Quiltra Queleual Class Multipurpose Transport

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 02/14/2004)
Background information inspired by Quiltra Queleual-class Zentraedi multi-purpose transport vessel by Pieter Thomassen, with Peter Walker, on the Unofficial Robotech Reference Guide.
Quiltra Queleual Class Multipurpose Transport

After the loyal Zentraedi armada had bombarded their home, the surviving Ci'Vonians and their allies declared war on the Tirolian Mercantile Empire. As part of their efforts, small flotillas of Tou Redir ships were sent deep into the Empire to raid the interstellar commerce that provided the Tirolian treasury with a large part of its wealth. The first Tirolian counter against this form of warfare was a system of convoys escorted by loyal Zentraedi ships, which, while effective, created inevitable delays that lowered the volume of transported goods by nearly 40%. Clearly, a more effective counter was required. This came in the form of the Quiltra Queleual armed merchant, which carried sufficient armament to hold Tou Redir sized ships off long enough for a ship to escape. The threat from larger ships remained, but the required number of Zentraedi escort vessels was greatly reduced than with the old unarmed cargo ships.

The Quiltra Queleual was not a privately owned ship, but a military vessel with a Zentraedi crew. Officially licensed transport companies could rent volume and mass on these large vessels, which kept up a regular service between the Empire's planets. As the threat of the Disciples of Zor waned and more Quiltra Queleual Class Transports became available, other uses were found for the voluminous ships. From the start, a Zentraedi troop transport function had been foreseen, but within two centuries, the Quiltra Queleual became the exclusive supply ship for the Zentraedi fleets as well. As the depredations of the Disciples had become mere minor nuisances by the 1880's CE, the civilian transport services were stopped and all Quiltra Queleual class vessels were incorporated into the Zentraedi fleets as landing ships and underway replenishment vessels. Unarmed civilian cargo ships once again became the norm for transporting goods within the Tirolian Mercantile Empire.

As a supply ship, the Quiltra Queleual class carried enough supplies to completely reload a flagship, numerous small ships, or several medium-sized capital ships. However, as standard operating procedures ensured that the ships were never completely exhausted of supplies, a single Quiltra Queleual transport was often sufficient to supply a flotilla of ships. The landing ship configuration could carry thousands of troops, their weapons and supplies, and the means to land them on a planet. However, this number of troops was rarely needed except for planetary invasions. Usually, a complement of troops were added to the supply ship to provide replacement troops during extended deployments.

The hull of the Quiltra Queleual class is shaped like a rectangular brick, a compromise between atmospheric capability, accessible and usable volume, and ease of manufacture. There are six engine clusters in the aft section; all of which can fire forward for braking and other maneuvers; the two upper engines though ports in the upper hull, the lower four engines through forward nozzles that are closed by a hinged hatch when not in use. There is the normal number of attitude thrusters spread over the ship. The aft bulkhead has airlocks along its periphery for access to the auxiliary vessel hangars. The locks, two in the upper half and one in the lower half, are large enough to admit Frandlar Tiluvo Transport Pods. There are three more large hatches in the rest of the ship, one in the nose and two in the sides. These hatches cover the entrances to multiple internal decks, and can be used for voluminous cargo. The bottom of a Quiltra Queleual contains extendable elevators and ramps leading to the lower decks; cargo, or, in the troop carrier configuration, troops, can be embarked or disembarked directly onto a surface. It is not necessary for the ship to actually land on a planet in order to do this, typically the anti-gravity systems are used to keep the ship aloft while the embarkation / disembarkation takes place.

The armaments on the ship are limited, as the Quiltra Queleual class was not designed to stand in the battle-line. There are ten heavy missile launchers, and ten times as many normal missile launchers spread across the ship. As the Tou Redir sized vessels the Quiltra Queleual was designed to hold off could not mount an extensive anti-torpedo batteries as larger ships, this number of launchers sufficed. The cannon armament does not follow the normal Zentraedi layout of heavy fire forward and medium fire on the other arcs. Rather, the turrets are mounted, like the defensive missile system, for spherical coverage.

Ship Information:

Vehicle Complement (Troop Variant):

Vehicle Complement (Cargo Variant):

M.D.C. by location:

Speed:

Statistical Data:

Weapon Systems:

  1. Retractable Particle Beam Cannons (6)
  2. Retractable Laser Turrets (18)
  3. Retractable Long Range Missile Turrets (100)
  4. Retractable Heavy Missile Turrets (10)

Special Systems:

  1. Missile Storage
  2. Weapon Production Facilities
  3. Protoculture Reactor Recharger (Optional)

Standard Systems:

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

Combat Summary: