Snakeir-class carrier
| Snakeir | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Carrier |
| Manufacturer | Kiranka Clan |
| Primary User | Kilrathi Empire |
| Introduction | 2649 |
The Emperor of Kilrah personally commissioned the production of the Snakeir-class dreadnought line in 2649, among the heaviest battleships to enter service until the final stages of the Terran-Kilrathi War. The dreadnoughts are built and manned only by members of the Kiranka Clan. At least 51 were produced, of which seven were destroyed by 2654 (five in combat and two in accidents). As is often the case with Kilrathi capital ships, multiple sizes exist: the 915-meter long standard version and a huge three to four kilometer long command ship. No Snakeir-class ship has ever been captured.
Six years later, the massive battleship design was revised into a smaller, dedicated fleet carrier. The Empire deployed between four and ten of the carriers in late 2654 and early 2655. They first saw action in the Ardai System, while combat testing the (at the time) new Hhriss-Class Fighter. Snakeir carriers went on to serve at the defense of Jakarta and with the strike fleets invading Firekka.
Major James Taggart led the first successful strike against a Snakeir - sacrificing a Rapier II and its pilot to destroy the carrier. Commodore Christopher Blair is credited with three confirmed Snakeir kills - the super-dreadnought KIS Grist'Ar'Roc, lured into a gravity well in the Sol System, and two carriers during the Firekka campaign.
Other notable Snakeir include the super-dreadnought KIS Shak'Ar'Roc, which led the fleet that attempted to capture the renegade TCS Olympus in 2654.
Snakeirs served throughout the remainder of the War, but were soon superseded by more modern carrier models like the Bhantkara.
Specifications
| Source: | Claw Marks | Confed Handbook | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class: | Carrier | Super Dreadnought | Super Dreadnought |
| Length: | 650 meters | 915 meters | 3,000 - 4,000 meters |
| Mass: | 30,000 metric tonnes | 67,000 metric tonnes | 200,461 metric tonnes |
| Max Velocity: | 150 kps | 150 kps | 150 kps |
| Cruise Velocity: | 100 kps | 100 kps | 100 kps |
| Acceleration: | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Max Y/P/R: | 1/1/1 dps | 1/1/1 dps | 1/1/1 dps |
| Fore Shield: | 37.0 cm equivalent | Meson | Meson |
| Aft Shield: | 37.0 cm equivalent | Meson | Meson |
| Front Armor: | 28.0 cm | 28.0 cm | 28.0 cm |
| Right Armor: | 36.0 cm | 36.0 cm | 36.0 cm |
| Left Armor: | 36.0 cm | 36.0 cm | 36.0 cm |
| Rear Armor: | 24.0 cm | 24.0 cm | 24.0 cm |
| Guns: | Single mounted turreted laser (6) Dual mounted Turreted Laser (11) |
Single mounted turreted laser (42) |
Single mounted turreted laser (42) |
| Missiles: | Claw IR (2) | Torpedo Tubes (14) | Torpedo Tubes (14) |
| Fighter Complement: | 100 | 200 | 200 |
| Crew: | 400-600 | 400-600, 500 Marines | 400-600, 500 Marines |
| Service Entry: | 2655 | 2649 | 2649 |
Official Authorized Wing Commander Confederation Handbook
| Snakeir-Class Super-Dreadnought | |
|---|---|
| Length | 915 meters |
| Mass | 67,000 tonnes |
| Max Velocity | 150 KPS |
| Cruise Velocity | 100 KPS |
| Guns | 42 Point-Defense |
| Missiles | 14 Torpedo Tubes |
| Armor | Fore and aft meson shields 28 cm fore/24 cm aft armor |
| Fighter Complement | Fighter Complement |
The largest warship in the known Kilrathi arsenal, the Snakeir was first observed in battle in late 2649. It is believed to carry hangar space for at least 200 fighter craft. In addition to serving as a large carrier, its other purpose is to act as a space-to-planet missile platform, launching high-orbital and even interplanetary munitions at static targets. Recently, reports of long range, self-guided ship-killer torpedoes being launched from Snakeirs at Confed warships have filtered through.
The capacity and capabilities of the Snakeir are highly speculative, as an intact specimin has never been taken in combat. Extrapolating from known design specs of earlier Kilrathi warships, it probably has a complement of officers and crew between 400 and 600 strong, plus additional space for up to 500 warriors, trained to served both as pilots and as marines.
A Snakeir is usually accompanied by at least three destroyers or cruisers, with at least a dozen Krant escort fighters guarding the force at all times. It is usually found escorting Kilrathi transports to the front.
51 individual Snakeirs have been reported engaged in operations on the front, of which four are known to have been destroyed in battle, and two believed lost to accident or mishap. All known Snakeirs have born the markings of the imperial house, suggesting that the individual clans and worlds of the Empire do not sponsor Snakeir production, but that the Emperor has personally commissioned these ships for use in the Confed conflict.
Snakeir supplement from Joan's Fighting Ships circa 2655
