Editing Union (DropShip class)

{{otheruses|the original Union class|its later variants|Union-C|Union-X}}
{{InfoBoxDropShip
| image = Union TRO3057.png
| name = ''Union''
| manufacturer = [[Boeing Interstellar]]<ref name=TRO3057r28/>
----
[[Bowie Industries]]<ref name=DS&JSp15>''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary'', p. 15: "JumpShip and DropShip Manufacturers"</ref>
----
[[Earthwerks Limited]]<ref name=DS&JSp15/>
----
[[Federated-Boeing Interstellar]]<ref name=DS&JSp15/><ref>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 181</ref>
----
[[Irian Naval Systems|Irian Technologies]]<ref name=DS&JSp15/>
----
[[Matabushi Incorporated]]<ref name=DS&JSp15/>
----
[[Taurus Territorial Industries]]<ref name=OR161>''Objective Raids'', p. 161: "Produced Taurus Territorial Industries Components on Sterope"</ref><ref name=objp10>''Objectives: Periphery'', p. 10</ref>
| production year = 2708
| year reference = <ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5323/MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
| Use = [['Mech]]/[[ASF]] carrier
| Type = Spheroid
| Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]
| Mass = 3,600<ref name=TRO3057r>''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'', pp. 28–29: The preface on p. 4 states that previous sources, namely ''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary'' (aka ComStar's FB-60 file) and ''Technical Readout: 3057'', contained numerous errors that ''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'' corrected</ref>
| Structural Integrity = 11
| Length = 81.5
| Width = 81.5
| Height = 78
| Drive System = [[Star League V250]]
| Safe Thrust = 1.5 g
| Maximum Thrust = 2.5 g
| Fuel (tons) = 215 tons
| Fuel (days) = 116.8 days
| Armament = <span></span>
* 3x [[PPC]]
* 6x [[AC/5]]
* 6x [[LRM-20]]
* 12x [[medium laser]]
* 5x [[large laser]]
| Armor = 37.5 tons [[Armor (Capital)|standard]]
| Crew = 14<ref name=TRO3057r28/>
*3 Officers
*5 Enlisted
*6 Gunners
----
(Crew Types)<ref name="BSr63">''BattleSpace'' rulebook, p. 63</ref><br/>
*2 Pilots <br />
*4 Engineers <br />
*8 Secondary Engineers
----
Bay Personnel: 28
| Escape Pods/Life Boats = 7/0
| Heat Sinks = 90 (single)
| BV (1.0) = 3,259<ref name=TRO3057r28/><ref>''AeroTech 2 Record Sheets'', p. 221</ref>
| BV (2.0) = 3,962{{cn}}
}}
The '''''Union''''' is the archetypical [[DropShip]], widely used in military and civilian roles and described as the yardstick against which all other DropShips are measured.<ref name=TRO3057r28>''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'', p. 28</ref> The vessel's official mass, originally 3,500 tons, was [[retconned]] to 3,600 tons (see Notes below).

==Description==
The ubiquitous example of the company-sized [[BattleMech]] combat transport, the ''Union'' class is a venerable and capable member of the DropShip unit type. Capable of carrying twelve 'Mechs and two [[aerospace]] fighters (a standard 'Mech [[company]] including one [[air lance]] under classic [[SLDF]] doctrine), it is among the smaller dedicated military deployment vehicles, dwarfed by its larger cousin ''[[Overlord]]'' and especially the massive troop transports such as the ''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]'', ''[[Lee (DropShip class)|Lee]]'', or ''[[Colossus (DropShip class)|Colossus]]''. The smaller but much more numerous, and implicitly also more cost-efficient and easier to manufacture, ''Union'' class weathered [[Lostech]] throughout the [[Succession Wars era]] better than the much larger vessels, and has been in continuous production ever since its inception.

The ship was designed as a 'Mech deployment vehicle, not for prolonged comfortable travel. Remodeling of the interior after centuries of problems with the components has led to the ''Union'' being known for very cramped, spartan accommodations, and the air circulation system is often attributed a "stale" odor shared by the ''[[Overlord]]''. While the wealthiest of operators are able to refurbish to the original posh layout, about half of the [[Succession Wars]]-era vessels in use are still found lacking in these areas.<ref name=TRO3057r28/><ref name=DS&JSp38>''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary'', p. 38 </ref>

The command and control facilities aboard ''Union''s consisted of a Tactical Operations Room (TOR) sufficient to operate as a coordination point for smaller lance-sized combat transports partaking in company- or larger-sized operations. Likewise, it operates well in larger operations, where it may conduct missions of a surprise, diversionary, or raiding role. The TOR was frequently removed from ''Union''-class DropShips during refurbishment by the Clans.

==Armament==
The ''Union'', while not as heavily armed as Assault DropShips, carries a formidable array of weapons. The semiautomated weaponry is significant enough to defend the ship from light ground forces and give single and paired aerospace fighters pause.

The bulk of its firepower is provided by six [[LRM-20|LRM-20s]] backed up by six [[large laser|large lasers]] and three [[PPCs]]. Six [[AC/5|AC/5s]] and twelve [[medium lasers]] round out the normal weapons loadout. The ''Union'' also features good armor protection, allowing it to deliver or retrieve its payload while under fire.

==Cargo==
The ''Union's'' Mech facilities are divided into three areas. Four drop chutes at the bottom of the vessel can deploy a lance of 'Mechs into hostile territory in space or the atmosphere. The first bay is directly above for a [[lance]] of 'Mechs, while the next bay holds the other eight 'Mechs. This larger bay has a 50-meter circular walkway and multiple cranes for more extensive repairs if needed, which can also reach the lower bay through a massive deck hatch.<ref name=TRO3057r28/>

* 12 [['Mechs]] - 4 Doors
* 2 [[Aerospace fighters]] - 2 Doors
* 74 tons Cargo - 2 Doors

==Variants==
A common design in use across the Inner Sphere, there are many variants of the ''Union'', customized or as factory variants. Common variants include:

*;Cargo Hauler : Due to the availability of the design and spare parts, the ''Union'' has proven a popular choice for merchants and traders, who strip out all twelve 'Mech cubicles to free up more than 1,500 tons of cargo space.<ref name=TRO3057r28/><br />(It should be noted that the civilian ''[[Danais (DropShip class)|Danais]]''-class cargo vessel is visually very similar to the ''Union'', to the point where they could be confused; this in turn might have created the impression that cargo hauler ''Union''s are much more common than they actually are.)

*;Combined-Arms : An uncommon variant that removes the two fighter cubicles and drastically upgrades the life support system, enabling the ship to carry a company of [[infantry]].<ref name=TRO3057r28/>

*;Fighter Carrier (also colloquially known as "''Union CV''"): ''Union''s have been known to be refitted into aerospace fighter carriers, implicitly removing their 'Mech cubicles.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3025'', p. 136: CSR-V12 ''[[Corsair (Aerospace Fighter)|Corsair]]'' entry: "Battle History"; ''Fourth Succession War Atlas Vol. 1'', p. 25</ref>

*;Command ''Union'' : A "Command" version of the ''Union'' was mentioned that features a sophisticated and well-equipped command center, in a similar fashion to the ''[[Intruder]]'' or the "Command" version of the ''Overlord''.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3057'', p. 26, and ''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'', p. 24: ''[[Intruder]]'' DropShip entry</ref>

*;3055 Upgrade : First launched in July [[3055]] by [[Federated-Boeing Interstellar]], the upgraded modern ''Union'' boasts a return to Star League-era facilities with comparatively luxurious double and single occupancy berths and an improved air-filtration unit. The weaponry is also upgraded, trading the six [[autocannons]] for three [[gauss rifle|Gauss rifles]], switching to [[ER PPC|ER PPCs]] and [[ER Large Lasers]] and adding [[Artemis IV FCS]] to the LRM launchers. 85 [[Double Heat Sinks]] are used, the cargo capacity is reduced to 72.5 tons, and armor is also reduced slightly. BV (1.0) = 5,091;<ref>''AeroTech 2 Record Sheets'', p. 222</ref> BV (2.0) = 4,977.

*;Jihad Era Upgrade : Introduced during the [[Jihad]] and deployed by [[3070]], this version of the ''Union'' seems to be an evolution of the 3055 upgrade. The changes are comparatively minor, restoring armor to previous levels and exchanging the LRM launchers for [[MML-9]] launchers with Artemis and [[AMS]].<ref>''HexPack Promotion 1'', p. 16</ref> BV (2.0) = 5,094.

