Gazelle class Close Escort: Registry

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Gazelle class Close Escort: Registry

Gazelle: Registry


Library Data

An Imperial Navy standard class built by the hundreds, and a common component of Navy task forces in the Marches. Designed specifically to protect the line-of-battle against enemy skirmish forces and for general escort duty, the class is well-armed for its size and type. L-Hyd fuel tanks may be dropped in extreme circumstances, allowing Jump-5. The tanks must be replaced unless a severe reduction in jump ability is to be tolerated.

General Specifications

Naval tactics in the Imperial Navy call for large ships to be accompanied by well-armed, small fighting craft capable of engaging the enemy at long range, before they approach the principle ships in a task force or convoy. These small ships may be fighter craft carried by the larger ships, or they may be independent close escort vessels.
Thousands of close escorts have been built in the past several centuries, and hundreds have been built in the Gazelle class. Many remain in service in the Imperial Navy, despite the fact that in a combat situation, they are nearly worthless. The close escort, even when new, was not intended to stand up to combat vessels; rather it was envisioned as an anti-piracy and revenue patrol ship. In that role, it has performed well, but when pressed into combat duties it has invariably suffered disporportionate losses.
The original specification (through CE-13791) called for the use of Particle Accelerator barbettes on the dorsal/ventral hardpoints. This was the first experimentation with this weapons system on a smaller craft. It was a respectable weapons configuration, however tactical simulations proved out in field trials, resulted in all new orders, and some completed ships to be refit, with the Laser/Missile configuration. The Al Morai design team was the first departure from the standard spec, brought on by the fact that their ships would be in private hands.
    Tonnage:             400 (special), 5,600 cubic meters.
    Acceleration:        4G constant. Without tanks: 5G.
    Dimensions:          48L x 23W x 8.5H.
    Crew:                4 officers, 8 men. Rarely ship's troops.
    Jump:                4. In L-Hyd mode: 5. Without tanks: 2.
    Powerplant:          5 (at 400 tons displacement). 7 (at 300 tons).
    Engineering:         Two Triptic Halonic fusion power plants coupled to
                           one IDC Fardrive jump unit and 2 model 16 impulse
                           maneuver drive modules.
    Gravitics:           Inertial compensators, plus 1G floor field.
    Range:               Unlimited maneuver. One jump-4. 100 days.
    Armament:            Dual outboard triple beam laser turrets. One dorsal
                           and one ventral barbette; fitted with charged/
                           neutral particle accelerators in single mounts.
    Electronics:         ISMM Model/6.1 on-board computer.
    Screens:             Armored hull.
    Capacity:            10 tons cargo.
    Ship's Boats:        One 21m gig.
    Special Feature:     100-ton L-Hyd Droppable tanks for greater Jump
                           range.

Variant Class

The Fiery class gunned escort is a variant based upon the Gazelle class, the major difference being a streamlined hull.

USP


CE-13768 Close Escort

Unicorn  CE - 3455762 - 300000 - 40100 - 0   MCr346.938          300 tons
    batteries bearing            2 2                            Crew = 12
            batteries            2 2                              TL = 14
    Passengers=0. Low=0. Cargo=10. Fuel=81. EP=21. Agility=0. Troops=0.
    Fuel Refinery & Scoops. 20T Gig.  Note: L-Hyd Drop Tanks add 100 tons
    of fuel and mass (CE-4444762) and cost MCr.11 (incl.)

CE-13712 Close Escort (refit and commercial service)

Gazelle  CE - 3455762 - 300000 - 50004 - 0   MCr343.688          300 tons
    batteries bearing            1   1                          Crew = 11
            batteries            1   1                            TL = 14
    Passengers=0. Low=0. Cargo=10. Fuel=81. EP=21. Agility=3. Troops=0.
    Fuel Refinery & Scoops. Magazines. 20T Gig.  Note: L-Hyd Drop Tanks
    add 100 tons of fuel and mass (CE-4444762), Agility=2, and cost MCr.11

Gig      GG - 0106B21 - 000000 - 20000 - 0   MCr27.8              20 tons
    Crew=1. Battery=1. TL=14. Passengers=7. Emer.Low=3(12). Cargo=0.
    Fuel=2.2. EP=2.2. Agility=6.

