Grand Admiral, First Order Central Command
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Image Credit: Original by JBJHJM, modified by [member="Fiolette Yvarro"]
Intent: To finally update the Darr Itah design to encorporate some First Order tech and more fit their concept of design.
Canon Link: Darr Itah-Class Grand Battlecruiser
Restricted Missions: N/A
Primary Source: N/A
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Manufacturer: The One Sith (Construction) First Order Corp of Imperial Engineers (Refit)
Model: 'Unforgiven' Darr Itah-class refit
Affiliation: The First Order
Modularity: N/A
Production: Semi-Unique (five hulls exist)
Material: Durasteel Hull, Upgraded Alusteel and Quadanium Double-Layer Composite Armor Plating, Glassteel and Transparisteel where appropriate. Internal Duraplast and AR-03 Damage Reduction Component plating.
DESCRIPTION
Following the battles of Kaeshana and Asmeru, the five Darr Itah's utilized by the First Order were pulled off the front line to undergo a review process. While the two vessels that had seen combat had performed adequately, it was clear that they had been designed for a very particular type of warfare against a specific opponent, and that as the theater of war had shifted the design had not adapted very well. With that in mind all five ships were moved to drydock for extensive refitting.
The refit first emphasized that the most crucial aspect of the Darr Itah was its staggering firepower. The secondary turbolaser batteries were removed and replaced with advanced First Order designs. A number of twin Particle Lance turrets were added on, to augment and bolster the HVC main battery. Additionally a set of Longbow Plasma Cannons and Heavy Energy Torpedo Launchers were added around the main section to further diversify the long-range firepower of the ship. The main sacrifices came from secondary armaments and equipment. The costly and complicated Advanced Mass Drivers were removed entirely to make room, largely being replaced by the Heavy Energy Torpedo launchers.
Further changes came to main reactor, which was upgraded to a modern First Order design capable of nearly limitless power generation. The engine and maneuverability system was also upgraded and refined, but functions mostly similar to the pre-refit. A HIMS was added, given the increasing focus on hyperspace mobility in warfare. The Advanced Manuverability and Propulsion system differs from its predecessor, and is partially based on the technology present in the Crystal Fused Engine, and the SLAM. Drawing from weapon and shield capacitors, the large and prominent 'maneuverability tail' is capable of being supercharged, allowing for very rapid maneuvering or a small speed boost, at the cost of a massive draw on weapon and shield fire and recharge rate. Additionally while the tail is charged it is very susceptible to enemy fire, and critical damage to it would render the ship nearly immobile, no faster than a standard heavy battlecruiser.
Overall the various upgrades and changes have had little effect on the ratings, they just further reinforced everything that made the Darr itah's so unique for their class. The Unforgiven are still extremely maneuverable for their size, and pound for meter may be the most heavily armed ship in the galaxy. As many of the systems originally installed on the ship were proprietary to some faction or another, it is unlikely that a new vessel will be launched, unless it can be made from salvaged parts of a destroyed one.
The key flaws of the ship are much the same as well, and amplified by the changes, though it is worth noting that the absurdly inflated crew requirement from the Darr Itah has been much reduced. The ship is still capable of carrying a fully outfitted Stormtrooper Legion and typically does so to act as security forces, ship troops, and boarding crew. In spite of this it is not a dedicated assault ship and retains only limited shuttle and dropship assets to deploy the legion planetside.
There was also a significant nod towards the ship acting as a command and control unit for a fleet, with many advanced sensor systems added and integrated fully into the Bastion system. By combining the very limited gavimetric sensor with the time-short tachyon emitter into a comprehensive analysis system the Unforgiven are capable of very limited stealth detection. While it remains unlikely that the ship would ever be able to get a fire control solution on a cloaked vessel (barring error or laziness on the enemies part, and a highly skilled operator) it has a decent chance of detecting the presence of a stealthed ship on the battlefield.
Dubbed the 'Unforgiven,' all five ships were renamed (and repainted!) to differentiate them from the Sith-made Darr Itah-class. Relaunched, they are the Merciless, the Revenge, the Relentless, the Ravager, and the Implacable.
Strengths
Even more firepower: With upgraded and additional weaponry, mostly of the long-range variety, the Unforgiven pack even more punch for their size. Where the march of time had nearly relegated the ship to simply 'another' battlecruiser, post-refit it has reclaimed its spot as one of the most heavily armed ships in the galaxy.
Quick and Maneuverable... for a Battlecruiser: Basically unchanged from the original, but now heavily optimized.
Very effective defense system: The 'Bastion' Combat System is every inch a modern combat system that gives the ship incredible versatility against strike craft and projectile weapons. No effect on defenses against conventional attack, however.
