Difference between revisions of "Black Lion"
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | The '''Black Lion''' class battlecruiser, named for former [[Director-General]] [[James McKenna]]'s famous battlecruiser, was developed after it became apparent that the infamous ''[[Cameron (WarShip)|Cameron]]'' class ships were not living up to their design specifications. Bypassing the usual procedure of accepting design proposals, the [[Star League Defense Force]] awarded a contract in [[2689]] to [[Boeing Interstellar]] for a modified version of the design it had submitted during the contract competition that led to the creation of ''Cameron''. Despite the unusual nature of its genesis, the ''Black Lion'' exceeded all expectations and Boeing would build two per year for the next 31 years. | + | The '''''Black Lion'''''-class battlecruiser, named for former [[Director-General]] [[James McKenna]]'s famous battlecruiser, was developed after it became apparent that the infamous ''[[Cameron (WarShip)|Cameron]]'' class ships were not living up to their design specifications. Bypassing the usual procedure of accepting design proposals, the [[Star League Defense Force]] awarded a contract in [[2689]] to [[Boeing Interstellar]] for a modified version of the design it had submitted during the contract competition that led to the creation of ''Cameron''. Despite the unusual nature of its genesis, the ''Black Lion'' exceeded all expectations and Boeing would build two per year for the next 31 years. |
The ''Black Lion''s three [[Carston Pegasus]] interplanetary engines generate almost twice as much thrust as those used on the ''Cameron'' Class. With less weight than the ''Cameron'', the ''Black Lion'' became one of the quickest [[WarShip]]s of its size, but the size and complexity of the engines cause an increase in engine breakdowns due to maintenance difficulties. The ''Black Lion'''s second important improvement over the Cameron is increased armor protection. The ship's flight deck can carry 18 heavy [[AeroSpace Fighter]]s, and its four [[Docking collar|docking rings]] can handle the largest [[DropShip]]s. | The ''Black Lion''s three [[Carston Pegasus]] interplanetary engines generate almost twice as much thrust as those used on the ''Cameron'' Class. With less weight than the ''Cameron'', the ''Black Lion'' became one of the quickest [[WarShip]]s of its size, but the size and complexity of the engines cause an increase in engine breakdowns due to maintenance difficulties. The ''Black Lion'''s second important improvement over the Cameron is increased armor protection. The ship's flight deck can carry 18 heavy [[AeroSpace Fighter]]s, and its four [[Docking collar|docking rings]] can handle the largest [[DropShip]]s. | ||
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==Named Vessels== | ==Named Vessels== | ||
| − | * | + | *CSJ ''Streaking Mist'' - Originally built for the [[SLDF]], the ship was used as part of [[General]] [[Aleksandr Kerensky|Aleksandr Kerensky's]] [[Exodus Fleet]]. Later the ship became part of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|Clan Smoke Jaguar's]] touman of WarShips. It became the Clan's flagship by the [[31st Century]]. The ship served during the invasion of Huntress by [[2nd Star League]] as transport for [[Khan]] [[Lincoln Osis]] and his reserve forces from [[Strana Mechty]]. Ultimately, it was used for severely wounded Khan withdraw to Strana Mechty. It unclear what exactly happened to the ship after the Great Refusal and death of its Clan.<ref>''[[Twilight of the Clans]]'', p. 11, ''[[Shadows of War]]'' (novel) & ''[[Prince of Havoc]]'' (novel) - Ship mentioned as part of Clan Touman and its actions.</ref> |
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| + | *CSV ''Blake's Strength'' - The ''Blake's Strength'' was assigned to the [[ComStar WarShip Fleet|ComGuard Second Fleet]] at [[Ross 248]]. It was lost during the ill-fated [[Case White]]. | ||
| − | * | + | *CWS ''Implacable'' - Former Star League and later Clan Wolf-in-Exile controlled vessel, which was part of the Kerensky's exodus fleet. The ship became property of the Clan Wolf and journey to Inner Sphere as part of Operation Revivial. She later became part of Warden control faction of Clan Wolf, known Wolf-in-Exile which made made their home on [[Arc-Royal]]. The ship participated in battle for Tharkad in 3066, where it fought the Lyran battlecruiser [[Mjolnir#Named_Vessels|LAS ''Yggdrasil'']]. Later in the Jihad, the ship fought off Blakist raiders attempting to strike Arc-Royal. It was later drafted in coalition force to take world [[Odessa]], where Blakist's hidden cache of WarShips lay. The coalition was successful, as it took the system and seized the "Ruins of Gabriel". However, the Blakists managed to retake the facilities, the ''Implacable'' fell victim to Clan Ghost Bear, when it fired warning shot at their ''[[Leviathan (Battleship)|Leviathan II]]'' class heavy battleship. The ship was mauled by the Ghost Bear's WarShip in May [[3075]], with only 68 survivors.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 37: Rogue Bear hit Odessa & Insults and Injury - ''Implacable'' destroyed in Odessa by ''Leviathan'' class WarShip</ref> |
