Rigellian Fighting Ships: Light Cruisers
Light cruisers have been a part of the Imperial Rigellian Navy almost as long as the destroyer. All Naval aficionados will have heard of the famous Invincible series, both in its time as the premier fighting ship of the Rigellian battleline and in more recent close combat role, but there are several other cruisers classes with an interesting history. This is a complete list of all light cruisers designed as warships but does not include support ships based on a light cruiser hull. Note that this document is a contemporary of the destroyer report and therefore does not include the very latest Rigellian designs.
Prototype Light Cruiser class CL (AC) 45 HS TL-2
[3] SSSSAAAH(I)(BbS)R(II)RR(I)DbR(II)RDbQLh(I)Db(II)RMg [6/3]
45 RCP 5 MCP Trg: 1 PV = 24 Cost = 485.7 / 72.9
HTK 30 Sx4 Ax3 Dbx3 Rx6 Mgx1The Prototype Light Cruiser was the superdreadnought of its day. The first light cruiser to be built for the Imperial Rigellian Navy, it was fifty percent larger than the Tribal Mod 1 class destroyers which at that time formed the Empire's main striking power. The impetus for the design and construction of the ship came from the discovery of the Roman Republic and the alien empire's apparent hostile intentions. Endeavour, the lead ship of the class, completed its shakedown cruiser just in time to lead the Rigellian defence of the Beta system against a Roman offensive. Together with the later Invincible class, the Prototype Light Cruisers formed the backbone of the fleet which led the Empire to victory in its first interstellar war.
Invincible class CL 45 HS TL-2
[3] SSAH(BbS)(II)W(I)W(II)WQLh(I)WDbW(II)WDbW(I)WMg [6/3]
45 RCP 5 MCP Trg: 1 PV = 27 Cost = 538.5 / 80.8
HTK 27 Sx2 Ax1 Dbx2 Wx8 Mgx1The Invincible class light cruiser was designed to incorporate the new gun\missile launcher. Although it had a thirty-three percent increase in firepower over the Prototype Light Cruiser class and was far superior at close range, the Invincible suffered defensively, having two basic point defence systems instead of three and less than half the armour and shields of its predecessor. It was hoped the increased firepower would be decisive during the first stages of a warp point assault when not all the enemy ships would be alerted. The Invincibles had their combat debut during the assault on the Roman home system and performed well, although they lacked staying power in a close range sprint-mode engagement.
Flagship class CL 45 HS TL-2
[3] SSSAAAH(I)(II)(I)W(II)WDb(I)WQLh(CC)(CIC)Db(BbS)(II)WMg [6/3]
45 RCP 5 MCP Trg: 1 PV = 31 Cost = 616.5 / 92.5
HTK 28 Sx3 Ax3 Dbx2 Wx4 Mgx1Only a single Flagship class light cruiser, the Alexander, was ever constructed. The ship was designed for a fleet commander and had excellent command, control and communication facilities. However, the space requirements for those systems, plus the additional armour and shielding, resulted in a major reduction in offensive capability, leaving the Alexander with only half the broadside of the Invincible class. The boat bay on the flagship class was positioned behind the strongest defences, allowing the escape of the fleet commander in an emergency. Alexander was destroyed during her first battle, the warp point assault against the Roman home system, but the then Third Swordsman Fuchida managed to escape using a cutter from the well protected boat bay.
Invincible Mod 1 class CL 9 XO Racks 45 HS TL-2
[3] SSAH(BbS)(II)W(I)W(II)QLhW(I)WWDb(II)WWDb(I)WMg [6/3]
45 RCP 5 MCP Trg: 1 PV = 29 Cost = 565.5 / 84.8
HTK 27 Sx2 Ax1 Dbx2 Wx8 Mgx1The Invincible Mod 1 is very similar to its predecessor with the only real change being the addition of nine external ordnance racks. The order of the internal systems was also slightly modified.
