WarShip

In the BattleTech universe the term WarShip refers to starships that combine the capability of faster-than-light (FTL) jumps with powerful engines and heavy weapons and armour. Because of the former capability, they technically fall into the JumpShip category, but unlike these non-combattants, WarShips are geared for space combat. They outclass every common JumpShip and virtually any DropShip by an order of magnitude in size and power.

Description

Considered the pinnacle of starship engineering, the first WarShips were deployed by the Star League. At the height of the Star League, fleets of thousands of these behemoths roamed the stars, enforcing the League's will. The decline into Lostech during the Succession Wars left none operative and up until the Clan Invasion that begun in 3049, they were essentially extinct in the Inner Sphere, having fallen prey to attrition and combat action.

The defining aspect of a WarShip is the use of a Compact Kearny-Fuchida Drive, an expensive component that has only half the mass of a similarly powerful regular Kearny-Fuchida Drive yet a better integrity, parameters useful exclusively for combat JumpShips.

Construction

WarShips could be described as super-large DropShips with jump capability; they do not suffer from the lack of mobility normally associated with JumpShips. Instead, they mount powerful transit drives and can move through space like DropShips, including combat maneuvering. However, unlike DropShips, WarShips are incapable of atmospheric operations.

Many, but not all, WarShips have Hardpoints that allow them to carry DropShips with them, further increasing their cargo capacity and combat capabilities.

Dissemination

When Alexander Kerensky departed the Inner Sphere with his forces, they took with them 1.349 naval transports, escorted by 402 WarShips. Only 260 WarShips survived the Exodus civil war. It is estimated that since then, the Clans between them have built anywhere from 50 to 300 more. While each Clan fields 18 WarShips on average in the Inner Sphere, the actual numbers differ wildly from Clan to Clan. During the invasion, Clan Jade Falcon deployed the largest number of 28 WarShips, most of them Aegis class. Clan Wolf deployed the smallest number (2 ships).

Back in the Inner Sphere, the last operative WarShips were destroyed during the Second Succession War. A number of derelicts remain, and because of circumstancial evidence ComStar is believed to maintain at least a small fleet of WarShips although they do not admit to it.

Following the Clan invasion and the rediscovery of lost technologies, WarShip construction restarted in the Inner Sphere. In October 3056, ComStar's First Circuit decided to allow the sale of transit drives for WarShips (which only the ComStar-controlled Rolls-Royce factories on Terra could produce at the time) to the Draconis Combine and the Federated Commonwealth. Further recovery of lost technology has since enabled most greater powers in the Inner Sphere to field operational WarShips. Still, only the most industrious of Successor States can construct more than one at a time because of their astronomical costs.

Manufacturing

WarShips are the largest class of starship ever built. As such, they are built at orbital docks. They do not differ significantly from other spaceships (DropShips and JumpShips) in operation.

Virtually all WarShips are nowadays equipped with a Lithium-Fusion Battery system. Those that did not include one in their initial design have since been upgraded to carry one.

Known WarShip classes include:

