The penultimate design of the Taurian style frigate class of WarShip, the Endeavor (and its Block II variant, the Hector) class ships were among the best Taurian vessels of the War.
Code:
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Endeavor [Frigate]
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2750
Vessel Type: WarShip
Rules: Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 680,000 tons
K-F Drive System: (Unknown)
Length: 719 meters
Sail Diameter: 1,090 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
8 Killer Whale
8 White Shark
8 Barracuda
16 NAC/30
16 NL55
8 Heavy NPPC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
Entering service in 2490 to augment the Constellation class Frigates then in
service, the Endeavor was perhaps the finest Concordat Naval vessel of the
pre-War period. Despite teething problems that resulted in the first four
ships having to return to the shipyards for modifications, the Endeavors--and
their Block II descendents, the Hectors--would perform admirably during the
War.
This ship was what the Admirality had desired of the Constellation. Eighty
thousand tons heavier in mass, it retained the speed and parasite complement,
while increasing armor protection by almost 12%. Firepower was increased by
nearly 21%.
Serving in the capacity that Inner Sphere powers would use Cruisers for
instead, the Endeavors and Hectors provided a powerful tool in the hands of
the well-trained and experienced Concordat navy during the War. Had it not
been for the recession of the 2520's, enough Endeavor class Frigates and
Formidable class Destroyers might have been produced to make an invasion too
costly--even for the Star League. Unfortunately, production of the Endeavor
ceased in 2522, when only sixteen had been produced.
The Block II version--the Hector class--reentered production just eight years
before the War began. Eight Hectors were available at the start of the
conflict, with another thirteen joining the Fleet during it. Eleven more
Hector class vessels were in various stages of completion when the War came to
a halt in 2596.
==Capabilities:==
One of the most complex vessels produced by the Concordat prior to the
outbreak of hostilities with the Star League, the Endeavor proved to be an
extremely capable ship. Surviving records show occassions where two or three
Endeavors--or Hectors--fought ships of the Star Leagues battle-line. Though
they could not win such a fight, they often would inflict terrible damage upon
the Star League vessels. Very few ships in service with the Star League or
the Federated Suns smaller than a cruiser could survive a one-on-one
engagement.
The massive weaponry of the Endeavor was in good part responsible for that.
Sixteen Jankowski Mark IV Class 30 Naval Autocannons, arrayed in eight bays of
two, spaced evenly across the ship gave the vessel her heaviest punch. Each
twin mount was provided with a magazine of one hundred rounds.
Eight High Energy Systems Nova class Heavy Naval PPCs provided back-up for
each of the eight twin Mark IV's. Sixteen Martin-Gordan Sunburn Class 55
Naval Lasers were also mounted in twin mounts to supplement the other, more
poweful weapons. The Sunburns were mounted to give the ship's captain
multiple weapon bays, allowing him to split fire between various targets if
need be.
Twenty-four Norman/Raytheon capital missile launchers were mounted as well,
providing anti-fighter capacity as well as a nuclear weapon delivery system.
Eight each of the Barracuda, White Shark, and Killer Whale missile launchers
was mounted in an individual bay, even divided among all eight arcs of fire.
Each launcher had an independent magazine with 30 missiles, with the Killer
Whales having a seperate radiation-shielded magazine for 5 nuclear munitions.
949 tons of standard armor provided excellent overall armor protection to the
design, while the three GE-Westinghouse KCV-300 drives allowed the Endeavor to
attain a maximum thrust of 2.5-g's. Two DropShips, sixteen aerospace
fighters, and four small craft provided support for normal operations, along
with 100 zero-g Marines. Two 115-meter diameter grav decks kept the crew in
tip-top health and ready for action.
21,526 tons of open cargo volume allowed ship captains to carry additional
munitons, supplies, or act in a limited fashion as transports. This was in
addition to the 17,000 tons of spare parts that had their own dedicated
storage bays. 14,400 tons of fuel bunkerage and 360 days of life support,
food, and water allowed the Endeavors to conduct patrols of up to one year in
length. Of course, with 450 officers and men aboard, tours were seldom quite
so long.
In fact, most Taurian Naval ships of the pre-Reunification War period
addressed a serious problem faced by all of the major 'black water'
navies--crew retention. With naval ships expected to serve as a national
assest, thus able to be moved from one border to the next, few crew members
could count on a stable family life. This often resulted in most leaving the
service after one tour of duty.
The Concordat sought to fix that problem by reaching back into ancient history
and borrowing from the Cold War era United States Navy. While most Concordat
WarShips deployed on a four-month cruise--the same as other navies did--the
difference arose when that ship returned. Other navies would reprovision and
rearm, fix any needed maintenance issues and head back out, after perhaps a
month at home. Those ships might not even arrive back at their initial port
of call.
Instead the Concordat 'home-ported' all of its ships. Each would depart for a
patrol and return to the same port of call. Furthermore, while the ship
itself would be rapidly turned around, the crew would not. All Concordat
WarShips--up until 2570, when war seemed inevitable--were provided with two
complete crews: Blue and Gold.
One crew took the ship out, while the second remained at their home port,
working 9-5 for five days a week, and then spending the rest of their times
with their families. Retention rates soared in the TCN as a result of this
policy. Because men and women who knew their ships remained in service,
proficiency with ship's systems rose--all of this contributed to the
reputation of the Concordat Navy as one of the best of all the major naval
powers at the dawn of the 26th Century.
==Battle History:==
The most impressive perfomance of the Endeavor class vessels came in 2588 at
the Battle of New Vandenberg. Unable--or unwilling--to commit its badly
damaged heavy ships to the defense of New Vandenberg, Fleet Admiral Tabitha
Owens asked for volunteers from the lighter ships of the Fleet.
Included in her make-shift command were three Endeavor class vessels--TCS
Challenger (SFF-029), TCS Venture (SFF-033), and TCS Viking (SFF-036)--as well
as the Hector class TCS Cassandra (SFF-050). These four ships were escorted
by five Formidable and three Thunderer class Destroyers, and four Pegasus
class Corvettes.
Facing them at New Vandenberg was the Star Leagues Fourth Fleet--a massive
formation with over sixty ships of war, including a dozen battleships.
Despite the odds of nearly 4-1, on 5 May, 2588, Owens jumped her command into
system at a pirate point near planetary orbit. Having already asked a
Catholic priest to give her the last rites before her formation jumped, she
issued her last order as an Admiral--kill everything in orbit.
Knowing there would be no escape, Owen's command began targeting every ship in
range, thanks to their ability to fire all of their weapons simultaneously.
Transports and DropShips exploded around them as their weapons struck weaker
targets first, hoping to kill ground troops. Then they turned their guns on
the escorting Barons, Lolas, and Vincents.
By the time Fourth Fleet had recovered, Owen's ships had killed twenty-three
transports, ninteen destroyers, and twelve corvettes, for little damage in
return. At that moment, though, the battle changed tides. Having finally
cleared for action, the twelve Monsoons assigned to Fourth Fleet turned to
present their broadsides at ranges of just three hundred kilometers. Each
time they fired, one of Owen's ships died.
The Star League's Fourth Fleet won the day, but before they did, Tabitha Owens
launched her nuclear weapons into the heart of the Star League battle-line
from aboard Cassandra. Challenger and Viking did so as well. Though they
died seconds after the nuclear-tipped Killer Whales left their launch tubes,
Owens succeeded in destroying another six cruisers as well as seven
battleships that took direct hits.
Because of this action by the 'non-existent' and 'utterly defeated' Concordat
Navy, the Star League command decided to mop up outlying systems before trying
the defensive fortifications guarding their only known route into Flannagan's
Nebula. Almost two years would pass before the Star League made its first
assault upon Gateway Point.
While the Concordat could ill afford to lose sixteen more irreplacable ships,
Owens sacrifice bought time to complete several of the exceptionally powerful
Calderon class battleships, as well as a half-dozen more Hectors. Hundreds,
thousands, of aerospace fighters had produced as well, and the fortifications
had been tripled in strength and firepower.
Thanks to her death-ride at New Vandenberg, Tabitha Owens prevented the Star
League from pushing through Gateway seven years early. Because of her
actions, the war continued to drag on, causing tens of thousands more
casulties. She was hailed by the Concordat as a Hero, by the Star League as a
War Criminal. Who is to say which was right?
==Variants:==
The Block II Endeavors became famously known as the Hector class--ships that
would become legend during the twenty year war against the Star League.
The Hectors replaced the standard armor of the Endeavors with Improved
Ferro-Aluminum Armor, resulting in a nearly 48% increase in armor strength.
The Admirality tried hard during the conflict to refit existing Endeavor class
vessels with the new armor. Only half were so refitted before the end of the
conflict.
==Notable Vessels & Crews:==
Below are listed all known ships of the Endeavor class. These entries are
divided into the Block I (Endeavor), Block II (Hector), and Block II (Hector,
incomplete at time of surrender) sub-groupings.
