Chapter Text

Dalstaff-class Monitor-Sloop

Statistics

Length

 120m

Beam

 30m

Height

 10m

Propulsion

 2 * G 17 L D/FTR Prograde Thrusters

 2 * G 17 S D/FTR Retrograde Thrusters

 2 * Flint-520 D/FRT Prograde Thrusters

 1 * Flint-520 D/FRT Prograde Gimbal Thruster

 2 * Flint-520 D/FRT Retrograde Thrusters[1]

Crew complement

 Brig-rigged

 44 Crew

 12 Marines[1]

Armament

1st Generation

 2 * 2 15" Broadhead-lock medium coilguns

 2 * 1 12" Bodkin-lock medium coilguns (some rebarreled to 10”) 

 4 * 1 10" Bodkin-lock light Coilguns

 8 * 2 6.3" Swivel guns[1] ( 16 * 2 on the prototype CSV Dalstaff [2])

2nd Generation

 2 * 2 15” Broadhead-lock medium coilguns

 2 * 2 10” Bodkin-lock light coilguns

 10 * 2 6.3” Swivel guns[1]

CSV Firewatch-Quarrel KDFY-QM01

 1 * 1 20” Quarrel-lock Heavy coilgun (mock-up)

 3 * 2 10” Bodkin-lock Light coilgun

 10 * 2 6.3” Swivel guns

Sensors

 LiDAR

 Phased Array Radar

 ‘Mohawk’ sensor package (ventral hull)

Ships in class

1st Generation

 CSV Dalstaff - In service

 CSV Atamara - MIA presumed KIA with the Avalon Exploratory Initiative

 CSV Teldrin - KIA

 CSV Maiala's Rest - Decommissioned, scrapped

2nd Generation (Firewatch-subclass)

 CSV Firewatch - Decommissioned, scrapped[1]

 CSV Valeria Sibus, Later BSSV Belief from scars - Decommissioned, sent to scrapyard, salvaged into privateer service by the rogue privateer squadron Blue Scania as ‘BSSV Belief from Scars’ with modifications to make it more viable as a pirate vessel

 CSV Cardius Brink - KIA above Atamara

 CSV Seravis Major - In service

Design

The Dalstaff-class of Monitor-Sloops are an odd class of ships by most reckonings, the first thing one notices when looking at one is the massively oversized and seemingly impractical pair of broadhead-lock turrets on the dorsal hull. Due to the immense recoil of the broadhead-locks the RCS is a lot beefier than even a Tripathia-class and has automated recoil-dampening in order to counteract the spinning from a salvo, in spite of this captains of Dalstaffs report having their ships jump 50 to 100 metres in the opposite direction when firing[1][5], as such it is recommended that the Dalstaff be in a formation at least 100m away from other vessels.[1][5] In a line of battle, the Dalstaffs are unique in that they can be very flexible, either lending their pair of Broadhead-lock turrets to the firepower of the line of battle, or leveraging their relatively higher maneuvrability in comparison to a ship of the line and act as part of the escort force. However their recoil tends to lead to formation breakage when in the line. Similarly to the Lindford island-class and other coastal defence ships, the Dalstaff-class are somewhat ungainly in standard SCM but with a skilled hand at the helm the extremely powerful RCS can be exploited to its full potential. Given they were intended to lead a squadron of coastal defence ships, despite its small size and brig-rigged crew structure, the Dalstaff-class requires a Post Captain to command. With one being commanded by the late Commodore A. Hales who kept command of CSV Seravis Major through xer promotion and would lead a squadron of Dalstaffs during the hard fighting at the Atamara crossroads.

