Editing Samarkand Block II (WarShip class)

{{otheruses|the updated carrier design|other uses|Samarkand}}
{{InfoBoxWarShip
| image = [[File:Samarkand Carrier.jpg|191px]]
| name = ''Samarkand Block II''
| manufacturer = [[Draconis Combine]]
| Use = Aerospace Carrier <br/> Troop Transport <br/> Orbit-to-Surface Fire Support <br/> Escort Ship
| Tech Base = Inner Sphere [[Technology Rating|Advanced]]
| Cost = 
| Introduced = [[2668]] 
| production year=2668
| year reference=<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4971/ MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
| Mass = 350,000 tons
| Length = 501 meters
| Sail Diameter = 967 meters
| Safe Thrust = 2 g
| Top Thrust = 3 g
| Fuel = 2,678 tons (6,562 points)
| Burn Rate = 66.42 (maximum days)
| Sail Integrity = 3
| KF Drive Integrity = 8
| LF Battery = no
| Armament = <span></span>
* 2x [[Heavy NPPC]]
* 2x [[Medium NPPC]]
* 2x [[NAC/20]]
* 2x [[NL45]]
* 6x [[NL35]]
* 5x [[LRM 20]]
* 8x [[LRM 10]]
* 6x [[SRM 4]]
* 4x [[Large Laser]]
* 10x [[medium laser]]
* 38x [[Machine Gun]]
| Armor = [[Ferro-Carbide|Ferro-Carbide Armor]]
| DropShip Capacity = 4
| Crew = 35 Officers, 110 Enlisted/non-rated, <br/> 100 Marines, 204 Bay personnel
| Grav Decks = 150 meter <br/> 60 meter
| Escape Pods/Life Boats = 30/0
| Heat Sinks = 1,700
| Structural Integrity = 73
| BV (1.0) = 
| BV (2.0) = 35,258
}}

==Description==
The '''''Samarkand'''''-class ''Block II'' is a second-generation [[Draconis Combine]] WarShip sized aerospace fighter carrier. They were considered good escort vessels, but they are noted for not being able to handle vessels larger than itself due to its light complement of capital weaponry in addition to its thin rear facing armor and weapons.  In desperate situations, when fighter availability was low, the ''Samarkand'' was utilized as a last-ditch decoy to buy time for embattled ground forces.

The class was originally introduced in [[2579]] and served in the [[Reunification War]]. In [[2668]], 89 years later, [[Coordinator]] [[Urizen Kurita (27th c.)|Urizen Kurita]] authorized the construction of a new improved version of the venerable class.  The ''Block II'' was infused with new technologies that improved the ship's weaponry and armor over the original design. A large quantity of the class was produced which was utilized by the [[Star League Defense Force]] as escorts.

These ships were used as part of the liberation of [[Terra]] from the tyrant [[Stefan Amaris]] and his [[Rim Worlds Republic|Rim Worlds Republican]] Army.  Most of these ships were destroyed during [[Operation LIBERATION]].  Three ''Samarkand'' vessels are known to have participated in General [[Alexander Kerensky]]'s [[Operation EXODUS]]: the [[Beijing (Individual Samarkand-class WarShip)|SLS ''Beijing'']],<ref name="WORp162">''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 162: "WarShips"</ref> the CDS ''[[Deal Breaker]]'',<ref name="WoRp130">''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 130: "Vengeance on Vinton"</ref> and CSA ''[[Yorktown (Individual Samarkand-class WarShip)|Yorktown]]''.<ref name="WORp112+">''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 112–113: "Constriction"</ref>

The surviving units in the Combine's naval service were stationed on the border with the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Federated Suns]].  Nearly all these survivors were destroyed in the [[First Succession War|First]] and [[Second Succession War|Second Succession Wars]].

Only a single survivor of the class exists in the [[Inner Sphere]] as of [[3075]], the [[Togura (Individual Samarkand-class WarShip)|DCS ''Togura'']] which has been converted into an orbiting museum.<ref name=TRO:3075p216>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 216: "Samarkand (Carrier)"</ref>

==Armaments & Capabilities==
===Weaponry===
The principal capital weaponry includes, in its front arc, a pair of Medium Naval PPCs & a pair of Class 35 Naval Lasers. On its front sides it has single Class 20 Naval Autocannon complement per front-side arcs. Its capital broadsides feature only a single Heavy Naval PPC per arc, while its aft sides carry a pair of Class 35 Naval Lasers.  Protecting its aft quarter is a pair of Class 45 Naval Lasers.

Its conventional weaponry includes, in the nose, five LRM-20 launchers backed up four [[medium laser]]s.  On the ship's front sides, it has four LRM-10 launchers and three SRM 4 launchers providing close up protection.  On its broadsides, it has ten Machine Guns each, providing last-ditch defense with 100 rounds per side.

In each of its aft sides it mounts; A pair of Large Lasers and a pair of medium lasers together in a weapons, Five LRM-20 launchers, and six Machine guns per side with 100 rounds of ammo.

In the aft, the ''Samarkand'' has a single Large Laser with a pair of medium lasers and six Machine Guns providing protection against conventional threats.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3075'', pp. 216–217: Samarkand (Carrier) - Stats</ref>

===Protection===
The ''Samarkand'' has 511 tons of Ferro-Carbide Armor protecting its side and aft nearly evenly with 21 more tons mounted in the bow.  Its structural integrity is 74, 3 points more than the Block I ships.<ref name=TRO:3075p216/>

==Cargo==
The ship's payload includes:
* Bay 1: Fighters (36) - 4 Doors
* Bay 2: Small Craft (12) - 1 Door
* Bay 3: Fighters (36) - 4 Doors
* Bay 4: Cargo (36,029 tons) - 6 Doors

==Named Vessels==
:<u>Clan Cloud Cobra</u>
:* [[Beijing|CCS ''Beijing'']]

:<u>Clan Diamond Shark</u>
:* [[Deal Breaker|CDS ''Deal Breaker'']]

:<u>Clan Star Adder</u>
:* [[Yorktown (Samarkand)|CSA ''Yorktown'']]

:<u>Draconis Combine</u>
:* [[An Ting (Samarkand)|DCS ''An Ting'']]
:* [[Galedon II|DCS ''Galedon II'']] - the last active ''Samarkand'' to remain in service; destroyed by the [[Invincible (Tharkad)|LCS ''Invincible'']] at [[Hesperus II]] in [[2853]].<ref>Tactics of Desperation, Part I (BattleCorps Scenario)</ref><ref>Tactics of Desperation, Part II (BattleCorps Scenario)</ref>
:* [[Hagiwawa (Samarkand)|DCS ''Hagiwawa'']]
:* [[New Samarkand (Samarkand)|DCS ''New Samarkand'']]
:* [[Radstadt (Samarkand)|DCS ''Radstadt'']]
:* [[Togura (Samarkand)|DCS ''Togura'']]
:* [[Trondheim (Samarkand)|DCS ''Trondheim'']]

:<u>Free Worlds League</u>
:* [[Chronos (WarShip)|FWLS ''Chronos'']]

==See Also==
* [[:Category:Individual Samarkand-class WarShips|List of named ''Samarkand'' class WarShips.]]

==Related Ships==
* [[Samarkand Block I (WarShip class)|''Samarkand''-class (Block I) Carriers]]

==Notes==
* No canon record sheet has been produced for the ''Samarkand'' Block II, at the time of this writing.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Tactics of Desperation]]'' (BattleCorps Scenario)
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''
* ''[[The Wars of Reaving]]''

[[Category:WarShip classes]]
[[Category:Draconis Combine WarShip classes]]
[[Category:Carrier WarShip classes]]