Gorgon (DropShip class)
- This article is about the DropShip class. For other uses, see Gorgon.
| |
| Gorgon | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Free Worlds League |
| Production Year | 3096[1] |
| Use | Fighter Carrier |
| Type | Military Aerodyne |
| Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 6,800 tons |
| Structural Integrity | 12 |
| Length | 103 meters |
| Width | 86 meters |
| Height | 39 meters |
| Safe Thrust | 2 g |
| Max Thrust | 3 g |
| Fuel (tons) | 500 tons |
| Fuel (days) | 271.7 days |
| Armament |
|
| Armor | 51.5 tons Ferro-Aluminum |
| Crew | 10[2]
Bay Personnel: 36 |
| Escape Pods/Life Boats | 3/3 |
| Heat Sinks | 88 double |
| BV (2.0) | 6,133[1][2][3][4] |
Description
Designed by elements of the former Free Worlds League near the end of the thirty-first century, the Gorgon-class DropShip is a medium-sized fighter carrier. The class first appeared in 3096 and was intended to act as an interdiction vessel to replace the SLDF-era Titan, with its fighter complement as its primary means of carrying out its missions. The ship would serve the splintered Free Worlds League well into mid-thirty-second century and continues to serve the partially reunited House Marik.[3]
Armament and Capacities
Though designed as an interdiction and force-projection vessel, the Gorgon is considered to be slow for interdiction missions. However, it carries a large payload of fuel in order to keep itself and its fighter complement supplied for its missions.
Often deployed in place of assault or "Pocket WarShip" type DropShips, the Gorgon is fitted with 51.5 tons of Ferro-Aluminum Armor to allow it to survive the rigors of these combat engagements. Its armor is spread almost evenly over the hull with slightly more emphasis on protecting the nose and wing sections.
With its ability to deploy three aerospace fighter squadrons, one of the ship's unique features is the cargo bay running the length of the hull, which can hold a thousand tons of cargo to sustain its fighter complement and itself. However, during the course of its active use, many ships would have their cargo bays modified into an internal bomb bay, effectively allowing the Gorgon to act as a massive bomber carrying aerospace craft that could deliver devastating bombing runs to both space and ground targets.[2]
The ship's weaponry includes three Extended-Range PPCs and three Gauss rifles with 48 rounds of ammunition in the nose section. Two weapons bays provide the ship with a powerful punch, along with its wing sections which include a Heavy PPC and a pair of Artemis IV-guided 15-tubed Long-Range Missile launchers with 48 volleys worth of fire. From these wing arcs, six anti-missile systems (3 per wing section) provided a screen of point defense fire against small- to capital-scale missiles. The Gorgon's aft weaponry included a pair of Artemis IV FCS-controlled 15-tube LRMs and three more anti-missile systems.[3]
Cargo
- Bay 1: Aerospace Fighters (18), 3 doors
- Bay 2: Cargo (1,002 tons), 1 door
Named Vessels
(See List of named Gorgon-class DropShips)
Design Quirks
The Gorgon features the following Design Quirk: