187th Battle Squadron

Organization

    The 123rd Battle Rider Squadron is organized into four divisions - the Escort division, the Battle division, the Screen division, and the Carrier.

    The Carrier: The heart of the battle squadron is the carrier. This 300,000 ton ship carries the Battle Riders of the squadron as well as the Fighter division.
    The 123rd was equipped with a Lurenti class Battle Carrier (capable of carrying seven Nolikian class Battle riders) soon after the end of the Fourth Frontier War. Heavily armed and armored, the carrier serves as battle control station as well as a centralized jump drive for the squadron.
    In addition to the standard bridge facilities for ship operations, the carrier is fitted with an extensive electronics and communications suite which enables the squadron commodore (as opposed to the captain of the carrier) to control and direct the components of the squadron in battle and while maneuvering.

Lurenti Class CB-T7425J4-099909-99999-200 MCr23.056 300,000 tons
batteries bearing         Y   9 KKKKZ               TL=15
batteries                 Y   9 KKKKZ               Crew=2,086
K=20. Y=60. Z=200
Low=1,100. Cargo=500. Fuel=75,000. EP=15,000. Agility=1. Troops=100. Fighters=200. Battle Riders=7

    The Escort Division: The squadron is organized to place seven Nolikian class Battle Riders into battle against the enemy. To cover the launch and recall of the riders, the squadron has a division of escort ships normally assigned to it. These seven Sloan class Fleet Escorts carry enough firepower to cover the brief interval between launch and action for the Battle Riders and can fend off smaller nuisance attacks when necessary.

Sloan Class FE-E3469J2-502200-90009-0 MCr3,334.5 5,000 tons
batteries bearing             3   2              TL=15
batteries                     3   2              Crew=40
Cargo=40. Fuel=2,450. EP=450. Agility=6. Fuel Scoops. Three Cutters.

    The Battle Division: Seven Nolikian class Battle Riders form the Battle Division of the squadron. Their heavy firepower is the crux of the entire squadron's strength.
    The Battle Riders are designed to mate snugly with the carrier, using a minimum of volume when attached to their mother ship. Crews continue to maintain and tune the Riders when attached to the carrier, and maintain them in a constant state of readiness.

Nolikian Class BR-L106QJ3-B39905-299N9-0 MCr9,268.25 20,000 tons
batteries bearing          8   1 C121C               TL=15
batteries                  8   1 C121C               Crew=690
Low=150. Fuel=5,000. EP=5,000. Agility=6. Troops=81. Fuel Scoops. Fuel Purification Plant. One Frozen Watch
One Auxiliary Bridge. 4 Gunboats.

    The Fighter Division: The carrier's hangar bays carry 200 single place fighters. Fighters are used for long range patrols and reconnaissance within a system, allows the carrier advanced warning of enemy ships or bases. In addition, the fighters are expected to hold the screen against enemy vessels until the Riders are ready to begin battle.

Sylean Class FH-0106N71-830000-20002-0 MCr105.23 50 tons
batteries bearing        3     1    1            TL=15
batteries                1     1    1            Crew=2
Fuel=11. EP=11. Agility=6.

THE BATTLE RIDER CONCEPT

    The Battle-Rider concept builds a quantity of heavily-armored, heavily-gunned ships without jump drives and provides them with a carrier with jump drive to take them from star system to star system.
    Riders are able to substitute additional armor and weaponry for the tonnage formerly occupied by the jump drives. Such a rider should be able to defeat a battleship of equivalent tonnage which is burdened with the necessary jump drives. The carrier has empty space to hold the riders, and large jump drives that enable the total tonnage to jump.
    The primary reason that Battle-Rider squadrons are procured is fiscal. For any given budget, the Battle-Rider concept produces a more powerful squadron at less cost. In addition, by increasing the number of hulls, the squadron increases the number of spinal mount weapons available.