Imperial battleship (788 UC era)

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Imperial standard battleship Kärnten (796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE))
Affiliation: Galactic Empire
Type: Battleship
Length: 677 metres(FFC3)
Width: 179 metres(FFC3)
Height: 228 metres(FFC3)
Armament: 6 forward neutron beam cannons
22 port cannons
22 starboard cannons
48 Walküre fighters
Crew: 726(FFC3)

This Imperial battleship (Japanese: 戦艦) design served as the standard battleship design of Imperial fleets from the late stages of the Alliance–Imperial War to at least 801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE).

Contents

Design

The standard battleship design had three separate engines, with two mounted on nacelles on the port and starboard side of the main hull, and one (the largest) mounted on the ventral hull.

In terms of armament, the ship mounted six neutron beam cannons in the bow and at least twenty-two cannons on both the port and starboard side. However some ships were observed firing 8 frontal cannons. In addition to this armament, the port and starboard engine nacelles were each equipped with five additional weapons apertures which were observed firing both beam weapons and a form of projectile - including both from the same ship in the same battle. The vessel was also observed to fire two additional beam weapons from the forward facing area of the ventral hull, and had smaller weapons used for defence against starfighters mounted around the ship's crest. (My Conquest Is the Sea of Stars; LOGH: 'The Battle of Vermilion (Part One)', 'Die by the Sword')

In addition, the battleship had a heavy missile armament, and was observed launching no less than forty missiles at a time (from eight launchers, in groups of five). Missiles had also been observed being launched from six launchers, 3 on each side of the main hull. Large depth charges had been observed being dropped from a hatch in the lower hull. (LOGH: 'The Sounding of Gjallarhorn', 'To El Facil', 'A Challenge to Arms')

The vessel accommodated several shuttles, together with a large Walküre fighter complement, with 24 launch ports on either side of the ventral engine nacelle as standard. However some ships were observed with as many as least thirty-three launch bays (carrying one Walküre each) being mounted on both the port and starboard side of the ventral engine nacelle (for a total of at least 66 Walküre fighters). (LOGH: 'The Battle of Astarte')

Role and Capabilities

The standard battleship design fought in all known fleet battles from at least 788 UC (479 IC / 3588 CE) to 801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE), in large numbers. A fleet of 2,000 ships under a Rear admiral (i.e. only a single unit of a much larger fleet) could have been expected to include anywhere from 200 to 250 battleships alone. (LOGH: 'First Battle')

In addition to forming the core of Imperial fleets, the standard battleship could have served as a flagship for officers, from the rank of Commodore to High admiral. In this role, battleships would often (though not always) bear a unique variation of the Imperial crest (whether under the Goldenbaum or Goldenlöwe dynasties). (HBSHBL: 'The Battle of Van-Fleet Starzone'; LOGH: 'Courage and Loyalty').

The standard battleship, unlike its Alliance counterparts, was capable of entering planetary atmospheres and landing on the surface, including water landings. In offensive operations, it used this capability to deploy ground forces, either via parachute drop (from 12 hatches on the ventral side of the forward hull, divided equally between the port and starboard side) or by ramps located on the underside of the ventrally mounted engine. (LOGH: 'Farewell, Distant Memories', 'Fezzan Occupied')

Notable Vessels of the class

Gallery

Stern (796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE))

Walküre launch bays (796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE))

Missile launch (801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE))

Energy weapons (795 UC (486 IC / 3595 CE))

Nacelle weapons (800 UC (2 NIC / 491 IC / 3600 CE))

Bow armament (800 UC (2 NIC / 491 IC / 3600 CE))

Disembarking troops (798 UC (489 IC / 3598 CE))

Point defence armament (799 UC (1 NIC / 490 IC / 3599 CE))

Shields flaring (801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE))

Parachute drop (797 UC (488 IC / 3597 CE))

Shuttle bay (794 UC (485 IC / 3594 CE))

Appendices

Appearance differences

There are various noticeable differences in the design of the standard of the Imperial battleship throughout the films, the main series, and the Gaiden - for example, the height and length of the engine nacelles will appear to differ. This should be considered an inconsistency in the animation, caused by the changing style of animation in the course of production of the series.

Licensed sources

This standard Imperial battleship design was first produced in early 750 UC (441 IC / 3550 CE), though there have been minor modifications and refinements to the design over the years.

The standard Imperial battleship mounted 6 long range large calibre beam cannons in its prow. The two openings underneath the main cannons are identified as two reverse thruster nozzles.

Unlike the large FTL antennas used by the Alliance, which extended vertically from the hull, the Empire used dome shaped FTL antenna emplacements. These are visible as silver domes on the surface of the hull.

For movement in atmosphere, the design relied on taking in outside atmospheric air, heating it via heat exchangers, and then expelling it from the rear for forward propulsion.

On either side of the ventral engine mounting, were 24 Walküre launch ports, for a total of 48 total Walküre fighters. (Fleet File Collection Vol.3, Fleet File Collection Vol.8, Fleet File Collection Vol.9)

The use of multiple engines was in contrast to the Alliance's use of a single large engine for its warships. Though this arrangement was more inefficient, the use of multiple engines allowed for some degree of redundancy in case of damage.

An average fleet under an Admiral was estimated by Alliance experts to contain approximately 2,000 battleships. (Data Book: Mechanic & Seiyū Encyclopaedia, p. 168)

Alliance civilian expert analysis of the armour composition was possible on an Alliance public release of a 3 dimensional image of a destroyed Imperial battleship from the Battle of Amritsar. The destroyed ship had numerous hull breaches allowing for a cross-sectional examination of Imperial armour. It showed a 7 to 8 layer construction, composed of monocrystalline metal layers sandwiching foam ceramic layers.

Civilian estimates place standard battleship armour thickness at approximately 5000mm around the bridge, engines, and other critical areas, and thinning to 500mm to 1000mm on the ship's flanks. (Data Book: Mechanic & Seiyū Encyclopaedia, p. 189-190)

This battleship design served for over half a century and by the end of its lifespan was starting to show its age. By 780 UC (471 IC / 3580 CE), the desire for a new battleship design started to be voiced, but officially the search for a new design did not begin until 797 UC (488 IC / 3597 CE). A variety of the newer flagships produced in the last years of the Galactic Empire or the early years of the New Galactic Empire, were testbeds for a new standard battleship design. (Fleet File Collection Vol.5)

Apocrypha

DVD features

Production sketches of the Imperial battleship appear in the DVD features, and it is commented that the main armament is 6 neutron beam cannons. In the production sketches, 24 Walküre launch ports are shown on a side and a note says 24 ports per side.

Front

Rear and top

Ventral and Walküre launch ports

Depth charges, length 12 metres

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