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Description

Two Kyiv class Heavy Cruisers guarding a Siracusa class Artillery Cruiser.

The Siracusa class is a cruiser sized starship of the Systems Alliance categorized as Artillery ship. With 766 meters length it is a bit longer than the York class Cruiser but still smaller than the Everest or Kilimanjaro class Dreadnoughts. The Siracusa is a ship made for sieges or long range artillery fire to support other ships in fleet battles.

Artillery ships are relatively new to the Systems Alliance arsenal, as carrier ships carrying fast, agile attack fighters have proven to be more effective, cheaper, and more universal against threats. However, due to the continuous arms race of the various major powers, fighters soon took a back seat. Thanks to their disruptor torpedoes, they were able to destroy the shields of enemy capital ships, but their weapons were not a threat to the heavy armor of ships of the cruiser weight class and higher. Especially after the development of the Silaris armor. Normally, heavy cruisers and dreadnoughts would now have to advance to break through the heavy armor with their main guns. However, doing so puts them in danger of becoming an enemy target themselves. To close this gap, the Alliance developed a series of long-range artillery ships.

These were equipped with additional magnetic coils so that the four main guns could reach a higher speed. Not only does this make it harder for the enemy to dodge the fire, it also increases hit effectiveness.

Originally designed as a secondary weapon system, Siracusa ships carry eight heavy Javelin torpedo launchers. Each of these torpedoes has a destructive power to destroy a city or an unprotected cruiser. Due to the redundant number and the intelligent target search systems, the torpedoes blossomed in real battles as the actual primary weapon system. In a certain way these cruisers are comparable with carrier ships. In fleet combat, Artillery Cruisers stay out of the direct battle, firing long range self seeking torpedos or firing barrages at enemies. In terms of sheer weaponry, a Siracusa class is as effective as six standard York class cruisers. They are great suppression ships, with a sustained damage that can make even a mighty Dreadnought struggle to stay alive. If used properly, the Siracusa can achieve victory even against superior enemies. Its commanders are most well-trained tacticians.

However, these ships also have their disadvantages. Similar to carrier ships, they are slower than typical cruisers. They also has only a rudimentary GARDIAN defense, which while capable of fending off a handful of enemy fighters, cannot deal with larger swarms of fighters or missiles. A close range attack with a Wolf Group of frigates could spell a quick end for a Siracusa, as it is geared towards long-range combat against slow or stationary targets.

For this reason, Siracusa-class ships are always accompanied by a small defensive fleet of destroyers or cruisers that can intercept incoming enemy ships should they approach the artillery ship. The Kyiv-class heavy cruisers, commissioned in 2186, proved exceptionally effective for the task. The Kyivs are highly adaptive, unusually fast for a ship of their size, and due to their secondary classification as a light carrier, they are also capable of dealing with larger numbers of smaller targets such as missile swarms or squads of fighters.

Built and rendered in 3d Max 10
Post Work in Paint Shop Pro 7
Mass Effect is (c) by Bioware & EA

Similar Mass Effect artworks:

Description

Two Kyiv class Heavy Cruisers guarding a Siracusa class Artillery Cruiser.

The Siracusa class is a cruiser sized starship of the Systems Alliance categorized as Artillery ship. With 766 meters length it is a bit longer than the York class Cruiser but still smaller than the Everest or Kilimanjaro class Dreadnoughts. The Siracusa is a ship made for sieges or long range artillery fire to support other ships in fleet battles.

Artillery ships are relatively new to the Systems Alliance arsenal, as carrier ships carrying fast, agile attack fighters have proven to be more effective, cheaper, and more universal against threats. However, due to the continuous arms race of the various major powers, fighters soon took a back seat. Thanks to their disruptor torpedoes, they were able to destroy the shields of enemy capital ships, but their weapons were not a threat to the heavy armor of ships of the cruiser weight class and higher. Especially after the development of the Silaris armor. Normally, heavy cruisers and dreadnoughts would now have to advance to break through the heavy armor with their main guns. However, doing so puts them in danger of becoming an enemy target themselves. To close this gap, the Alliance developed a series of long-range artillery ships.

These were equipped with additional magnetic coils so that the four main guns could reach a higher speed. Not only does this make it harder for the enemy to dodge the fire, it also increases hit effectiveness.

Originally designed as a secondary weapon system, Siracusa ships carry eight heavy Javelin torpedo launchers. Each of these torpedoes has a destructive power to destroy a city or an unprotected cruiser. Due to the redundant number and the intelligent target search systems, the torpedoes blossomed in real battles as the actual primary weapon system. In a certain way these cruisers are comparable with carrier ships. In fleet combat, Artillery Cruisers stay out of the direct battle, firing long range self seeking torpedos or firing barrages at enemies. In terms of sheer weaponry, a Siracusa class is as effective as six standard York class cruisers. They are great suppression ships, with a sustained damage that can make even a mighty Dreadnought struggle to stay alive. If used properly, the Siracusa can achieve victory even against superior enemies. Its commanders are most well-trained tacticians.

However, these ships also have their disadvantages. Similar to carrier ships, they are slower than typical cruisers. They also has only a rudimentary GARDIAN defense, which while capable of fending off a handful of enemy fighters, cannot deal with larger swarms of fighters or missiles. A close range attack with a Wolf Group of frigates could spell a quick end for a Siracusa, as it is geared towards long-range combat against slow or stationary targets.

For this reason, Siracusa-class ships are always accompanied by a small defensive fleet of destroyers or cruisers that can intercept incoming enemy ships should they approach the artillery ship. The Kyiv-class heavy cruisers, commissioned in 2186, proved exceptionally effective for the task. The Kyivs are highly adaptive, unusually fast for a ship of their size, and due to their secondary classification as a light carrier, they are also capable of dealing with larger numbers of smaller targets such as missile swarms or squads of fighters.

Built and rendered in 3d Max 10
Post Work in Paint Shop Pro 7
Mass Effect is (c) by Bioware & EA

Similar Mass Effect artworks: