Craft: Mon Calamari MC40a Light Cruiser
Type: Light star cruiser
Scale: Capital
Length: 500-600 meters
Skill: Capital ship piloting: MC40 cruiser
Crew: 3,723; Gunners: 35
Crew Skill: Capital ship piloting 5D, capital ship shields 4D, sensors 3D, astrogation 4D, capital ship gunnery 4D+1
Passengers: 650 (troops)
Cargo Capacity: 6,500 metric tons
Consumables: 2 years
Cost: 15,500,000 credits
Hyperdrive Multiplier: x1
Hyperdrive Backup: x12
Nav Computer: Yes
Maneuverability: 2D
Space: 7
Hull: 4D
Shields: 2D (see note)
Sensors:
Passive: 40/1D
Scan: 60/2D
Search: 120/3D
Focus: 5/4D
Weapons:
14 Turbolaser Batteries (fire separately)
Fire Arc: 5 front, 3 left, 3 right, 3 back
Crew: 2
Skill: Capital ship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 3-15/35/75
Atmosphere Range: 6-30/70/150 km
Damage: 4D
18 Ion Cannons (fire separately)
Fire Arc: 6 front, 6 left, 6 right, 6 back
Crew: 3
Skill: Capital ship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-10/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 2-20/50/100 km
Damage: 2D
6 Tractor Beam Projectors (fire separately)
Fire Arc: 2 front, 2 left, 2 right
Crew: 8
Skill: Capital ship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-5/15/30
Atmosphere Range: 2-10/30/60 km
Damage: 3D
2 Concussion Missile Tubes
Fire Arc: front
Ammo: 25 missiles per launcher
Crew: 1
Skill: Capital ship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 2-5/30/60
Atmosphere Range: 4-24/60/120 km
Damage: 9D
Game Notes: Mon Cal star cruisers have 4D of back-up shields. When a die of shields is lost, if the shield operators can make an Easy capital ship shields total, one of the backup die codes of shields can be brought up increasing the shield back to 2D.
Background: The MC40A Light Cruiser, also referred to simply as the MC40a cruiser or MC40a, was a class of light cruiser that was manufactured by Mon Calamari Shipyards and cost 15,500,000 credits to produce. Between 500 to 600 meters in length, the MC40a was similar to the MC80A Star Cruiser in both design and function, and the MC40a’s clamshell-like keel was the same as the MC30C Frigate but was instead built to be a well-rounded and versatile vessel. The MC40a was equipped with a class 1 primary and a class 15 backup hyperdrive, as well as long-range sensors, a navigation computer, and had room for consumables for two years.
Despite its size, the MC40a was outfitted with exceptionally strong deflector shield generators but its speed was considered below-average for its class and it was outpaced by other vessels. To compensate, the MC40a was equipped with a robust series of redundant systems for protection against system failures during combat and stressful maneuvers and was able to sustain a large amount of damage. It was armed with fourteen turret-mounted medium turbolasers that were evenly distributed to the port and starboard sides of the hull, two forward-mounted concussion missile launchers, and eighteen medium ion cannons. Four of these ion cannons were on the aft, another four on the bow, and the five were each placed on the port and starboard.
The MC40a also boasted six heavy tractor beam projectors, with one in the aft section, another in the forward section, and two each on the port and starboard. These armaments allowed the MC40a to engage similar vessels and outfight smaller Star Destroyers, during which a common tactic was using tractor beams to pin a Star Destroyer in place and move to the aft of the vessel where it was vulnerable.
When in combat, the MC40a commonly used standoff tactics, which called for the firing of its turbolasers at long distance to pummel hostile craft. MC40as often fought bow-to-target so that its weapon systems had a clear line of fire. When MC40as were used in engagements where it was outgunned, a standard strategy was to move closer to the enemy ship in order for the MC40a to use its missiles, ion cannons, and tractor beams to pin ships and move to their exposed arcs. In this tactic, the MC40a relied on its starfighter squadron for anti-starfighter defense as the MC40a often had to redirect its shields against the main target.
The MC40a cruiser carried a complement of twelve starfighters and was operated by 3,723 to 3,770 officers, pilots, and crew. 650 soldiers, or nearly a battalion, were also stationed on the vessel.