannons and missiles as its primary weapons, four turrets carrying Scarsbrough 30 Series autocannons and two turrets capable of firing White Shark missiles. The battlecruiser also carries four turrets of smaller autocannon and six tubes firing Barracuda missiles. The designers used only non–energy weapons so the ship could mount a smaller and lighter power system. The main drawback to this choice of weapons is that the ship must devote interior space to carrying ammunition and the need of regular ammo shipments to avoid the risk of ammo exhaustion in prolonged engagements.

Cargo[edit]

The Black Lion 63,700 tons of cargo split between an launch bays for 10 Small Craft and 18 aerospace fighters.

Variants[edit]

Less than a dozen Black Lions survived Operation LIBERATION to accompany the Exodus Fleet, but each has become prized by the Clans as Galaxy flagships. The Clans began modifications in 2843[4] and made only minor changes to these vessels, such as installing HarJel Hull Sealant technology and Lithium-Fusion Battery systems along with often increasing the fighter complement to a full Binary of 20.

Named Vessels[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Schwarzer Löwe.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ MUL online date for the Black Lion
  2. ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 301
  3. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 17, "Black Lion" WarShip record sheet
  4. ↑ http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/3829/black-lion-battlecruiser-clan
  • ComStar, p. 46
  • Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 119
  • Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, pp. 108–109
  • Technical Readout: 2750, pp. 136–137
  • Technical Readout: 3057, pp. 150–151
  • Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, pp. 148–149

Bibliography[edit]

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