Tatsumaki

Tatsumaki
Production information
Manufacturer	Stellar Trek
Introduced	3059
Production Year	3058
Use	Destroyer
Tech Base	Star League
Cost	13,831,884,000 C-Bills
Technical specifications
Mass	514,000 tons
Length	585 meters
Sail Diameter	1,100 meters
Fuel	4,000 tons
Burn Rate	39.52
Safe Thrust	2 g
Top Thrust	3 g
Sail Integrity	4
KF Drive Integrity	11
LF Battery	Yes
Armament	10x NAC/20 1x Heavy N-Gauss 4x Heavy NPPC 6x Medium NPPC 20x ER large laser 30x Medium pulse laser 10x Gauss rifle 25x LRM-20 with Artemis IV FCS 6x Anti-missile system
Armor	380 tons Ferro-Carbide
DropShip Capacity	2
Crew	240 40 Officers 200 Enlisted Marines: 108
Grav Decks	2 x 200 meters diameter
Escape Pods/Life Boats	45/0
Heat Sinks	542 double
Structural Integrity	50
BV (1.0)	62,319
BV (2.0)	88,075

Description

Originally named as an allusion to the whirlwind of weapon fire it can unleash, the name of the Tatsumaki-class (Japanese for "Tornado") destroyer was viewed by many in the DCMS as more aptly referring to the endless storm of technical problems that plague the design.

The fourth design in the Draconis Combine's resurgent post–Succession Wars WarShip fleet, the Tatsumaki problems stemmed from the extremely hasty and rushed design and construction at Stellar Trek's much-maligned Dieron yards, with only the Combine's dire need for WarShips even allowing the design to enter service. Requiring a doubling of the number of the technical crew carried by each vessel, problematic systems including faulty turrets and K-F Drive coolant leaks were expected to require drydock overhauls through 3067, and the Draconis Combine Admiralty halted procurement at two ships already constructed.

Designed primarily to escort JumpShip fleets, the Tatsumaki featured a large array of primarily short-ranged anti-fighter and capital-grade weaponry, placing it on par with other destroyers of similar size. The vessel also served as the ideal platform for boarding actions, carrying a full battalion of battle armor troops.

While one Tatsumaki-class ship was reported lost during Operation BULLDOG, the DCS Lair of Mighty Wyrms was able to be repaired and returned to service. Both vessels were later lost due to combat with the same vessel, the Ghost Bear's Nightlord-class battleship Ursa Major, one in each of the two Combine-Dominion wars.

Armament

Mounting an array dominated by Pulse Lasers and Naval Autocannons, the Tatsumaki was a deadly, if short-ranged, combatant. The nose bays mounted a single Heavy N-Gauss and two NAC/20s supported by ten Medium Pulse Lasers, while each fore and aft angle carries five Gauss rifles and Artemis IV FCS enhanced LRM-20s in support of a Heavy NPPC and NAC/20. Both of the Tatsumakis broadsides feature two Medium NPPCs and single NAC/20, with ten ER Large Lasers and ten Medium Pulse Lasers for anti-fighter defense. Directly aft, twin Heavy NPPCs and five LRM-20s discourage attack from the rear.

Two hundred tons of Heavy Naval Gauss ammunition, a hundred rounds' worth, and Naval autocannon munitions, five hundred rounds, give the design's capital weapons impressive endurance, a feature likewise shared with its anti-fighter weapons carrying sixty tons of 'Mech gauss reloads and hundred and twenty-five of LRM missiles. To try and protect the vessel against missile attacks, the Tatsumaki mounted an anti-missile system on all angles (save the broadsides), with a shared eighteen tons of ammunition.

Cargo

With two Docking collars and a respectable cargo capacity, the Tatsumaki also featured berths for eighteen aerospace fighters and fifteen small craft to allow its marines to board enemy vessels.

• Bay 1: Aerospace Fighters (18), 6 doors
• Bay 2: Cargo (54,292 tons), 2 doors
• Bay 3: Small Craft (15), 4 doors

See Also

• List of named Tatsumaki class vessels.

Gallery

• 

  Original Tatsumaki-class from FM:DC

• 

  Tatsumaki from TRO:3067

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• The Dragon Roars
• Era Report: 3062
• Field Manual: Draconis Combine
• Field Manual: Updates
• Handbook: House Kurita
• Historical: Wars of the Republic Era
• Technical Readout: 3067