SPG2 Corvettes

Introduction
Main Article: Ships & Classes

With the risk of war with their colonies rising, it was clear to the Imperial Navy that it needed more escort ships to counter the threat of piracy and sabotage. What was needed was something larger and faster than armed freighters, but still cheap enough to be built in large numbers, preferably at small merchant shipyards, as the larger yards were already busy. To meet this requirement, the old Mars Shipping Dock Company (AKA Mars Shipping), a specialist in the design and construction of merchant vessels, developed a 900 armor, medium-ranged cargo hauler known as "Mars' Pride". They were intended as small convoy escort ships that could be produced quickly and cheaply in large numbers. Despite the naval planners' intentions that they be deployed for coastal convoys, their long range meant that they became the mainstay of the Colonial Escort Force's convoy protection during the first half of the First Gemini War.

The Corvette class became an essential resource for the colonial convoy protection, until larger vessels such as destroyer escorts and frigates could be produced in sufficient quantities. The size of the class varies between 55 and 150 meters. The simple design of the emerging class, using parts and techniques common to merchant shipping, meant that they could be constructed in small commercial shipyards all over the Empire and the colonies, where larger and more sophisticated warships could not be built. Additionally, the use of commercial machinery meant that the crew, who were mainly enlisted merchant reserve forces, would be familiar with their operations.

Additional Information
Corvette-class vessels are very lightly armed, as they were intended solely for anti-pirate (mainly Gunships) warfare; many of these ships were fitted with pinpoint-precision Beam Weapons and anti-cloak equipment to be able to counter the fast, highly agile pirate gunships who preferred the cloak, ambush, and hit and run tactics on the slow and unarmored freighters. However, as time passed, many private companies and factions realized how well this class fits for multiple purposes while being cheap to produce, so the class became the universal support vessel for small gunship fleets, as well as for general/scientific purpose. The design is so well-thought and versatile, that even small pirate organizations are able to produce their modified versions using salvaged parts and scrap metal.

Basic Details
Only the basic stats are presented here. For full information, check out the specific page about each ship.

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