Guardian-class Light Cruiser
Name/Model# : | Guardian-class Light Cruiser Guardian 344-class Light Cruiser (NOTE: All stats same unless indicated)
Designer/Manufacturer : | Sienar Fleet Systems
Combat Designation : | Inter-System Customs Vessel
Scale : | Starfighter
Length : | 42 Metres
Skill : | Space transports: Guardian Cruiser
Crew Skill : |
Varies, generally 4D-5D OR Astrogation 5D, Space transports 4D+2, starship gunnery 4D+2 and starship shields 4D+2 OR Space transports 5D, starship gunnery 5D+2 and starship shields 5D+1
If Modified
Space transports 5D, starship gunnery 5D+2 and starship shields 5D+1
Crew : |
20 Crew 16 (3 can co-ordinate) + Gunners 4
Guardian 344
Requires a quarter of the operating crew [Crew 4 + Gunners 4 (Numbers based on pirate 344 The Last Thing)]
Skeleton Crew : |
8 (+10 DIFFICULTY)
Guardian 344
2 (+10 DIFFICULTY) [Based on pirate 344 The Last Thing]
Troop Capacity : |
6 [In Brig (Prisoners)]
Guardian 344
10 Troops 6 [In Brig (Prisoners)]
Cost of Craft : |
What ever the Black Market can bear. (Legally-Not available for sale)
Guardian 344
BLACK MARKET Around 375,000 Credits [Based on pirate 344 The Last Thing]
Nav Computer : | Yes
Sublight Speed : | 9 Space Units (If Modified, speed is reduced to 8 Space Units)
Hyperdrive Rating : | Class 1
Hyperdrive Backup : | Class 10
Atmospheric Speed : | 1,150 kph (WEG=400) [If Modified, speed is reduced to 1,050 kph (WEG=365)]
Manoeuvrability : | 1D [If Modified, manoeuvrability is reduced]
Cargo Space : | 80 Cubic Metres
Cargo Capacity : | 200 Metric Tons
Consumables : | 3 Months
Weapons : |
4 Laser Cannons (2 Forward, 2 Turreted) Crew: 1 Gunner per cannon Fire Control: 2D+2 Space Range: 1-3/12/25 Space Units Atmospheric Range: 100 metres-300 metres/1.2 km/2.5 km Damage: 5D
If Modified
6 Double Turbolaser Cannons Fire Control 2D Damage 4D
Sensors : | Passive : 30 Space Units/1D Scan : 60 Space Units/2D Search : 90 Space Units/4D Focus : 4 Space Units/4D+1
Shields/Hull Rating : |
Shields 2D. Hull 5D
If Modified
Shields 3D. Hull 5D+1
Starfighters : |
None
If Modified
6 TIE/ln Fighters
Note : | The Avatar's Needle reduced crew requirements via significant modification to the ship's controls; removed cargo hold and brig, replacing it with a bacta storage tank docking cradle (hence the 1,000 metric ton cargo capacity). Also features longer range sensors, more powerful heavy laser cannons (but with less range compared to original Guardian armament), and stronger shields.
The Guardian-class Light Cruiser is quite capable of handling common freighter and smuggler traffic, however, it is not well equipped for boarding actions as it lacks space for a boarding party. It is one of the three main ships employed by Imperial Customs and thus is a common Imperial system patrol craft. These cruisers are quick, tough, hard-hitting ships which are intended to patrol remote systems without the immediate fear of destruction. Deployments in quarantine squadrons (to maintain quarantines around planets suffering from plagues) occurs as well. Guardians, which were in service at least by the Battle of Yavin were a common sight in lightly populated, isolated systems where the Empire needed to maintain a presence without underwriting the expense of assigning a larger vessel to patrol duty. Also, they often patrol with corvette or frigate support. It must be noted however, that Guardians are totally outclassed when deployed against capital ships. These ships can be outfitted with external docking racks to carry TIE Fighters, however this modification reduces the Guardian Light Cruiser's manoeuvrability. These ships also see use outside the Imperial military. The privately owned station known as “The Wheel”, a gambling haven located in the Besh Gorgon System employed ten of these cruisers for traffic control duty in its security forces. Political entities such as the House Pelagia in the Tapani Sector maintained these ships as well. Unfortunately, like the Guardian 344, pirates such as Shanto Dhil have acquired one of these cruisers. Dhil's Guardian Light Cruiser, the Avatar's Needle likes to pose as an Imperial vessel in order to get close enough to bacta transports to steal their cargo. The Guardian 344-class Light Cruiser was a follow through by Sienar Fleet Systems which addressed the previous cruiser's lack of space for a boarding party. It is known that the some 344s have fallen into pirate hands, an example would be The Last Thing owned by Dorok Zalaster.
Sources: AJ6***Pg 196, 197 / GMSR***Pg 40 / LOTEBS (Gamemaster Guide)***Pg 73, 74 / ND***Pg 80 / PC***Pg 117, 118 / PGV3***Pg 4, 27, 28 / PP***Pg 84 / RPG2E***Pg 121, 122 / RPG2RE***Pg 256 / SOTSR***Pg 38 / TFOP***Pg 76-78 / TSIA***Pg 42, 43
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