This is the article on the Somtaaw ship created during the Beast War. For the Dreadnaught created by the Progenitors, see Progenitor Dreadnaught. |
The Archangel-class Dreadnought was built by Kiith Somtaaw during a fierce battle against the Beast.
Background[]
The Archangel was based on deep scans of Bentusi tradeships. Development was made in the desperation of the Beast War as Somtaaw scrambled for more firepower for their fleet. Engineers tried to replicate the radial binding design that gave Bentusi ships their incredible durability and firepower, but many died in their efforts. Finally, after coming to the aid of the Faal-Corum, the engineers of the Kuun-Lan had the idea of converting their ore processors into a Destroyer Drive, and later used this idea in finalizing the design for the Archangel, a hybrid design of Hiigaran and Bentusi construction.
Armed with four Energy Cannons, six Missile Launchers and protected by a hull that deflects more damage than it absorbs, the Dreadnought quickly became the king of the battle field. Despite a lack of maneuverability, these ships can easily dominate a battlefield, each greatly superior to a Qwaar-Jet.
After encountering the Nomad Moon's repulsor emitter, the scientists incorporated a somewhat weaker version of the device into the Dreadnought, though at a high cost: the two emitter domes were placed at the top and bottom, with the latter obscuring the lower Ion Cannon's frontal arc, greatly reducing the Cannon's already limited coverage: by being attacked from above or below, the Dreadnought can only bring one Ion Cannon to bear, a design flaw which is shared with the much-later Battlecruiser.
Overall, the Dreadnought is designed more to take on multiple opponents at once than an infected Heavy Cruiser. It spreads out more of its firepower in different directions. One must note, its supply of missiles can run out in a prolonged firefight. Its internal production rate of missiles is roughly one-third of the rate it can fire them when fully loaded, which means once the missiles run out it will only be firing a third as many per salvo. One on one with equal levels of upgrades, it will lose to a Heavy Cruiser even if the Beast Infect Weapon isn't used. Instead it is less vulnerable to being overwhelmed by multiple frigates and destroyers if they attack it from above and below.
Trivia[]
- In the Homeworld: Cataclysm manual, it is referred to as an Archangel-class Dreadnought.[1]
- The Dreadnought is the unit featured on the covers and box art for both Cataclysm and Emergence
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ Homeworld: Cataclysm manual