• Aegis - 745,000 ton Heavy Cruiser, introduced 2372 by Terran Hegemony. Ferro-carbide armour, 4 Hardpoints, 6 fighters (20 after Clan upgrade) + 4 small craft (10 after Clan upgrade). Original class was mothballed in 2531, but reactivated in 2582 after all ships underwent a substantial upgrade program.
• Avatar - 830,000 ton Heavy cruiser, introduced in 2531 to replace Aegis class and in turn replaced by Luxor class. No details known.
• Bonaventure - Small patrol vessel, replaced by Vincent class.
• Baron - Star League ship, no details known besides described as "unimpressive". Replaced by Essex class in 2711.
• Black Lion - 802,000 ton Battlecruiser, introduced 2691 by Star League. 4 Hardpoints, 18 fighters (20 after Clan upgrade) + 10 small craft. Clan upgrade features Lamellor ferro-carbide armour.
• Bug-Eye - 6,100 ton Surveillance Vessel, introduced 2620 by Star League. No hardpoints, fighters or small craft. Lightly armed reconnaissance vessel small enough to blend in with DropShip traffic. All remaining ships joined the Exodus, but were mothballed by the Clans who regard such tactics as dishonourable.
• Cameron - 859,000 ton Battlecruiser, introduced 2668 by Star League. Ferro-carbide armour, 2 Hardpoints, 16 fighters (20 after Clan upgrade) + 2 small craft.
• Carson - Star League ship, no details known besides described as "unimpressive". Replaced by Essex class in 2711.
• Congress - 760,000 ton Frigate, introduced 2542 by Terran Hegemony. Ferro-carbide armour, 2 Hardpoints, 6 fighters (10 after Clan upgrade) + 4 small craft (5 after Clan upgrade).
• Dante - Capital ship class in production by ComStar up until 2949; no details known.
• Davion - ca. 520,000 ton Destroyer, introduced before 2606. Composite armour, no Hardpoint, no fighter complement. Upgraded to Whirlwind class.
• Essex - 612,000 ton Destroyer, introduced 2711 by Star League. Ferro-aluminium armour, no Hardpoint, 6 fighters + 4 small craft (10 fighters + 10 small craft after Clan upgrade).
• Fox - 235,000 ton Corvette, introduced 3057 by House Davion. Ferro-aluminium, 5 Hardpoints, 12 fighters + 2 small craft. Originally designated RX-78 class; renamed in honour of the late prince Hanse Davion, "the Fox".
• Fredasa - 175,000 ton Corvette/Raider, introduced 2962 by Clans. Lamellor ferro-carbide armour, 1 Hardpoint, 20 fighters + 2 small craft. Notable for small emergence signature.
• Impavido - 485,000 ton Destroyer, jointly introduced 3058 by Houses Marik and Liao, and Word of Blake. Ferro-aluminium armour, 2 Hardpoints, 18 fighters.
• Kimagure - Pursuit Cruiser with superior speed and maneuverability; no details known.
• Kirishima - 790,000 ton Cruiser, introduced 3061 by House Kurita. Ferro-carbide armour, 3 Hardpoints, 12 fighters + 2 small craft.
• Kyushu - 625,000 ton Frigate, introduced 3057 by House Kurita. Ferro-aluminium armour, 4 Hardpoints, 18 fighters (or 12 small craft). Bays for 108 'Mechs which can be dropped from orbit.
• Liberator - 830,000 ton Cruiser, Clan name for their upgraded version of the Avatar class. Ferro-carbide armour, 6 Hardpoints, 30 fighters. Notable for small emergence signature.
• Lola III - 678,000 ton Destroyer, introduced 2662 by Star League. Ferro-carbide armour, no Hardpoints, 6 fighters + 4 small craft (or 10 fighters).
• Luxor - Relaced the aging Avatar class in the early 28th century, no details known.
• McKenna - 1,930,000 ton Battleship, introduced 2652 by Star League. Ferro-carbide armour, 6 Hardpoints, 50 fighters, 16 small craft. Largest jump-capable craft built during Star League era, arguable best-known WarShip class. Excellent reputation.
• Monsoon - Battleship designed in the mid-24th century and replaced by Texas class in 2618. No details known.
• Naga - Star League ship, no details known besides described as "unimpressive". Replaced by Essex class in 2711.
• Nightlord - 1,200,000 ton Battleship, introduced 2932 by Clan Snow Raven. Lamellor ferro-carbide armour, 4 Hardpoints, 20 fighters. Carries 100 'Mechs and and Elemental points each; regarded as the ultimate in Clan-produced weaponry.
• Potemkin - 1,508,000 ton Troop Cruiser, introduced 2611 by Star League. Ferro-carbide armour, 25 Hardpoints, 10 small craft. Capable of moving an entire division of troops.
• Quixote - ca. 775,000 ton Frigate. No details known. Drive system considered too small. Replaced by Congress class in 2542. Chassis used as basis for the Volga class.
• Riga - ca. 595,000 ton Destroyer/Carrier, introduced 2747 by Star League. 2 hardpoint, no further details known. Extensively upgraded to York class.
• Sovetskii Soyuz - 823,000 ton Heavy Cruisder, introduced 2742 by Star League. Current version (after Clan refit) has been upgraded to ferro-aluminium armour, 20 fighters + 8 small craft.
• Suffren - 540,000 ton Destroyer, introduced 3062 by ComStar. Ferro-aluminium armour, 4 Hardpoints, 8 small craft.
• Texas - 1,560,000 ton Battleship, introduced 2618 by Star League. Lamellor ferro-carbide armour, 6 Hardpoints, 40 fighters + 16 small craft. Advanced ship commissioned to supplant the aging Monsoon class.
• Vigilant - Small patrol vessel, replaced by Vincent class. No details known.
• Vincent - 412,000 ton Corvette, introduced 2432 by Star League. Ferro-carbide armour, no Hardpoint, 6 fighters (10 after Clan upgrade) + 4 small craft. Upgraded Clan version is known as Vincent MK 42.
• Volga - 775,000 ton Transport, introduced 2709 by Star League. Ferro-aluminium armour, 4 Hardpoints, 20 fighters. Based off the hull of a mothballed Quixote class frigate.
• Whirlwind - 520,000 ton Destroyer, introduced 2606 by Star League. Ferro-carbide armour, no hardpoint, 10 fighters. Clan refit of older Federated Suns Davion class destroyers.
• York - 595,000 ton Destroyer/Carrier, introduced 2947. Lamellor ferro-carbide armour, 2 hardpoints, 50 fighters + 5 small craft. Clan refit of the older Riga class.