Independence Patrol DropShip (Marine Transport)

==Description==
The Independence-Class Patrol DropShip is a Primitive DropShip built for the Niops Association Militia. Intended to bolster the defense of the Periphery nation, using what technologies the now technologically lagging Niops Association can get their hands on.
The Class was built follow up on their smaller modified Saturn-Class Patrol DropShips as a larger and more potent combatant.
===Development===
Wanting a more heavy-duty combatant than their revamped Saturn class patrol ships, the Niops Association put forth an RFP for a new combat DropShip. The original goal was a baseline armored vessel with modular mission pallets that could be swapped out, allowing the ship to function as an escort carrier, Pocket WarShip, or marine transport. Intending to simplify their manufacture and logistics, NAM requested the design be based around the same drive system as the smaller Saturn, assuming that the resultant vessel would be either 2000 tons, and capable of 1.5-2.5 Gs of thrust, or 3000 tons, and capable of 1-1.5 Gs of thrust.
That...was not the result.
Instead, the resulting design proposed by the Niopian Belters, in conjunction with the Project Workshops, would mass 6000 tons, requiring use of two Saturn-class drive systems to manage 1 G of cruising thrust, and looking like a Vincent class corvette's "mini-me", but also far more capable than a smaller vessel would be.
The following is stats for Militia's Marine Transport variant of the Independence.
==Background Information==
This ship and it's variant were created by Giovanni Blasini for his book of his The Adventures of the Beer Keg of Science! in the fan universe, the Adminstrator (AU).
==Weapons and Equipment==
With no interest in force projection beyond their own system, the Independence class is, as with the smaller Saturn, a primitive DropShip, lacking any form of KF boom. At 6000 tons, it's five times the baseline mass of the Saturn, but bears a number of resemblances, including the primitive small laser mounts, though the primitive AC/5s have been finally replaced by blazer cannons. Cargo is a respectable 222 tons, with 200 tons of fuel allowing for extended deployments. Crew accommodations are significantly better than the Saturn class, much to the relief of their crews. The ship's hull is protected by 108 tons of Primitive Aerospace Armor, with even spread of protection in each of it's forward facing firing arc with slight decrease of armor in the Aft section. 
The Marine Transport's loadout adds four assault shuttles to the two baseline, a squadron of aerospace fighters, and 84 marines, to provide an organic response force capable of retaking spaceborne facilities. Additionally, emergency lifeboats and escape pods are increased to 12 each, and total cargo is brought up to 329 tons, to provide supplies for long-duration deployments. The marine transport loadout also carries two SCL/1 subcapital lasers, one mounted in each aft-quarter, to provide pinpoint bombardment capabilities in support of marine boarding and landing operations, and appearing to function as combining both other loadouts, plus additional capabilities, into too small a package, resulting in the most compromises.
===Weapon Placement===
*;Nose : x1 Binary Laser (Blazer) Cannon, x4 Small Primitive Lasers
*;Forward Right/Left Sides : x1 Binary Laser (Blazer) Cannon, x4 Small Primitive Lasers
*;Aft (Rear) Right/Left Sides : x1 SubCapital Laser, x1 Binary Laser (Blazer) Cannon, x4 Small Primitive Lasers
*;Aft : x1 Binary Laser (Blazer) Cannon, x4 Small Primitive Lasers
==Cargo==
*Bay 1: Small Craft (6) 5 Door 
*Bay 2: Fighter (6) 2 Door
*Bay 3: Cargo (200 tons) 1 Door 
==Notes==
*Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-X 
*Escape Pods: 12 / Life Boats: 12
*Total Cost Per Ship : 245,349,440 C-bills
==Variants==
There are number of Independence Class variants 
*;Independence-Class Patrol DropShip (Escort Carrier) : This version of the Independence, operates like Aerospace Carrier. Engineers increased it's small craft compliment to 2, increases its fuel capacity to 200s, a fighter bay with 18 fighters also added. Carrier version drops the SubCapital Lasers 1 while retaining the remain of the ship's weaponry. The ship's heatsinks are decrease to 120. BV (2.0)=3,806 BG.Battletech Post for Light Armor variant of the Independence-Class DropShip (Escort Carrier).
*;Independence-Class Patrol DropShip (Marine Transport) : Retains the Escort Carrier's full compliment of weapons, it's fighter capacity is reduced to 6, while increasing smallcraft capacity to 6. This is to make room for 84 marines. BV (2.0)=3,988 BG.Battletech Post for Light Armor variant of the Independence-Class DropShip (Marine Transport).
==Image Note==
*Image use is not canon image of the Independence-Class DropShip, this is a generic image. The vehicle is spheroid (rounded) style ship, where the similarities end.
==References==
==External Links==
*Original posting of Independence-Class Patrol DropShip on Bg.Battletech.com's forums
Category:Works by Giovanni Blasini
Category:The Administrator AU
Category:DropShipsCustom