Confederate

Confederate
Production information
Manufacturer	Kong Interstellar
Production Year	2602
Use	'Mech/ASF Carrier
Type	Spheroid
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Technical specifications
Mass	1,900 tons
Structural Integrity	10
Length	32.6 meters
Width	36.4 meters
Height	32.6 meters
Drive System	Thordan 650X
Safe Thrust	2 g
Max Thrust	3 g
Fuel (tons)	135 tons
Fuel (days)	73.4 days
Armament	14x Large Laser 20x medium laser
Armor	36 tons standard Ferro-Tile 87
Crew	10 2 Officers 2 Enlisted 6 Gunners (Crew Types) 2 Pilots 3 Engineers 5 Secondary Engineers Bay Personnel: 10
Escape Pods/Life Boats	2/0
Heat Sinks	92 single
BV (1.0)	2,733
BV (2.0)	3,220

Description

The Confederate-class military DropShip was once the standard Lance transport of the Star League Defense Force. Resembling a scaled-down Union, it was launched in 2602 by Kong Interstellar and served with the SLDF up to the Amaris Civil War. Many Confederates took part in Aleksandr Kerensky's Exodus, although some stayed behind to serve with the remaining Inner Sphere militaries. However, the technological decline of the Succession Wars meant maintaining the Confederate's advanced technology difficult, and by 3057 only two were reportedly still in service with Inner Sphere militaries. While initially mothballed upon their arrival at the Pentagon Worlds, Kerensky's Clans would begin reactivating their surviving Confederates in 2850.

The Confederate used one of the most advanced engine designs of the Star League era, its Thordan 650X engine taking up twenty percent less room and weighing ten percent less than its predecessors. While "austere," the vessel's layout makes living conditions on a Confederate less cramped than a comparable DropShip, and allows its cargo bays more versatility in carrying either BattleMechs, aerospace fighters, or a combination of both, along with general cargo.

Armament

With a loadout of fourteen Thunderbolt DT Large Lasers and twenty Hammon medium lasers, the Confederate lacks the diverse armament and punch of other DropShips such as the Leopard. However, its 36 tons of armor offer far superior protection, and the nature of its energy weapons ensures that ammunition is never an issue. This, coupled with the Confederate's efficient use of fuel, makes it a very self-sufficient vehicle capable of extended independent operations.

Cargo

The Confederate has three bays; the first and second carry the six fighting machines, each with their own ingress/egress door. The Star League-produced Confederate can transport either a reinforced lance of six BattleMechs or a standard lance of four and two Aerospace fighters. The third is used for cargo, has one door, and holds up to 64 tons of cargo.

Variants

• 2703

  The modified Confederate able to carry a lance of aerospace fighters in addition to four BattleMechs was unveiled starting in 2703.

• Clan 

  Despite their advancement in technology, the Clans made very few modifications to the Confederate. The only difference is that it is designed to carry a Star of five OmniMechs, divided between the first and second bays, with the third given two doors for spare parts in the 214-ton cargo bay.

See also

• Category:Individual Confederate-class DropShips

Notes

• In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Konföderation, which translates to Confederation.

Gallery

• 

  Original Confederate from TRO:2750

• 

  Clan refit Confederate from TRO:3057

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• BattleSpace
• Technical Readout: 2750
• Technical Readout: 3057
• Technical Readout: 3057 Revised