Warships of the Latin Finger

Frigates:
Piedrabuena Class
By J.C. Mena
Introduction
After the failure of the Ushuaia Class in the 2nd Rio de La Plata War, the Argentine
government realized they need to design of a missile carrying purpose vessel, unlike the adapted
design of the Libertador and General Belgrano classes, to strike and run. The surveys of a potential
habitable world rushed the design, unlike her big sisters, the Piedrabuena Class uses a MHD
turbine.

Narrative

The Brazilians are trapped in their colony at Paulo, in the Procyon system, but the Hispanic
alliance suspect that they are probably getting intel and supplies coming from Austin’s World,
despite the two Austinian colonies declared themselves as neutral observers. They might trust in the
Lifers neutrality, but the Texans always been ambitious and treacherous.

Two routes can been taken to arrive to Procyon coming from DM-3 1123; one is thru the
Ross 614 system, the other is thru DM-21 1377. The raider squadron, which included 2 Libertador
class cruisers and 2 General Belgrano class destroyers, patrolled the Roos 614 system and
destroyed the Brazilian outpost, as reported while discharging orbiting Austin’s World.

The frigate squadron departed to DM-21 1377 to destroy the Brazilian base, a few minutes
later they were followed by the raiders. The NEA Piedrabuena, NEA Somelera and NEA Hipolito
Bouchard dewarped just to been hunted by 6 missiles; the Somelera was immediately hit by 2
missiles, while the Piedrabuena and Bouchard used their tanks as decoys and succeed.

Both frigates deployed their missiles while trying desperately to avoid the rest of the missiles
with lasers and submunitions. The Bouchard was severe damaged leaving the Piedrabuena as the
sole Argentine combatant, but the Brazilian ships detected the arrival of the Argentine raider
squadron and warped to Procyon. During the battle, the base was evacuated and autodestroyed.

July 11, 2277 – Ambush at DM-21 1377 – 3rd Rio de La Plata War

Development History

In 2225, Argentina was restoring her fleet. While the refit of the Almirante Brown class
destroyer adapted a pair of missiles, the refit of the Santisima Trinidad class remained as a light
armored cruiser. Argentina designed a small vessel to fit the Core patrol role, a little bigger than the
Mexican Azteca class corvette, this design was known as the Ushuaia Class light frigate.

Between 2235 and 2236, all the Ushuaias were neutralized, leaving the Argentine forces
with 4 upgraded destroyers, and 8 upgraded gun cruisers, however, the shipyards rushed to launch
new vessels sharing the hull shape of their predecessors, but with 4 missiles on magnetic slings and
dedicated remote pilot stations. The need of a natural missile carrier vessel remained.

During 2240s Argentina needed an escort to colonize the remote Montana, but the
uncomfortable lack of artificial gravity and complicated access to the missile system (a handicap in
the rushed design) made tough such missions for the Libertador class light cruiser and General
Belgrano class destroyer, which both adopted the doctrine to strike with her missiles and run.

Was until 2250 when the Piedrabuena Class missile frigate was finally launch. Originally
designed to been powered by a fission reactor, but as the economic efforts were put on the colonial
world, a MHD turbine was chosen with a detachable fuel tank to extend the time between
refuelling. This made the Piedrabuena cheaper and faster to build or repair.

Design Characteristics

There were a few key design characteristics for the Piedrabuena design, many of which were
shared with her generation little sisters. These were:

- Common hull design using standard composite materials.

- A powerful PBWS cannon in the forward. A heavy missile armament to maximise long
range firepower. A heavy laser armament allowing excellent point defence. The classic INAP
submunition dispensers along the hull to provide the capability to close and overwhelm opponents
at close range.
- Protection in the form of hull armour developed after the 2nd Rio de La Plata War.
- Dual targeting systems specially developed to switch between preselected weapons.
- A commonly produced drive system utilising an Argentine Meridional Electrico designed
10MW MHD turbine, 1MW Solar Array and a purpose built IES stutterwarp drive.
- A magnetic sling carrying one lander, fighter or drone.
- A twin body spin machinery.
- A 6000 tonnes detachable fuel tank.

