A Frigate is a class of ships smaller than a Cruiser and with even lighter armament.
Please see the following AAB articles for more information:
Description
Frigates are smaller than 10,000 tons, with most in the 1,000 to 2,000 ton range. Frigates mount only turret weapons, no spinal or bay mounted weapons. Frigates also lack the drive (acceleration and jump) capabilities of true warships.
Strategy and doctrine
A Frigate's primary mission is a defensive role. Providing extra security for merchant ships against pirates and light raiders. The frigate generally mounts enough firepower to defeat most armed merchants, but not enough to threaten a Cruiser or similar warship. Unlike an Escort, which is expected to be able to at least assist in combat with larger warships, most frigates are not.
The lack of firepower, drive capability, and generally armor, makes the frigates less expensive to build and maintain than warships, so they can be built and maintained in large numbers. Their ubiquity lends them to being applied to other missions, including piracy suppression, raiding, and ground support missions.
Lightcraft Hierarchy
- Smallcraft
- Corvette
- Close Escort
- Frigate
- Escort
History and Background
Many interstellar polities outside of the Imperium use Frigates for internal security missions, feeling that full warships are not needed for policing duties. The Imperial Navy uses Escorts for many of these duties.
Major Frigate Classes
A Frigate in the Royal Caledonian Navy is the equivalent of a "Cruiser" in Imperial parlance, and fills the Cruiser role. They are listed under Cruisers.
Representative Types
| 35 Representative Frigate (F) Classes
|
|
| Class | Mission Code | TL | Tons | Jump | G | Origin | Canon | Quick ship profile | | Class | Mission Code | TL | Tons | Jump | G | Origin | Canon | Quick ship profile | | A-4 Voodi class Strike Bomber | FS | 9 | 20 | 0 | 6 | Third Imperium | Yes. Published, canon smallcraft design. | | | A-4 Voodi class Strike Bomber | FS | 9 | 20 | 0 | 6 | Third Imperium | Yes. Published, canon smallcraft design. | | | AB-17R Condor class Assault Boat | FA | 9 | 30 | 0 | 4 | Nist (world) | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | AB-17R Condor class Assault Boat | FA | 9 | 30 | 0 | 4 | Nist (world) | | TBD | | Aethon class Light Fighter | FL | 9 | 20 | 0 | 6 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | PH-2A60 | | Alfred class Gunboat | FS | 15 | 90 | 0 | 5 | Third Imperium | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | Alfred class Gunboat | FS | 15 | 90 | 0 | 5 | Third Imperium | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | Bulwark class Armored Fighter | FA | 10 | 13 | 0 | 6 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | PA-2S60 | | Cerebrus class Strike Fighter | FC | 8 | 8 | 0 | 5 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | PL-1A50 | | Constellation class Heavy Fighter | FH | 10 | 61 | 0 | 6 | Bain Defense Squadron | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | FH-6A60 | | Constellation class Heavy Fighter | FH | 10 | 61 | 0 | 6 | Bain Defense Squadron | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | FH-6A60 | | Courageous class Light Fighter | FL | 7 | 10 | 0 | 2 | Cambre Accord | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | Cudin class Attack Boat | FA | 11 | 40 | 0 | 6 | Unity of Sed | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | Defiant class Light Fighter | FC | 9 | 7 | 0 | 6 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | Smallcraft | | Esther class Armored Fighter | FA | 10 | 13 | 0 | 6 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | PA-2S60 | | Firebolt class Light Fighter | FL | 9 | 20 | 0 | 6 | Distant Fringe | | PH-2A60 | | Gahcuyche class Heavy Fighter | FH | 15 | 30 | 0 | 5 | Hive Federation | Yes. Published, canon smallcraft design. | FH-3S50 | | Granite class Interceptor | FC | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | PL-1A20 | | Hammerhead class Close Support Fighter | FA | 12 | 30 | 0 | 6 | Federation of Alsas | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | Khuilrakh class Light Fighter | FL | 11 | 10 | 0 | 8 | Aslan Hierate | Yes. Published, canon starship design. | TBD | | Nolrrgarrai class Strike Fighter | FS | 12 | 20 | 0 | 12 | Vargr Extents | Yes. Published, canon starship design. | TBD | | Onyx class Interceptor | FI | 12 | 80 | 0 | 6 | Nexus Fleet Forces | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | P-12 Agunda class Snub Fighter | FL | 9 | 20 | 0 | 6 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | P-12 Agunda class Snub Fighter | FL | 9 | 20 | 0 | 6 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | P-12 Agunda class Snub Fighter | FL | 9 | 20 | 0 | 6 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | Rampart class Fighter | FL | 15 | 10 | 0 | 6 | Third Imperium | Yes. Published, canon starship design. | FL-1A60 | | Razor class Strike Fighter | FC | 8 | 8 | 0 | 5 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | PL-1A50 | | Retaliator class Heavy Fighter | FH | 10 | 71 | 0 | 6 | Bain Defense Squadron | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | No information yet available. | | Revenant class Light Fighter | FC | 9 | 7 | 0 | 6 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | Smallcraft | | Ronkli class Combat Transport | F | 11 | 300 | 2 | 6 | Distant Fringe | | F-CP62 | | Sath class Medium Fighter | FM | 8 | 30 | 0 | 5 | Sath Alliance | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | Screaming Fury class Fighter | FM | 10 | 38 | 0 | 6 | S'raak Empire | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | TBD | | Starfire class Strike Fighter | FC | 8 | 8 | 0 | 5 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | PL-1A50 | | Vigilance class Interceptor | FC | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2 | Distant Fringe | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | PL-1A20 | | Zydhnali class Fighter | FC | 8 | 9 | 0 | 5 | Zydarian Codominium | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | |
|
References and contributors