Casteban Mecetti
(Biot)
Obscurer Class Destroyer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create an Interdictor and Electronic Warfare Star Destroyer that uses alternative techniques for preventing Hyperspace Travel
- Image Source: https://echenry.artstation.com/projects/lVPNVz (EC Henry, additional photoshop by me.)
- Canon Link: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Interdictor-class#:~:text=The Interdictor-class was a,vessels along their patrol routes.
- Permissions: NA
- Primary Source: NA
- Manufacturer: House Mecetti Nationalized Industries
- Affiliation: House Mecetti
- Market Status: Open Market
- Model: Obscurer Class Destroyer
- Production: Minor
- Material: Durasteel, Transparisteel, and Titanium (Standard Star Destroyer Components)
- Classification: Star Destroyer
- Length: 2,000 meters
- Width: 1,170 meters
- Height: 730 meters
- Armament: Average
- Turbolaser Turrets (11)
- 6 Dorsal
- 3 Port
- 3 Starboard
- 5 Ventral
- 2 Port
- 2 Starboard
- 1 Fwd
- 6 Dorsal
- Triple Turbolaser Turret (1)
- 1 Dorsal Forward
- Heavy Double Turbolaser Cannons (8)
- 4 Dorsal Port
- 4 Dorsal Starboard
- Dual-Barrel Heavy Long-Range Turbolaser Turrets (2)
- 1 Dorsal Port
- 1 Dorsal Starboard
- Assault Concussion Missile Launchers (56)
- 36 Dorsal
- 18 Port
- 18 Starboard
- 20 Ventral
- 10 Port
- 10 Starboard
- 36 Dorsal
- Zeta-One Heavy Ion Cannons (3)
- 1 Port
- 1 Starboard
- 1 Forward
- Point-Defense Dual Blaster Cannons (60)
- 15 Dorsal Port
- 15 Dorsal Starboard
- 15 Ventral Port
- 15 Ventral Starboard
- RT-17 Repulsor-Tractor beam projectors (6)
- 4 Forward
- 2 Dorsal
- 2 Ventral
- 2 Aft Dorsal
- 4 Forward
- Turbolaser Turrets (11)
- Defenses: Very High
- Ray and Particle Shields sized for a star destroyer.
- Ion Shields
- Durasteel plating
- Reinforced Shield Generator (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Reinforced_shield_generator)
- Shield Boosters
- Missile Jammers
- Electronic Countermeasures
- Hangar Space: Low (8 Squadrons)
- Hangar Allocations:
- Starfighters: 5 squadrons
- Support Craft: 3 squadrons
- Maneuverability Rating: Average
- Speed Rating: Average
- Hyperdrive: Class 1 primary || Class 4 Backup
- Complement:
- 30,000 Crew
- 250 Gunners
- 5,000 Marines
- All Standard Star Destroyer Features and communications suite
- Vehicle Garage
- Repulsorlift systems allow hovering over planetary surfaces.
- Bridge
- Containment Shields
- 4 Mess Halls
- With 10 kitchen droids each for food prep and dishwashing
- With 6 culinary droids for actual meal preparation
- Two years of consumables in pantry
- 4 Rec Rooms with accommodation for 100 persons each
- 4 Gymnasiums with accommodation for 100 persons each
- 100 Refresher rooms with 20 waste stalls and 20 shower stalls each
- Cargo Bay capable of holding 20,000 metric tons of cargo
- 50 Laundry Rooms
- With 4 Laundry Droids each
- With 12 Industrial Washer/Drier Machines each
- Electronic Countermeasures
- Autodoc Medbay Systems
- Repair Droids
- Military Targeting Computers
- Sensor Array
- Hyperwave Scanner
- Long-range scanner/decoder
- Low-Feedback Scanner
- Passive Sensor Array
- Hyperwave Signal Interceptor
- Mass Detector
- Signal Eradicator
- Missile Jammer
- Gravitic Amplitude Modulator
- Can Jam Hyperspace Drives across a battlefield or Hyperspace transit point.
