LITTLE SHIPS AND BIG HEARTS

THE LIGHT CRUISERS & ESCORTS

                Trade is the life's blood of any nation, planet or solar system. Golgotha is no different both the Empire and the rebels raid each others trade routes mercilessly. great warships are few and the merchantmen many.. Their defence therefore falls upon the small vessels of both fleets. these are the small ships with "big hearts" they fight and die to preserve the supply routes of the conflict.

LIGHT CRUISERS

DAUNTLESS CLASS AND VARIANTS

Light scouting cruisers like the dauntless class have always been a feature of imperial fleets throughout the empire. An ideal light cruiser carries enough firepower to drive off opposing escorts and enough fuel and supplies to remain away from bases for months at a time.. The dauntless is a popular class, as fast and maneuverable as a frigate but with a ferocious frontal lance armament. Various variations have appeared over the years including a version that replaces the lance with torpedo tubes..

THE CHEVALIER CLASS LIGHT CRUISER

The chevalier class light cruiser was a product of the shalom shipyards during the period of secession. It was a Noah Ben Shalek design. Shalek was probably one of the most prolific designer of ships in the current millennium.. Designed as a long range skirmisher and in view of its very individual design parameters, the class was built in only limited numbers. This was also a result of the nature of it’s construction from salvaged vessels..

THE FLUFF

The war in the Golgotha spiral had taken on a somewhat ethereal existence.. Neither side could afford a pitched battle.. The rebels, because of their inability to replace large losses and the Empire, because they seemed incapable of reinforcing the Golgotha battlegroup. Noah had puzzled over these facts for several years now.. Since his unmasking and subsequent escape from Golgotha, he no longer had Empire datafax as a source of information. At least he could now live in freedom with his own beliefs.. Rumours were rife. Many talked of an alien incursion and that it was this that prevented the administration on earth from sending more ships and troops to Van Hochs command.. Noah did not believe this and was certain that the empire was shrinking and incapable of taking further action.. This would explain so much.. As a result the war had become a strategy in miniature.. Frigates and light cruisers battled across the space ways for space superiority and trade domination. Tactics became a study in small actions with desperate struggles between handfuls of ships becoming the norm.. Both sides threw more and more small ships into the action and the search for perfection and an "edge" were paramount.. Sadly the empire were gaining the upper hand mostly as a result of Noah’s design the "guardian angel" This vicious little number was ripping the escorts and raiders apart.. A response was required..

Speed of a dauntless and power of a battlecruiser that was the solution.. Fat chance thought Noah.. Then in an inkling the scrap yard came to his salvation... The shattered remains of a captured dauntless hung in infinite suspension along with a trashed gothic cruiser.. Hurriedly he spewed out instructions.. Desperately the yard worked to comply to his feverish commands.. The first attempt bolted a cut down gothic front end to the rear of the dauntless.. No power.. Insufficient oomph!! Again the burning midnight oil.. Again the inspiration.. Then after all that, The final result hung ready for it’s fledgling flight!!!

The chevalier was a weird looking ship.. It achieved the impossible.. Flexible lance armament on a light cruiser weapons platform.. If it worked it could snipe the "guardian angel" into eternity.. Noah had combined the engines of the gothic with the hull of the dauntless.. Sufficient power had been available to mount a reduced weapons capability so the Gothic lance bays were cut down from four to three and the prow modified to fit.. Slowly Noah relaxed into his expansive couch and savored his two luxuries he allowed himself, a long lie down with a puff on a happy stick!! All was well. Now, it was down to the Shalom navy to prove it’s worth... Only a name was missing!! Heheheh "guardian angel" Heh!! Ok lets see what "Gabriels Bane" could do!!! Noah rested!!!

THE KESTREL FLOTILLA LEADER

                       The small fleet actions of the Golgotha spiral meant more and more engagements were being fought by purely escort /light cruiser fleets. The search was on for the perfect heavy escort. The Kestrel was one of the better designs that came from this "small arms" race.  The requirement was speed , hitting power, maneuverability and survivability. the kestrel made a good attempt at fulfilling those needs. It was the combination of a wrecked dauntless wit salvaged engines from other escorts. basically two hulls mated together to give double the engine power and the cut down gun decks of a dauntless for hitting power. The ship was very popular with rising frigate captains and to command one was seen as a certain indication of an officers promotability. These were seen normally as flotilla leaders of escort squadrons. Much debate has been evident as to the role of these vessels and it's classification as a light cruiser disputed. Many serving captains still insist it is an escort but the powers refused this classification and it continues to be allocated to cruiser roles that are often too demanding for it's physical size.

 To make the model you need two sword hulls, a dauntless weapons deck (spine and bays) and a firestorm prow. Yeah it is expensive but if you are into converting to the point where you make this model then you will not waste the bits left over from this one.

1. Cut the swords just in front of the bridge and remove the bridges.

2. The hulls will fit side by side so dremel or file the inner faces flush.

3. Make a 2mm thick plastic separator the same size as the hull sections that fits flush with the front edges and reaches to where the engine outlets begin.

4. Glue the three sections together.

5. Cut the dauntless weapons bays to 4 sections long.

6. Cut the dauntless spine behind the prow flange and then cut it in front of the bridge to match the weapons bays length.

7. Pin and glue the dauntless spine to the sword hull assembly.

8. Remove the firestorm prow and pin and glue it to the front of the dauntless spine.

9. Glue the weapon bays to the spine.

10. Fill the slot where the sword ventral mounts would go with 2mm plastic card insert. Cut the sword ventral mount at the flanges on each side and pin and glue the pieces to the plastic insert on each side.

11. Fill the slot where the sword bridges used to be with card and then pin and glue one of the removed sword bridges in position.

12. Paint model and play..  

 HEAVY PATROL CRAFT

The high density of planets and low density of imperial bases in the Golgotha spiral meant that lt. patrol cruisers were very popular for police and excise duties.. Early models used were the Pike and Barracuda class. These are being phased out in recent years and replaced by the Vixen and Wolverine classes..

Originally the mainstay of the police and excise service in the spiral these vessels are now a rarity. They carry a heavy prow punch and are very versatile craft.. their age and complexity of engine design have seen their gradual disappearance throughout the sectors..

THE VIXEN HEAVY PATROL CRAFT

This class is now the standard administrative patrol craft in the spiral.. They are to be found far and wide on patrol duties, convoy escort and pirate hunting.. these are fast maneuverable and sufficiently powerful enough to hold their own against most vessels in service of light to medium class.

THE WOLVERINE HEAVY PATROL CRAFT

This class is standard administrative patrol support craft in the spiral.. They are teamed with Vixen class vessels as the ideal combination for dealing with any eventuality. The two classes are employed on patrol duties, convoy escort and pirate hunting.. They are fast maneuverable and in combination with the Vixens they can perform well in combat against most light vessels...

ESCORTS

Firestorm Frigates

Sword Frigates

Cobra Class Destroyer

Mamba Class escorts

The Mamba class escorts frigates were a flexible design not seen in the Gothic sector battles but widely used throughout the Imperium. There versatility made them popular in task forces and their distinctive Antibes III design was typical of the yards efficiency.