Black Lion

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Black Lion
Production information
Manufacturer	Boeing Interstellar
Introduced	2691
Use	Battlecruiser
Tech Base	Star League
Cost	???
Technical specifications
Mass	810,000 tons
Length	772 meters
Sail Diameter
Fuel
Burn Rate
Safe Thrust
Top Thrust	5
Sail Integrity
KF Drive Integrity
LF Battery	No
Armament	18 x NAC/30s 8 x White Shark Missiles 6 x Barracuda Missiles 32 x NAC/20
Armor	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
BV (1.0)	???
BV (2.0)	???

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 were not living up to their design specifications. Bypassing the usual procedure of accepting design proposals, the Star League Navy 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.

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

• 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.

• CSV Blake's Strength - Assigned to Com Guard Second Fleet at Ross 248, lost during the ill-fated Case White.

• 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, ambushed and destroyed in Shiloh System by loyal FWL forces in 3070.

• 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.

References

• Technical Readout: 2750 - pp 136-137
• Technical Readout: 3057 - pp 150-151
• Technical Readout: 3057 Revised
• ComStar (sourcebook) - pp 46
• Field Manual: Free Worlds League - pp 119
• Jihad Hot Spots: 3072 - pp 108-109