Dispositions

The Gazelle class is named for fast herbivores usually found in the Imperium. Two varieties of armament configurations may be used on the numerous elements of this class. The Particle Accelerator version is used in areas where skipping is more common.
In the Spinward Marches, Al Morai maintains a fleet of privately constructed route-protectors based upon the Gazelle class Laser/Missile configuration, the other version used by the Navy as well.
Gazelle (CE-13712) the first of class and the first to be refit with the Laser-Missile configuration. Still serving customs duty on the Spinward Main in Imperial territory. Refit: 101-1090.
JackRabbit (CE-13718) missed a scheduled station check-in for routine crew rotation out of Rhylanor/Rhylanor as of 012-1102. Pirates out of Vilis subsector are suspected as the cause.
Khteioiyw (CE-13722) first of ten ships crewed for Aslan frontier patrol out of Albe (2211 Trojan Reaches). These ships bear the Aslan names for fast herbivores (actually favorite prey) known to Aslan in the Hierate.
Kudie (CE-13792) in service as a route-protector for Al Morai, a sector-wide merchant line in the Spinward Marches. All ships in Al Morai service are named starting with the letter `K' for Kasim Al Morai, the founder of the company.

Statistics

The following table shows construction information and tail numbers for the Gazelle class of close escorts.
Number Name Laid Down First Flight Builder Duty
CE-13712 Gazelle 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13713 Reindeer 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13714 Tommy 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13715 Lunger 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13716 Poni 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13717 Antelope 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13718 Jackrabbit 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13719 Groat 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13720 Lu 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13721 Eland 014-1084 007-1086 GSbAG/Mora Customs
CE-13722 Khteioiyw 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13723 Eaheyereaea 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13724 Sa Ktei'ea 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13725 Hfeweaew 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13726 Oih Ktesoh 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13727 Iy Takheau 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13728 Aiaotair 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13729 Ariykhala'yol 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13730 Larlalaos 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13731 Htaikeasea 051-1084 044-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Patrol
CE-13732 Oryx 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13733 Suncrown 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13734 Cantril 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13735 Red Deer 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13736 Whitetail 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13737 Mitra 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13738 Brushopper 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13739 Ivory Gazelle 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13740 Hansen's Elk 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13741 Ythri 051-1084 045-1086 Enfield Yards Albe Customs
CE-13742 Westeng 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13743 Mustang 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13744 Huang Lu 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13745 Elk 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13746 Griffen 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13747 Landa 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13748 Pronghorn 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13749 Wisent 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13750 Impreal 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13751 Denebian Deer 074-1084 067-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13752 Wapiti 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13753 Bison 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13754 Banshee 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13755 Pegasus 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13756 Furi 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13757 Mule Deer 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13758 Feathertail 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13759 Impala 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13760 Manatee 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13761 Inverness 088-1084 080-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13762 Urus 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13763 Caribou 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13764 Hartebeest 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13765 Ibex 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13766 Dugong 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13767 Moose 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13768 Unicorn 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13769 Blacktailed Deer 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13770 Hammerhorn 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13771 Lightfoot 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn Rhylanor 212th
CE-13772 Bighorn 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13773 Shammy 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13774 Blue Bola 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13775 Narwhal 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13776 Bandersnatch 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13777 Buffalo 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13778 Roe Deer 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13779 Gnu 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13780 Rhebok 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13781 Fallow Deer 121-1084 114-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13782 Colophon 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13783 Okapi 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13784 Chimera 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13785 Fen's Deer 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13786 Punchinello 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13787 Atoll Runner 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13788 Eohippus 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13789 Serif 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13790 Breckt 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13791 Stag 144-1084 138-1086 Yard 17 Vilis 23rd
CE-13792 Kudie 146-1084 140-1086 Al Morai Al Morai
CE-13793 Kangaroo 146-1084 140-1086 Al Morai Al Morai
CE-13794 Kian 146-1084 140-1086 Al Morai Al Morai
CE-13795 Krugerann 146-1084 140-1086 Al Morai Al Morai
CE-13796 Kudu 146-1084 140-1086 Al Morai Al Morai

Note: there are still more names to come.


Last Update: 25 July 1996.