The Protector Ecort Cruiser was designed to meet the needs of an Imperial Navy contract for a fast flanking and escort vessel, in compitition with the SFS Enforcer Cruiser, built on the same frame. Using the proven Immobilizer 418 chassis, the Protector is the fastest and most manuverable of the family of vessels that have grown out of the basic design. Ment to secure the perimiter of a battle group and destroy light combat craft and starfighters, the Protector was rejucted for being "too specialized". Observers with less ego have suggested that it was dead as soon as it was presented, as most Admirals find the idea of an ISD needing protecting insulting.
Mounting twenty-six anti-starfighter guns, twenty heavy quadlasers and a half dozen ion cannons on a frame that is as manuverable and produces 80% of the forward thrust of a TIE, the Protector is capable of inflicting devistating casualties on a typical pirate fleet. The most important part of this firepower is the double laser cannons. Using the same mounts, targeting systems and lasers as the TIE/ln, most of the needed parts are already in inventory. The most noticable part of the arsenal are the eight turrets, mounted on the poles of each of the four spheres that origionally mounted the gravety well generators. These light guns, in addition to the more rigidly mounted ones lower on the spheres, are capable of pumping outunough energy to prevent even the most fanatical Rebels to consider murdering another ship. Combined with anti-capital ship emplacements that rival and excede the Nebulon-B and a squadron of TIEs, the Protector is certain death for all but the largest Rebel band.
Since it's regection by the Navy, several of these ships have been sold to the CSA, and several others have been sold to Imperial Customs. With the trials for the Fleet Anti-Starfighter Platform openning soon, SFS is planning on placing the Protector into compititon with the much talked about KDY Lancer frigate and CEC Gunship. It would be quite suprising if the Lancer was to win, due to it's lack of heavy guns.
(Footnote: The Lancer went on to win the Anti-Starfighter Platform service trial, prompting some to wonder if money did not change hands between KDY and the review board. The Navy would by some Protectors, but only about thirty or so, with Customs buying another fifteen. After the Battle of Endor, the Pentastar Alignment would produce a few, and a few were manufacture in the Deep Core for thier priamry role of anti-starfighter work.)
Protector Escort Cruiser model: Seinar Fleet Systems Immobilizer 418, Protector varient era intorduced: Height of the Empire, reintrodused during the Aftermath of Yavin type: heavy cruiser scale: Capital length: 600m skill: Capital Ship Piloting: Seinar Immobilizer 418 (this specialization also covers Interdictors and Enforcers) crew: 3,000; gunners: 66; skeleton: 1000/+10 crew skill: Astrogation 5D, Capital Ship Gunnery 5D, Capital Ship Piloting 5D, Capital Ship Sheilds 4D, Sensors 4D, Starship Gunenry 4D+2 passengers: 200 cargo capacity: 10,000 tons consumables: 1.2 years hyperdrive multiplier: x2 backup hyperdrive: x8 nav computer: Yes manueverability: 2D space: 8 hull: 5D shields: 3D
senors: passive: 30/1D scan: 75/2D search: 150/3D focus: 5/4D
small craft: 12 TIEs (usually a composite squadron of 10 TIE/ln's, 1 TIE/fc and 1 TIE/rc) 2 shuttles (usually 1 Lambda-class, and either a Beta-class assualt shuttle, Sentinel-class troop shuttle/gunship or a troop transport configured Lambda-class)
weapons: 20 Quad Laser Cannons fire arc: 10 Front, 5 Left, 5 Right crew: 1 skill: Capital Ship Gunenry fire control: 2D range: 1-3/12/25 atmosphere: 2-6/24/50km damage: 4D 6 Ion Cannon Batteries fire arc: 2 Front, 2 Left, 2 Right crew: 2 skill: Capital Ship Gunenry fire control: 3D range: 1-10/25/50 atmosphere: 2-20/50/100km damage: 3D Ion 4 Tractor Beam Emmiters fire arc: 2 Front, 1 Left, 1 Right crew: 2 skill: Capital Ship Gunenry fire control: 2D+2 range: 1-5/15/30 atmosphere: 2-10/30/60km damage: 4D 26 Double Laser Cannons fire arc: 4 Front, 5 Left, 5 Right, 4 Rear, 4 Ventral Turret, 4 Dorsal Turret scale: Starfighter crew: 1 skill: Starship Gunenry fire control: 2D range: 1-3/12/25 atmosphere: 100-300/1.2/2.5km damage: 5D