*FWLS ''Xanthos'' - Previously the ''SLS Nelson'', this storied ship won the [[2732]] [[Martial Olympiad]] before suffering extensive damage during the liberation of [[Terra]] and being scuttled over [[Castor]]. The [[FWLM]] with aid from the [[Word of Blake]] recovered the ship in [[3058]] and restored her to function as part of the League's secret fleet. Just two years after the [[Jihad]] started, the ship was taken over by Word of Blake elements in [[3069]]. The ship along with another comprised ship, the ''Impetuous'', were destroyed in the [[Shiloh]] system in [[3070]] by the [[Eagle_(WarShip)#Named_Vessels|FWLS ''Lancelot'']], [[Eagle_(WarShip)#Named_Vessels|FWLS ''Galahad'']], and the [[Agamemnon#Named Vessels|FWLS ''Menelaus'']].<ref>''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]]'', p. 267-268 "Fleet Advisory: Shiloh"</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', pp. 108-109</ref> | *FWLS ''Xanthos'' - Previously the ''SLS Nelson'', this storied ship won the [[2732]] [[Martial Olympiad]] before suffering extensive damage during the liberation of [[Terra]] and being scuttled over [[Castor]]. The [[FWLM]] with aid from the [[Word of Blake]] recovered the ship in [[3058]] and restored her to function as part of the League's secret fleet. Just two years after the [[Jihad]] started, the ship was taken over by Word of Blake elements in [[3069]]. The ship along with another comprised ship, the ''Impetuous'', were destroyed in the [[Shiloh]] system in [[3070]] by the [[Eagle_(WarShip)#Named_Vessels|FWLS ''Lancelot'']], [[Eagle_(WarShip)#Named_Vessels|FWLS ''Galahad'']], and the [[Agamemnon#Named Vessels|FWLS ''Menelaus'']].<ref>''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]]'', p. 267-268 "Fleet Advisory: Shiloh"</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', pp. 108-109</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | *SLS ''Severen Leroux'' - The ''Severen Leroux'' was a [[Clan Nova Cat]] vessel assigned to the Mystic Naval Star.<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 96, "Naval Fleet"</ref> The ''Severen Leroux'' destroyed the ''ronin'' [[Draconis Combine]] ''[[Kirishima]]''-class ''Urizen II'' in the [[Avon]] system in July [[3072]]. The ''[[kokuryu-kai]]''-controlled spacecraft was indiscriminately attacking Nova Cat vessels before its destruction.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 98, "Fight or Die!"</ref><ref>''Field Report: DCMS'', p. 5</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 23, "Timeline of the Jihad''</ref> | ||
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| + | *SLS ''Tripitz'' - The center of the so-called [[Tripitz Affair]], left behind after being heavily damaged during the [[Amaris-Kerensky Civil War]] the Tripitz was rediscovered by the [[Taurian Concordat]] in [[2979]], before being secretly destroyed by [[ComStar]] to prevent their recovery attempts. | ||
*WoBS ''Blake Ascendant'' - Word of Blake controlled vessel during the ''[[Jihad]]''. The ship assigned to give naval support later part of Battle for [[Luthien]]. The ship was damaged by inbound [[Clan Ghost Bear]] forces and was forced withdraw from the system December, [[3074]].<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Luthien'', pp. 5, 7, "Naval Support", "Clan Ghost Bear" unit profiles: arrival date matches withdrawal date of battlecruiser</ref> | *WoBS ''Blake Ascendant'' - Word of Blake controlled vessel during the ''[[Jihad]]''. The ship assigned to give naval support later part of Battle for [[Luthien]]. The ship was damaged by inbound [[Clan Ghost Bear]] forces and was forced withdraw from the system December, [[3074]].<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Luthien'', pp. 5, 7, "Naval Support", "Clan Ghost Bear" unit profiles: arrival date matches withdrawal date of battlecruiser</ref> | ||
*WoBS ''Rays of Enlightenment'' - A Word of Blake-controlled vessel used during the ''Jihad''. The ship was noted for its [[Sian]] raids of [[3068]] and again in [[3074]]. The ship fought against Capellan Navy's Upgraded ''[[Feng_Huang#Variants|Feng Huang]]'' Cruisers and its few ''[[Impavido]]'' Class Destroyers. The ship took damage in these naval-actions and was forced withdraw in both events.<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Sian'', p. 5, "Naval Support": name and fate revealed.</ref> | *WoBS ''Rays of Enlightenment'' - A Word of Blake-controlled vessel used during the ''Jihad''. The ship was noted for its [[Sian]] raids of [[3068]] and again in [[3074]]. The ship fought against Capellan Navy's Upgraded ''[[Feng_Huang#Variants|Feng Huang]]'' Cruisers and its few ''[[Impavido]]'' Class Destroyers. The ship took damage in these naval-actions and was forced withdraw in both events.<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Sian'', p. 5, "Naval Support": name and fate revealed.</ref> | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
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*''[[ComStar (sourcebook)|ComStar]]'' | *''[[ComStar (sourcebook)|ComStar]]'' | ||
*''[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]]'' | *''[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Field Manual: Updates]]'' | ||
*''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]'' | *''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]'' | ||
*''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]'' | *''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]'' | ||
Revision as of 22:30, 18 January 2011
| |
| Black Lion | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Interstellar |
| Introduced | 2691 |
| Use | Battlecruiser |
| Tech Base | Star League |
| Cost | 5,881,527,001 C-bills |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 810,000 tons |
| Length | 772 m |
| Sail Diameter | 1.433 m |
| Fuel | 1,000 tons |
| Burn Rate | |
| Safe Thrust | 3 |
| Top Thrust | 5 |
| Sail Integrity | 4 |
| KF Drive Integrity | 17 |
| LF Battery | No |
| Armament | 18 x NAC/30s 8 x White Shark Missiles 6 x Barracuda Missiles 32 x NAC/20 |
| Armor | 841.5 tons of Lamellor Ferro-Carbide |
| DropShip Capacity | 4 |
| Crew | 208 |
| Grav Decks | 2 - 65 and 85 meter diameter |
| Escape Pods/Life Boats | 20 |
| Heat Sinks | 1837 Double Heat Sinks |
| Structural Integrity | 75 |
| BV (1.0) | ??? |
| BV (2.0) | 213,343[1] |
Description
The Black Lion-class battlecruiser, named for former Director-General James McKenna's famous battlecruiser, was developed after it became apparent that the infamous Cameron class ships were not living up to their design specifications. Bypassing the usual procedure of accepting design proposals, the Star League Defense Force awarded a contract in 2689 to Boeing Interstellar for a modified version of the design it had submitted during the contract competition that led to the creation of Cameron. Despite the unusual nature of its genesis, the Black Lion exceeded all expectations and Boeing would build two per year for the next 31 years.
The Black Lions three Carston Pegasus interplanetary engines generate almost twice as much thrust as those used on the Cameron Class. With less weight than the Cameron, the Black Lion became one of the quickest WarShips of its size, but the size and complexity of the engines cause an increase in engine breakdowns due to maintenance difficulties. The Black Lion's second important improvement over the Cameron is increased armor protection. The ship's flight deck can carry 18 heavy AeroSpace Fighters, and its four docking rings can handle the largest DropShips.
The Black Lions lived up to most of the admirals' expectations, leading battle fleets into action and easily dominating battles in the Periphery. However like many Star League era WarShips, Black Lions cannot cope with swarms of enemy fighters and this proved their undoing during the Great Houses' so-called Hidden Wars and against the drones surrounding Terra.
Armament
The most controversial aspect of the Black Lion is its choice of weapons. Instead of relying on energy weapons, the Black Lion mounts cannon and missiles as its primary weapons, four turrets carrying Scarsbrough 30 Series autocannons and two turrets capable of firing White Shark missiles. The battlecruiser also carries four turrets of smaller autocannon and six tubes firing the Barracuda missiles. The designers used only non-energy weapons so the ship could mount a smaller and lighter power system. The main drawback to this choice of weapons is that the ship must devote interior space to carrying ammunition.
Cargo
The Black Lion 63,700 tons of cargo split between an launch bays for 10 Small Craft and 18 Aerospace Fighters.
File:Blacklion.jpg
Clan Refit Black Lion
Variants
Less than a dozen Black Lions survived Operation Liberation to company the Exodus Fleet, but each has become prized by the Clans as Galaxy flagships. The Clans have made few changes, save for installing HarJel Hull Sealant technology and Lithium-Fusion Battery systems.
