MC80a Star Cruiser

MC80a Star Cruiser The MC80a Star Cruiser was a general classification for a group of early MC80 Mon Calamari Star Cruisers converted from luxury starships into warships. While no two MC80 vessels were the same, most MC80a Star Cruisers shared a similar baseline level of protection, weaponry and features.

Built initially as massive starliners by Mon Calamari shipyards, the MC80a Star Cruisers received a series of crucial upgrades to allow them to operate against Imperial warships. The addition of the Mon Calamari provided the Rebel Alliance with their first consistent source of large, powerful capital warships.

Rounded and organic in appearance, most MC80a cruisers were oblong cigar-shaped vessels, although some were more flat or triangular in shape, and others featured wings. The surface of the cruisers were dotted in pods and bulges that contained sensor arrays, weapons batteries, and shield generators.

The MC80a Star Cruiser's role as the center of most Rebel Alliance fleet formations often pitted it against larger, more powerful Imperial-class Star Destroyers. While unable to match the Star Destroyers in weaponry, the MC80a cruisers were equipped with triple layered shields, redundant back-up shielding, and double redundancy critical systems. These features, combined with structural improvements, allowed an MC80a to absorb large amounts of damage while other fleet elements either fled or engaged enemy vessels, but required extensive pre- and post-battle maintenance.

Most MC80a cruisers measured approximately 1,200 meters in length and required a crew of roughly 5,400. A TriLuna 400 MGS Stardrive and Hyperdrive Motivator achieved a Class 1 hyperdrive rating, while a Serridge SEAL Shielding System provided up to 240 SBD in shield ratings. Weaponry was guided by a Plat Dromma targeting computer, and included 20 ArMek SW-7 ion cannon batteries, 6 front-mounted Phylon Q7 tractor beam projectors, and 48 Taim & Bak XV9 turbolaser batteries.

MC80a cruisers also included at least six starfighter bays and one auxiliary bay. These bays housed several shuttlecraft and freighters and six starfighter squadrons, which generally included one squadron of interceptors, two superior fighter squadrons and three bomber squadrons. A light ground assault force was also common, which included a mixture of repulsor tanks, light assault vehicles, and 1,200 troops.

Behind the scenes
Though no two MC80 cruisers appear to be the same, the MC80a class would appear to be sub-divisible into at least two sub-classess, based on the designs seen in RotJ. The first is the winged, Liberty-class variant, whose appearance is similar to Liberty, from which this class takes its name. The other variant lacks the wings, but has an extra engine (clearly visible on the ship next to Home One as the fleet prepare to enter hyperspace) and is tentatively labelled the Reef Home-class by some fans. It is unknown whether the much larger Home One is yet another MC80a variant, or is in fact a separate class altogether.

Known Ships

 * Defiance
 * Hope
 * Naritus

Appearances

 * Star Wars: X-wing
 * X-wing Alliance
 * Assault at Selonia