Winchester (WarShip class)

This article is about the WarShip. For other uses, see Winchester.
Winchester (Cruiser) TRO3057r.png
Winchester
Production information
Manufacturer Illiushin Shipyards[1]
Introduced 2364
Production Year 2364[2]
Use Cruiser
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Cost 4,286,635,000 C-Bills
Technical specifications
Mass 740,000 tons
Length 457 meters
Sail Diameter 870 meters
Fuel 10,000 tons (25,000)
Burn Rate 39.52
Safe Thrust 1.5 g
Top Thrust 2.5 g
Sail Integrity 4
KF Drive Integrity 15
LF Battery No
Armament
Armor 541 tons standard
DropShip Capacity 3
Crew 120[1]
  • 63 Officers
  • 26 Enlisted
  • 31 Gunners

Bay Personnel: 54
Marines: 56

Grav Decks 2 (1 x 70 meters diameter, 1 x 90 meters diameter)
Escape Pods/Life Boats 30/42
Heat Sinks 1,500 (single)
Structural Integrity 75
BV (1.0) 70,763[1]

Description[edit]

During the upheaval caused by the fall of the Terran Alliance and the rise of more powerful Inner Sphere realms, including the Federated Suns and the Terran Hegemony, the Taurian Concordat sought to secure its future with an arming campaign which included the construction of a fleet. First among its new WarShips would be the Winchester-class cruiser.[1]

The Winchester is fast and heavily armored compared with contemporary classes of WarShip. These attributes are even more impressive, considering the heavy industrial base required to construct a WarShip; the first Winchester-class vessel slipped its moorings only 111 years after the first humans set foot on Taurus, and just 29 years after Richard Calderon expanded the aegis of the Taurian Concordat beyond the limits of Flannagan's Nebulea. As such, the Winchester became the pinnacle of Taurian martial pride and the height of a Taurian naval career.[1]

However, the Winchester had become obsolete by the time the Concordat faced its first full-scale interstellar warfare. The last of the aging Winchester-class were destroyed during the Reunification War, with the final vessel sinking above Robsart in 2581.[1]

Armament[edit]

The armament of the Winchester-class is mixed, allowing vessels to engage targets both large and small. However, compared with later cruisers and heavier classes, the Winchester’s light armor and armament ensured that crews fighting during the Reunification War were doomed.[1]

The capital armament focuses on an array of naval lasers and several naval autocannon batteries. In addition, the ship mounts Barracuda missile systems and large and medium lasers, as well as AC/5s, all capable of shooting down aerospace assets.[1]

Cargo[edit]

Though not intended as a cargo vessel, the Winchester featured a trio of DropShip rings, as well as berting space for 2 squadrons of twelve fighters and six small craft. This capacity allowed the Winchester to carry its own naval escort, or allow Winchesters to ferry troops. Its own complement of two platoons of space marines would often man any boarding craft needed by the vessel. In addition, the Winchester is also capable of transporting 154,681.5 tons of cargo.[1]

See Also[edit]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 214: "Winchester (Cruiser) Profile"
  2. MUL online date for the Winchester (WarShip class)

Bibliography[edit]