Snakeir-class carrier
| Snakeir | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Carrier |
| Manufacturer | Nar Kiranka Clan |
| 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 Nar 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Snakeirs served throughout the remainder of the War, but were soon superseded by more modern carrier models like the Bhantkara.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: | Clawmarks | Confed Handbook | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class: | Carrier | Super Dreadnaught | Super Dreadnaught |
| 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) Dual mounted Turreted Laser (6) |
Single mounted turreted laser (42) Dual mounted Turreted Laser (6) |
| Missiles: | Claw IR (2) | Torpedo Tubes (14) | Torpedo Tubes (14) |
| Fighter Compliment: | 100 | 200 | 200 |
| Crew: | 400-600 | 400-600, 500 Marines | 400-600, 500 Marines |
| Service Entry: | 2655 | 2649 | 2649 |
Snakeir supplement from Joan's Fighting Ships circa 2655
