Overlord (DropShip class)

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Overlord TRO3057r.png
Overlord
Production information
Manufacturer Earthwerks Limited[1]

Falcon's Roost Orbital Assembly Plant[2]

Federated-Boeing Interstellar[3]

HDF Manufacturing[4]

Matabushi Incorporated[1][5]

Shipil Company[1]

Production Year 2762[6]
Use 'Mech/ASF Carrier
Type Military Spheroid
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Technical specifications
Mass 9,700 tons
Structural Integrity 18
Length 99 meters
Width 99 meters
Height 131.2 meters
Drive System Star League V450
Safe Thrust 1.5 g
Max Thrust 2.5 g
Fuel (tons) 306 tons
Fuel (days) 166.3 days
Armament
Armor 45 tons standard
Crew 43[7][8]
  • 8 Officers
  • 29 Enlisted
  • 6 Gunners

(Base Crew Type Requirement)[9][10]

  • 3 Pilots
  • 5 Engineers
  • 31 Secondary Engineers

Bay Personnel: 84

Escape Pods/Life Boats 3/3
Heat Sinks 120 single
BV (1.0) 4,164[7][11]
BV (2.0) 4,702[citation needed]

Description[edit]

The Overlord is one of the primary 'Mech transport DropShips in the Inner Sphere, and the largest still in production post-Star League, apart from its Clan-made likeness. Capable of carrying a full 'Mech battalion and a squadron of aerospace fighters, as well as most of the technical support for both, the nearly 10,000-ton vessel has proven its worth as a dedicated combat transport. Usually kept out of combat to minimize the risk of losing these expensive vessels, when grounded, they often serve as dedicated command stations and resupply bases in longer campaigns. These highly valued ships started to become scarce in the later Succession Wars,[8] but rediscovered technology and refits have continued to keep them in service.

As with the Union and other spheroid DropShips, damage to one of an Overlord's six Imsol drive jets can lead to a catastrophic loss of the vessel. Experienced pilots can balance the craft by shutting down the jet on the opposite side and continuing at a much-reduced but controlled descent rate.[8] Overlord captains prefer to disembark their cargo in space-launched Drop Pods, which keeps the plodding class safest from combat exposure.[7]

Crew members are housed in one of two bunkrooms, with the officer's quarters upgraded to four occupancy rooms, though the captain gets a small private stateroom. Bay personnel, the Mechwarriors, pilots, and their techs, are given the other two bunkrooms. Electrical and hydraulic issues and the "stale" air circulation are widespread complaints shared with the Union, largely due to the designs being constructed by the same manufacturers. Also similar to the Union, overhauls and refurbishments during repairs over the centuries have led to a wide variety of interior configurations.[8][12]

Armament[edit]

The armament of the Overlord is impressive for a dedicated 'Mech transport, but pales in comparison to most Assault DropShips and newer designs with recovered or advanced technology. Long-range fire is covered by six PPCs, six Large Lasers, and three LRM-20s. Close in firepower is mostly built around its two AC/20s, with support from six AC/5s and twelve medium lasers. It carries sufficient ammo for those weapons that need it, but not enough for a drawn-out engagement.

Cargo[edit]

The Cargo allotment aboard Overlords is minimal, and space is at a premium. Any prolonged engagement or extra troop deployments require the use of cargo or troop carrier DropShip support,[7][12] though the Overlord can reportedly refuel its fighters up to three times with its reserves.[13]

Number in service[edit]

The number of extant Overlords is given as 1,900 in sources.[7] Given the unclear and often contradictory number of JumpShips and DropShips throughout known space (see: the Sarna article on JumpShip distribution), this number is possibly in error.

Variants[edit]

The number of variants of the Overlord class is numbered at about two dozen "officially" represented.[7] Unofficial changes to the class over the centuries are likely too numerous to list. While they were customized extensively prior to the fall of the original Star League, the later modifications to remaining units were primarily due to the inability to repair or replace damaged or lost equipment. However, mission-specific modifications remain common. For example, the Running Fox, House Davion's flagship, was modified to be more luxurious and act as a command post, for when the First Prince is on campaign.[14]

Some notable variants include:

  • Overlord-One
    Contains a single tall, cylindrical, and immense bay, with a central support column. Extending from this column are three sets of support spokes that carry power cabling, coolant lines, circulation ducts, and lifts for cargo and personnel.[12]
  • Overlord-Two (Vehicle)
    Carries 24 'Mechs (instead of 36) plus a company of vehicles.[7]
  • Command Overlord
    Lowers capacity by four 'Mechs for the equivalent tonnage in command and control facilities (including added berthing).[7]
  • Overlord (3056)
    Starting in 3056, Shipil Company began production of an upgraded variant of the Overlord armed primarily with advanced weaponry. There doesn't seem to be a specific name for this upgraded version beyond its production year. Replacing the nose weaponry with two ER PPCs and three Gauss rifles while adding Artemis IV FCS to the missile launchers, the remainder of the energy weapons have been replaced with either pulse or extended-range variants. The advanced energy weaponry is hampered by the unchanged coolant system. Further, minor reinforcement was done to the ship's structure. BV (1.0) = 4,892[7][15], BV (2.0) = 5,680[citation needed]

Related DropShips[edit]

  • Overlord-C: The Clans refitted the Overlords taken with them to the Pentagon Worlds, eventually redesigning new DropShips to their latest specification and transport needs as the larger Overlord-C.
  • Overlord A3: The Overlord A3 is a slightly enlarged and substantially reconfigured Pocket WarShip version of the Overlord that was built as escorts for the large and nearly irreplaceable WarShips that began to proliferate by the end of the Clan Invasion.[16] Although it could be argued that it is ultimately just another variant, the radical changes including an enlarged fuselage (5 meters "longer" from bottom to top and with a diameter 3.8 meters wider), a highter thrust rating, improved internal structure, and a different weapons loadout completely forgoing any 'Mech carrier capabilities suggest it should be regarded as a different ship class. It was listed separately from the standard Overlord in Handbook: House Steiner, p. 146, and referred to as the "Overlord A3-class DropShip" in Technical Readout: 3067, further reinforcing the impression that it is to be treated as a distinct design with its own subvariants (namely the Overlord A3A).

Named Vessels[edit]

(See List of named Overlord-class DropShips)

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ a b c DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary, p. 17
  2. ↑ Objectives: The Clans, p. 14: "Falcon's Roost Orbital Assembly Plant"
  3. ↑ Handbook: House Davion p. 181
  4. ↑ Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade, p. 4: "Falsterbo" planet profile
  5. ↑ Objectives: The Clans, p. 25: "Matabushi Inc."
  6. ↑ MUL online date for the Overlord (DropShip class)
  7. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 52: Overlord
  8. ↑ a b c d Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, pp. 182–183: Overlord
  9. ↑ BattleSpace rulebook, p. 63
  10. ↑ DropShips and JumpShips: Operations Manual, p. 41
  11. ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 247
  12. ↑ a b c DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary, p. 42
  13. ↑ AeroTech, p. 31: "Overlord DropShip Statistics"
  14. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025, p. 172: Overlord - Notable DropShip Running Fox fluff mentions Overlord modifications for Hanse Davion's flagship.
  15. ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 248
  16. ↑ Technical Readout: 3067 Catalyst Games Labs Reprint, p. 180: "Overlord-A3"

Bibliography[edit]

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