The Volksschiff Class
In a state of constant skirmishing among themselves, the human race found the necessity to defend its transports with dedicated escorts. A largely space-born nation that contributed greatly to the human race’s overall mercantile fleet, the GDW found an alternative approach: arming the transports themselves. Thus, the Volksschiff class was born.
First manufactured in the Stahl Belt shipyards of Silbern, the Volksschiff class was conceived to be a modular and low cost supply frigate that could operate independently of escort during interplanetary, and sometimes interstellar, transit. It was the mainline merchant vessel of the GDW, finding itself in all regions of human space, but primarily in the neutral Sol system, the GDW-controlled Silbern system, and the Soyuz-controlled Kitech system. As a vessel that didn’t require additional protection, the Volksschiff was also popular internationally especially in times of increased conflict and uncertainty. It wasn’t a rare sight to see one or two Volksschiffs delivering supplies to the power projection fleets of the AU, or behind an HFR battleline that was standing off against the Daqin.
The Volksschiff class employs a Sacre Group Mark VI fusion engine with supporting maneuvering thrusters with forward swept radiator fins. A linear-thrust-gravity command module is situated at the bow of the ship, complete with a Rotaia Srl manufactured communications and sensor suite. A prominent feature of the Volksschiff is its dual-compartment, rotational-gravity habitation module located in the center of the ship, manufactured by the SCS Group, capable of providing comfortable life support to a dozen crew. The ship has four airlocks, two on the command module and two on the engine block. Crew travel between the three main modules through a central structural spine.
Every Volksschiff has two missile racks mounted on the command module, capable of carrying six missiles in total. Combined with the sensor suite, this weapon arrangement allows the Volksschiff to fend off against one or two minor engagements from any angle, despite the large blindspots created by the habitation module and radiator fins. Additional weapon platforms can be mounted to one of two mounts on the engine block. These typically entail the Eisenarme Kobalt PDC (Point Defense Cannon), but other weapon platforms can also be attached, which with the flexible missile racks, makes the Volksschiff somewhat future-proof in terms of self-defense.
As a supply frigate, the majority of the Volksschiff’s volume is dedicated to its two storage bays that run through most of the center of the ship. Each storage bay is protected by detachable hulls that allow for easy access of the contents when loading and unloading. On the occasion where transportation of bulky cargo is required, the Volksschiff can abandon its detachable hulls.
Despite being over a century old, thanks to its modularity and sound fundamental design, the Volksschiff class remains in service to contemporary times, its systems continuously updated over the years. The vessel represents the most prominent qualities of GDW engineering: low caliber but ingenious designs that allow the GDW to stay competitive against other nations. Be it peacetime trading routes or wartime logistics lines, one will find the people’s ship keeping civilians and soldiers alike fed and supplied, occasionally throwing around its own weight in arms.
In a state of constant skirmishing among themselves, the human race found the necessity to defend its transports with dedicated escorts. A largely space-born nation that contributed greatly to the human race’s overall mercantile fleet, the GDW found an alternative approach: arming the transports themselves. Thus, the Volksschiff class was born.
First manufactured in the Stahl Belt shipyards of Silbern, the Volksschiff class was conceived to be a modular and low cost supply frigate that could operate independently of escort during interplanetary, and sometimes interstellar, transit. It was the mainline merchant vessel of the GDW, finding itself in all regions of human space, but primarily in the neutral Sol system, the GDW-controlled Silbern system, and the Soyuz-controlled Kitech system. As a vessel that didn’t require additional protection, the Volksschiff was also popular internationally especially in times of increased conflict and uncertainty. It wasn’t a rare sight to see one or two Volksschiffs delivering supplies to the power projection fleets of the AU, or behind an HFR battleline that was standing off against the Daqin.
The Volksschiff class employs a Sacre Group Mark VI fusion engine with supporting maneuvering thrusters with forward swept radiator fins. A linear-thrust-gravity command module is situated at the bow of the ship, complete with a Rotaia Srl manufactured communications and sensor suite. A prominent feature of the Volksschiff is its dual-compartment, rotational-gravity habitation module located in the center of the ship, manufactured by the SCS Group, capable of providing comfortable life support to a dozen crew. The ship has four airlocks, two on the command module and two on the engine block. Crew travel between the three main modules through a central structural spine.
Every Volksschiff has two missile racks mounted on the command module, capable of carrying six missiles in total. Combined with the sensor suite, this weapon arrangement allows the Volksschiff to fend off against one or two minor engagements from any angle, despite the large blindspots created by the habitation module and radiator fins. Additional weapon platforms can be mounted to one of two mounts on the engine block. These typically entail the Eisenarme Kobalt PDC (Point Defense Cannon), but other weapon platforms can also be attached, which with the flexible missile racks, makes the Volksschiff somewhat future-proof in terms of self-defense.
As a supply frigate, the majority of the Volksschiff’s volume is dedicated to its two storage bays that run through most of the center of the ship. Each storage bay is protected by detachable hulls that allow for easy access of the contents when loading and unloading. On the occasion where transportation of bulky cargo is required, the Volksschiff can abandon its detachable hulls.
Despite being over a century old, thanks to its modularity and sound fundamental design, the Volksschiff class remains in service to contemporary times, its systems continuously updated over the years. The vessel represents the most prominent qualities of GDW engineering: low caliber but ingenious designs that allow the GDW to stay competitive against other nations. Be it peacetime trading routes or wartime logistics lines, one will find the people’s ship keeping civilians and soldiers alike fed and supplied, occasionally throwing around its own weight in arms.