History

Early History

The Dalstaff-class monitor-sloop would begin its life as the private Keepers Dance Fleet Yards project KDFY-3CS01 (Keepers Dance Fleet Yards - 3rd-rate Coastal Defence Sloop  #01) designed as somewhat of a flotilla leader for coastal defence vessels. It was envisaged that the Dalstaff-class could bring much needed mobile broadhead-lock firepower to the defence of planets, comparatively more effectively than a 3rd-rate could albeit with less of them. It would be designed and a prototype would be built within the decade leading up to the frontier war.[2] The Prototype would commence military trials early in 0283 PCU and would be commissioned into service with minor modifications as CSV Dalstaff on the 24th of solstice 0285 PCU. Fourteen more vessels of the Class were ordered by the Centran Defence Force with three being completed to original specifications and four more being completed to a more efficient design intended to be the final version. Eight would be completed in total by the outbreak of the frontier war.[2][3] The last eight would be put on hold[3] and later cancelled when their shortcomings would become apparent - as the CDF recognised the need for more tested ships with flotilla-leader potential e.g.: Confiances.

The Frontier War

The Dalstaff-class Monitor-sloop would see a little service in the frontier war escorting convoys and protecting various drift gates.[2]

Convoy Co-532

They would prove relatively immune to the Rangomu Lockstep when CSV Atamara found itself under attack by a pair of outriders while escorting convoy Co-532 on the 34th of Solstice 294 PCU. The inexperienced and exhausted Indria captain would misidentify CSV Atamara and moved in to attempt the Lockstep, but would be chewed up by the Swivel guns and Bodkin-locks of CSV Atamara. The Florencia captain, seeing the Indria get shredded would attempt to flee, however without the distraction of the Indria, CSV Atamara would open fire with accurate and deadly Broadhead-lock fire, quickly disabling and killing the Florencia at the cost of only a couple of men who were wounded when a coilgun round penetrated the fore living quarters.[2]

CSV Teldrin’s Flash-fire 

Despite their relative immunity to the Rangomu Lockstep, they would prove close to death traps with their large ammo storage and low armour proving to be quite the flash-fire chance - usual coilgun ammo wouldn't be susceptible to such fires, however as the Dalstaff’s ammunition would consist mostly of High Explosive, they would be exceptionally susceptible. This would be revealed when CSV Teldrin engaged the captured Confiance Maiala near the Valeria Sibus - Seravis Major Drift Gate, wherein the former was patrolling.[5] Near the beginning of the engagement a pair of Bodkin-lock coilgun rounds would penetrate her frontal armour and result in a raging ammunition fire that would consume Teldrin's bow and the lives of nearly 100 men. Only the quick thinking from Post Captain Ercheron would save the ship's remaining crew complement.[6][Biased Source] The Maiala would stop firing to avoid the fragments giving Ercheron time to get the Remnants of the Teldrin's momentum under control with a flip-and-burn, and evacuate the remaining crew to the lifeboats.[2][6] Wherein they would be saved by the passing CSV Lockspur 2 days later.[2][6]

Due to this incident all remaining Dalstaff-class would be refitted with wet ammunition stowage and much upgraded fire combatant systems along with a reduction in the amount of HE ammunition in a combat load.

CSV Dalstaff fights the Wicked Witch

At some point during the frontier war (sources vary as to when), CSV Dalstaff was engaged in an action in the Valeria Sibus system against the Paleborn Vessel, the Wicked Witch escorted by a pair of outriders. CSV Dalstaff managed to kill both the outriders and barely escape the Wicked Witch.[8]

1st Generation refits

A year after CSV Teldrin was lost to enemy action above Valeria Sibus, the remaining 1st generation Dalstaff-class vessels were refitted to simplify their logistics and allow a heavier secondary ammunition load. CSV Dalstaff and CSV Maiala’s Rest were refitted to 2nd Generation standard, though due to a temporary shortage of twin 10” bodkin mounts, CSV Atamara had her pair of 12” bodkins rebarreled to 10”, though none of the refitted ships would gain the extra pair of swivels that 2nd Gen Dalstaffs would have.[2][9]

20" mounting feasibility study (KDFY-QMS01)

