Plunkett-class heavy artillery cruiser
| Plunkett class cruiser | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Cruiser |
| Primary User | Terran Confederation |
| Ships of the Line | |
| Introduction | 2670s to 2681 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Length | 1,200 meters |
| Mass | 200,000 tonnes |
| Crew | 800 |
| Spacecraft Carried | Fighter 15 Shuttle 5 |
| Performance | |
| Maximum Yaw | 5 dps |
| Maximum Pitch | 5 dps |
| Maximum Roll | 5 dps |
| Acceleration | 55 k/s2 |
| Velocity | |
| Cruise | 240 kps |
| Maximum | 240 kps |
| Armament | |
| Turrets | |
| |
| Components | |
| Cloaking Device | NA |
| Jump Drive | Yes |
| Source | Wing Commander: Secret Ops |
The Plunkett class Cruiser was a class of Confederation capital ship that was in service during the Nephilim War. These cruisers were designed to provide significant support for both offensive and defensive actions.
During the events of the Nephilim Incursion into Sol Sector, Murphy class destroyers and Plunkett class cruisers were instrumental in mounting a rapid defense of the sector. The heavy firepower of this cruiser class in combination with its fighter complement were effective but not infallible in engagements with Nephilim destroyers, cruisers, and their fighter complements.
As a result of the assistance of Plunkett class cruisers and Murphy class destroyers, the TCS Cerberus was able to defend multiple systems within Sol Sector and eventually assault the Proxima Wormhole gate.
Design and Construction
The Plunkett class cruiser was originally designed for fleet defense with moderately heavy anti-capship armament. The first block employed a large array of point defense turrets, two anti-fighter missile turrets on the center pylon, and a pair of Triple-Mount Turrets (the forward turret equipped with Heavy Particle Cannons and the Dorsal chin turret armed with Heavy Plasma Cannons).
This original design, however, proved inadequate when the TCS Plunkett and her sister ships TCS Cernan and TCS Borman engaged a group of pirate corvettes. Both the TCS Cernan and TCS Borman were destroyed while the Plunkett survived with major damage. The greater of maneuverability of the corvettes prevented the cruisers from effectively engaging the smaller vessels. This weakness resulted in a partial redesign of the cruiser's armament.
This second armament design was implemented on both new Plunkett class cruisers and refitted on those currently commissioned. This design replaced the central missile turrets with a pair of Triple-Mount Heavy Particle Cannon turrets. The combination of four heavy turrets provides the cruiser with significant anti-capship firepower at a greater firing arc. In addition, these turrets can be employed against fighters turning nearby space into a lethal field of large plasma and particle spheres.
For anti-fighter/bomber defense, this ship-of-the-line is outfitted with 15 Dual-Mount Point Defense Heavy Laser turrets and 6 Dual-Mount Tachyon Cannon turrets. Along the forward port and starboard sides are four galleries of 3 Dual-Mount Heavy Laser turrets and one rear-most Dual-Mount Tachyon Cannon turret. Around the engine nacelle are pair of the Dual-Mount Tachyon Cannon turrets (ventral and dorsal) and a pair Dual-Mount Heavy Laser turrets (port and starboard). A rear-facing Dual-Mount Heavy Laser turret is located at the bottom of the central plyon just above the Heavy Particle Cannon turret. This vast array of turrets offers significant protection for the both the cruiser and the larger fleet.
For added operational capability, the cruiser is designed to maintain a near full squadron of 15 fighters/bombers. This added functionality enhances the Plunkett's current role as both fleet defender and battleship.
Service History
Plunkett class cruisers along with the Murphy class destroyers formed the main line of defense during the Nephilim Incursion into Sol Sector in the year 2681. Multiple engagements involved class cruisers fighting Nephilim capital ships including Hydra class cruisers.
In addition to the efforts of the pilots and crew of the TCS Cerberus, the Ella Starbase and Ella system were defended by Murphy class destroyers and several Plunkett class cruisers including the TCS Tereshkova.
At least one Plunkett class cruiser was destroyed by Nephilim Mantas and a Hydra class cruiser in the Talos system when the TCS Cerberus entered the system.
If Luyten Station is destroyed by Nephilim forces, the TCS Bannockburn is sent into Luyten from Sirius to assist the TCS Cerberus.
If the TCS Cerberus is forced to fall back to Sirius, TCS Adelaide will join it in the assault on the Proxima system.
Known Ships
- TCS Plunkett
- TCS Cernan - destroyed (Unpublished source)
- TCS Borman - destroyed (Unpublished source)
- TCS Tereshkova
- TCS Bannockburn
- TCS Adelaide
- TCS Farnahm (Where was this Plunkett encountered?)
Possible Construction
- TCS Haise
- TCS Mitchell
- TCS Rukavishnikov
- TCS Ivanov
- TCS Popov
- TCS Farkash
- TCS Kubasov
- TCS Aksyonov
- TCS Pytlivy
- TCS Raduga
- TCS Rastoropny
- TCS Razitelny
- TCS Razyashchy
- TCS Razumny
- TCS Resitelny
- TCS Retivy
- TCS Revnostny
- TCS Rezky
- TCS Mogami
- TCS Kumano
- TCS Mikuma
- TCS Atago
- TCS Takao
Unpublished Material
Plunkett.doc
Development
Shortly after her commissioning, the Plunkett and two sister-ships (Cernan, Borman) were involved in a brief skirmish with a group of pirate corvettes. Through the course of the engagement, the Cernan and the Borman were destroyed as the faster and more maneuverable corvettes repeatedly flanked the two cruisers. The Plunkett was eventually able to force the remaining pirate vessels to disengage, and returned to port with heavy damage. Following this encounter, all the remaining ships in the class were scheduled for refit, which involved removing the two missile turrets, strengthening the pylon and mounting the particle cannons.
Specifications Note: The original layout of the Plunkett class cruisers mounted 2 anti-fighter missile turrets in place of the 2 particle cannon turrets on the center pylon.
References
- Wing Commander: Prophecy
- Wing Commander: Secret Ops
- Star*Soldier Manual
- WCP SO NewShips.doc - WCP SO Dev Backup
- Plunkett.doc - source location unknown
