With the release of v1.12, I've started a new campaign. Below are some early game corvettes I recently developed. I am just starting out and have only developed NPE drive tech thus far. I decided to use railguns as my primary point defense weapons this time around. This is my first attempt ever using railguns but after reading some of the other forum posts, they do seem promising for lower tech ships.
First, my survey corvette:
Seeking Glass class Survey Corvette 4,000 tons 110 Crew 672 BP TCS 80 TH 32 EM 0
400 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 2-22 Shields 0-0 HTK 27 Sensors 1/1/2/2 DCR 4 PPV 0.3
Maint Life 7.98 Years MSP 500 AFR 32% IFR 0.4% 1YR 14 5YR 209 Max Repair 100 MSP
Magazine 16
Knight Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 48 months Morale Check Required
APL M-1 Corvette Transient Wormhole Stabilzer Max Ship Size 4000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
APL P-32E Corvette Resonant Atomic Drive (1) Power 32 Fuel Use 19.76% Signature 32 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 283,000 Litres Range 64.4 billion km (1864 days at full power)
AAL S-1R Ordnance Deployment System (1) Missile Size: 1 Rate of Fire 3000
AISL Type 1 Point Defence Missile Targeting Computer (1) Range 2.5m km Resolution 1
AISL Type 1 Corvette Point Defence Gravimeter (1) GPS 1 Range 1.3m km MCR 113.5k km Resolution 1
AISL S-1 Thermal Emission Detector (1) Sensitivity 1 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 7.9m km
AISL S-1 Electromagnetic Wave Detector (1) Sensitivity 1 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 7.9m km
AISL Basic Mass Spectrometer (2) 2 Survey Points Per Hour
AISL Basic Spacetime Metrometer (2) 2 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
The Looking Glass class is intended to be self-sufficient and capable of performing both types of surveys in Sol and the surrounding systems. It mounts a jump drive capable of transiting 4k ton ships, which is the size limit I have imposed on 'corvette' class ships in my campaign. Thus, it can jump both of the other corvette designs listed below. It mounts dual geo and grav survey sensors for improved survey efficiency and utilizes a mid-size high fuel efficiency engine (at least for my current tech level). It is equipped with a small missile tube for launching scout missiles and survey buoys. This ship is not expected to participate in combat and it is hoped that it's armor, passive sensors will allow it to detect and flee from any potential threats and survive long enough for more capable ships to assist.
Next is my point defense corvette:
Sentinel class Point Defence Corvette 4,000 tons 88 Crew 356.9 BP TCS 80 TH 400 EM 0
5001 km/s Armour 3-22 Shields 0-0 HTK 18 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 3 PPV 3
Maint Life 4.05 Years MSP 327 AFR 43% IFR 0.6% 1YR 32 5YR 479 Max Repair 100 MSP
Knight Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 1 months Morale Check Required
APL P-200 Corvette Resonant Atomic Drive (2) Power 400 Fuel Use 63.25% Signature 200 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 57,000 Litres Range 4.1 billion km (9 days at full power)
AAL M-1 100mm Magnetic Accelerator Cannon (1x4) Range 10,000km TS: 5,001 km/s Power 3-1 RM 10,000 km ROF 15 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
AISL Type 1 MAC Targeting Computer (1) Max Range: 20,000 km TS: 5,000 km/s 88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
AISL P-3 GCFR Power Plant (1) Total Power Output 3 Exp 5%
AISL Type 1 Corvette Point Defence Gravimeter (1) GPS 1 Range 1.3m km MCR 113.5k km Resolution 1
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Range bands are given in 2500 km increments against 5 km/s targets
The Sentinel is intended to be used primarily as a colonial defense ship in squadrons of size four or greater. The fire controls are intentionally oversized in order to avoid unnecessary refit once better engine tech is developed (also a slower fire control would only save about 25 tons of hulls space). The maximum tracking speed of 4k km/s is the best I could achieve for a ship this size at current engine tech (NPE). The railgun used is the most rudimentary possible, and research is underway to improve capacitor and range technologies. The Sentinel's range is quite limited but can be extended using tankers in times of war. While the Sentinel is small enough to accompany Seeking Glass corvettes on survey missions it's extremely short deployment time limits it's station keeping capability. Long range target acquisition will be provided by another, as yet-to-be-developed, scout/spotter corvette. As no hostiles have yet been encountered, this ship is considered adequate for current colonial defense needs.
Finally, the supply ship:
Endurance class Replenishment Ship 4,000 tons 46 Crew 211.2 BP TCS 80 TH 100 EM 0
1250 km/s Armour 3-22 Shields 0-0 HTK 29 Sensors 1/1/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 2,033 Max Repair 25 MSP
Squire Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
APL P-100E Commercial Resonant Atomic Drive (1) Power 100 Fuel Use 11.18% Signature 100 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 918,000 Litres Range 369.5 billion km (3421 days at full power)
Refuelling Capability: 50,000 litres per hour Complete Refuel 18 hours
AISL Type 1 Navigation Gravimeter (1) GPS 1000 Range 18.5m km Resolution 100
AISL S-1 Electromagnetic Wave Detector (1) Sensitivity 1 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 7.9m km
AISL S-1 Thermal Emission Detector (1) Sensitivity 1 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 7.9m km
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
The Endurance is again limited to 4k ton displacement in order to allow it to work in tandem with the Seeking Glass survey corvettes. This ship provides basic refueling and resupply capability to other corvette sized ships and can also transfer fuel and supplies between colonies. It is slow, but well armored and equipped with a mid-range active sensor which can be used to assist Sentinels locate targets in emergencies.
I'm interested in seeing if other people have developed any similar sized early-game ships and also any suggestions for improving the ship's I've posted. I plan on using these designs until I reach ion drive engine tech at which point these ships will be scrapped/refitted with better engines and most likely other improved components. I also plant on developing larger 7-8 kton railgun frigates and 10-15 kton railgun cruisers down the road to provide ships with much better range and firepower.