Katana-class Heavy Cruiser

[Gamov]

Katana-class Heavy Cruiser



General Stats:

Click for technical view

Class: Katana-class Heavy Cruiser
Affiliation: Republic Navy
Length: 807 meters
Crew:

-- Optimal: 4,800
-- Minimal: 1,700
-- Passengers: 2,000

Engines:

-- 3 Ion Engines

Powerplant:

-- Solar Ionization Reactor

Hyperdrive:

-- Primary: Class 4
-- Backup: Class 5

Weapon Payload:

-- Heavy Turbolasers: 20
-- Turbolasers: 30
-- Laser Cannons: 40
-- Ion Cannons: 20
-- ASF Batteries: 50
-- Proton Torpedoes: 20
-- Concussion Missiles: 30

Compliment:

-- Fighters/Bombers: 24
-- Ground Troops: 2,000
-- Support Craft: 20

Weapon Systems:

Main Battery

The Katana's main forward battery is what gives the ship its offensive power. Located in the bow are an array of proton torpedoes, concussion missiles, heavy turbolasers and ion cannons that are designed to deliver staggering firepower that can punch through enemy capital ships and other heavily armored targets. In order to accommodate the number of weapon systems present in the main battery, the Katana's prow was designed to be several meters wider than the midship (giving it a vaguely hour-glass shape). While this feature does make the Katana a fairly broad target in head on engagements, the sheer volume of fire that it can deliver in such cases is usually enough to deter (or outright destroy) any would be attackers.

-- Concussion Missiles (x30)

--- 3 banks of 10 missiles each fed by internal magazines. Can be equipped with standard missiles, unguided high yield missiles or lower yield homing missiles for greater long range accuracy versus smaller targets. Sometimes crews prefer to use a mix of high explosive and homing missiles in order to meet ever changing battlefield conditions.

-- Proton Torpedoes (x20)

--- 2 banks of 10 high yield, anti-capital ship grade torpedoes each fed by automated internal rail systems. Each torpedo tube has been modified with a number of high powered electro-magnetic rings that run the length of the chamber. These magnets help to propel the projectile at a higher rate of speed as they travel the length of the tube. When the torpedo exits the tube, it does so with extreme velocity, lending it exceptional piercing capabilities against un-shielded targets. The sheer force of the kinetic energy also makes them excellent against particle shields.

-- Heavy Turbolasers (x20)

--- Fire linked in 5 batteries containing 4 guns a piece. The Katana's heavy turbolaser batteries are fed directly into the ship's main reactor and equipped with specially designed heat sinks that radiate excess heat away from the batteries through venting ports on the exterior hull. The guns are equipped with variable power settings and can draw off of the ship's main reactor for a limited time in order to increase their damage output. Alternatively, the same method can be used on lower power settings to achieve a faster fire rate – but at the cost of fewer shots overall before they need to be allowed to vent and cool.

Port/Starboard Batteries

The Katana is also armed with a number of lighter weapons for use in fending off smaller craft (such as corvettes, frigates and fighters) that can easily outmaneuver the main forward battery. Found on either side of the ship are identical groupings of turbolasers, laser cannons, ion cannons and anti-starfighter (ASF) batteries that are designed to cover the Katana's exposed midship and aft sections from attack.

-- Turbolasers (x30)

--- Arranged in 6 groups of 5 guns a piece, the Katana's turbolasers can provide support to the ship's exposed flanks by giving it the firepower to engage smaller ships that manage to slip past the main battery. There are four groups of these guns located along both port and starboard sides (2 port and 2 starboard – making for a total of 10 guns to a side) and one group on the dorsal surface just in front of the CIC and bridge, while another group is located on the ventral structure just aft of the main hangar.

