User:Star Wolf 359/sandbox

Corvette:
Traditionally, a corvette is a small ocean surface warship. It is also traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper (or "rated") warship. In "modern terms," a corvette is typically between 500 and 2,000 metric tons, although designs can approach 3,000 metric tons. Granted, that can also be considered a small frigate. The warship class above the Corvette is that of the Frigate, while the class below is all sizes of Shuttlecraft, Shuttlepods, and small ships including Patrol Craft and Fast Attack Craft such as Starfighters, Bombers, and Interceptors.

A Space Corvette is similar in all aspects of a Water Surface Corvette except in one very important difference. A Space Corvette operates in Space and is capable of Atmospheric Operations inside a planet's atmosphere and gravity well, going from the surface to orbit to deep space with ease.

The role of the Corvette consisted mostly of star system patrol, fighting minor wars, supporting large fleets, or participating in show-the-flag missions. They are lightly armored, lightly armed warships. Mostly consisting of Light Class of weapons for the Tech Level of whomever constructed them. They are an easily built system patrol and convoy escort vessel, supporting other, larger, warships. They are typically the smallest starship hull to have a full FTL drive. (Granted, some species have FTL drive technology small and compact enough for the shuttles and starfighters.)

Most races that control their own space can build corvette-sized ships, either as part of their commercial shipbuilding activities or in purpose-built orbital shipyards. However, typically, the sensors, weapons, and other systems required for a more specialized Corvette are around 60% of the total cost. These components are typically purchased on the intergalactic market or home developed if the species building them has a sufficiently high enough Tech Level.

The Corvette was originally designed for in system patrol work, and was not normally ideal as an extra solar starship. They were really too short-ranged for Deep Space work, too lightly armed for True anti-starfighter defense, but often more than a little faster than the merchantmen and freighters they escorted. However, Corvette's can make a difference when up against the typical pirate starfighter, provided the pirate starfighter is of a lower overall Tech Level. While Corvette's are typically slower than the top end military starfighters and starships, they do tend to be overall much faster than their larger warship siblings.

Corvette's are ideal as platforms fitted with advanced sensor suites, long-range communication systems, even minesweeper technology. Corvettes can be designed and built as mine-layer/minesweeper platforms for Star System Defense. Outfitted with single-shot box launchers externally mounted on the hull, these designs emphasis a "flush response" to enemy combatants, firing a massive salvo of missiles or torpedoes at an approaching enemy, overloading their anti-missile or anti-torpedo systems. Corvettes are capable of being custom designed for a specific role or constructed on a more modular framework for multiple functions and operations. Corvettes are also called "Blockade Runners" due to their small size, maneuverability and higher speed versus their larger siblings. They have also been referred to as LAC's, Light Attack Craft. (See David Weber's Honorverse.)

In Science Fiction, Corvettes are frequently used: Star Wars, (Imperial and Rebel/Republic...) Star Trek, (Federation here & other information here too...), Halo, Babylon 5, The Expanse, Galactic Stargate Authority, Starship Troopers, etc. etc. Even David Weber's Honorverse had Corvettes, though they were referred to as LAC's, Light Attack Craft. (Fantastic Author by the way.)

There's a good YouTube on the Top 5 Corvettes that's worth watching. It's located here. And of course, there's this one, an excellent use of a Corvette against a stronger enemy.

[My sources of information came from Wikipedia and my own knowledge of Starships, absorbed from being a Sci-Fi Junkie ALL my life. Enjoy.

Star Wolf 359 (talk) 23:27, 30 June 2018 (UTC)