Yorktown-class light carrier
| Yorktown-Class Light Carrier | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Light Carrier |
| Primary User | Terran Confederation |
| Length | 720 meters |
| Mass | 28,000 metric tonnes |
| Max Velocity | 120 kps |
| Acceleration | 10 k/s^2 |
| Max Y/P/R | 5/5/5 Deg/s |
| Missiles | Capship Missile Launcher |
| Turrets | Dual-Mount Laser Turrets (11) |
| Armor | 1000 cm fore/aft/sides |
| Shields | 3000 cm equivalent fore/aft/sides |
| Fighter Complement | 40 |
| Jump Drive | Yes |
The Yorktown-Class Light Carrier is a light carrier that once saw extensive service with the Terran Confederation. A pre-Kilrathi War design, it is now considered obsolete, but nonetheless saw much action during the Terran-Kilrathi War.
The Yorktowns were introduced long before the onset of the Terran-Kilrathi War, having first been designed in the 2500s. Built as light carriers, they were rather small for their class, and only carried half the standard starfighter complement of a traditional fleet carrier. Equipped with only about a dozen laser turrets and a single missile launcher, the Yorktowns were considered poorly-defended by the time of the Kilrathi War. Their design bore an unmistakable resemblance to that of the much more modern Concordia-Class Fleet Carrier, but was generally inferior in comparison.
Despite their age, the Yorktowns remained combat-ready for much of the Terran-Kilrathi War. As newer carrier classes came online, however, they were phased out from service. However, the crippling carrier losses sustained in the 2660s, especially after the disastrous aftermath of the Battle of Earth forced the Confederation to recommission ageing carriers like the Yorktowns to compensate for these losses.
By far the most famous Yorktown to date was the TCS Victory, commanded by long-time crewman Captain William Eisen. In 2669, the Victory was sent to the frontlines with famed pilot Colonel Christopher Blair leading its wing. During that year, the Victory took part in numerous operations against the Kilrathi, including a successful incursion into the Ariel System. The Victory was specially chosen to lead the escort mission for the TCS Behemoth, which was to destroy Kilrah before its untimely destruction at the hands of the Kilrathi. Finally, it was the pilots of the Victory who delivered the Temblor Bomb that would finally destroy Kilrah that year, ending the Terran-Kilrathi War.
The Yorktowns were finally retired from combat with the end of the Kilrathi War. The Victory was later refurbished as a museum ship and now orbits Jupiter in the Sol System.
