Zechetinu

Zechetinu-class Warship TRO3067.jpg
Zechetinu
Production information
Manufacturer Illium Naval Engineering
Introduced 3057
Production Year 3058[1]
Use Corvette
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Cost 6,779,204,000 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 180,000 tons
Length 440 meters
Sail Diameter 502 meters
Fuel 2,000 tons (10,000)
Burn Rate 93.52
Safe Thrust 2.5 g
Top Thrust 4 g
Sail Integrity 3
KF Drive Integrity 5
LF Battery Yes
Armament
Armor Fore: 24
Fore-Sides: 21
Aft-Sides: 20
Aft: 20
Lamellor Ferro-Carbide
DropShip Capacity 1
Crew 72
Grav Decks 1 x 88-meter diameter
Escape Pods/Life Boats 8
Heat Sinks 1873 (3746) Double Heat Sinks
Structural Integrity 25
BV (1.0) 41,739 [2]
30,148[3]



Description[edit]

Among the smallest and lightest WarShips in active service, Free Worlds League's Zechetinu-class corvette is designed to operate as either an independent convoy-raider, picket ship or as an escort vessel.[4]

The "Zec" as her crews have dubbed the vessel is capable of accelerating up to 2.5 Gs for sustained periods and up to 4 Gs in short bursts, making it among the fastest and most maneuverable WarShips in its weight class. This speed comes at a price, with a relatively light ninety tons of Lamellor Ferro-Carbide armor in comparison to its weapons array and exceedingly cramped crew quarters made even tighter with the inclusion of a Lithium-Fusion Battery System. With one tiny and constantly in demand Grav Deck the only dedicated recreation facility aboard, each Zechetinu rarely spends more than a month away from port to avoid negative effects on the crew.[3][4]

The first ship of the class exceeded all expectations during mock battle exercises and quickly led the Free Worlds League Military to authorize construction of a further ten. Analysis of these exercises also led to the bulk to be constructed as the newer Zechetinu II standard with a slightly modified weapons array.

Armament[edit]

The Block I Zechetinu features a significant capital-grade weapons array supported by a large volume of anti-fighter systems. The fore and aft weapon bays both carry twin ER Large Lasers, four Small Lasers, an LB 10-X AC and Artemis IV FCS enhanced LRM-20 and SRM-6 launchers in support of a NAC/20 and twin NL35s. The forward facing angle features twin ER Large Lasers, four Small Lasers, and an LB 10-X AC for anti-fighter duties while an NL35 and NL45 provide capital grade firepower. Save for replacing both capital lasers with a single NL55, each rear angle features the same mix as the fore angles, while apart from dropping the capital lasers entirely, each broadsides mounts the same weaponry as the fore and aft bays. One thousand and seventy-three double heat sinks give the class reasonable endurance.[3][4]

Cargo[edit]

Beyond its ability to carry a single DropShip and six aerospace fighters, the Zechetinu features thirteen thousand, eight hundred and seventy-six tons of cargo capacity divided between two separate bays.[3][4]

Variants[edit]

  • Zechetinu II 
    Starting with the FWLS Scorpion, all future Zechetinus are constructioned to the Block II standard and feature capital-grade missile systems in place of the naval-laser batteries of the Block I ships, with two White Shark tubes forward and aft, with a single Barracuda missile tube on each fore and aft angle. Carrying fifty missile reloads for each launcher type reduces the Zechetinu IIs cargo capacity down to twelve thousand, three hundred and seventy-six tons. BV (1.0)= 46,730[5] (34,119)[3]

See Also[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • Field Manual: Free Worlds League translates Zechetinu as meaning "hare" but it has been pointed out that this could be incorrect. "Zechetina/u" is Serbian for "rabbit meat" – zec is "hare", tina is "meat of".

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Zechetinu
  2. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets‎, p. 279
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Technical Readout: 3067, p. 196, "Zechetinu Profile"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, pp. 143-144, "Zechetinu Ship Profile"
  5. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 280

Bibliography[edit]