Excalibur class Dreadnought

## Offensive and defensive specs

### Armament

2 700mm Spinal Mounted Coil gun, 8 400mm High Energy Rail Guns in 4 double turrets, 12 75mm Magnetic Rail Flak Cannons, 28 20x102mm CIWS guns, 120 Hexious Missile Pods

## Overview

The modernized version of Mass Alliance's iconic Everest class dreadnought. Built to improve on the heavy fire power of the Everest class by reducing the overall number of guns and consolidate them into 4 turrets; instead of the 12 guns of the Everest. Named after Empress Elion's well known great sword the ship breaks the normal naming convention of being named after a mountain. One of the most important design elements was keeping the same silhouette of the Everest class for moral reasons.

## History

Following the events of the Grey Fleet Crisis in 151 DoS the Mass Alliance knew they needed a new dreadnought class to compete with the Grand Duchy's Nightmare class dreadnought which dwarfed the Mass Alliance's capital ships. Initial designs were for a larger Everest class with more guns on it. However as wargames proved increased amount of guns saw very little advantage over increased weapon power. This set back the design process 12 months as they began designing what would become the High Energy Rail Guns.

In 158 DoS the terrorist group Aegis of Lady Kassandra would use a highjacked LCT super heavy freighter and launched an attack on the MAS Arx Ferrea. This event showed the MAGN that the Everest class's interception ability was woefully underpowered and that the new replacement would have to have better interception ability. In response the Celton Class Escort Vessel was created to support the aged vessels and would be incorporated into the Excalibur's design.

The Excalibur class would complete its blueprints and got its funding in March 163 DoS and would be laid down in June of 163 DoS. The initial planned line was 14 ships but with an option to build more at the approval of the grand council.

## Design

### Weapons

The Excalibur's biggest change was that it reduced the overall number of weapons for fewer larger more powerful guns. It also decreased the caliber of its spinal mounted coil gun as it was decided that in order to fire a smaller faster round in order to compete with the Grand Duchy's Nightmare class dreadnought. It was also decided to use the more common and accurate single turret 20x102mm gun over the 30mm double turret cannons. It was also decided that 28 guns wouldn't be effective enough and included 12 75mm magnetically accelerated flak guns that could eliminate incoming hostile fire at a farther range then the 20x102mm guns.

### Internal storage

As the Excalibur class was being design they observed the making of the Celton class and realized that without a ATD bringing them along would require them to be carried by another ship, increasing the radar profile and FTL wake of the ship. Instead the Excalibur would have an increased hangar to allow the Excalibur to carrying Celton's in its belly; reducing the radar profile and increased crew comfort as they were able to bunk aboard the carrying ship.

## Cost

upgrade price: 25,500,000,000 Shards

Armor cost: 30,550,250,000 Shards

Weapon cost: 273,850,000,000 Shards

Internal systems cost: 11,250,000,000 Shards

Plasma tech: 1,131,000,000,000 Shards

Total cost: 1,462,025,250,000 Shards

(From scratch cost: 3,562,025,250,000 Shards