Invincible Mod 2 class CL 9 XO Racks 45 HS TL-3
[3] SSSAAAZH(BbS)(I)(II)(I)WWLhQ(II)M2WD(I)WDWD(II)WMg [6/3]
45 RCP 5 MCP Trg: 3 PV = 33 Cost = 643.5 / 96.5
HTK 31 Sx3 Ax3 Dx3 Wx6 Mgx1The Invincible Mod 2 was a significant improvement on its predecessor. Although twenty-five percent of the offensive armament was removed, this was compensated for by the installation of datalink and multiplex tracking, an upgrade to second generation point defence, including the addition of a third system, and increases in armour and shields in order to protect the fragile datalink. Despite the availability at the time of long range scanners, it was decided not to install them on the Invincibles as they were designed to work in concert with the first heavy cruisers once they become available and the scanners were not required for the maximum range of the Invincibles' weapon systems. The Invincible Mod 2s first saw combat in the joint Rigellian - Octopi defence of the Ice system against the Arachnid Omnivoracity. They were involved in the thick of the action and performed according to expectations.
Invincible Mod 3 class CL AM1 9 XO Racks 45 HS TL-5
[2] SAix16ZH(BbS)(I)(II)(I)(II)FDFM4D(I)QLhFD(II)F [6/3]
45 RCP 5 MCP Trg: 5 PV = 40 Cost = 798.5 / 119.8
HTK 39 Sx1 Aix16 Dx3 Fx4The Invincible Mod 2 served the Empire well as the primary light cruiser design for almost three years. However, the advance of technology meant it began to fall behind compared to its potential opponents and was in need of a new lease of life. That came with the advent of force beams. The new Invincible Mod 3s were giving a different role than their predecessors, being designed uncompromisingly to survive in intense, close combat and inflict maximum damage at point-blank range.
The Invincible Mod 3 lost the six gun\missile launchers of the Mod 2, gaining four force beams in their place. Although the shields were reduced to a single generator, the newly developed Improved Armour provided five times as much protection as before, giving the ship the strong passive defences required for its new mission. The final change was an upgrade to the multiplex tracking system.
Invincible Mod 4 class CL AM2 9 XO Racks 45 HS TL-8
[1] S0x8Aix8ZH(BbS)(II)(I)(II)(I)(II)M4FcQLhFcDz?Dz(I)Fc [6/3]
45 RCP 5 MCP Trg: 5 Def: -3 PV = 66 Cost = 1010.5 / 151.6
HTK 37 S0x8 Aix8 Dzx2 Fcx3By the time the Invincible series was upgraded again, the light cruiser hull seemed a fragile shell beside the superdreadnoughts and carriers engaged in the titanic struggle against the Omnivoracity. However, the series had a proud history and the Invincibles were not ready just yet to give way to their larger brethren. Almost three more years had passed between the Mod 3 and the first Mod 4 and technology had advanced rapidly in the meantime. Capital Force Beams, Electronic Countermeasures, Augmented Shields and Datalinked Point Defence combined to extend the operational life of the series and create a ship which would have appeared almost magical to the crew of the original Invincibles. The Mod 4s have performed well in action, most recently in the close range battle in Hiroshima which finally cleared the Arachnid force blocking the Hiroshima - Tanega warp point. Seventeen Invincible Mod 4s are still on active service.
Immortal class CL AM2 9 XO Racks 45 HS TL-8
[1] S0x5Aix5ZH(BbS)(I)(II)(I)(II)(I)DzDzM4WaDzWaDzQLhDz?WaDz(II)WaMg [6/3]
45 RCP 5 MCP Trg: 5 Def: -3 PV = 77 Cost = 1170.5 / 175.6
HTK 37 S0x5 Aix5 Dzx6 Wax4 Mgx1
The Immortal class is a carrier escort, designed to protect the Forrestal class light carriers. Based on the much larger Eradicator class escort battlecruiser which protects the Ark Royal class fleet carriers, each Immortal forms a datagroup with a pair of Forrestals, using its six datalinked point defence systems to provide cover against missile attack while its respectable secondary battery of advanced gun\missile launchers provides additional firepower against fighters and, with anti-matter standard missiles used in sprint mode, a last line of defence against enemy swarm units. Eleven are in service.
Steve