- Long Range Turbolasers can reach much farther than normal turbolasers.
- Excellent Sensor Systems.
- Well-Shielded.
- Robust point-defense system.
- Can Jam missile locks across a battlefield.
- Advanced electronics and gravitic gear require a larger power core, leaving reduced room for embarked craft. This gives the ship less hangar space than comparably sized vessels.
- Jammed Missile Locks are non-discriminatory - friendly missiles are jammed as well as enemy missiles.
- Gravitic Modulator only jams hyperspace travel 80% of the time, with some ships able to escape due to the imperfect gravity projection of the array.
DESCRIPTION
The House Mecetti Nationalized Industries are known for building tried-and-true classic technologies for the budget buyer. With the Obscurer Class, however, they hoped to expand further into the premium market with a combination Interdictor and Electronic Warfare Destroyer using more advanced technologies.
Taking inspiration from historic hullforms, Mecetti forged ahead with an original design that honored the past while incorporating the technologies of the future. (A design philosophy which was echoed in their tagline, "Honoring the Past, Building the Future.")
Key features included Hyperspace Jamming, Missile Jamming, Communications Jamming, Improved Shields, Repulsor-Tractor Emitters, Assault Missile Launchers, and even a pair of heavy, long-range turbolaser turrets capable of engaging enemies from beyond normal turbolaser range. Things looked good on paper, and there was a lot of interest in a new Class of Star Destroyer which might more successfully combine the features of a true Star Destroyer with those of an Interdictor Destroyer, obviating the need to keep both types of ships in a fleet inventory.
A previous attempt at accomplishing this could be found with the older Interdictor Destroyers from Kuat Drive Yards. But those had never been fully successful in accomplishing an integration of roles, having a woefully inadequate starfighter capacity. The smaller Interdictor Cruisers that preceded them were a low-cost alternative, but were very short on firepower, relegating them to a fleet support role and requiring larger ships to defend them. The Obscurer was meant to be a fully capable Star Destroyer and also an effective Interdictor, clearing a hurdle that had not previously been overcome.
Unfortunately, practical testing revealed that there were problems with the Obscurer. The ship's Gravitic Amplitude Modulators were flawed. While technically more advanced than the massive spherical gravity well projectors of the old Imperial Interdictor Destroyers, they were only 80 percent effective in stopping hyperspace transit.
The advanced sensors and electronics aboard the ship used up valuable interior real estate that would normally be used for additional starfighter capacity. The sensors and jammers, along with the long-range turbolasers, drank so much energy that they required an enlarged reactor core which consumed internal volume.
Due to energy requirements, the turbolaser emplacements were not as numerous as on other destroyers of similar size. Unable to mount a suitable number of turbolasers, the ship borrowed a page from the Victory class destroyers and mounted assault concussion missile launchers, instead. But the missile jammers on the ship were not advanced enough to jam enemy missiles while allowing those of the Obscurer to function normally, so a Captain would have to choose to attack with his missiles or defend against enemy missiles.
Finally, in a crushing blow, the prototype of the class was lost. The MHGN Obscurer vanished during its hyperspace trials, jumping away and never reappearing. The event was widely publicized, much to House Mecetti's embarrassment.
House Mecetti claims to have solved the hyperspace issue, but many buyers are reticent to invest in a platform which already experienced a catastrophic hyperspace failure costing tens of thousands of lives. Although this ship is available on the Open Market, it remains to be seen whether any buyers will actually risk a purchase.
This has not only been an unfortunate economic event for House Mecetti, but a potential loss to the galaxy's military forces. While the ship fell short of expectations at launch, it remains a capable and well-protected destroyer that accomplishes the majority of its design functions. The Obscurer has the potential for greatness once its teething issues are worked through. House Mecetti is working hard to prototype an improved Obscurer II that might resolve the shortcomings and finally make this ship a major player on the galactic stage.
Comparison of Imperial Class Star Destroyer to Obscurer Star Destroyer
The Obscurer is approximately 25% larger with more robust shield generators,
but has fewer turbolaser emplacements.
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