-- Laser Cannons (x40)

--- Set in 10 clusters of 4 turrets to a grouping, the laser cannons are among some of the most numerous guns on the Katana. With their greater numbers and turreted settings, the laser cannons are positioned to cover any gaps left in the defenses that are not covered by the turbolasers. These weapons can also be used to shoot down incoming projectiles such as missiles or torpedoes, and can even be used in ship to ship combat against lighter targets such as corvettes and freighters.

-- Ion Cannons (x20)

--- Set in 10 pairings of two cannons each, the ion cannons are positioned along both port and starboard flanks in between the banks of turbolasers. Their purpose is fairly straight forward – to aid the turbolasers in engaging enemy capital ships by depleting shields and disrupting enemy electronics.

-- ASF Batteries (x50)

--- The Katana's ASF batteries, while not the heaviest guns on the ship, are the most numerous and designed for one purpose – shooting down enemy fighters and bombers. Positioned along almost every conceivable surface of the hull, these guns use mixed munitions to provide an excellent field of coverage against almost any enemy. Roughly half of the Katana's ASF batteries use standard energy weapons, while the other half are outfitted with flak cannons and mass drivers.

Crew Accommodations:

-- CIC/Bridge

--- The most vital area of the ship, the bridge is the nerve center of the Katana. The foremost portion of the command deck consists of a large observation deck encircled with reinforced plasteel window panes that offer the command crew and unobstructed view of their surroundings. Located on either side of the command deck are crew pits which contain helmsman stations, navigators stations, communications stations and fire control stations. Working together, the soldiers who crew these stations help to keep the ship on course and her weapons operational.

Just behind the command deck sits the ship's Combat Information Center (CIC), a large circular shaped war room with a holographic projection table in the center that is used to display tactical data for the bridge crew during combat operations. Also located within the CIC are the ship's long range communications relay and sensor arrays, which are used to hail other vessels and provide the command crew with detailed information on battlefield conditions. The CIC also plays host to the ship's electronic warfare center, which is overseen by a contingent of Tactical Operations Officers (TacOps), the most senior of which is usually the ship's Executive Officer.

-- Officers Quarters

--- Located adjacent to the bridge are the Officers Quarters. This section houses the Captain's quarters, the Executive Officer's (XO's) quarters and a number of other guest rooms used to receive high profile visitors such as Senators, ambassadors and diplomats. Compared to the more Spartan accommodations that are provided to the rest of the ship's crew, the Officers Quarters are lavishly furnished and provide a number of common amenities and comforts not usually found on a military warship.

-- Barracks

--- Spartan by design and lacking in any real comforts, the barracks are home to the Katana's contingent of marines and security personnel. Outfitted with crew bunks, lockers, showers and a small rec room, the barracks serve as the home away from home for the Katana's combat personnel. Also located within the barracks is an armory that the marines use to help them maintain their weapons and equipment.

In order to serve as a more economically effective use of the ship's combat force, the brig is also located within close proximity to the barracks. This allows for the marines to pull double duty as both a fighting force and a security force that can be used to back up the ship's standard security detail should the need arise.

-- Observation Deck

--- The observation deck serves to provide a place where crew members can come to unwind. Framed in large plasteel windows that offer a sweeping panoramic view of the world outside the ship, the room is furnished almost like a lounge with large comfortable couches, armchairs and dining tables where crewmen can come to enjoy some peace and quiet from the day to day of their duties.

Recognizing the structural weaknesses of windows though, the Katana's engineers outfitted the viewports on the observation deck with thick durasteel shutters that can be sealed shut during combat operations in order to negate this vulnerability.

[MikDaTv]

Only issue I have with this is that it has a lot of space. Since its only 800 meters long and doesn't look particularly wide and carries a crew of 16,000+ people plus troops, plus 60 fighters and 40 support craft I'm wondering where they have space to put all the guns.

Just seems like something needs to give in either the compliment of the size department. It needs to be a few hundred meters bigger or have a smaller hanger or fewer facilities for troops.

[Gamov]

Alright, I tweaked the numbers.

[MikDaTv]

And accepted!