Endeavor class Frigate, Block I (Endeavor class)
Endeavor (SFF-025)
Odyssey (SFF-026)
Voyager (SFF-027)
Discovery (SFF-028)
Challenger (SFF-029)
Expedition (SFF-030)
Pathfinder (SFF-031)
Explorer (SFF-032)
Venture (SFF-033)
Eagle (SFF-034)
Mariner (SFF-035)
Viking (SFF-036)
Enterprise (SFF-037)
Freedom (SFF-038)
Atlantis (SFF-039)
Pacifica (SFF-040)
Endeavor class Frigate, Block II (Hector class)
Hector (SFF-041)
Bellerophon (SFF-042)
Achilles (SFF-043)
Menelaeus (SFF-044)
Ajax (SFF-045)
Paris (SFF-046)
Agamemnon (SFF-047)
Odysseus (SFF-048)
Priam (SFF-049)
Cassandra (SFF-050)
Penelope (SFF-051)
Theseus (SFF-052)
Cassiopiea (SFF-053)
Perseus (SFF-054)
Nestor (SFF-055)
Nike (SFF-056)
Athena (SFF-057)
Prometheus (SFF-058)
Hermes (SFF-059)
Apollo (SFF-060)
Vulcan (SFF-061)
Endeavor class Frigates, Block II (Hector class): Incomplete on date of
surrender
Hercules (SFF-062)
Mars (SFF-063)
Zeus (SFF-064)
Hera (SFF-065)
Hades (SFF-066)
Podeidon (SFF-067)
Cronus (SFF-068)
Aprodite (SFF-069)
Calypso (SFF-070)
Circe (SFF-071)
Artemis (SFF-072)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Endeavor [Frigate]
Mass: 680,000 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 122,400.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Kearny-Fuchida Hyperdrive: Compact (Integrity = 14) 307,700.00
Jump Sail (Detachable): (Integrity = 4) 64.00
Structural Integrity: 70 47,600.00
Total Heat Sinks: 5,120 Single 4,581.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 14,688.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1,700.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (360 days supply) 810.00
Armor Type: Standard (422 total armor pts) 949.00
Capital Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 71
Fore-Left/Right: 71/71
Aft-Left/Right: 71/71
Aft: 67
Cargo:
Bay 1: Fighters (8) with 2 doors 1,200.00
Small Craft (2) with 1 door 400.00
Bay 2: Fighters (8) with 2 doors 1,200.00
Small Craft (2) with 2 doors 400.00
Bay 3: Cargo (1) with 2 doors 21,526.00
DropShip Capacity: 2 Docking Hardpoints 2,000.00
Grav Decks #1 - 2: (115-meter diameter) 200.00
Escape Pods: 76 (7 tons each) 532.00
Crew and Passengers:
42 Officers (42 minimum) 420.00
139 Crew (139 minimum) 973.00
64 Gunners (64 minimum) 448.00
18 1st Class Passengers 180.00
35 2nd Class Passengers 245.00
100 Marines 500.00
52 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) Nose 4 4 4 4 20 1,900.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) Nose 3 3 3 3 15 1,320.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) Nose 2 2 2 2 10 990.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) Nose 60 60 60 -- 200 7,080.00
2 NL55 Nose 11 11 11 11 170 2,200.00
1 Heavy NPPC Nose 15 15 15 15 225 3,000.00
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) FL/R 4 4 4 4 40 3,800.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) FL/R 3 3 3 3 30 2,640.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) FL/R 2 2 2 2 20 1,980.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) FL/R 60 60 60 -- 400 14,160.00
2 NL55 FL/R 11 11 11 11 340 4,400.00
1 Heavy NPPC FL/R 15 15 15 15 450 6,000.00
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) L/RBS 4 4 4 4 40 3,800.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) L/RBS 3 3 3 3 30 2,640.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) L/RBS 2 2 2 2 20 1,980.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) L/RBS 60 60 60 -- 400 14,160.00
2 NL55 L/RBS 11 11 11 11 340 4,400.00
1 Heavy NPPC L/RBS 15 15 15 15 450 6,000.00
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) AL/R 4 4 4 4 40 3,800.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) AL/R 3 3 3 3 30 2,640.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) AL/R 2 2 2 2 20 1,980.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) AL/R 60 60 60 -- 400 14,160.00
2 NL55 AL/R 11 11 11 11 340 4,400.00
1 Heavy NPPC AL/R 15 15 15 15 450 6,000.00
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) Aft 4 4 4 4 20 1,900.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) Aft 3 3 3 3 15 1,320.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) Aft 2 2 2 2 10 990.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) Aft 60 60 60 -- 200 7,080.00
2 NL55 Aft 11 11 11 11 170 2,200.00
1 Heavy NPPC Aft 15 15 15 15 225 3,000.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (2.50%) 17,000.00
1 Bay Personnel Quarters 364.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 5,120 680,000.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 4,047,665,200 C-Bills
Battle Value: 184,269
Cost per BV: 21,966.07
