Directorate Officer
Image Credit: background by me, ship model is modified Spartan Game's Hauberk-class Heavy Cruiser
Development Thread: Valley of Eagles
Manufacturer: Galactic Republic
Model: Arendal-class Heavy Cruiser
Affiliation: Galactic Republic
Modularity: No
Production: Mass
Material: Mirrsteel frame, trimantium/Duranium armor plating, transparisteel viewports, solar ionization reactors, other typical starship components
Classification: Balanced Heavy Cruiser
Role: Heavy Cruiser
Height: 140 Meters
Width: 320 Meters
Length: 800 Meters
Power Core Generator/Reactor: Solar Ionization Reactors (3)
Hyperdrive Rating: Class 1
Backup Hyperdrive Rating: Class 10
Minimum Crew: 810
Optimal Crew: 4,424 + 206 Gunners
Armaments:
1 Tyrvald-class Pulse Turbolaser
1 Heavy Long-Range Turbolaser Battery
20 Heavy Turbolasers
20 Rhogomyniad-class Mass driver Cannons
20 Triumph-class Light Quad Turbolasers
40 Turreted Light Energy Torpedo Launchers
24 Quad Laser Cannons
12 Quad Autoblasters
12 Anti-Missile Octets
Hanger:
36 Starfighters
4 Gunships
8 Dropships
4 Heavy Dropships
Special Features:
Aegis-class Anti-concussion Field Generator
Standard Communications Array
Encryption Network
Escape Pods
Holonet Transceiver
Imperial-style Internal Security structure
Standard Deflector Shield Generators
Standard Back-up Deflector Shield Generators
Standard Detention Cells
Standard Life Support Systems
Standard Navigational Systems
Standard Sensor Array
Standard Targeting Systems
Tractor Beam Projectors (8)
Speed Rating: 12
Maneuverability Rating: 12
Strengths:
-Balanced armament makes it capable for engaging a variety of opponents
-Modular construction makes its easier to construct than conventional heavy cruisers
Weaknesses:
-Balanced armament makes it not particularly effective against any one opponent
-Modular construction makes the internal structures weaker than normal
-Incapable of entering the atmosphere
Passenger Capacity: 1,340 marines
Cargo Capacity: 10,000 metric tons
Consumables: 12 Months
Who Can Use This: Galactic Republic
Description: The Arendal-class Heavy Cruiser is a government-produced heavy cruiser just entering service at the time right after the events of the Netherworld. Originally, the Arendal was designed to act as a dedicated fleet “knife fighter” with advanced engines and lightweight armor. Unfortunately for the original design, the cataclysmic events of the Netherworld disrupted the supply chain for the Arendal, leading to the loss of many of the more advanced components slated to be included in the design. This resulted in a more modest redesign that turned the warship into an entirely serviceable balanced heavy cruiser capable of being pressed into a variety of roles. Unfortunately, as a generalist design, the Arendal is not particularly effective against any one type of opponent.
The base of the Arendal-class design is a successful Lantillian cargo ship design, known as the Eagle-class. The Eagle's vast cargo bays were completely stripped out, leaving only the basic components such as the drive blocks, multiple solar ionization reactors, and life support systems. Taking a cue from Loronar's now-ancient Strike Cruiser, most of the internal areas of the vessel are manufactured in modules and then fitted to the Mirrsteel frame. This aids the ship in being produced quickly and cost-effectively, but makes the internal structure within the modules weaker than normal. Thankfully, a moderately thick carapace of bi-layered Trimantium and duranium plates protects this weak structure. Should the armor be breached, the ship will fall apart quicker than typical designs. Aside from typical shield generators, the Arendal-class also incorporates back-up shield generators as well as an Aegis-class anti-concussion field generators. This all makes the Arendal reasonably endurable in a fight.
Taking another clue from the Strike Cruiser, the internal security structure uses of code cylinders to control access around the ship. If that security is tripped, laser traps and ray-shielded blast doors add an another element to impede intruders, but the primary defense of the ship itself lies in the ship's marine complement. These security measures are heaviest around the windowless bridge, located deep within the ship's superstructure. The bridge itself follows an amphitheater design, with a central holo-projector and several holo-tanks on the bottom floor with the projector. The various tiers above the base floor contain the working stations for the bridge crew, including the commander's station. Almost every officer has a station there, with the exception of the starfighter and ground forces commanders, who have their own command suites by their units.
As part of the Galactic Republic's shift to a combined arms service, a primary function of the Arendal is to serve as a mobile base for smaller starships and ground units, including mechanized troops. While the Arendal does not carry as many troops and vehicles as a dedicated planetary-assault type heavy cruiser like a Victory Mk I-class Star Destroyer, the troops and vehicles carried are generally enough to defend or seize small towns and cities. Because the Arendal is not atmosphere capable, unlike many heavy cruisers such as the Victory Mk I or the newer Impregnable-class, the Arenal has dedicated a sizable amount of its hangar to hold the support craft capable of shuttling the troops to the ground from orbit, and vice versa. The rest of the ship's hangar is dedicated to holding a complete starfighter wing. In solo operations, the Arendal typically carries a mix of starfighters and starbombers of any number of types. When assigned to large fleets, the Arendal's wing is generally all of the same type, and then, often the same model. The starfighters offer some modularity in the ship's offensive power, but the main power of the Arendal lies in its own, diverse weapon systems.
The biggest weapon on the Arendal-class is a ventral, turreted Tyrvald-class Pulse Turbolaser. Originally, the Arendal was slated to carry another one of these massive guns, but with a reduced speed due to the events of the Netherworld, the topside one was replaced with a heavy long-range heavy turbolaser battery, granting the ship a modicum of long-range firepower. The rest of the weapons are designed to complement the designs of some of the larger, heavy gun-centric warships in the Republic Navy, such as the Avenger-class Star Defender. To this end, the Arendal carries a variety of heavy turbolasers, mass driver cannons, turreted energy torpedo launchers, and light quad turbolasers. On a more defensive side, the Arendal carries an array of quad laser cannons for anti-starfighter work while a dozen anti-missile octets are oriented more towards projectile threats. The quad autoblasters are close-quarters weapons reasonably good at destroying strafing starfighters and incoming warheads. This wide variety of weapons means that the Arendal is not well-suited towards engaging any one opponent, but is capable of engaging any opponent with some hope of success depending on its crew's skill and the situation at hand.
The Arendal is a government-owned design, and is produced by a variety of companies for the Republic navy. Some of the cruisers are being assigned to large core-ward battle fleets, but several Republic officers have been successful in getting them produced for their own commands by local manufacturers. The lead warship of the class, the Arendal, has been continued to remain under Commodore Quee's command after his leadership in its project and construction stages.
