Shrike class

Shrike-class LAC basic design

Name: Shrike class Type: Light attack craft Affiliation: Star Kingdom of Manticore Date Introduced: 1912 PD Preceded By: Series 282 LAC Succeeded By: Shrike B-class Mass: 20,250 tons Length: 71 m Beam: 20 m Draught: 20 m Acceleration: 636 G (6.237 kps²) / 80% 508.8 G (4.989 kps²) Crew: 10 Armament: Forward only: 4M 1G 4CM 6PD Magazines: 20 missiles, 52 countermissiles

The Shrike class was the first of a new generation of light attack craft of the Royal Manticoran Navy, built during the First Havenite-Manticoran War with major input from the Grayson Space Navy.

Remaining Technical Data

• 1.5m aperture graser
• revolver missile tubes
• Service life: 1912–1917

Design notes

The designers of the Shrike-class LAC took advantage of several innovations to produce this deadly little craft. It was the first ship to be outfitted with Beta-squared nodes allowing it to have sidewalls only seen in light cruisers before. It also was the first ship to possess a bow wall, closing off its fore aspect.

Another innovation is its power plant, a fission pile that can power the craft for 18 years. This, like the Beta-squared nodes, saves space to cram in the outsized grazer and missile tubes.

Its offensive and defensive weapons all face forward so its tactical doctrine emphasises oblique approaches, under stealth when possible, and only activating the bow wall once the LACs are committed. This is necessary because a ship can only change its vector with reaction thrusters once the bow wall is up.

The Shrike-A only fought in the Second Battle of Hancock and was replaced by the Shrike-B before the start of Operation Buttercup. (HH8)