Freelance Traveller

Markwies-class Luriani Raider

designed by Andrea Vallance

This article originally appeared in the October 2012 issue of Freelance Traveller.

USP
         DR-4636861-040000-30003-0 MCr486.682 400T
Bat Bear             1     1   1   Crew: 12
Bat                  1     1   1   TL: 12

Cargo: 7 Crew Sect: 1 of 12 Fuel: 152 EP: 32 Agl: 6
Fuel Treatment: Scoops, On-Board Fuel Purification

Detailed Specifications

(High Guard Design)

Hull

400.000 tons standard, 5,600.000 cubic meters, Flattened Sphere Configuration

Crew

Pilot, Navigator, 6 Engineers, Medic, 3 Gunners

Engineering

Jump-3, 6G Manoeuvre, Power plant-8, 32.000 EP, Agility 6

Avionics

Bridge, Model/6 Computer

Hardpoints

4 Hardpoints

Armament

2 Triple Missile Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-3), 1 Triple Beam Laser Turret organised into 1 Battery (Factor-3)

Defenses

1 Triple Sandcaster Turret organised into 1 Battery (Factor-4)

Subordinate Craft

None

Fuel

152 Tons Fuel (3 parsecs jump + 28 days endurance); On-Board Fuel Scoops and Fuel Purification Plant

Miscellaneous

6 Staterooms, 7 Tons Cargo

User-defined Components

None

Cost

MCr 491.549 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 4.867), MCr 389.346 in Quantity

Construction Time

82 Weeks Singly, 65 Weeks in Quantity

Description

The standard Protectorate light raiding vessel, the Markwies class was intended to be rapidly produced in bulk. Its design reflects the normal Luriani preference for high-G manoeuvrable craft relying on speed and agility. In the hands of a skilled pilot, these ships could outmanoeuvre most opponents. The Markwies were never intended to stand in battle, rather they were meant to perform hit and run attacks, disrupting commerce and communications in an enemy’s rear areas.

During the Luriani War the Protectorate built and deployed hundreds of these craft. Operating in groups of five, they ranged deep into Imperial territory, destroying communications and trade, as well as encouraging and supporting anti-Imperial sentiment on many worlds.

While unable to pose a serious threat to a defended system, they proved to be a constant nuisance, tying down large numbers of Imperial ships. Able to out run most standard Imperial escorts, the Imperium was forced to deploy cruiser class vessels to neutralise the threat.

Their standard tactics were to jump in system, conduct high speed dash raids at targets of opportunity and withdraw before defending forces could mobilise or intercept.

The deep penetration of Imperial territory achieved by these vessels presented a significant challenge to Imperial prestige and was a major factor in spreading unrest throughout the Fornast and Antares sectors.

However, these deep raids relied heavily on pre-positioned supply cashes. Ultimately the Imperium responded to these raiders by attempting to destroy these supply dumps. However this required a significant investment of Intelligence resources to locate them.