Liberator (WarShip class)

This article is about the WarShip design. For other uses, see Liberator.
Liberator (Cruiser) TRO3057.png
Liberator
Production information
Manufacturer Clans
Introduced (see Notes)
Production Year 3024[1]
Use Cruiser
Tech Base Clan
Technical specifications
Mass 830,000 tons
Length 855 m
Sail Diameter 1,450 m
Fuel 4,500 tons
Burn Rate 39.52
Safe Thrust 1.5 g
Top Thrust 2.5 g
Sail Integrity 5
KF Drive Integrity 17
LF Battery Yes
Armament
Armor 949.5 tons Ferro-Carbide
DropShip Capacity 6
Crew 419[2]
  • 71 Officers
  • 275 Enlisted
  • 73 Gunners

Bay Personnel: 120

Grav Decks 1 x 145 meter diameter
Escape Pods/Life Boats 60/40
Heat Sinks 592 double (1,184)
Structural Integrity 85
BV (1.0) 78,649[2]
BV (2.0) ???



Description[edit]

The Liberator-class cruiser is a refitted design based on the SLDF's Avatar-class heavy cruiser, a design dating back to 2531. Six of these vessels survived to join Aleksandr Kerensky's Exodus fleet, thanks in part to Kerensky's need of their cargo and DropShip capacity, and were later mothballed after seeing use in Operation KLONDIKE and the fleet's settlement in the Pentagon Cluster.[2]

In the thirty-first century, as the Clans began to mobilize for their invasion of the Inner Sphere, these ships were reactivated, upgraded, and (some) renamed to take part in the conquest. Among the vessels' upgrades was the replacement of their conventional armor with Ferro-Carbide armor, which provided 50% greater protection without sacrificing cargo space. The ship proved to be very versatile, being able to carry out small planetary assaults, naval battles, or boarding actions on its own.[2]

Armament[edit]

Compared to their original design, the Liberator's weaponry was focused more on anti-fighter duty, although it still packed a sufficient capital punch. Twenty-four large and 24 medium lasers cover all firing arcs on the ship, providing anti-fighter firepower. They are supported by 8 Medium Pulse Lasers, 8 LB 10-X ACs, 10 Ultra AC-10s and 12 Artemis IV FCS-controlled LRM-20s, concentrated on the fore and aft firing arcs. 8 NAC/20s with 320 tons (or 800 rounds) of ammo and 4 NAC/30s with 320 tons (or 400 rounds) of ammo provide hard-hitting ballistic firepower divided between the ship's fore and aft. 4 heavy and 4 light naval Gauss rifles, with 200 and 40 tons of ammo respectively, provide broadside firepower. For capital-strength energy weapons the Liberator carries 12 NL-35, 6 NL-45, 12 NL-55s and 8 Heavy NPPCs spread between fore, aft and broadside firing arcs.

Cargo[edit]

The Liberator has enough internal cargo space to support three stars of aerospace fighters, two stars of Elementals for boarding actions, and an additional Cluster of conventional troops.

See Also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • There is conflicting information on when the Liberator class was actually designed. The writeup seems to suggest the redesign of the Avatars was only devised when the ships were reactivated in the 31st century. But there are indications that the Liberator upgrade may be much older, possibly as old as the Avatar class itself:
    • Technical Readout: 3057 Revised states an introduction year of 2525, which is six years prior to the Avatar entering service.
    • The SLS Morello, a ship that joined Kerensky's Exodus Fleet, was explicitly listed as a Liberator class vessel in 2874 when the fleet gathered, suggesting at least one such refit already existed by then (possibly a proof-of-concept or prototype vessel). It is not known if the Morello was among the six Avatar class vessels in the fleet, or counted separately.
  • In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Befreier.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Liberator (WarShip class)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 152: "Liberator Profile"

Bibliography[edit]