Impressive Survivability: Whatever the issues with the ship, it is designed to be able to walk away from a fight, albeit that might not be very quickly or with any weapons operational. The frame of the ship is tough and designed to last, even if the systems contained within might not be up to par. Big ships are expensive, and it's easier to repair even a badly damaged one than churn out a new one.
Limited endurance in long engagements: Also maintenance intensive, but I don't figure that counts for much. A heavy reliance on projectile based weapons and other cost-saving measures means that compared to most Destroyers, the -class simply cannot stay in the fight for very long. This has further implications indicated below.
Fragile compared to other similarly-sized ships: The use of distributed shield generators, all-or-nothing armor, and other similar cost-and-mass saving measures mean that while the Unforgiven enter a fight with no significant disadvantage over a similar-sized opponent, that can quickly change as hits are taken. Damage that is capable of penetrating the armor will almost certainly inflict structural damage (as opposed to still having to fight through several thick layers of plating) and rapidly diminish the ability of the ship to fight at full capacity. This is further true with the complex nature of the rail system for the HVC turrets, as the distributed shields are taken offline, etc.
Small hanger for its size: You take what you can get when you're making the first true Battlecruiser in the galaxy. Four squadrons is downright paltry, but what're you gonna do?
Not exactly fast: Maneuverability is one thing, speed in a straight line is something else. The Unforgiven are simply too big and too massive to big outpace, well, basically anything.
Limited Firepower to the rear: It is a classic Star Destroyer design, after all.
Classification: Heavy Battlecruiser
Role: Command/Assault Battlecruiser
Length: 3000m
Width: 1625m
Height: 960m
Power Core Generator/Reactor: IV-b4A Primary Hypermatter Annihilation Reactor
Hyperdrive Rating: 0.6, 10.0 backup
Minimum Crew: 28,200
Optimal Crew: 79,000
Passenger Capacity: ~27,000 guests and troops
Consumables: Roughly 3 years
Sublight Speed: Low (or Average with AMPS)
Maneuverability: High (or Very High with AMPS)
ARMAMENT
Armament Rating: Extreme (Very High with AMPS active)
8 x 240mm/83 Mark 74 Hypervelocity Cannon Turrets
4 x ACS-804 Binary Fusion Ion Cannons
10 x Twin Particle Lance Pulse Turbolasers
20 x Longbow Plasma Railgun
20 x Dual Long Range Heavy Turbolaser Turrets
20 x Dual Long Range Heavy Ion Cannon Turrets
30 x Spinal Mounted Heavy Energy Torpedo Launchers
60 x Dual Annihilator Turbolaser Turrets
30 x Heavy Dual Ion Cannon Turrets
30 x Quad Ion Cannon Turrets
30 x Mk 50 Mod 1 'Mauler' Turbolaser Turrets
20 x Large Tractor/Pressor Beam Projectors
40 x Helliod Missile Launcher System
20 x Fast Mount Turbolasers
30 x Mark 26 'HARM' Guided Missile Weapon System
40 x Quad Laser Cannon Turrets
40 x Flak Cannons
40 x Antimissile Octets
30 x Point Defense Cannons
HANGAR: Very Low
- Four small combat hangers in the mid-section of the ship (fwd port, fwd stbd, aft port, aft stbd) with capacity for 12 strike craft each (48 total). Because of the limited size of these hangers, typically these are elite fighters with veteran pilots, and are dedicated almost entirely to escort duties in battle.
- Standard large central dorsal bay with usual assortment of shuttles, landers, boats, launches and etc.
Redundant Compartmentalized Molecular Shielding
Redundant Compartmentalized Particle Shielding
- Advanced Sensor Suite (HSI/DER/EPR/AS)
Multi Functional Deep Scanning Sensor (MFDS2) - Tachyon Emitter
- Gravimetric Sensor Net
[*]Standard Encrypted Communications and C4I Suite
[*]Bastion Combat System with Fleet Command & Control Suite
[*]Integrated Fleet Command Data Exchange Network
[*]Advanced Navigation Systems
- Precision Navicomputer
- Baelor Hyperdrive System
- Predator Interdiction Drive
[*]Ionic Shielding Package
[*]Standard Electronics Warfare/Countermeasure Package
- Sensor Jammer
- 220-SIG Tactical Sensor Jamming Device
- Electronic Countermeasures
- Full-spectrum Distortion Projector
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Directional Interdiction Field Generators (x4)
- Advanced Maneuverability and Propulsion System: Allows for major power re-routing, providing a boost to EITHER speed or maneuverability and draining both Armament and Defense, and also making the tail very susceptible to damage.
- Predator Interdiction Drive
- Hyperwave Inertial Momentum Sustainer
