Tristar Class Light Cruiser

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 02/17/2006)
Background information inspired by Tristar class Large Cruiser by Pieter Thomassen, with Peter Walker and Rob Morgenstern on the Unofficial Robotech Reference Guide.
Tristar Class Light Cruiser

The Tristar Class Light Cruisers were the smallest fleet command ships ever operated by the REF and the largest units in the Southern Cross' Tactical Space Corps. The RDF designed the class initially as a small recon cruiser, intended to scout out systems for enemy presence. This was very useful for the recon operations that were underway during the first years of the Pioneer Mission. When the Pioneer Mission left, the ships of the class were divided between the Southern Cross and the REF, while series production for the Southern Cross continued in the Space Factory. Their designated task in the REF was to act as heavy escorts and escort commanders for the larger ships, to be capable of leading a detached battle group of destroyers on independent operations, and to give support for the Tokugawa and Ajax classes of landing ships. In the Southern Cross, they were the flagships and main battle line units of the Tactical Space Corps.

For these tasks, the Tristars carried a number of mecha, and a powerful anti-ship missile armament. The Southern Cross vessels replaced their dual-purpose missile launchers with anti-ship missiles, further increasing their capabilities against invading fleets. Yet, to use as few resources and money as possible, the Tristars were made as small as was feasible without compromising their combat efficiency. Because of this, several compromises had to be made: the heavy anti-ship armament was concentrated in the dorsal and forward bow, with only minimal attention to the other arcs, and the ships themselves were considered cramped by their crews. However, the class performed as advertised, and if there are comments on their performance, blame must be laid solely with their design criteria. Consequently, further series production of this vessel at Tirol was suggested but not implemented, the REF switched to the larger and more capable (not to mention more comfortable) Ikazuchi heavy cruisers, which began its design as an enlarged Tristar class, and was quickly completely redesigned. For all its faults, though, the Tristars were fine vessels that were fought gallantly by their crews, no matter the circumstances.

In profile, the Tristar class has almost exactly the same silhouette as the Battle Class Heavy Destroyer. However, there are important differences: the engines are moved out of the sponsons and into the main hull, where they are mounted in a diamond pattern; the sponsons mate to the hull much more gradually, and the overall size is dramatically enlarged. The main mecha hangars, four double level bays, open to the front of the sponsons. The cannon armament is extensive, and is concentrated on the forward dorsal deck. From front to aft are a rail gun turret, one heavy and two medium particle beam mounts, then another rail gun turret after which the command tower rises from the deck. Laser turrets cover all other firing arcs. The missile armament is formidable, with heavy rocket launchers forward and dual-purpose missiles more to the rear. In the Southern Cross ships the SMS-10 Vertical Missile Launchers replaced these multi-purpose missiles, increasing the anti-ship capability even more. However, the weak point of these configurations was the limited point defense capabilities, and the limited firepower that can be brought to bear to the rear and ventral sides.

As the smallest ships capable of independent operations, the Tristar class was equipped with a Fold Drive. However, the original Fold Drive was proven to be somewhat unreliable and maintenance intensive and the REF replaced them in their ships with an improved model. The Southern Cross never used the Fold Drives since the departure of the Pioneer Mission, except when General Emerson used them to capture a fleet of enemy vessels around his ship, transport his ship and them into the center of the sun and transport his own ship back to its original position before the heat and pressure of the sun reached his ship. This maneuver, nicknamed the Orbital Warp Blast, was designed by General Emerson years earlier, but never tested until the 2030 battle. One notable feature lacking on the Tristar ships built by the Southern Cross was a Hyperspace Communications Relay. Standard feature on all REF ships, the Southern Cross felt that there was no need to build this expensive and complex device into their ships. By the time the Robotech Masters arrived in the Sol System, the only operation Hyperspace Communications Relay was on the Factory Satellite and communications between Earth and the Factory Satellite was spotty for most of the Second Robotech War.

Because of the high importance of the Pioneer mission, 22 of the 30 Tristar cruisers built by the date of the SDF-3's departure were assigned to the REF task forces, leaving only eight Tristars as the largest operational ships in the Solar System, until production of additional vessels increased this number. Upon arrival at Tirol, the cruiser Tiamat fell victim to the REF's first experience with Invid suicide runs. After the liberation of Tirol, many Tristars were assigned to the Sentinels' flotilla to assist in the liberation of the their home worlds. The Tien Shan fell to Invid emplacements while covering troop debarkations on Kaberra. The Theseus and the Tradewind were destroyed over the planet Spheris by an Invid operated anti-ship rail gun system. The Takao was destroyed over Peryton during an attack on the Invid orbital defenses. Eight REF Tristar cruisers had been sent from Tirol on the relief expedition for Earth. Of these eight, the Tenacious, Thebes, Twister, Tisiphone, Trenchant, and Tiger were destroyed in the various Southern Cross offensives against the Tirolian fleet. The final two, the Thutmosis and Taranis, were destroyed in the Invid Invasion. At the same time, several Tristar class cruisers were part of the relief expedition assigned to the Sentinels or undergoing refits and repairs at Tirol. Of these ships, the Turbulent, Torbay, and Ticonderoga, were destroyed in the REF Civil War by various factions.

It had soon become known at Tirol that the REF fold drives were dangerously flawed, and while the ships could be refitted at Tirol, it would take several years for the first two, Hannibal and Marcus Antonius, to be refitted, and a test vessel was needed to perfect the drives. The Turgon was designated to be this test vessel. The fold-drive testing slowly made the ship not space worthy, and when the two cruisers completed their refit, the Turgon was mothballed in the Valivarre system. The aging REF Tristar, the Thunderbolt, was dispatched to Earth in early 2035 to lead a battle group of the 7th REF Marine Division, consisting of 6000 men and 2000 Veritechs, with the hopes of establishing an advance base on Earth, at a location designated "Point K". The Thunderbolt managed to get a fragmented message off to REF high command, confirming the presence of the Invid, but then fell silent. Point K's troops were decimated by the Invid several months after their landing, and the landing ships Achates and Audace, eight Garfish class destroyers and the Horizonts and Predators and assigned to the Thunderbolt's Task Force were all confirmed destroyed along with the Thunderbolt herself. The Tyrant and the Tone were assigned to the Venus Attack Group and returned to Earth under the command of Colonel Wolf, but returned to Tirol upon the arrival of the 7th REF Marine Division, as Wolf no longer believed they would be needed if the Invid attacked. This act would save the two ships from destruction during the initial Invid Invasion. The four surviving REF vessels of this class were placed in reserve in the Tirol Orbital Yards in 2035. They were the Tyrant, Tsunami, Thunderer, and Tone.

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Tristar Class Light Cruiser

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Front view of a Tristar Class Light Cruiser

Weapon Systems:

  1. RG-60 Electromagnetic Rail Gun Turrets (2)
  2. PB-45 Particle Beam Cannon Turret
  3. PB-25 Particle Beam Cannon Turrets (2)
  4. PB-4 Particle Beam Cannons (10)
  5. LT-5 Point Defense Laser Turrets (16)
  6. SLS-25 Vertical Missile Launchers (4)
  7. SRS-2 Heavy Missile Launchers (4)

Special Systems:

  1. Electronic Warfare System

Standard Systems:

  1. Life Support System
  2. Communication Systems
  3. Sensor Systems
  4. Targeting Computer System

Combat Summary: