Gazelle class Close Escort

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Gazelle class Close Escort
Close-Escort-WH-Keith-MT-Imp-Encyclo-Pg-84.jpg
TBD
Type: ECE Close Escort
Category ACS
Size 300/400 Tons
Hull Configuration Cylinder Hull
Streamlining Partially Streamlined Hull
Tech Level TL–14
Engineering
Computer Model/6
Jump J-5/4
Maneuver 5/4 G
Armaments
Hardpoints 4
Accommodations
Staterooms 8
Personnel
Crew 4 officers, 8 men
    Officers 4
    Enlisted 8
High/Mid Passengers 0
Payload
Cargo 6.0 Tons
Fuel tank 0 Tons
Construction
Origin Third Imperium
Year Operational Unknown
End of Service Still in active service.
Price
Cost MCr287.47
Architect fee MCrTimothy B. Brown
Statistics
Quick Ship Profile EL-3P54
Images
Blueprint Yes
Illustration Yes
Source
Also see Escort - Fiery class Close Escort
Canon Published, fan design
Era 1105
Reference High Guard 20-37.
The two sets of numbers for tonnage, jump and maneuver are for the presence of the 100-ton dismountable fuel tanks and the absence of same.

The Gazelle class Close Escort is a very light warship. For the book about the class click here

Description (Specifications)[edit]

These close escorts despite being woefully ineffective as combatants are fairly effective as deterrents to marauding forces. Many a merchant trader owes a debt of gratitude to the long-serving Gazelles and Fieries of the Imperial Navy and local sector navies. Not the best fighter, bet often there when you need them. [1]

It is fitted with jump-5, maneuver-5, and power plant-7 drives, and fuel tankage for 81 tons of fuel. To this basic package is added disposable 100-ton fuel tanks to provide the total fuel necessary for the drives. However, with these tanks installed, the ship tonnage is increased to 400 tons, which reduces the ship's performance to 4-G, jump-4, and power plant-5. The tanks may be dropped to allow the higher performance, but the ship then becomes restricted by its lower fuel supply until the tanks are replaced. The ship has fuel scoops and a purification plant, and can refuel by skimming gas giants. The standard bridge has a Model/6 computer installed and the ship has four hardpoints. Two of the hardpoints allow five tons each, which allows the installation of particle accelerator barbettes if desired. The remaining two hardpoints sport triple laser turrets. The ship hull is heavily armored. The ship has eight staterooms, four for officers and four for double occupancy by crew members.

A 20-ton gig, itself armed with a laser mount, is slung beneath the ship, with interlocking hatches provided. The gig is capable of 6-G and carries six acceleration couches and three emergency low berths. It can also carry two tons of cargo.

An important aspect of the ship is its interior layout; the ship was designed at a time when mutinies were a major threat to security. As a result, major bulkheads break up the ship into distinct areas — some for crew members, some for officers, and some common to both.

Image Repository[edit]

  1. A Gazelle class Close Escort on patrol.
    Close-Escort-WH-Keith-MT-Imp-Encyclo-Pg-84 03-July-2018a.jpg

Basic Ship Characteristics[edit]

Following the Imperial Navy and IISS Universal Ship Profile and data, additional information is presented in the format shown here. The small craft factor indicates the number of squadrons (of ten craft) carried on the ship. Tonnage on the universal ship profile is shown in kilotons (thousands of tons) where necessary. [2]

Basic Ship Characteristics [3]
#. Category Remarks
1. Tonnage 300 tons (standard). 4,200 cubic meters. Unstreamlined hull. L-Hyd tanks add 100 tons of fuel and displacement (CE-4444762) and cost MCr0.11. [4]
2. Crew x12 crew: x4 officers. x8 ratings. [5] Total: 12 crew.
3. Performance Jump varies with situation. With drop tanks installed and retained, Jump-4 and 4-G. With drop tanks installed and dropped, Jump-5 and 5-G. With drop tanks not installed, Jump-2 and 5-G. Power plant-7. 21-EP. Agility-0. [6]
4. Electronics x1 Model/6 ship computer. [7]
5. Hardpoints x4 hardpoints. [8]
6. Armament The normal weapons fit-out for it is:
7. Defenses Armored hull (Factor-3). [10]
8. Craft x1 20-ton gig. [11]
9. Fuel Treatment Integral fuel scoops and purification plant. [12]
10. Cost MCr359.3431 standard. MCr287.474 in quantity. [13]
11. Construction Time 16 months singly; 11 months in quantity. [14]
12. Comments Standard cargo capacity amounts to 6.0 tons.

History & Background (Dossier)[edit]

Comments: Hundreds of Gazelle class close escorts have been built and 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 disproportionate losses. [15]

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.

Ship General Specifications[edit]

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 disproportionate 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.

Class Naming Practice/s & Peculiarities[edit]

Ship Registry Selections:

Ship Registry Selections
No. Name Laid down First Flight Builder Notes
13712 Gazelle 131-1079 242-1080 Yard 15 A
13768 Unicorn 105-1084 098-1086 Clan Severn B
13791 Stag 085-1086 063-1087 Delvani C

Selected Variant Models[edit]

Variant: The Fiery class gunned escort is a variant based on the Gazelle class, the major difference being a streamlined hull. [16]

Selected Variant Types & Classes[edit]

Military Vessel - Escort - Close Escort:

  1. Type EC class Close Escort
    1. Athune class Close Escort
    2. Breaker class Corvette
    3. Bunker class Close Escort
    4. Convoyer class Close Escort
    5. Cozzi class Corvette
    6. Durt class Escort Corvette
    7. Egek'aa class Corvette
    8. Emerald class Escort Corvette
    9. Eradicator class Escort Corvette
    10. Esqua class Escort Corvette
    11. Gazelle class Close Escort
    12. Gem class Close Escort
    13. Grisha class Corvette
    14. Hatchet class Light Corvette
    15. Hopkins class Escort Corvette
    16. Javelin class Escort Corvette
    17. Jimenez class Escort Corvette
    18. KE8 Blockade class Lancer
    19. KE9 Unleashed class Escort Corvette
    20. Kotaka class Escort Corvette
    21. Lancer class Corvette
    22. Malcolm class Corvette
    23. Mongoose class Close Escort
    24. Patrol class Close Escort
    25. Qatan class Escort Corvette
    26. Risa class Close Escort
    27. Shalis class Patrol Corvette
    28. Sieno class Close Escort
    29. Sii'kha class Escort Corvette
    30. Stalwart class Corvette
    31. Sultanhisar class Escort Corvette
    32. TC9 Forgald class Escort Corvette
    33. Toad SR7T class Yacht / Warsloop
    34. Type CE class Close Escort
    35. Type EC class Corvette
    36. Vaward class Close Escort
    37. Wasinki class Corvette
    38. Wyvern class Escort Corvette
    39. Xebec class Explorer


References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]

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This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
  1. ↑ Information provided to the library by Maksim-Smelchak
  2. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 10.
  3. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 10.
  4. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  5. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  6. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  7. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  8. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  9. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  10. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  11. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  12. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  13. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  14. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  15. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
  16. ↑ Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 17.
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