| rdfs:comment | - The KC2-P11 Karas class heavy carrier is perhaps the most specialized warship in the RTSE arsenal. A relatively large capital-class warship, the Karas is capable of carrying as many as 324 assault craft, 216 of them being the lethal Strike bombers armed with Power-flechette graviton torpedoes which can bypass almost all known types of shielding. In an ideal situation, the bomber squadrons of a single Karas class vessel can annihilate an entire enemy battlegroup of heavy capital warships. And that is without taking into account the Karas' own armaments, specialized for heavy long-range fire support. Its 40 burst-fire torpedo launchers can unleash a storm of flechette torpedoes in moments, while the carrier itself stays behind its wall of fighters and bombers, laying waste across the battlef
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| abstract | - The KC2-P11 Karas class heavy carrier is perhaps the most specialized warship in the RTSE arsenal. A relatively large capital-class warship, the Karas is capable of carrying as many as 324 assault craft, 216 of them being the lethal Strike bombers armed with Power-flechette graviton torpedoes which can bypass almost all known types of shielding. In an ideal situation, the bomber squadrons of a single Karas class vessel can annihilate an entire enemy battlegroup of heavy capital warships. And that is without taking into account the Karas' own armaments, specialized for heavy long-range fire support. Its 40 burst-fire torpedo launchers can unleash a storm of flechette torpedoes in moments, while the carrier itself stays behind its wall of fighters and bombers, laying waste across the battlefield with impunity. However, as devastating a warship as it is offensively, it is extremely vulnerable defensively. Lacking ANY dedicated point-defence firepower, the ship is a glaring target for any missiles fired at it, without other vessels providing close fire support for it. The comparatively light number of quadlaser blaster cannons does not help a great deal, except against slower enemy fighters at close range. Add to that its very poor speed and acceleration, weak shielding for its size, and lack of weapon coverage, and a Karas carrier captain on its own in battle has to be extremely careful where, when, and how to engage the enemy. However, like most RTSE warships, its hull is sturdy, and even lacking reactive armour, a Karas carrier can withstand a lot of battle damage and remain functional. In the battle of Akates System, a large number of Karas class carriers was fighting on both fronts, against the NEF and TEC forces. While the TEC forces were literally decimated en masse by the bomber squadrons of these ships, the formidable battle tactics of the NEF fleet did manage to inflict devastating losses to Karas support groups. Caught without their Munja class point-defence support, dozens of Karas carriers were slaughtered by a barrage of tactical missiles from the NEF Firestorm class warships, but the bombers from the carriers later returned the favour, decimating a large number of Firestorms, along with other NEF ships. Consequently, while the battle proved very costly for the RTSE's Karas force, it was also very educational. Deployed properly and with adequate support, a single support group of Karas class carriers is more deadly than three battlegroups of Kurgarin class dreadnoughts. Used without planning and tactical insight, Karas class carriers can only serve as target practice for the enemy.
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