*; ''Pocket WarShip'' : A refit developed by the [[Word of Blake]], the Pocket WarShip variant of the ''Union'' attracted infamy for its shock appearance during the [[Jihad]]. Based on the upgraded model, the medium lasers have been replaced by [[ER medium laser]]s and the armor switched to thirty-three tons of [[Ferro-Aluminum]] plating, but the design appears otherwise visually identical. It's only when the two bow-mounted [[AR-10]] launchers fire that the differences become apparent. The 'Mech bays were gutted to provide the space required for the [[Capital Missile Launcher]]s and four [[Killer Whale]], six [[White Shark]], and ten [[Barracuda]] missiles. The fighter bays are retained while two [[Small Craft]] bays have been added to carry four squads of [[battle armor]] troops for boarding operations.<ref name=TRO3075>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 108</ref> BV (2.0) = 7,935<ref name=TRO3075/> or 6,450<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge'', p. 224</ref>

==Related Designs==
* ''[[Danais (DropShip class)|Danais]]''/''[[Trojan]]'' - The ''Danais'' was based on the ''Union''-class DropShip, albeit slightly smaller. It was originally designed as a civilian freighter that disarmed [[Periphery]] nations were allowed to build to haul cargo during the [[Star League Era]]. A militarized variant of the ship was the ''Trojan'' blockade runner. The ''Danais/Trojan'' is visually similar enough to be mistaken for a ''Union'', and some vessels even deliberately pretend to be ''Union''s to scare off potential attackers.
* ''[[Union-C]]'' - With a large number of ''Unions'' accompanying the [[Operation EXODUS|Exodus fleet]], the [[Clans]] refitted them to carry fifteen 'Mechs as per [[Clan military structure]], eventually resulting in [[2829]] in a heavier 4,000 ton redesign designated the ''Union-C''. BV (1.0) = 7,875; BV (2.0) = 7,955
* ''[[Union-X]]'' - Called the "Extended ''Union''" (''Union-X''), this evolution of the ''Union'' design was developed in [[3065]] as part of a diversification effort by [[Shipil Company]] of [[Skye]]. The slightly heavier ''Union-X'' strips out four 'Mech cubicles in favor of two additional fighters and berths for five [[squad]]s of battle armor troops, its revised weapon array consisting of six ER PPCs, two Gauss Rifles, six Artemis enhanced LRM-20's, ten [[ER Large Laser]]s, fourteen [[ER medium laser]]s, and four [[Ultra AC/5]]s. BV (1.0) = 6,106;<ref>''AeroTech 2 Record Sheets'', p. 226</ref> BV (2.0) = 7,356<ref>''Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged'', p. 303</ref>

==Named Vessels==
(See [[:Category:Individual Union-class DropShips|List of named Union-class DropShips]])

==Notes==
* Earlier sources described the ''Union'' as massing 3,500 tons, but ''[[Technical Readout: 3057 Revised]]'' changed that to 3,600 tons, stating in its preface that the earlier sources were found to be riddled with errors.<ref name=TRO3057r/> (Changes to the spacecraft construction rules had necessitated new stats for several established spacecraft designs.)
* The name of the ''Union'' may have been inspired by the (nonfictional) Soviet ''[[w:Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]]'' ("Union") spacecraft/rocket system, one of the premier ground-space transfer vehicles of its time around when BattleTech was created.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Union_3025.jpg|Original ''Union''-class DropShip (with 'Mech silhouette for scale) from ''[[Technical Readout: 3025|TRO:3025]]''
Union TRO3025Revised.png|Original ''Union''-class DropShip from ''[[Technical Readout: 3025 Revised|TRO:3025 Revised]]''
Union.png|Illustration of ''Union'' from ''[[DropShips and JumpShips|DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary]]''
Internal Union.jpg|Internal view of ''Union'' from ''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary''
Union TRO3057.png|''Union'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3057|TRO:3057]]''
Union TRO3075.png|Pocket WarShip-variant of ''Union'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3075|TRO:3075]]''
Union cutaway color TM.png|Cutaway of ''Union'' 3055 Upgrade from ''[[TechManual]]''
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* ''[[AeroTech]]''
* ''[[AeroTech 2]]''
* ''[[AeroTech 2 Record Sheets]]''
* ''[[BattleSpace]]''
* ''[[Combat Operations]]''
* ''[[DropShips and JumpShips]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Davion]]''
* ''[[HexPack Promotion 1]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Objectives: Periphery]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3025]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3025 Revised]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3057]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3057 Revised]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''
</div>


[[Category:DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Inner Sphere DropShip classes]]
[[Category:'Mech Carrier DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Military DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Pocket WarShip classes]]
[[Category:SLDF 2750 DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Spheroid DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Transport DropShip classes]]