The battleship is a type of capital Ship that is heavily armed and armored. Some battleships are referred to as dreadnoughts, such as the United Nations Navy's (UNN) third-generation battleships (including the Xerxes-class and Truman-class) which represent the third redesign since the buildup of the first conflict between Earth and Mars. The battleship designation can be applied to ships from any fleet including but not limited to those of the Martian Congressional Republic Navy (MCRN) and UNN. These ships can take a lot of punishment during battles.

Xerxes-class Battleship

The Xerxes-class battleship is physically the largest warship in the system, following the United Nations Navy belief that bigger is, strictly, better. Measuring at exactly 500 meters in length and 200 in width, it edges out the MCRN Donnager-class equivalent by just over 24 meters. It holds a standard crew amount of 1400, with a minimum of 280 needed.

Continuing the tradition of naming conventions, the Xerxes-class was named after a Persian king of renown. These capital ships are the third redesign of the same type — showing just how many times it took to get to the right design. The UNN still feels comfortable with these modifications decades later. These battleships are packed to the brim with firepower and hangar bays containing their own complement of Phantom-class escorts, Marauder-type dropship skiffs, and shuttles that can be released to form a small fleet. These massive numbers mean that the Xerxes-class never finds itself wanting and can not only make a stand in a fight but pushes the boundaries of aggression in ways that other ships can’t. While truly enormous, one thing that the Xerxes-class specializes in is close-range combat using grappler cannons, 2 on the fore and 2 on the aft. These help latch onto their targets, and send out boarding parties to enemy ships. The massive ships is built with the thickest hulls to take as many hits as it can if it’s incapable of taking out all of an opponent’s weapons first. With eight enormous Epstein Drives, two side mounted railgun turrets located on its fore, point defense cannons (PDC) that have full coverage of the ship, and 24 conventional rapid reload torpedo bays (with 6 located on the fore, 6 starboard, 6 at the port, and 6 at the Aft), the UNN has produced a truly horrific weapon of mass destruction.

UNN Truman-class Dreadnaught

The Truman-class dreadnought is a battleship class in the United Nations Navy (UNN) that primarily serves as a Flagship of UNN battlegroups. Not as sleek nor as sophisticated as her Martian counterpart, the Donnager-class, the Truman-class makes up for its lost advantage in numerous other ways. Famed for its sturdiness and reliability, it is one of the longest-serving vessels in the history of the UNN, having protected Earth's interests across the system for decades.

Characteristics

inflict lethal damage, and are some of the most powerful and accurate weapons systems available to the UNN. Matched only by the Martian Congressional Republic Navy (MCRN) railguns. Truman's railguns are able to strike a target almost instantaneously within 1000 kilometers, launching an unguided tungsten projectile that will effortlessly perforate the full mass of the targeted craft, tearing through multiple decks and often striking a critical subsystem to neutralize the target vessel in a single shot. These weapons are supported by 42 to 46 Redfield Ballistics 40mm Point Defense Cannons (PDCs), spread across the surface of the dreadnought for maximum defensive coverage, as well as 22 to 36 missile launchers compatible with a variety of warheads. The effective targeting range of the Truman-class is shorter than that of most MCRN warships but its extensive PDC grid enables it to endure even the largest missile volleys, protecting the ship from harm. Unlike on Martian warships, the PDCs of the Truman-class dreadnoughts aren't retractable.

Vessels of the Truman-class employ six S-400 Epstein drives that work collectively to accelerate or brake the enormous vessels' mass with great efficiency. Vessels of this class are seen to have an impressive acceleration for their mass.

A pair of hangar bays and accompanying external docking clamps are located in the midsection of the Truman-class, where its complement of 6 L-Type UNN dropship skiffs, as well as a smaller number of short-range repair skiffs and reconnaissance drones are housed. Embarked dropships widen its mission profile to include Marine transport and deployment and surface reconnaissance.

The class shows its age in several ways, such as naked pipes and wires above corridors and constant electrical issues. The circular CIC (Combat Information Centre) of the class is however perhaps the most notable example of the ship’s age, as it makes use of computers operated with keyboards, switches and sticks rather than touchscreens and holographic interfaces as seen aboard MCRN ships and other more modern ships. However, many may have been upgraded to include touchscreen and holographic interfaces as such with the UNN Thomas Prince.

Perhaps one of its most valuable traits, its versatility is an attribute that has stood the test of time, and is surely the "crown jewel" of the ship. Few vessels are able to serve as both a battleship and a troop transport without sacrificing effectiveness in both areas, but the streamlined design of the Truman-class allows the vessel to singlehandedly carry out missions that would otherwise require a small flotilla. This high level of adaptability has earned the Truman-class its impressive reputation, and serves as an enduring reminder that technological sophistication is often no substitute for a simple and reliable design.

Utilities

The Truman-class dreadnought contains many various facilities within for a warship this size. Some of them include:

• Advanced Medical Facilities.

• Comfortable Living Quarters.

• Extensive Cargo Space.

• Dropship Loading and Repair Facilities.

• Standard Tightbeam Communications Systems.

History

The Truman-class dreadnought was one of the longest-serving vessels in the history of the UNN, having been protecting Earth's interests across the system for decades and serving as the immovable center of UNN battlegroups. It had previously been involved in numerous anti-piracy operations for decades, as well as serving as the primary deterrent against the MCRN during especially tense political times, such as the Vesta Blockade.

When Belters onboard the Le Guin stole Martian Congressional Republic supplies they were chased by both a small fleet of MCRN, and a small fleet of UNN. Near a small planetary body the two fleets enagaged in resulting in several hull losses. A UNN Truman-class dreadnought and an MCRN Scirocco-class assault cruiser ultimately crashed into one another. The result of the battle is unclear as the Belter ship was boarded, but no bodies were left onboard any ship when later salvaged by the crew of the Artemis

The UNN Agatha King (T-DRN-32) served as the Flagship of the UNN's Jupiter Fleet under the command of Admiral Souther until he was relieved of command by Fleet Admiral Augusto Nguyễn.

Known Ships

• UNN Agatha King: UNN Jupiter Fleet Flagship commanded by Admiral Souther and taken over by Admiral Nguyễn

• UNN Tripoli: Assigned to Home Fleet

• UNN Montenegro: Assigned to Home Fleet

• UNN Hiram Grant: Destroyed in the UNN MCRN proxy battle prior to 2347

• UNN Apollyon: Assigned to Jupiter Fleet

• UNN Richelieu: UNN Saturn Fleet Flagship

• UNN Sakurajima: Assigned to Jupiter Fleet

• UNN Umut: Assigned to Home Fleet