Near to the end of the frontier war about 299 PCU, a study (designation KDFY-QMS01) was initiated into the feasibility of mounting a single barrel 20" Quarrel-lock heavy coilgun in place of the rear 15" turret and replacing the fore 15" turret with a 10" twin Bodkin-lock light coilgun but it would only get to the point of a wooden mock-up on CSV Firewatch before the realisation that the recoil from such a heavy piece of artillery would tear the ship apart, not to mention the vast change in centre of mass making the ship much more difficult to manoeuvre[2][3], alongside the massive decrease in effective rate of fire. This Program would also consider the feasibility of upgrading the point defence to 12 * 2 6.3” Swivels (adding two more around the core), but nothing would ultimately come of that due to the CDF’s inflexibility, the already sufficient point defence of the Dalstaff-class, and the need for such mountings for new vessels.[2][3]

CSV Firewatch with Mock-up 20” Quarrel-lock Coilgun Mounted

Fourth Battle of Axius

Five Dalstaff-class vessels would participate in the Fourth Battle of Axius, these were CSV Cardeus Brink, CSV Firewatch, CSV Valeria Sibus, CSV Maiala's Rest and CSV Dalstaff. During the first sightings of the Arashi-Sakara CSV Cardeus Brink would be vented bow-to-stern with the loss of all hands from a single salvo. Later in the battle, CSV Valeria Sibus would score her fourth and fifth Outrider kills making her an ace. The CSV Dalstaff would score a kill on an Alessiah-class frigate. 

Battle of the Atamara Crossroads 

Four of the remaining Dalstaff-class vessels would participate in the battle of the Atamara Crossroads, these were CSV Seravis Major, CSV Firewatch, CSV Valeria Sibus and CSV Maiala's Rest wherein they would be involved in the hardest fighting, led by Commodore Hales in the CSV Seravis Major. In the fighting CSV Valeria Sibus would score five downed outriders immediately making her a double ace. Due to damage received at the battle three Dalstaff-class would be scrapped post-war. Vice-admiral Redfield’s reinforcements would include two Dalstaff-class vessels; the CSV Dalstaff and CSV Atamara.

Post-war Service

After the end of the frontier war, three of the five remaining Dalstaff-class Monitors would be fairly rapidly decommissioned and scrapped as resources were channelled toward Edric's Gate, although CSV Valeria Sibus would be salvaged by the rogue privateer union ‘Blue Scania’ and modified into ‘BSSV Belief from Scars’, CSV Dalstaff would become an anti-piracy vessel, wherein she would occasionally fight her sister BSSV ‘Belief in Scars’ due to blue scania’s tendency toward rogue privateering and the remaining CSV Atamara would be signed on to the Avalon Exploratory Initiative but would be declared missing presumed dead after it wasn't found after the initial jump.

Gallery

CSV Dalstaff conducts deceleration burns during training operations

CSV Dalstaff prepares to fire a full broadside

CSV Dalstaff, CSV Firewatch & the Hardy-class Sloop CSV Hardy form a hasty line of battle in preparation for a union attack

A pair of Dalstaff-class Monitor-sloops conduct BSM during training exercises

References

[1] - Dalstaff-class Monitor-Sloop Training Manual, by Centrum Defence Force Training Corps

[2] - “Monitors, Line, and Destroyer Sloops - a history of the CDFs niche Sloops”, by Professor E. D’Wilde 300 PCU

[3] - KDFY production records, 290 - 300 PCU

[4] - Dalstaff-class promotional video, 280 PCU

[5] - Serving on a Dalstaff, by Post-Captain J. Alpheus, 300 PCU

[6] - Post Captain Ercheron’s report

[7] - Rogue Privateer Union, Rialtis daily, 51st of solstice 302 PCU

[8] - Combat Report, CSV Dalstaff

[9] - “Jane’s all the Cluster’s fighting ships” 295 PCU