Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard
Vessel Profile
TypeWarShip
ClassCongress

The Congress-class frigate CSJ Snow Leopard was a WarShip active in the Clan Smoke Jaguar touman in the 3050s.

History[edit]

When a multinational task force from the Second Star League arrived to attack Luzerne in late June 3059 as a part of Operation BULLDOG the Snow Leopard and a sister Smoke Jaguar WarShip, the Lola III-class destroyer CSJ Storm Cat were in the system acting in support of the recently arrived Kappa Galaxy.[1] The Star League forces called for safcon to the surface of Luzerne, but the Smoke Jaguars refused the call, leading the Com Guard Sovetskii Soyuz-class heavy cruiser CSV Harmonious Thought and supporting combat DropShips to try and push through the defending Smoke Jaguar forces.[2]

The Harmonious Thought and an accompanying Titan-class DropShip, the CSV Terra's Shield, deployed a grand total of six Level IIs of aerospace fightersVigilant Wings II-Pi, Blake's Redoubt II-Pi and Steadfast Will II-Pi from the Harmonious Thought and Wisdom Through Devotion II-Pi, Swift Justice II-Pi and Faith's Messengers II Pi from the Terra's Shield—and moved alongside the Claymore-class DropShip FCS Claymore and the Avenger-class DropShip FCS Alacrity to intercept the Smoke Jaguar WarShips.[3]

The Smoke Jaguars' defense hinged around the Snow Leopard and the Storm Cat, each accompanied by a Star of Clan OmniFighters, as well as four assorted DropShips: an Overlord-C, a Sassanid, a Lion, and a Carrier which added another Star of OmniFighters to the mix.[4] The Smoke Jaguars deliberately targeted the various transport DropShips carrying the Second Star League forces and managed to destroy half of them despite the efforts of the Harmonious Thought and the other escort vessels. The Harmonious Thought was also destroyed after an admirable fight that saw the Storm Cat destroyed and the Snow Leopard crippled, with the remainder of the transport flotilla getting enough time to complete their combat drops.[1]

Despite this, the Luzerne action was considered a disaster for the Bulldog forces; the Second Star League forces were scattered across the planet and soon discovered that they were facing not just the anticipated garrison forces but also front-line units[5] from Kappa Galaxy.[1]

It was noted that the Snow Leopard was only crippled and not destroyed during the Battle of Luzerne. It is likely this is the Congress-class WarShip that the Draconis Combine deemed unsuitable for recovery and repair, forcing them to scuttle the vessel in the aftermath of Operation Bulldog.[6]

Fighter Complement[edit]

Hammer Star - veteran[4]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Historical Turning Points: Luzerne, p. 6: "The Battle of Luzerne"
  2. The Dragon Roars, p. 26: "Situation"
  3. The Dragon Roars, pp. 26–27: "Attack Flotilla"
  4. 4.0 4.1 The Dragon Roars, p. 27: "Defender"
  5. The Dragon Roars, p. 28: "Aftermath"
  6. Field Manual: Updates, p. 105

Bibliography[edit]