Weapon Value: 56,258 (Ratio = .31)
Damage Factors: SRV = 6,980; MRV = 6,980; LRV = 5,520; ERV = 2,185
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 465,854
(56,504 Structure, 175,670 Life Support, 233,680 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 543,375 (117% of MPV)
BattleForce2: Not applicable
Code:
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Hector [Frigate]
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2750
Vessel Type: WarShip
Rules: Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 680,000 tons
K-F Drive System: (Unknown)
Length: 719 meters
Sail Diameter: 1,090 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Armor Type: Improved Ferro-aluminum
Armament:
8 Killer Whale
8 White Shark
8 Barracuda
16 NAC/30
16 NL55
8 Heavy NPPC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Hector [Frigate]
Mass: 680,000 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 122,400.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Kearny-Fuchida Hyperdrive: Compact (Integrity = 14) 307,700.00
Jump Sail (Detachable): (Integrity = 4) 64.00
Structural Integrity: 70 47,600.00
Total Heat Sinks: 5,120 Single 4,581.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 14,688.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1,700.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (360 days supply) 810.00
Armor Type: Improved Ferro-aluminum (611 total armor pts) 948.00
Capital Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 102
Fore-Left/Right: 102/102
Aft-Left/Right: 102/102
Aft: 101
Cargo:
Bay 1: Fighters (8) with 2 doors 1,200.00
Small Craft (2) with 1 door 400.00
Bay 2: Fighters (8) with 2 doors 1,200.00
Small Craft (2) with 2 doors 400.00
Bay 3: Cargo (1) with 2 doors 21,526.00
DropShip Capacity: 2 Docking Hardpoints 2,000.00
Grav Decks #1 - 2: (115-meter diameter) 200.00
Escape Pods: 76 (7 tons each) 532.00
Crew and Passengers:
42 Officers (42 minimum) 420.00
139 Crew (139 minimum) 973.00
64 Gunners (64 minimum) 448.00
18 1st Class Passengers 180.00
35 2nd Class Passengers 245.00
100 Marines 500.00
52 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) Nose 4 4 4 4 20 1,900.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) Nose 3 3 3 3 15 1,320.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) Nose 2 2 2 2 10 990.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) Nose 60 60 60 -- 200 7,080.00
2 NL55 Nose 11 11 11 11 170 2,200.00
1 Heavy NPPC Nose 15 15 15 15 225 3,000.00
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) FL/R 4 4 4 4 40 3,800.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) FL/R 3 3 3 3 30 2,640.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) FL/R 2 2 2 2 20 1,980.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) FL/R 60 60 60 -- 400 14,160.00
2 NL55 FL/R 11 11 11 11 340 4,400.00
1 Heavy NPPC FL/R 15 15 15 15 450 6,000.00
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) L/RBS 4 4 4 4 40 3,800.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) L/RBS 3 3 3 3 30 2,640.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) L/RBS 2 2 2 2 20 1,980.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) L/RBS 60 60 60 -- 400 14,160.00
2 NL55 L/RBS 11 11 11 11 340 4,400.00
1 Heavy NPPC L/RBS 15 15 15 15 450 6,000.00
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) AL/R 4 4 4 4 40 3,800.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) AL/R 3 3 3 3 30 2,640.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) AL/R 2 2 2 2 20 1,980.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) AL/R 60 60 60 -- 400 14,160.00
2 NL55 AL/R 11 11 11 11 340 4,400.00
1 Heavy NPPC AL/R 15 15 15 15 450 6,000.00
1 Killer Whale(35 msls) Aft 4 4 4 4 20 1,900.00
1 White Shark(30 msls) Aft 3 3 3 3 15 1,320.00
1 Barracuda(30 msls) Aft 2 2 2 2 10 990.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds) Aft 60 60 60 -- 200 7,080.00
2 NL55 Aft 11 11 11 11 170 2,200.00
1 Heavy NPPC Aft 15 15 15 15 225 3,000.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (2.50%) 17,000.00
1 Bay Personnel Quarters 364.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 5,120 679,999.00
Tons Left: 1.00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 4,123,485,200 C-Bills
Battle Value: 186,777
Cost per BV: 22,077.05
Weapon Value: 66,452 (Ratio = .36)
Damage Factors: SRV = 6,980; MRV = 6,980; LRV = 5,520; ERV = 2,185
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 465,853
(56,503 Structure, 175,670 Life Support, 233,680 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 543,375 (117% of MPV)
BattleForce2: Not applicable