Grand Admiral, First Order Central Command
Intent: To create a ship that somewhat fulfills the role that Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) do in real world navies.
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Development Thread: N/A
Manufacturer: The First Order
Model: FIPV-9 'Kerunos' System Patrol Vessel
Affiliation: The First Order
Modularity: N/A
Production: Mass-Produced
Material: Quadanium Steel Hull, with Trimantium Armor Plating. Transparisteel and other standard starship components as appropriate.
DESCRIPTION
The FIPV-9 'Kerunos' System Patrol Vessel (also known as P-9's, or simply 'Niners') is a product of the rapid expansion of the First Order in the Outer Rim. As more worlds come under the fold the amount of traffic both in and out of Imperial systems has increased exponentially. With that comes the increased threat of piracy, smuggling, robbery, and shipjacking, to say nothing of ever increasing frontiers and widening border zones.
The First Order Navy found itself surprisingly ill-equipped to handle the situation. While the expansion of the Starfighter Corps helped fill the gap, it became quickly evident that fleet was primarily built around supporting the large capital ships, and needed a small patrol ship for those jobs where a Heavy Frigate or the like simply doesn't fit. To this end the Kerunos is designed with two main jobs in mind. The first is inter-system patrol, where the presence of a small ship with a few starfighters is more than enough to convince most would-be criminals that they should take their business elsewhere. Where presence is not enough, the Kerunos is particular well-suited to engaging the like of smugglers and corsairs, who tend to rely more on trickery and guile than firepower and raw strength.
While the armament of the Kerunos is limited, it features a comprehensive suite of Electronic Warfare equipment, consisting of long-range sensor jammers, and shorter range systems deigned to directly interfere with targeting and fire-control systems. The Kerunos also features a robust Countermeasure package, which combined with the lethal Mk26 HARM makes them relatively effective against small groups of starfighters.
The second role imagined for the Kerunos is that of a System Patrol vessel, using its advanced sensor suite to reconnoiter enemy systems, patrol hyperlanes, and for police and customs work. The sensor suite is as effective as possible for being entirely onboard (no towed array) but is more than capable of tracking ships in hyperspace for limited distances.
Defensively the Kerunos is built around a powerful shield array (to cut down on overall mass) but relies much on its defensive weaponry and EW assets to allow it to flee. Put simply, this ship is not designed for a full-on naval engagement, though clever commanders could certainly find a use for it. They will not hold up well to even a light corvette if the latter is designed to fight other corvettes.
The Kerunos features an unusual set of four docking clamps which can externally mount TIE fighters to support the ship. TIE's so mounted are provided power and life support, and can be transported through hyperspace. They have no ability to do repairs or refits on the attached fighters, however, besides what could be accomplished by the crew doing some EVA work. The clamps are somewhat universal, and can easily be reconfigured to carry a pair of Assault Walkers and so on.
The Kerunos also has a small crew and, being designed as a customs/patrol vessel, quite a bit of internal compartments. Typically these are used as detention cells, or for cargo transportation, passenger compartments, etc. Essentially the ship has a decent amount of extra room, and often doubles as sort of an armored military freighter. It can be utilized as a dropship of sorts in a pinch, though it's not a role the ship is specifically designed for.
Being a relatively small vessel, the Kerunos can fit in most larger hangers without significant trouble. This necessarily comes at the price of clearing out whatever would normally be transported, whether it be a squadron of fighters or group of shuttles. This is not normally done, as the patrol vessel has a perfectly serviceable hyperdrive, but it can make sense if it is intended to be used as a transport or to provide EW capability for a fleet. FIPV's carried on ships necessarily take up space in the hanger otherwise used for fighter squadrons or transports. The exchange rate is on the order of one or maybe two (for a spacious hanger) FIPV's per squadron removed. Additionally the FIPV's cannot store anything on their docking clamps while they are themselves docked on a larger ship (the clamps retract when the landing gear are out).
The Kerunos-class are not 'commissioned' warships (though most are owned and operated by the First Order Navy) and thus do not merit the FIV prefix. Typically they are simply named in a three part manner, with their station, role, and number in order. For example, Dosuun Patrol Three, or Bespin Customs Two-One, etc.
Strengths
Excellent Detection and Onboard Signal Analysis capability
Advanced EW capability can make them a pain to fight
Can be carried in most capital ship hangers (1200m+)
Poor Armament, not designed to fight anything more than a few starfighters
Will basically disintegrate when confronted by proper warships
Slow in Hyperspace, makes for limited use in a fleet formation
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Classification: Picket Corvette
Role: System Patrol Ship, Customs Vessel, Picket Ship, Armored Freighter
Length: 64m
Width: 32m
Height: 14m
Power Core Generator/Reactor: FIR-81b Sustained Fusion Reactor
Hyperdrive Rating: 2
Minimum Crew: 5
Optimal Crew: 14
Passenger Capacity: Up to 80 personnel, uncomfortably.
Consumables: Five Months
Sublight Speed: 6
Maneuverability: 7
ARMAMENT
Armament Rating: 6
- 2 x Twin Repeating Light Turbolaser Turrets (1 fwd/ 1 aft)
- 4 x Concussion Missile Launchers (2 fwd/ 2 aft)
- 1 x Mk 26 'HARM' Guided Missile Weapon System
- 2 x Antimissile Octets
Overall Value: 12
Armor Strength: 10
Hull Integrity: 10
Shield Strength: 14
ECCM: 14
External Docking for 4x TIE Fighters. Usually TIE/FO's or TIE/MN's.
Can be reconfigured to carry Walkers, Prefab Bases, or just about anything else you can strap to it.
Standard Combat Ray Shielding
Standard Combat Particle Shielding
Advanced Sensor Suite (HSI/DER/EPR/AS)
Advanced Communications Suite
Standard TAT and BAC Combat System Suite
Standard Navigation Systems
Advanced Electronics Warfare/Countermeasure Package
Sensor Jammer
220-SIG Tactical Sensor Jamming Device
Electronic Countermeasures
Full-spectrum Distortion Projector
REFERENCE HYPERLINKS
Gozanti Cruiser (for the docking clamps and some general inspiration)
P-8 Poseidon (real world MPRA, alas no Harpoon missiles)
