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Overlord (DropShip class)

Overlord TRO3057r.png
Overlord
Production information
Manufacturer Earthwerks Limited[1]
Falcon's Roost Orbital Assembly Plant[2]
Federated-Boeing Interstellar[3]
Matabushi Incorporated[1][4]
Shipil Company[1]
Production Year 2762[5]
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[6][7]
  • 8 Officers
  • 29 Enlisted
  • 6 Gunners

(Base Crew Type Requirement)[8][9]

  • 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[6][10]
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,[7] 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.[7] Overlord captains prefer to disbark their cargo in space-launched Drop Pods, which keeps the plodding class safest from combat exposure.[6]

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.[7][11]

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 better 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.[6][11]

Number in service[edit]

The number of extant Overlords is given as 1,900 in sources.[6] 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.[6] 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.[12]

Some notable variants include:

  • Overlord-One
    Contains a single tall cylindrical and immense bay, with a middle 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.[11]
  • Overlord-Two (Vehicle) 
    Carries 24 'Mechs (instead of 36) plus a company of vehicles.[6]
  • Command Overlord 
    Lowers capacity by four 'Mechs for the equivalent tonnage in command and control facilities (including added berthing).[6]
  • 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[6][13], BV (2.0) = 5,680[citation needed]
  • Overlord A3 
    Developed in 3058 as a WarShip escort, the A3 removes the 'Mech bays, freeing up space and weight to boost the armor and weaponry, replacing the existing array with eleven ER PPCs, twelve Gauss rifles and ER Large Lasers, sixteen medium lasers, four Artemis-enhanced LRM-20s, four Large Pulse Lasers and ten Medium Pulse Lasers. Most notably the A3 carries an AR-10 capital missile launcher and a massive teleoperated Kraken-T launcher in its nose, retaining the fighter bays while adding berths for a platoon of battle armor marines. BV (1.0) = 21,831[14] (21,988)[15] BV (2.0) = 24,600[16]
  • Overlord A3A 
    Developed alongside the A3, this version replaces the Kraken-T missile launcher with a second AR-10. It carries ten Gauss rifles, eleven ER PPCs, twelve ER Large Lasers, twelve medium lasers, four LRM-20s with Artemis, four Large Pulse Lasers, ten Medium Pulse Lasers, a Screen Launcher, and four Laser AMS. This variant of the Overlord cannot carry any marines or battle armor, but does carry six fighters. BV (2.0) = 18,624[17]

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.

Named Vessels[edit]

(See List of named Overlord-class DropShips)

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 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. Objectives: The Clans, p. 25, "Matabushi Inc."
  5. MUL online date for the Overlord (DropShip class)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 52 Overlord
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p.182-183 Overlord
  8. BattleSpace rulebook, p. 63
  9. DropShips and JumpShips: Operations Manual, p. 41
  10. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 247
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary, p. 42
  12. Technical Readout: 3025, p. 172: Overlord - Notable DropShip Running Fox fluff mentions Overlord modifications for Hanse Davion's flagship.
  13. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 248
  14. Technical Readout: 3067, p. 180 - A3's background, stats, and Battle Value 1.
  15. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 249
  16. Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged, p. 307
  17. Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged, p. 308

Bibliography[edit]