The Stalingrad-class (3045) are intended to be commerce raiders / protectors mounting 15 Class ‘A’ railguns with a Class C maser secondary. Projected to be a class of 25 BCs, the recent success of the Constitution-class has caused some analysts to ponder if the Stalingrad order will be curtailed to 15 ships or less.
If you’re looking at the date, you’re probably wondering why the Confederation would build two classes of battlecruisers (Constitution and Stalingrad) concurrent with one another? Simple–the Stalingrads are the hedge against the Constitution-class crapping the bed. As such, they are built with completely proven, reliable technology.
Keen readers of An Unproven Concept will remember the following scene:
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“Engineering, I’m going to need all the juice you’ve got once we start this dance,” Bolan stated. “Helm, I don’t want to make the same mistake we’re pretty sure that carrier’s about to make. Once we’re clear of the rocks, I don’t want us holding the same course for more than twenty seconds. It’d be rather embarrassing to have a Stalingrad outshoot us.”
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So what a technology hedge? Well, it’s not quite like buying a Lexus sports sedan just in case that Ferrari turns into a metaphorical “hangar queen,” but it’s close. Which, of course, means that if the Ferrari does turn into an “Italian for Yugo,” odds are you won’t buy another one. Ergo, during the exercises in An Unproven Concept, it is critical that the Constitution at least avoid getting “killed” by the oncoming Stalingrad lest future units be cancelled. After all, why pay for a highly expensive “hybrid” if the staid plow horse kicks her ass? This is an added wrinkle that I did not want to overdo, but added for a bit more tension.
Some names for the Stalingrad-class are as follows:
Stalingrad
73 Easting
Hood
Jutland
Golan
Constellation
Jena
Gettysburg
Karbala
Tsushima
Asculum
Cannae
Fallujah
Arethusa
Guadalcanal
Now as was discussed in the entries for battlecruisers and aircraft carriers, there are two classes of capital ships named for famous engagements. In the Vergassy Universe, the Bureau of Ships (BuShips) tends to assign names based on the primary venue the engagement was fought in, i.e., carriers receive names based on nautical battles whereas battlecruisers receive those for land fights.
