Dart (WarShip class)
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- This article is about the WarShip. For other uses, see Dart.
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| |
| Dart | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Di Tron Heavy Industries[1] |
| Introduced | 2305 |
| Production Year | 2305[2] |
| Use | Light Cruiser |
| Tech Base | Star League |
| Cost | 6,817,133,800[citation needed] |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 680,000 tons |
| Length | 703 meters |
| Sail Diameter | 1,135 meters |
| Fuel | 8,975 tons |
| Burn Rate | 39.52 |
| Safe Thrust | 1 g |
| Top Thrust | 1.5 g |
| Sail Integrity | 4 |
| KF Drive Integrity | 14 |
| LF Battery | No |
| Armament |
|
| Armor | 1,194 tons standard |
| DropShip Capacity | 6 |
| Crew | 217[1]
Bay Personnel: 30 |
| Grav Decks | 2 x 145 meters diameter |
| Escape Pods/Life Boats | 29/35 |
| Heat Sinks | 2,358 single |
| Structural Integrity | 90 |
| BV (1.0) | 114,986[1] |
Description[edit]
The Dart-class Light Cruiser was born out of a Terran Alliance naval command need for a combat vessel that could function as an explorer and cargoship, needed in the early days of spaceflight and burgeoning contact with the new realms in the Inner Sphere. These demands required a vessel heavy and sturdy enough to withstand the harshness of space, a call answered by Di Tron Heavy Industries.[1]
The Terran Space Navy approved the design after meeting its multiple demands: capable of independent deployments, large fuel tanks and cargo bay, and the ability to carry the largest of DropShips. While not the largest WarShip produced up to that point, the Dart received a rare amount of structural reinforcement to increase its ruggedness and survivability for a ship of its size. Almost 1200 tons of standard armor protected the hull and the new Century 4000 maneuvering drives were installed on the Dart. Robust and dependable, the massive drives were joked by engineers to require only an oil and filter change during scheduled maintenance.[1]
The class served the Terran Alliance and Terran Hegemony for nearly 200 years until being dismissed in favor of the new Avatar-class cruiser. Stripped-down vessels were sold to Periphery nations prior to the Reunification War, and the class lasted almost another two centuries outside Hegemony control. One of the last Darts was destroyed in 2722 above New Vandenburg, the nearly-derelict vessel attempting to destroy the recently unveiled Essex-class SLS Gettysburg,[1] and in 2766, the Rim Worlds Republic WarShip fleet deployed an unknown Dart-Class Cruiser in an effort to secure the shipyards above Mars.[3]
Armament[edit]
The armament of the Dart-class is focused on larger naval adversaries, a mix of heavy energy and naval autocannons. The Dart mounts several medium-grade naval autocannons, and supplements this payload with naval lasers, naval PPCs, and naval missile systems. This choice in ammunition-dependent weaponry seems curious, given the Dart's intended role as an independent vessel. The Dart is also quite defenseless against aerospace fighters on its own - the ship only has 4 Killer Whale missile systems and no fighter screen.[1]
Cargo[edit]
The Dart has capacity for an impressive six DropShips and a reinforced company of 120 space marines could be assigned to the class.[1]
- Bay 1: Cargo (140,060 tons), 2 Doors
- Bay 2: Small Craft (6), 2 Doors
See Also[edit]
Gallery[edit]
Original Dart from TRO:3057 Revised