Currently, the Lyrans have no variations of the CL, other than to perform a major conversion of the CL to a BC.

During F&E play there have been several occasions where I have wanted to convert a medium escort, but did not have a CW to convert. I also did not have a DW to convert. I had DDs and FFs to convert, but preferred the heavier CL which I had in abundance at a particular location. While most CLs eventually will be converted to BCs, often times I have wanted the medium escort and would have been happy to have paid the 1 EP and probably much later converted the CL escort to a BC, if the opportunity arose.

The last time I brought up this proposal it was put on the backburner (not SVC's or SPP's exact words) but not outright rejected either. The primary issue was one of counters. A CLE counter would have to be added for SFB and (if added to F&E) for F&E. The expense and planning of counter production prevented a Lyran CLE to be added at that time.

I wanted to renew the proposal to see if now or sometime in the next year or so it would be practical to add a Lryan CLE to the SFU. Here's the precise proposal:


Start with the Lyran CL SSD. Replace the left disrupter with Ph-1 FA+L. Replace the right disrupter with Ph-1 FA+R. Add fighter ready racks (not fighters) to the shuttle bays. The CLE has limited ageis. BPV is 102. YIS is 171.

The "plus" (+2 BPV), "phaser" (+4 BPV), and "mech link" (+2 BPV) refits are available for the CLE.

The CLE may be upgraded to the CLA (aegis escort). The CLA includes the plus refit, but not necessarily the phaser and mech link refits, and has full aegis. BPV is 116. YIS is 175.

In F&E there is no distinction between the CLE and the CLA or any of the refits. One counter is used, the "CLE". It has a compot of 6/3 and the counter is provided with the filled-in square to indicate that it is an escort. The CLE is a medium escort. Production cost is 7 as a substitute for a CW and counts for CL production. The CLE may be converted from a CL for 1 EP. It may be used as a SC3 ship in a battle group. It has a YIS of 171 and is worth 1.5 EP in salvage if destroyed and salvageable.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, November 08, 2012 - 02:51 pm: Edit

Obvious and harmless variant. Not sure you could not just as easily do the carrier, scout, and commando versions as a set of four in Captain's Log. Mention that to Petrick. He was asking me at the Tuesday meeting for ideas for sets of four ships for the next CapLog.

By A. David Merritt (Adm) on Thursday, November 08, 2012 - 03:38 pm: Edit

Cool.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, November 08, 2012 - 03:39 pm: Edit

SVC, acknowledged. If SPP is interested, then I can also propose the CV, SC, and CMDO versions of the CL.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, November 08, 2012 - 05:13 pm: Edit

Ted, all of those are "obvious variants" done by formula. Even your CLE "proposed description" would be ignored and Petrick would do the ship by the formula. It's an OBVIOUS variant and other than suggesting we need a CLE actually trying to define what it would be was pretty much a waste of time. Also, being an "obvious variant" (which, a quick check shows, I have eleven nearly identical CLEs in the file) nobody gets credit for designing any obvious variant.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, September 05, 2019 - 06:26 am: Edit

Steve Petrick, didn't we do a bunch of CL variants? If so, let me know to delete this.