Riga (WarShip class)
Sarna News
- This article is about the original "Riga I". For other uses, see Riga.
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| |
| Riga | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Interstellar[1] |
| Introduced | 2440 |
| Production Year | 2440[2] |
| Use | Frigate |
| Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
| Cost | 3,780,867,999 C-Bills[citation needed] |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 750,000 tons |
| Length | 693 meters |
| Sail Diameter | 1375 meters |
| Fuel | 10,560 tons |
| Burn Rate | 39.52 |
| Safe Thrust | 1.5 g |
| Top Thrust | 2.5 g |
| Sail Integrity | 4 |
| KF Drive Integrity | 16 |
| LF Battery | No |
| Armament |
|
| Armor | 443.5 tons Ferro-Carbide |
| DropShip Capacity | 2 |
| Crew | 233[1]
Bay Personnel: 44 |
| Grav Decks | 2 (1 x 140 meters and 1 x 65 meters diameter) |
| Escape Pods/Life Boats | 31/20 |
| Heat Sinks | 2,100 single |
| Structural Integrity | 70 |
| BV (1.0) | 95,430[1] |
Contents
Description
Designed during the Age of War, the Riga-class frigate was meant to fill an overlooked mission profile: a large destroyer that could operate independently, but carried firepower comparable with contemporary cruisers. Given its history with the mismanaged Quixote, the Terran Hegemony Navy was wary of the project. The design was a result of a ten-year study of the organization and deployment of Navy assets by the Center of Strategic Studies and Hegemony Naval Command.[1]
Production eventually began in 2438 and the class was officially commissioned in 2440. Despite the skeptics' fears, the Riga performed its designed role admirably. The Riga-class vessels were able to carry out independent missions or serve as escort ships for fleets accompanying larger, more expensive vessels, mainly guard duty for Monsoon and Aegis deployments.[1]
Production of the Riga-class was eventually ended by the Congress-class in 2542, though the Riga stayed in service for quite some time, with decommissioning of the Riga-class only commencing upon the introduction of the Sovetskii Soyuz-class heavy cruiser in 2735. The last Riga-class vessel was mothballed in 2740.[1]
Following the decommissioning of the original Riga class, a second block of Rigas - designated the Riga II - were produced for the Star League Defense Force between 2747 and Christmas of 2766. The Riga II had just four-fifths the mass of the earlier Riga, and was classed as a destroyer and escort carrier rather than a frigate.[3] Riga II survivors among the EXODUS Fleet were found among various Clan toumans as the York-class carrier.[4]
The Word of Blake surprised the Inner Sphere by deploying two recovered Rigas during the Jihad, although both ships had been destroyed by 3073.[5]
Armament
The Riga-class is designed for long missions away from supply lines, fulfilling the mission objectives of contemporary destroyers. At the same time, the Riga-class mounts armor and weaponry comparable with contemporary cruisers.[1]
The ship’s armament is primarily energy-based, with an assortment of naval lasers and naval PPCs. In a compromise with the SLDF Navy, the ship also mounts naval autocannons in order to diversify its payload, with large ammunition stores for extending duty.[1]
Though formidable, the Riga is relatively defenseless alone against smaller aerospace assets, and is commonly deployed with two aerospace fighter squadrons.[1]
Cargo
As the Riga is meant for independent duties above all other roles, the class has a respectable capacity of 124,492.5 tons of cargo. The class has two DropShip collars, and two other bays capable of ferrying two squadrons of aerospace fighters and four small craft.[1]
- Bay 1: Aerospace Fighters (12), 2 doors
- Bay 2: Small Craft (4), 2 doors
- Bay 3: Cargo (124,492.5 tons), 2 doors
See Also
Related WarShips
- Riga II-class destroyer/carrier escort - the smaller Star League-era Riga survived the Star League Civil War and was found in thirty-first century service with the Clans as the York class carrier.
Gallery
Original Riga from TRO:3057 Revised
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, pp. 216–217: "Riga WarShip Profile"
- ↑ MUL online date for the Riga (WarShip class)
- ↑ Field Report 2765: Periphery, pp. 33–34: "Riga II (Destroyer/Carrier)"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 136: "York WarShip Profile"
- ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 128: "Word of Blake Naval Assets"