Chanson class

Name: Chanson class Type: Destroyer Affiliation: Star Kingdom of Manticore Date Introduced: 1867 PD Preceded By: Havoc class Succeeded By: Javelin class Mass: 78,000 tons Length: 367 m Beam: 43 m Draught: 25 m Crew: 307 – 27 Officers – 242 Enlisted – 38 Marines Power: 2 Rukes MFR-7a fusion reactors Magazines: 160 Mk34 anti-ship missiles 444 Mk21 countermissiles 6 Mk19 EW drones Auxiliary Craft: 2 Hawk-class pinnaces 2 Dakota-class cutters

The Chanson class was a class of destroyers built and used by the Royal Manticoran Navy in the late 19th and early 20th Century PD.

History

The class was designed as the destroyer counterpart to the Illustrious-class light cruiser and the Star Knight-class heavy cruiser, as part of the general "active defenses paramount" philosophy; its mixture of beam weapons, missiles and defense systems made for strong defenses at the expense of offensive power. A total of 204 have been built since 1867.

Most Chansons mounted older Mod 6 missile launchers, which was supplanted by the faster cycling and more reliable Mod 6a. Several units in the class' third and fourth flight were equipped with newer launchers, and several older ones were refitted.

With its strong defense and long endurance, the Chanson class was well suited for various duties, including as convoy escorts, scouts, on picket duty, in destroyer screens, as well as to "show the flag" in smaller polities.

Like many RMN designs, the class was strong in missile duels against other destroyers and even some light cruisers as long as it stayed out of range of the energy weapons. As a multi-role design, it lacked the offensive strength of the Havoc class, which could come in costly during counter-picket duty. (JIR1)

Three Flight IV ships of this type were sold to the Grayson Space Navy in 1903 PD, and were officially designated as the Joseph class. (GNLH)

Technical specifications

• Missile tube cycle time: 14 seconds
• Broadside:  3M, 3L, 4CM, 4PD
• Chase:  2M, 1L, 2CM, 2PD
• Number built:  204
• Service Life: 1867-Present

Known Ships

• HMS Chanson
• HMS Aria
• HMS Balladeer
• HMS Bard
• HMS Canticle
• HMS Choralist
• HMS Glorioso
• HMS Madrigal
• HMS Minstrel
• HMS Nightingale
• HMS Plain Song
• HMS Rondeau
• HMS Serenader
• HMS Troubadour
• HMS Vixen
• HMS Windsong