Dante (WarShip class)

Dante
Production information
Manufacturer	ComStar Titan Yards
Introduced	2941
Use	Frigate
Tech Base	Star League
Cost	9,968,115,999 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	610,000 tons
Length	640 m
Sail Diameter	610 m
Fuel	3,000 tons
Burn Rate
Safe Thrust	5
Top Thrust	8
Sail Integrity	4
KF Drive Integrity	13
LF Battery	Yes
Armament	16 x ER Large Lasers 48 x Small Pulse Lasers 32 x Large Pulse Lasers 24 x Anti-Missile Systems 32 x LRM-20 16 x NAC/30s 4 x NAC/35s 12 x NL55s
Armor	600 tons of Ferro-Carbide
DropShip Capacity	2
Crew	188, 24 Passengers
Grav Decks	1 x 135 meter diameter
Escape Pods/Life Boats	24/0
Heat Sinks	650 Double Heat Sinks
Structural Integrity	50
BV (1.0)	???
BV (2.0)	???

Description

Developed at the request of Primus Hollings York, the heavily automated Dante-class frigate was built by ComStar as a stop-gap during the early years of the ComStar Guards and Milita.

While ComStar had retained a number of ex-SLDF WarShips in mothballs, these required large crews which the Order could not yet supply. With a degree of automation akin to the Sovetskii Soyuz Class, the Dante Class was principally intended to serve as the command and escort ship for DropShip flotillas. The Dante's mix of speed, firepower and armor also make it adept at raiding tactics, but due to the purely defensive role of the Com Guards at the time of its creation the small cargo bay and full bunkerage it was designed with hamper any independent operations.

In all three Dante Class ships were constructed between 2935 and 2941 when the spiraling cost of the renovation of existing ships, difficulty in hiding both the vessels and large number of personnel to crew them from the Successor States and the death of the project's champion Primus York led to the program being frozen. As a proven design, Precentor Martial Focht had considered the construction of further Dante Class ships, but the loss of the Titan Yards to the Word of Blake occurred before construction could even be started.

Armament

Like many modern WarShips, the Dante Class features a mixture of capital class weaponry, naval autocannons and lasers, and smaller weaponry geared to fight fleets of DropShips and Aerospace Fighters, the Successor State navies having obliterated each others WarShips prior to its development. This weaponry is spread fairly evenly across every angle of the ship, with only the rear lacking in a capital weapon.

Cargo

Due to the defensive role of the ComStar WarShip fleet and the inclusion of Lithium-Fusion Battery System, the Dante Class have limited cargo capacity of 17,087 tons split between two bays, and 12 fighter complement.

Named Vessels

• CSS Narbonne - The Narbonne was built 2941 in and assigned to the Com Guard Second Fleet at Ross 248.

The Narbonne took part in Case White in March 3068.

• CSS Bordeaux - The Bordeaux was built in 2944 and assigned to the Com Guard First Fleet at Luyten 68-28.

On 1 August 3068, the Bordeaux ran the Word of Blake blockade of Tukayyid. Personnel from the 104th Division were able to rescue Primus Sharilar Mori and some senior ComGuard officers. The vessel safely returned ComStar's leader to Orestes after reportedly only suffering minor damage.

In the first week of November 3068, the Bordeaux was defending Orestes when Blakist forces attacked the planet. The Bordeaux was badly damaged, though ground troops were able to drive off the Word's forces.

The Bordeaux took part in the liberation of Chara in 3077.

• CSS Montpellier - The Montpellier was built in 2948 and assigned to Com Guard First Fleet at Luyten 68-28.

Bibliography

• Blake Ascending
• Dawn of the Jihad
• Field Manual: ComStar, pp. 156-157
• Jihad Hot Spots: 3070
• Jihad Hot Spots: 3072
• Jihad Hot Spots: Terra
• Technical Readout: 3067, pp. 202-203

Dante-class frigate from Field Manual: ComStar