I would simply like to see a drone bombardment version of the traditional drone destroyer available Y160+.

Take a DD, remove and replace:

4xPhotons for 4xDrone B-racks;
4xAWR for 4xCargo (drone storage);
2xPH (LS) for 1xDrone B-racks & 1xSpecial Sensor
2xPH (RS) for 1xDrone B-racks & 1xSpecial Sensor

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Sunday, June 19, 2011 - 11:59 am: Edit

I remain unconvinced that there is any need for such a ship.

But, let's take this design as it sits. I see three major problems:
1) It is left with only 2xPh-1s that only cover the forward half arc. SVC has said more than once that this was stupid on the SC; I doubt he will accept it on a brand new design.
2) Except for the Kzinti, no one put scout channels on a SC4 drone bombardment ship. I think that should be uniquely Kzinti, so this ship doesn't need the special sensors.
3) This ship is *way* better than the NCD in its drone bombardment role. The NCD has only four B-racks and no special sensors. This design would effectively invalidate the NCD.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Monday, December 31, 2012 - 05:22 pm: Edit

I do not think Federation & Empire requires another cheap drone bombardment platform for the Federation.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, August 07, 2019 - 03:32 am: Edit

If you were going to do this it would be Y171 or later.

You need six racks (replace photons, use the existing drone rack refit, find somewhere for the sixth) and four cargo ( replace AWR) to qualify for DB.

I would definitely give it two special sensors, replacing the FA phasers. This is the biggest SC4 ship, so that line gets blurry.