Surus Class Support Ship
Surus Class Support Ship with forward bay doors open
The Surus Class Support Ship, named after the elephant Surus which carried
Hannibal of Cathage into battle, is the most technologically advanced and
operationally versatile support vessel in the Democratic Colonies Navy.The Surus
class fills three roles as it functions as a cargo ship, Marine transport, and
mothership for other vessels.
In line with DC naval doctrine regarding anti-matter powered vessels, withdrawal from combat if even moderate damage is suffered is typical for vessels of this type due to the risk of sudden anti-matter containment loss and the resulting immediate destruction of the vessel in its entirety.
Cargo Carrying Functionality
Although the Surus class measures slightly over a kilometer in length from bow to stern, the majority of its cargo carrying capacity comes not from its great size, but from the Amaranthine developed pocket-dimension technology that allows for the creation of pocket-dimensions in which large amounts of cargo can be carried without requiring any significant amount of actual shipboard space in conventional physical reality. Some capacity for cargo carriage in the conventional manner still exists for situations involving particularly sensitive or valuable cargo, as pocket-dimensions do render their contents irretrievable if disrupted or collapsed due to shipboard power failure, but in the majority of cases pocket-dimension technology is utilized for cargo storage as the danger of sudden unexpected dimensional collapse is generally quite limited.
Marine Transport Functionality
The Surus can carry a sizable Marine detachment, with a battalion of 1,500 typically aboard during regular peacetime operations. These Marines are housed in barracks throughout the vessel, have access to a number of training implements that employ both virtual and physical means, and are capable of planetary landing or forcible boarding operations with transport provided by the small vessels also embarked aboard.
Mothership Functionality
The Surus class can function as a mothership both in that it supports other starships such as Lewis and Clarke Class Modular Corvettes in their operations, and in that it carries on board a number of small craft for a variety of purposes.
The Surus class is often assigned to function as a mothership for up to 24 Lewis and Clarke Class Modular Corvettes at a time, as the Lewis and Clarke class is often limited by its small size and limited onboard stores. Through the pairing of a Surus Class Support Ship with multiple Lewis and Clarke class ships, the normally short ranged Lewis and Clarke class is granted the ability to engage in long range patrols or exploratory expeditions to even distant destinations. Resupply of the Lewis and Clarke class ships, or of other ships as different needs arise, typically occur via the other ship approaching and docking with the Surus class vessel, although it is also possible to conduct a full resupply mission through the usage of the Surus class ship's complement of small craft.
The small craft complement aboard Surus class ships allows it to perform a variety of functions alongside the previously aforementioned resupply of other starships. Specially equipped small craft are able to inspect and perform field repairs to the exterior hulls of other starships, while other small craft such as the Quebec Class Transport and Artemis Class Gunship and are able to deliver and support Marine operations respectively.
In line with DC naval doctrine regarding anti-matter powered vessels, withdrawal from combat if even moderate damage is suffered is typical for vessels of this type due to the risk of sudden anti-matter containment loss and the resulting immediate destruction of the vessel in its entirety.
Cargo Carrying Functionality
Although the Surus class measures slightly over a kilometer in length from bow to stern, the majority of its cargo carrying capacity comes not from its great size, but from the Amaranthine developed pocket-dimension technology that allows for the creation of pocket-dimensions in which large amounts of cargo can be carried without requiring any significant amount of actual shipboard space in conventional physical reality. Some capacity for cargo carriage in the conventional manner still exists for situations involving particularly sensitive or valuable cargo, as pocket-dimensions do render their contents irretrievable if disrupted or collapsed due to shipboard power failure, but in the majority of cases pocket-dimension technology is utilized for cargo storage as the danger of sudden unexpected dimensional collapse is generally quite limited.
Marine Transport Functionality
The Surus can carry a sizable Marine detachment, with a battalion of 1,500 typically aboard during regular peacetime operations. These Marines are housed in barracks throughout the vessel, have access to a number of training implements that employ both virtual and physical means, and are capable of planetary landing or forcible boarding operations with transport provided by the small vessels also embarked aboard.
Mothership Functionality
The Surus class can function as a mothership both in that it supports other starships such as Lewis and Clarke Class Modular Corvettes in their operations, and in that it carries on board a number of small craft for a variety of purposes.
The Surus class is often assigned to function as a mothership for up to 24 Lewis and Clarke Class Modular Corvettes at a time, as the Lewis and Clarke class is often limited by its small size and limited onboard stores. Through the pairing of a Surus Class Support Ship with multiple Lewis and Clarke class ships, the normally short ranged Lewis and Clarke class is granted the ability to engage in long range patrols or exploratory expeditions to even distant destinations. Resupply of the Lewis and Clarke class ships, or of other ships as different needs arise, typically occur via the other ship approaching and docking with the Surus class vessel, although it is also possible to conduct a full resupply mission through the usage of the Surus class ship's complement of small craft.
The small craft complement aboard Surus class ships allows it to perform a variety of functions alongside the previously aforementioned resupply of other starships. Specially equipped small craft are able to inspect and perform field repairs to the exterior hulls of other starships, while other small craft such as the Quebec Class Transport and Artemis Class Gunship and are able to deliver and support Marine operations respectively.
Production Information
Designer: Marshal Anderson Group, Space Systems
Manufacturer: Marshal Anderson Group, Space Systems
Primary Place Of Manufacturing: Round Table Fleet Yards (Camelot System), Union Space Manufactury (Zvyezdarok-Perim System)
Technical Data
Length: 1.9 Kilometers
Powerplant:
Propulsion (faster than light): 1 x Perim Space Systems Series 1000 FTL Jump Drive
Sensors:
Designer: Marshal Anderson Group, Space Systems
Manufacturer: Marshal Anderson Group, Space Systems
Primary Place Of Manufacturing: Round Table Fleet Yards (Camelot System), Union Space Manufactury (Zvyezdarok-Perim System)
Technical Data
Length: 1.9 Kilometers
Powerplant:
- 1 x Perim Space Systems AM-71 Matter/Anti-Matter Reactor
- 8 x Nealon Atomics CP-3150 Nuclear Fusion Reactor
Propulsion (faster than light): 1 x Perim Space Systems Series 1000 FTL Jump Drive
Sensors:
- Perim Space Systems GP1 Navigational DRADIS
- ConAm Interstellar EagleEye Optical Sensor Suite