Aotrs Shipyards is a webstore on Shapeways.com, a 3D print house which had production and shipping facilities located in the USA and the the Netherlands.
This month's release is another trio of ships for the Zirakthargūm Divinity!
Kaz Modan Missile Frigate
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The Kaz Modan Missile Frigate fills a variety of roles. It became apparent that the older heavy Dwarven vessel's missile launchers were not sufficient in number to be effective when deployed in smaller numbers. To supplement the missile capability, the Kaz Modan was developed. Initial designs called for it to be a missile cruiser. However, this was rejected in favour of a frigate version; a missile cruiser would carry about the same amount of weaponry as several frigates, and would be more protected than a frigate individually, but it also provided a much more tempting target for concentrated fire. A missile frigate could be deployed more efficiently (for when the firepower of a cruiser might be wasted) and while individually weaker, as a group was harder to concentrate fire upon.
The Kaz Modan serves as both a supplementary escort for the older, aging vessels like the old Thorin Dreadnought and to act as independently, supporting the newer escort groups, such as the Khazād Destroyers.
The Kaz Modan is armed with a quartet of missile rack systems. The more vulnerable racks were chosen over the missile launchers to keep the costs of the vessel down and overall survivability higher. (A vessel denuded of its missile racks would retreat, whereas one with a deeper-embedded launcher would be more likely to fight until destruction.) It can even become a dedicated escort vessel if the standard missile armament is replaced by point-defence missiles. Otherwise, the Kaz Modan carries only two point-defence autocannon arrays.
Dūn Morgūn Electronics Warfare Cruiser
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The Dūn Morgūn is a cruiser sized replacement for the older specialised dreadnoughts that characterised the old Zirakthargūm fleet. The more modern, mobile fleet now required to meet the demands of offense as well as defence. This in turn required a new smaller specialist vehicle, as the Dwarves could no longer rely on having a large dreadnought fleet in every battle, nor were there enough specialist dreadnoughts to supply to every task force.
The Dūn Morgūn firstly provides early warning for the fleet with its powerful sensor arrays and a full enhanced communications system. It carries considerable ECM equipment, including a full jamming system, deployed through the three forward prongs.
It is very well protected for a ship of its size, with both heavy shields and armour and great manoeuvrability. However, its offensive capability is negligible, as it has no direct armament other than four autocannon point-defence arrays.
Dūn Morogh Battle Cruiser
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The first of the next generation of capital ships, the Dūn Morogh Battle Cruiser is the first vessel of a series intended to eventually replace the dreadnoughts currently in service, especially as combat losses mount. Larger than the older Thorin Dreadnoughts, but smaller than the old, massive Zakhad Battleship, the Dūn Morogh nevertheless approaches the latter in combat effectiveness.
Unlike the older vessels, the Dūn Morogh's contemporary design philosophy does not rely on broadside fire supplemented with missiles and railguns, but on sheer plasma battery fire alone, granted 360ŗ coverage. While it trades off any long-range capability, the effectiveness of the previous generation's missile cover was found to be insufficient in small engagements.
The Dūn Morogh also boasts an impressive array of blaster and autocannon point- and interdiction- defence systems.
Though almost as heavily protected as the battleship it is intended to replace despite being three-quarters of the size, the Dūn Morogh nevertheless pays a price for its heavy armament and defences, being a slow and cumbersome.
All the photos are, as usual, of the Replicator 2 prototypes.
The next month's releases will be the Zirakthargūm Divinity ground forces (which, in the absense of a 12mm board, will be announced on the general sci-fi board.)