Hull design
- The hull is composed of three distinct parts all of which are armoured.
- The bow contains the bulk of the operational, non-engineering, systems of the ship.
Including the bridge, computers, TAC, sensors, stores, life support and almost all of the weapons. It
also contains much of the ship’s recreation space.
- The stern contains the hangar, the MHD turbine power plant and the stutterwarp drive. In
addition the bulk of the engineering components and fuel is stored here.
- The unarmored central corridor contains most of the accommodations. Living conditions in
the Piedrabuena are not the best due the lacking of a spin habitat, however, 2 Piedrabuenas can be
attached together to create simulated gravity in both vessels.

Overall dimensions:
- Length: 40 m.
- Tonnage: ~2400 tonnes
Armament:
- 1 x PBWS fixed cannon in the forward.
- 3 x LL-55 laser weapons mounted in masked turrets.
- 2 x LLN-8 sub munitions dispensers.
- 8 x EM-5D carried in 2 bays (2 remote pilot stations).

Electronics:
Active Sensors:
- Phased Active Sensor,
Passive Sensors:
- Spherical Passive Sensor,
Standard Navigation Sensors:
- Navigation Radar,
- Gravitational Scanner,
- Deep System Scanner,
,

Engineering Systems:
- Power Plant: Meridional Electrico 10MW old military MHD Turbine.
- Power Plant: Meridional Electrico 1MW old military Solar Array.
- Drive: IES 3MW old commercial stutterwarp drive.

Crew:
The Piedrabuena has a total of 56 crew:
- 12 in bridge.
- 9 in TAC.
- 6 in engineering.
- 2 in medical bay.
- 3 in steward section.
- 21 in security section.
- 3 in hangar bay.

Embarked Crafts:
- 1 Espectro Class Lander (on magnetic sling).

Service History

Argentina
The “FEA: Fuerza Espacial Argentina” (ASF: Argentine Space Force) originally ordered 8
Piedrabuenas in a first batch, the first eight frigates of the class were the NEAs: Piedrabuena,
Rosales, Riechmen, Rommel, Parker, Drumond, Guerrico, and Robinson. The frigates played the
role as escorts of the colony ships in way to the recently settled Montana.

In late 2260’s a major upgrade was realised, and a 2nd batch was launched, another 8 frigates
were requested. In 2275 when the 3rd Rio de La Plata War started, Argentina negotiated Mexico
about 4 frigates ordered and nearly to be fitted in the shipyards. The frigates were the NEAs
Arzopado, Maratura, King, Granvilla, Casa de Malvena, Henrico, Somelera, Hipolito Bouchard,
San Juan, Santa Cruz, Gomez Roca, Formosa.

During the war, the performance of Piedrabuenas and the raider strikes of the Libertadors
and General Belgranos were a key factor to the victory of the allies against the Brazilian forces; also
were used for commerce raiding in the Central Asian War. With the introducing of the Espora Class
the Piedrabuenas were relegated to the training fleet, but most of them are waiting for disposal.

In late 2299, when Argentina sent a couple of Esporas to the French Arm, and later a full
squadron, the admirals delayed the dispose and scrap plans of their old vessels, beyond that just
having a training fleet, they formed with them one reserve fleet. Even her closest ally, Mexico, has
Piedrabuenas as part of his active fleet.

In 2305, when the Kafer menace returned Argentina sent another squadron to Neubayern
system as part of the Terran Reserve Fleet. The Argentines embraced the feeling to have ships ready
to fight and prepared three reserve fleets along with the training fleet. Such reserve fleet was
composed by Libertadors, General Belgranos and Piedrabuenas.

In 2307, when the Santa Maria's squadron disappeared, and the Montaña‘s squadron was
transferred to Neubayern, leaving the space forces with five active squadrons in The Core, and one
active squadron in the Chinese Arm. Three reserve squadrons were reactivated and sent to the Latin
Finger, two as part of the Montana fleet, and one as the main defence of Minos.

In 2311, when two more squadrons were transferred to Nuebayern as part renew Terran
reserve fleet, there were six reactivated squadrons, three of them in the Chinese Arm and three more
in The Core, while two remained as reserve training squadrons. A total of sixteen Piedrabuenas
were in service again, twelve of them as part of an active squadron.

In 2313, when the war concluded, eight Piedrabuenas returned to the reserve training
squadrons, while the other eight will be probably sell to Inca Republic, Heidelsheimat, Spain, Chile
or Uruguay. There has been some request to transform the NEA Piedrabuena into a museum, like
the NEA Almirante Brown and the NEA Santisima Trinidad.

With the advent of a new class of frigates, the Espora Class, 8 of the 14 remaining Esporas
were sold to friendly nations, 2 of them were sold to Inca Republic (Agil and Audaz), 2 to
Heidelsheimat (Voraz and Increible), 2 to Elysia (Norte and Oeste), 2 to Venezuela (Este and Sur),
while the ASF retains the last 6 (Rapida, Veloz, Indomita, Intrepida, Valiente, and Heroina).

Mexico
Before the war started, the “Armada Espacial Mexicana” ordered 8 Piedrabuenas to be the
main combatant in the Latin Finger, however just 4 were delivered at the time the 3rd Rio de La
Plata War began, leaving the Mexican forces in jeopardy, with just frigates and an unproved
corvette class as the true Mexican missile carrying vessels.

While the Cubas were escorting vessels from The Core to the Latin Finger, the
Piedrabuenas were patrolling the path between Tau Ceti and 40 Eridani, reinforced in each system
with a missile boats and q-ships squadron based in a commercial design. Meanwhile, the Core was
secured by Libertadors, General Belgranos, and by the flag ship, the gun cruiser NEM Guadalupe
Victoria (Ypres-12).

After the war, the frigates were upgraded to batch 2 standard, however, the Latin Finger was
involved in other 2 space wars, Mexico needed to complete the 8 missile frigate force originally
requested, but Argentina was involved designing new warships, the answer came from France
offering 4 Orage class frigates, after a huge refit, the AEM renamed the Orages as the missile
frigate Huracan class.

The Piedrabuenas and Huracans formed four frigate brigades, based in rotate basis on
Terra, Tirane, Kwantung and Montaña. The NEMs of the class are: Oaxaca, Chiapas, Michoacan,
and Guerrero. In early 2300, both classes were raplaced by the Espora Class, a nuclear missile
frigate class. While the Huracans were sold to the Inca Republic, the Piedrabuenas were transferred
to the reserve fleet.

Potential operators

Heidelsheimat and INAP share a common adversary, the Texans. There is some interest
showed by the ex-Bavarians to bought new warships for the recently formed Heidelsheimat
Raumwaffe, however, the project has to be financed yet, and also the must decide between the old
Piedrabuena class or the newly Espora class.
.
Inca Republic as part of the INAP membership has a responsibility with the other members
and with its own colonies, the “AEI: Armada Espacial Inca” showed interest to bought 2 second
Piedrabuenas, but France offered a pair of Orage Class frigates, with a newer technology, Mexico
already bought 4 of them, the purchase of the Piedrabuenas is uncertain.

The other 2 INAP members, Chile and Uruguay showed interest to bought a pair of frigates
as part of the creation of their own space forces. While will be a strategic advantage to have two
more spacefiring allies in the Core, it won’t be viable the purchase of frigates due their economies,
at least not in the follow 10-15 years.

In late 2290’s Spain showed interest to create an “Armada Espacial Española”, the recent
wars involved in the Core proved the need to have their own warships. The growing evolution of
their enclave in Tirane has encouraged them to establish their own colony in the near future. The
agreement is signed at least for 3 second hand Piedrabuena class frigates.

General Statistics

Basics:
Design Date: 2245
First Example Laid Down: 2247
First Example Completed: 2250
Fleets in Service: Argentina, Mexico.
Number in Service: 20

Performance:
Warp Efficiency: 1.38 (full loaded without drop tank), 0.98 (full loaded with drop tank),
Power Plant: 10 MW MHD Turbine, 1 MW Solar array for in-system cruising,
Fuel: 2000 Tonnes, External tank 6000 tonnes,
Range: 7.7 light years,
Endurance: 8 weeks,
Mass: 2,850 tonnes (without drop tank), 9850 tonnes (full load with tank),
Cargo Capacity: 1885.4 cubic meters,
Crew: 56 (12 Bridge, 9 TAC, 6 Engineering, 2 Medical, 3 Stewards, 21 Security, 3 Hangar);
Passengers: none.
Comfort: 2,
Emergency Power: 5 days?,
Life Support: 60 days (56 personnel),
Price: 20,3 Mlv (exclusive of small craft/drone and ordnance).

Ship Status Sheet:

Move: 2 (3),
Screens: 0,
Radiated signature: 4 (5),
Radial Reflected: 6,
Lateral Reflected: 7,
Targeting Computer: 0,
Radial Profile: -1,
Lateral Profile: 0,
Armour: 2 ,
Active: 5,
Passive: 6,
Manoeuvrability: ?,
Other: 1 Solar Array, 1 Magnetic Sling.

