Dreadnaught-class Heavy Cruiser
 Dreadnaught-class Heavy Cruiser | |
| Production Information | |
|---|---|
| Class |
Heavy Cruiser |
| Model | |
| Manufacturer |
Rendili StarDrive |
| Technical Specifications | |
| Length |
600 meters |
| Width |
120 meters |
| Height/Depth |
123 meters |
| Maximum Acceleration |
4 MGLT/s |
| MGLT |
13 MGLT |
| Engine Units |
Ion Engines (6) |
| Hyperdrive Rating |
|
| Shielding |
2,560 SBD |
| Hull |
1,216 RU |
| Armament |
|
| Complement |
|
| Crew |
16,600 |
| Minimum Crew |
8,800 to 9,000 |
| Passengers |
3,000 troops |
| Cargo Capacity |
9,000 metric tons |
| Usage | |
| Roles |
|
| Number in Fleet |
30 |
Contents
Characteristics[edit]
Dimensions[edit]
The keel of the Dreadnaught-class ran nearly 600 meters with the bow overlapping to produce a clamshell-like appearance. Each vessel had a cluster of weapons blisters spread across the hull. The ship was designated a heavy cruiser in standard classification.
The forward ventral portion of the Dreadnaught-class was used as a massive cargo hold, with a docking port located at the bow of the ship. Additional cargo holds were situated towards the center of the ship, in front of the areas housing the main reactor and secondary power generators. Docking ports were also located on either side of the ship.
Offensive and Defensive Systems[edit]
Weapon systems included twenty quad laser cannons (six bow, seven port, seven starboard), ten laser cannons (five port, five starboard and mounted in blisters), and ten turbolaser batteries (five bow, five stern). Some ships were later customized to feature a warhead launcher for anti-starfighter defense.
Deflector shield projectors were also located inside some of the blisters flanking the hull, and the primary and secondary sensor transceivers were located towards the stern of the vessel, on the dorsal and ventral sides, similar to those on CR90 corvettes.
While technologically advanced at the time of its construction, the Dreadnaught-class lacked in sublight and hyperspace speeds (a Class 4 rating), suffered computer failures, and could not compete with comparable designs in terms of firepower and shielding. Between three and five Dreadnaught-class cruisers could outgun one Imperial-class Star Destroyer.
Crew Complement[edit]
In addition to the technical drawbacks, Dreadnaught-class ships also required over 16,000 crewmembers to run at optimal performance—perhaps the highest crew per keel meter ratio of any modern starship. This high crew requirement put strains on recruitment efforts and turned supplying a Dreadnaught into a logistical nightmare.
Hangar Complement[edit]
The initial design was not focused towards carrier duty, but as the ships were upgraded and refitted, the center cargo holds were converted to hangar space, and a common compliment of 12 TIE starfighters was added to the vessel.
Main Bridge[edit]
Unlike many contemporary warship designs, the Dreadnaught-class did not have an easily visible bridge section, opting to shelter the command decks and crew stations inside the main armored superstructure. These areas were located on the dorsal side of the bow.
History[edit]
Dreadnaughts saw extensive use in the Imperial Navy due to their abundance. Battle squadrons assigned to unimportant systems were often assigned a Dreadnaught cruiser in place of a more modern cruiser. To increase its field potential, the Imperial Starfleet upgraded the ships' hyperdrive to Class 2 and converted cargo space into a hangar. With the hangar modification, a Dreadnaught could carry a squadron of TIE/ln starfighters. These upgraded cruisers now saw use as patrol ships, who maintained Imperial dominance over primitive worlds.
Ships of the Line[edit]
Source[edit]
- Credit to Wookieepedia for the above information