Named Vessels
- CSJ Streaking Mist - Originally built for the SLDF, the ship was used as part of General Aleksandr Kerensky's Exodus Fleet. Later the ship became part of Clan Smoke Jaguar's touman of WarShips. It became the Clan's flagship by the 31st Century. The ship served during the invasion of Huntress by 2nd Star League as transport for Khan Lincoln Osis and his reserve forces from Strana Mechty. Ultimately, it was used for severely wounded Khan withdraw to Strana Mechty. It unclear what exactly happened to the ship after the Great Refusal and death of its Clan.[2]
- CSV Blake's Strength - The Blake's Strength was assigned to the ComGuard Second Fleet at Ross 248. It was lost during the ill-fated Case White.
- CWS Implacable - Former Star League and later Clan Wolf-in-Exile controlled vessel, which was part of the Kerensky's exodus fleet. The ship became property of the Clan Wolf and journey to Inner Sphere as part of Operation Revivial. She later became part of Warden control faction of Clan Wolf, known Wolf-in-Exile which made made their home on Arc-Royal. The ship participated in battle for Tharkad in 3066, where it fought the Lyran battlecruiser LAS Yggdrasil. Later in the Jihad, the ship fought off Blakist raiders attempting to strike Arc-Royal. It was later drafted in coalition force to take world Odessa, where Blakist's hidden cache of WarShips lay. The coalition was successful, as it took the system and seized the "Ruins of Gabriel". However, the Blakists managed to retake the facilities, the Implacable fell victim to Clan Ghost Bear, when it fired warning shot at their Leviathan II class heavy battleship. The ship was mauled by the Ghost Bear's WarShip in May 3075, with only 68 survivors.[3]
- FWLS Xanthos - Previously the SLS Nelson, this storied ship won the 2732 Martial Olympiad before suffering extensive damage during the liberation of Terra and being scuttled over Castor. The FWLM with aid from the Word of Blake recovered the ship in 3058 and restored her to function as part of the League's secret fleet. Just two years after the Jihad started, the ship was taken over by Word of Blake elements in 3069. The ship along with another comprised ship, the Impetuous, were destroyed in the Shiloh system in 3070 by the FWLS Lancelot, FWLS Galahad, and the FWLS Menelaus.[4][5]
- SLS Severen Leroux - The Severen Leroux was a Clan Nova Cat vessel assigned to the Mystic Naval Star.[6] The Severen Leroux destroyed the ronin Draconis Combine Kirishima-class Urizen II in the Avon system in July 3072. The kokuryu-kai-controlled spacecraft was indiscriminately attacking Nova Cat vessels before its destruction.[7][8][9]
- SLS Tripitz - The center of the so-called Tripitz Affair, left behind after being heavily damaged during the Amaris-Kerensky Civil War the Tripitz was rediscovered by the Taurian Concordat in 2979, before being secretly destroyed by ComStar to prevent their recovery attempts.
- WoBS Blake Ascendant - Word of Blake controlled vessel during the Jihad. The ship assigned to give naval support later part of Battle for Luthien. The ship was damaged by inbound Clan Ghost Bear forces and was forced withdraw from the system December, 3074.[10]
- WoBS Rays of Enlightenment - A Word of Blake-controlled vessel used during the Jihad. The ship was noted for its Sian raids of 3068 and again in 3074. The ship fought against Capellan Navy's Upgraded Feng Huang Cruisers and its few Impavido Class Destroyers. The ship took damage in these naval-actions and was forced withdraw in both events.[11]
References
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 17, "Black Lion" WarShip record sheet
- ↑ Twilight of the Clans, p. 11, Shadows of War (novel) & Prince of Havoc (novel) - Ship mentioned as part of Clan Touman and its actions.
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 37: Rogue Bear hit Odessa & Insults and Injury - Implacable destroyed in Odessa by Leviathan class WarShip
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 267-268 "Fleet Advisory: Shiloh"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, pp. 108-109
- ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 96, "Naval Fleet"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 98, "Fight or Die!"
- ↑ Field Report: DCMS, p. 5
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 23, "Timeline of the Jihad
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, pp. 5, 7, "Naval Support", "Clan Ghost Bear" unit profiles: arrival date matches withdrawal date of battlecruiser
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Sian, p. 5, "Naval Support": name and fate revealed.
- ComStar, p. 46
- Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 119
- Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, pp. 108-109
- Technical Readout: 2750, pp. 136-137
- Technical Readout: 3057, pp. 150-151
- Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, pp. 148-149