Crusader-class

The Crusader-class is a modern class of light cruisers, designed by the PlazWorks company and currently in service with the military of Trident Foundries.
== Description ==
Comprising a narrow frontal section combined with a comparatively voluminous aft section, the Crusader is one of the largest designs that Trident Foundries have ever fielded in combat. It features effective Gen2 armour plating methods (Gen2.1 on newer variants), and signature PlazWorks features such as the V-Plate cooling system.
The Crusader's primary armament includes heavy frontal plasma cannons, and two massive phase cannon turrets on older variants. 
The Crusader is much more heavily armoured than most Trident ships and older variants also featured now-obsolete hardlight armour generators scattered around the ship to provide additional protection. 
== History ==
=== 2316 ===
Design of the Crusader was started in August, after Jake Lancia's repeated calls for a powerful and large warship. A basic shell was completed several days later by Plaz, but however abandoned.
Jake Lancia continued work on the shell into September, adding two escape pod ports and the main bridge. With the invention of the Auxiliary Reactor work continued on the power systems.
In early October the vessel was finally completed and officially commissioned into active service.
A major system refit was started and completed in early November based on feedback from Union of Intergalactic States members, which included, among other changes, a more powerful turret complement and hardlight armour generators.
=== 2317 ===
The Crusader underwent another major system refit in late February and the class prototype has entered service in the LCB Galaxies.
In December, work began on refitting the Crusader again, to be able to effectively fight modern enemies.
=== 2319 ===
Another redesign was started from early January to use new Power 2.1 components from Schemadyne, an upgrade of the vessel's external armour to the newer, more effective Gen2.1 armour plating, and to serve as a complementary vessel to the visually similar Independent-class that was just entering development (and had reused the concept of a vertically oriented, narrow frontal section). An experimental variant which turns the Crusader-class into a light carrier has also been tabled.
== Usage ==
The Crusader-class has, in addition to its primary role as a light cruiser, been used in the following roles:
* Heavy Escort
* Flagship
* Testbed (for Aux Reactors, Carrier refit)
Category:Ships
Category:Cruisers
Category:Trident Industries