Confederate

Confederate TRO2750.jpg
Confederate
Production information
Manufacturer Kong Interstellar
Production Year 2602[1]
Use 'Mech/ASF Carrier
Type Spheroid
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Technical specifications
Mass 1,860 tons
Structural Integrity 10
Length 32.6 meters
Width 36.4 meters
Height 32.6 meters
Drive System Thordan 650X
Safe Thrust 2 g
Max Thrust 3 g
Fuel (tons) 135 tons
Fuel (days) 73.4 days
Armament
Armor Ferro-Tile 87
Fore: 22
Sides: 19
Aft: 13
Crew 10[2]
  • 2 Officers
  • 2 Enlisted
  • 6 Gunners

(Crew Types)[3]

  • 2 Pilots
  • 3 Engineers
  • 5 Secondary Engineers

Bay Personnel: 10

Escape Pods/Life Boats 2/0
Heat Sinks 92
BV (1.0) 2,733[4]
BV (2.0) 3,220



Description[edit]

The Confederate-class military DropShip was once the standard Lance transport of the Star League Defense Force. Resembling a scaled-down Union, it was launched in 2602 by Kong Interstellar and served with the SLDF up to the Amaris Civil War. Many Confederates took part in Aleksandr Kerensky's Exodus, although some stayed behind to serve with the remaining Inner Sphere militaries. However, the technological decline of the Succession Wars meant maintaining the Confederate's advanced technology difficult, and by 3057 only two were still in service in the Inner Sphere. While initially mothballed upon their arrival at the Pentagon Worlds, Kerensky's Clans would reactivate their surviving Confederates for the Clan Invasion.[5][6]

The Confederate used one of the most advanced engine designs of the Star League era, its Thordan 650X engine taking up twenty percent less room and weighing ten percent less than its predecessors. This also makes living conditions on a Confederate less cramped than a comparable DropShip, and allows its cargo bays more versatility in carrying either BattleMechs, aerospace fighters or a combination of both, along with general cargo.[5][6]

Armament[edit]

With a loadout of fourteen Thunderbolt DT Large Lasers and twenty Hammon medium lasers, the Confederate lacks the diverse armament and punch of other DropShips such as the Leopard. However, its 36 tons of armor offer far superior protection, and the nature of its weapons ensures that ammunition is never an issue. This, coupled with the Confederate's efficient use of fuel, makes it a very self-sufficient vehicle capable of extended independent operations.[2][6]

Cargo[edit]

The Confederate has three bays; the first and second carry the six fighting machines, each with their own ingress/egress door. The Star League-produced Confederate can transport either a reinforced lance of six BattleMechs or a standard lance of four and two Aerospace fighters. The third is used for cargo, has one door, and holds up to 64 tons of cargo.[2][6]

Variants[edit]

  • Clan 
    Despite their advancement in technology, the Clans made very few modifications to the Confederate. The only difference is that it is designed to carry a Star of five OmniMechs, divided between the first and second bays, with the third given two doors for spare parts in the 214-ton cargo bay.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Konföderation, which translates to Confederation.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Confederate
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 72
  3. BattleSpace rulebook, p. 63
  4. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 209
  5. 5.0 5.1 Technical Readout: 2750, p. 148-149
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 72-73

Bibliography[edit]