Hits:
Bridge: Captain, Navigator, Helm, Communications, 2x Computer.
TAC: Active Sensors, Passive Sensor, 4x Fire Control, 2x Remote Pilot, 1x Flight Control.
Hull Hits: 32/16/8
Power Plant Hits: 30/6
Damage Control: 1 team (plus 2 parties from bridge)

Crew

Puente de Mando:
The command Bridge of the Piedrabuena includes 6 stations, where the Con station is
usually under the command of a Comandante de Fragata. The XO is a Comandante de Corbeta.
The Navigation Officer is a Teniente de Navío while the “Navigator-2” is a Suboficial Mayor. A
special station is used as a dual Communications-Computer station according to the needs and is
called the DCC station, the “DCC-1” is a Suboficial Principal. The senior Helm, Communications
and Computer Officers are Guardiamarinas, while in the “Helm-2” and “Communications-2” are
Cabos Segundos and the “Computer-2” and “DCC-2”are Astronautas Primeros.

Centro Táctico:
The Piedrabuena's Tactical Center includes 9 stations, the TAC Officer is also the Flight
Controller, such responsibility is under a Teniente de Navio. The PBWS is under the “Fire Control-
1” a Suboficial Segundo, the other 3 Fire Control stations operates the laser turrets and/or the
submunition dispensers, such Gunners are Astronautas Terceros. The Phased Active station, the
Spherical Passive station and 2 Remote Piloting stations are operated by Astronautas Segundos.

Ingeniería:
The Piedrabuena's Engineering Room includes 3 stations, 1 per each section, the Drive
section and whole engineering room is in charge of a Teniente de Fragata, while the second watch
is in charge of a Suboficial Primero. The Electrical section is in charge of a Teniente de Corbeta,
while the second watch is in charge of a Cabo. The Mechanical section is in charge of a Teniente de
Corbeta, the second watch is also in charge of a Cabo.

Enfermería:
The Piedrabuena’s Sick Bay includes 2 stations, 1 for the ship's doctor, a physician who has
the rank of Teniente de Fragata, the other station is for a nurse or a crew member with medical
training, usually an Astronauta Segundo.

Servicio Administrativo:
 The Piedrabuena's Steward Service offers comfort in a ship without spin habitats. The 3
stations are assigned to the “Supply Officer”, an Astronauta Segundo, and to the cook and janitor
under 2 Astronautas Terceros.

Seguridad:
The Piedrabuena's Security has 2 station, and normally 21 crew members, the “Security
Officer” is a Suboficial Primero, the second in command and handguns guardian is a Cabo. Up to
two assault squadrons can be formed.

Ala Espacial Embarcada:

The Piedrabuena's includes a small Embarked Space Wing, with no Hangar bay, the craft is
on a magnetic sling, usually the craft is an Espectro Class lander, the lander crew members are, the
“Craft Pilot Officer” a Teniente de Corbeta, the “Load Master Officer” a Cabo Primero, and “Craft
Maintenance Officer” an Astronauta Segundo. I some occasions the Piedrabuena carries a Sensor
Drone or a Fighter.

Acknowledgements
The Piedrabuena, Almirante Brown, and Santisima Trinidad are mentioned in the GDW's “Star
Cruiser”.

The Orage Class (Huracan Class) is mentioned in the GDW's “Ships of the French Arm”.

The Ypres-12 Class (Guadalupe Victoria) is mentioned in the GDW's “Ships of the French Arm”
and “Invasion”.

The Espora is based on Matt Scull’s work “Argentine Space Forces”. (I read 4 different variant

The Fantasma/Espectro Class is a concept from Gregory Hunter’s works “Armada Espacial
Mexicana”, “Argentine-Mexican Starship Design” and “Ships of the Chinese Arm”.

The Huracan Class is a concept from Gregory Hunter’s works “Armada Espacial Mexicana”,
“Argentine-Mexican Starship Design” and “Ships of the Chinese Arm”.

The Serie-590 Class and its military variants (Ballesta/Paladin), is a concept from Gregory Hunter’s
work “Ships of the Chinese Arm”.

I adopted Bryn Monnery’s Piedrabuena desing, the idea of a drop tank was a geniality to have a
more accurate cannon design as possible.

I read four different Espora designs, one from Matt Scull, one from Demetrios Rammos, and two from
Bryn Monnery. I liked the idea of the Espora as an upgrade of the Piedrabuena.