Zechetinu II

Zechetinu-class Warship TRO3067.jpg
Zechetinu II
Production information
Manufacturer Illium Naval Engineering[1][2]
Introduced 3059
Production Year 3059[3][4]
Use Corvette
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Cost 9,500,234,000 C-bills[3]
Technical specifications
Mass 180,000 tons
Length 440 meters
Sail Diameter 502 meters
Fuel 2,000 tons
Burn Rate 39.52
Safe Thrust 2.5 g
Top Thrust 4 g
Sail Integrity 3
KF Drive Integrity 5
LF Battery Yes
Armament
Armor 90 tons Lamellor Ferro-Carbide
DropShip Capacity 1
Crew 131[5]
  • 18 Officers
  • 101 Enlisted (60 non-rated, 28 gunners, 10 HPG Techs)
  • 12 Bay personnel
Grav Decks 1 x 88 meters diameter
Escape Pods/Life Boats 0/8
Heat Sinks 1,873 double
Structural Integrity 25
BV (1.0) 41,739 [6]
BV (2.0) 34,119[5]
34,084[3]

Description[edit]

Among the smallest and lightest WarShips of the Clan Invasion Era, the Free Worlds League's Zechetinu-class corvette was designed to operate as either an independent convoy-raider, picket ship, or as an escort vessel.[4]

The "Zec" as her crews dubbed the vessel is capable of accelerating up to 2.5 g for sustained periods and up to 4 g in short bursts, making it among the fastest and most maneuverable WarShips in its weight class. This speed came at a price, with a relatively light ninety tons of Lamellor Ferro-Carbide armor in comparison to its weapons array and exceedingly cramped crew quarters made even tighter with the inclusion of a Lithium-Fusion Battery System. With one tiny and constantly in demand Grav Deck the only dedicated recreation facility aboard, each Zechetinu rarely spent more than a month away from port to avoid negative effects on the well-compensated crew.[5][4]

The first ship of the class exceeded all expectations during mock battle exercises and quickly led the Free Worlds League Military to authorize the construction of a further ten. Analysis of these exercises also led to the bulk being constructed as the newer Zechetinu II standard with a slightly modified weapons array.

More than half of the Zechetinus of the Free Worlds fleet was taken by Blakist defectors or sleeper agents.[7][8] All existing vessels of the class were destroyed in internecine combat by loyalist FWLM forces, in battle across the Inner Sphere against the schismatics in their Jihad, or lost to the wilds of the Periphery.[9]

Armament[edit]

The Block II Zechetinu featured a significant capital-grade weapons array supported by a large volume of anti-fighter systems. The fore and aft weapon bays both carry twin ER Large Lasers, four Small Lasers, an LB 10-X AC and Artemis IV FCS enhanced LRM-20 and SRM-6 launchers in support of a NAC/20 and twin White Sharks. The forward-facing angle features twin ER Large Lasers, four Small Lasers, and an LB 10-X AC for anti-fighter duties while a NL35, NL45, and Barracuda provide capital-grade firepower. Save for the excluding the fore NAC/20 and replacing the NL45 & NL35 with a NL55, each rear angle features the same mix as the fore angles. Each broadside mounts the same weaponry as the fore bays. One thousand eight-hundred and seventy-three double heat sinks give the class reasonable endurance.[5][4]

Cargo[edit]

Beyond its ability to carry a single DropShip and six aerospace fighters, the Zechetinu II featured fourteen thousand and nine tons of cargo capacity divided between two separate bays.[5][4]

  • Bay 1: Aerospace Fighters (6), 2 doors
  • Bay 2: Cargo (7,004.5 tons), 4 doors
  • Bay 3: Cargo (7,004.5 tons), 4 doors

Variants[edit]

  • Zechetinu I
    The first four Zechetinu produced lacked the capital missiles in favor of naval lasers fore and aft. This original armament configuration required less gunners, allowing for greater cargo capacity. BV (1.0)= 46,730[6] BV (2.0) 30,148[5]

See Also[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • Field Manual: Free Worlds League translates Zechetinu as meaning "hare" but it has been pointed out that this could be incorrect. "Zechetina/u" is Serbian for "rabbit meat" – zec is "hare", tina is "meat of". Alternatively, the term zečetina may refer to a particularly large rabbit. In both cases, the word should end in -a, rather than -u.

References[edit]

  1. Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 8: "Illium Naval Yard"
  2. Handbook: House Marik, p. 135: "Illium Naval Engineering (Unlisted)"
  3. a b c "MUL entry for the Zechetinu II". Master Unit List. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  4. a b c d e Field Manual: Free Worlds League, pp. 143-144, "Zechetinu Ship Profile"
  5. a b c d e f Technical Readout: 3067, p. 196, "Zechetinu Profile"
  6. a b AeroTech 2 Record Sheets‎, pp. 279-280
  7. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 128: "Original Word of Blake Fleet"
  8. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 128, "Captured Ships"
  9. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 128, "Ships Not Accounted For"

Bibliography[edit]