Astrus-class Star Destroyer

Design

The Astrus combined the aesthetics of the past with the tactical needs of today’s battlefields: she retains the wedge-shaped hull of all Destroyers while her superstructure is significantly more utilitarian than that of earlier models. Launch bays are positioned with their ports on the ventral surface as is the ionization reactor – typical systems have not gone through any major mutations. The tower mounts a wide array of communications equipment as well as two full defensive bank emplacements making the section impregnable to the debilitating attacks of enemy fighter-craft. The bridge itself contains two parts – the Captain’s bridge and the Admiral’s bridge, in that order in distance from the centerline. The Captain’s bridge is responsible for total ship-borne operations during battle but afford its officers a greater panorama of the field than before. The Admiral’s bridge has the basic centers for ship-borne operations if necessary but also more advanced communications relays and specialized equipment for squadron, task force, and fleet operations. Large plot tables, holographic displays, and monitoring terminals ring the bridge. An uplink is maintained between the two levels via intraship HoloNet.

A very intricate system of sensors that compile a list of everything in range and create an interactive representation in either three-dimensional holographic protections or 2D plot-table maps. The system analyzes data and allows the user(s) to look up any ship or area, zoom in, and call up a complete schematic. The system brings a complete picture of the battlefield and makes it viewable from any angle and perspective.

Among the greatest risks to any Star Destroyer commander is an enemy moving directly along either dorsal or ventral centerline and evading the gundecks. This has been combated in the past by re-mounting several turbolaser batteries to Sponson throughout the hull though this is not an effective deterrent. To roll the warships takes time and can allow several salvoes to be poured into the thick but still vulnerable reactor housings. On the Astrus, a maneuvering thruster of immense proportion is mounted on the flank of the command tower on both port and starboard hulls, likewise so on the ventral surface. These thrusters are mounted with one direction in mind and when fired with two in tandem allow the ship to invert itself/ rotate on its axis twice to three times as fast as other warships.

The Astrus has two turrets on the dorsal surface mounting three guns each – a total of six. These are super turbolasers (STL) and are per gun four times as powerful as a standard heavy turbolaser. As a penalty for such power, they do take a great deal of time to recharge. A tactical innovation during first space-trials was to fire one gun at a time and evenly space them as to create a seamless flow of shot. Also unique to the Astrus is aft-mounted weaponry. Eight of the ten proton torpedo-launchers are aft-mounted as are four full defensive banks. The banks, as in all previous mountings, possess ten quick-firing droid controlled laser gatlings, but have a much more tight-beamed shot than others and as such are much more powerful.

Known Vessels

Out Of Character

Designed by Grand Admiral Desaria

Out of Character