Independent Blockade Runner

Independent Blockade Runner
Craft: Nu Hai Dao Gunship
Type: Cruiser
Scale: capital
Length: 161 meters
Skill: capital ship piloting
Crew: 24 officers; 340 space hands
Crew Skill: 4D average
Passengers: 42
Cargo Capacity: 3,000 tons
Consumables: 1,500 hours (1,250 tons)
Cost: 4,600,000; 66,000 for ammunition
Maintenance Costs: 90,000 per year
Nav Computer: yes
Maneuverability: 0D+2
Space: 9 cruise / 11 hard burn
Atmosphere:
Hull: 9D+2
Sensors

Passive: 60/0D+2
Scan: 120/1D+1
Search: 180/2D
Focus: 6/2D+2

Weapons

16x 100-Pound Long Range Missile Launchers

Fire Arc: 8 left-front / 8 right-front
Crew: 1
Scale: capital
Skill: capital ship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 16-24/54/135
Atmosphere Range: 1,600-2,400/5,400/13,500m
Ammo: 20 per launcher
Damage: 8D

8x 100-Pound Medium Range Missile Launchers

Fire Arc: 4 left-front / 4 right-front
Crew: 1
Scale: capital
Skill: capital ship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 8-16/36/90
Atmosphere Range: 800-1,600/3,600/9,000m
Ammo: 10 each
Damage: 8D

12x 100-Pound Short Range Missile Launchers

Fire Arc: 6 left-front / 6 right-front
Crew: 1
Scale: capital
Skill: capital ship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-8/18/45
Atmosphere Range: 100-800/1,800/4,500m
Ammo: 5 each
Damage: 8D

80x 10-Pound Short Range Missile Launchers

Fire Arc: 40 left-front / 40 right-front
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1/2/4
Atmosphere Range: 100/200/400m
Ammo: 5 each
Damage: 4D

2x 20-Pound Cannons

Fire Arc: 2 turrets
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-3/5/8
Atmosphere Range: 100-300/500/800m
Ammo: 160 each
Damage: 8D+2

4x 1-pound Autocannons

Fire Arc: 4 turrets
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1/4/6
Atmosphere Range: 100/400/600m
Ammo: 1000 each
Damage: 4D+1

Equipment

Two Shuttles
Infirmary with ten beds

Capsule:
After it became clear that "Shock and Awe" attacks such as the devastation of Shadow wouldn't bring the war to a rapid close, the Alliance settled in to a battle of attrition. Both sides knew that with far more men and ships, the Alliance had the potential to simply 'starve out' the Independents with a series of calculated blockades preventing movement of men and material. Nearly from the start of the war, Independent leaders sought to counter this strategy.

To this end, the Independence Blockade Runner was developed, one of the few purpose-built warships serving in the Independent fleets. The production of this vessel early in the war was made possible only when Boros joined the Independent Planets, facilitating the capture of the shipyards at Ares. While the retreating Alliance forces destroyed much of the shipyards, the prototype Rapier class destroyers were overlooked. Equipped with a considerably over-sized power plant, the first six prototypes were fast, sleek vessels even when fitted with armored plating and weaponry meant for considerably larger ships. Faster and far better armored than the numerous small gunboats and Corvettes favored by the Independents, the Blockade Runners were primarily distractions, moving quickly into position to draw fire from larger Alliance ships while more maneuverable vessels moved in for the kill, or transports slipped through the opening provided. A considerable crew complement for a vessel of its size manned the numerous point defense weapons, while ample docking capacity allowed the IBR to effectively mount boarding actions or function as a dropship carrier.

By the end of the war 28 IBRS were constructed, of which 6 were fitted out as Escort Carriers. With the development of AFAS Gunboat killers and subsequently overwhelming Alliance victories in space, most of the vessels were destroyed. Some were captured and were kept by the Alliance for various purposes.

Source: Serenity Role Playing Game (pages 125)