Samarkand Block II (WarShip class)

This article is about the updated carrier design. For other uses, see Samarkand.

Samarkand Block II
Production information
Manufacturer	Draconis Combine
Introduced	2668
Production Year	2668
Use	Aerospace Carrier Troop Transport Orbit-to-Surface Fire Support Escort Ship
Tech Base	Inner Sphere Advanced
Technical specifications
Mass	350,000 tons
Length	501 meters
Sail Diameter	967 meters
Fuel	2,678 tons (6,562 points)
Burn Rate	66.42 (maximum days)
Safe Thrust	2 g
Top Thrust	3 g
Sail Integrity	3
KF Drive Integrity	8
LF Battery	no
Armament	2x Heavy NPPC 2x Medium NPPC 2x NAC/20 2x NL45 6x NL35 5x LRM 20 8x LRM 10 6x SRM 4 4x Large Laser 10x medium laser 38x Machine Gun
Armor	Ferro-Carbide Armor
DropShip Capacity	4
Crew	35 Officers, 110 Enlisted/non-rated, 100 Marines, 204 Bay personnel
Grav Decks	150 meter 60 meter
Escape Pods/Life Boats	30/0
Heat Sinks	1,700
Structural Integrity	73
BV (2.0)	35,258

Description

The Samarkand-class Block II is a second-generation Draconis Combine WarShip sized aerospace fighter carrier. They were considered good escort vessels, but they are noted for not being able to handle vessels larger than itself due to its light complement of capital weaponry in addition to its thin rear facing armor and weapons. In desperate situations, when fighter availability was low, the Samarkand was utilized as a last-ditch decoy to buy time for embattled ground forces.

The class was originally introduced in 2579 and served in the Reunification War. In 2668, 89 years later, Coordinator Urizen Kurita authorized the construction of a new improved version of the venerable class. The Block II was infused with new technologies that improved the ship's weaponry and armor over the original design. A large quantity of the class was produced which was utilized by the Star League Defense Force as escorts.

These ships were used as part of the liberation of Terra from the tyrant Stefan Amaris and his Rim Worlds Republican Army. Most of these ships were destroyed during Operation LIBERATION. Three Samarkand vessels are known to have participated in General Alexander Kerensky's Operation EXODUS: the SLS Beijing, the CDS Deal Breaker, and CSA Yorktown.

The surviving units in the Combine's naval service were stationed on the border with the Lyran Commonwealth and the Federated Suns. Nearly all these survivors were destroyed in the First and Second Succession Wars.

Only a single survivor of the class exists in the Inner Sphere as of 3075, the DCS Togura which has been converted into an orbiting museum.

Armaments & Capabilities

Weaponry

The principal capital weaponry includes, in its front arc, a pair of Medium Naval PPCs & a pair of Class 35 Naval Lasers. On its front sides it has single Class 20 Naval Autocannon complement per front-side arcs. Its capital broadsides feature only a single Heavy Naval PPC per arc, while its aft sides carry a pair of Class 35 Naval Lasers. Protecting its aft quarter is a pair of Class 45 Naval Lasers.

Its conventional weaponry includes, in the nose, five LRM-20 launchers backed up four medium lasers. On the ship's front sides, it has four LRM-10 launchers and three SRM 4 launchers providing close up protection. On its broadsides, it has ten Machine Guns each, providing last-ditch defense with 100 rounds per side.

In each of its aft sides it mounts; A pair of Large Lasers and a pair of medium lasers together in a weapons, Five LRM-20 launchers, and six Machine guns per side with 100 rounds of ammo.

In the aft, the Samarkand has a single Large Laser with a pair of medium lasers and six Machine Guns providing protection against conventional threats.

Protection

The Samarkand has 511 tons of Ferro-Carbide Armor protecting its side and aft nearly evenly with 21 more tons mounted in the bow. Its structural integrity is 74, 3 points more than the Block I ships.

Cargo

The ship's payload includes:

• Bay 1: Fighters (36) - 4 Doors
• Bay 2: Small Craft (12) - 1 Door
• Bay 3: Fighters (36) - 4 Doors
• Bay 4: Cargo (36,029 tons) - 6 Doors

See Also

• List of named Samarkand class WarShips.

Related Ships

• Samarkand-class (Block I) Carriers

Notes

• No canon record sheet has been produced for the Samarkand Block II, at the time of this writing.

Bibliography

• Tactics of Desperation (BattleCorps Scenario)
• Technical Readout: 3075
• The Wars of Reaving