Volga-class

Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Baikal-class is the latest multi-purpose mobile suit (MS) space-carrier designed and mass-produced by the ESF. After Operation Fallen Angels, lessons learned from engaging Celestial Being (CB) and influence from Innovators prompted the ESF to create a new fleet of battleships. The military desired a new advanced craft that's has fast deployment capabilities, including being stealthy, deadly, and versatility for various missions.

The hull of the ship is long and slender, making the ship faster and less of a target against enemy fire. ESF engineers (previously from the Union) took inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman maritime battleships: a light fast attacking vessel carrying a small armed force. The top of the ship has total of 4 GN Cannons. Two of the pairs are lined right below the command bridge of the ship, allowing the crew to have visual confirmation of enemy attack and/or destruction. It has 3 large engines for horizontal thrust. The sides of the hull have a pair of rotatable (360 degree) vertical thrusters, each containing 3 smaller engines and 2 pairs of large missile launchers; a total of 7 engines and 128 GN Missles. It's maximum MS capacity is 6 and they're launched at the underbelly of the ship.

The forward underbelly section of the ship is a retractable gate to launch MSs. A catapult slides forward at the under section to launch the MSs, but it's a feature least used as pilots often prefer manual launching in the majority of their missions. Other than that, not much about the internal workings of the ship has been revealed. However, it seems to be utilizing two different power systems between propulsion and weapons. While the weapons are using particle energy, the engines are using plasma propulsion, suggesting it's utilizing a fusion reactor or a engine that feeds on GN Particles differently than of CB's propulsion systems. Since the forward half of the ship is a MS container bay, it's presumed living quarters and the engine room are all located at the rear section.

In terms of combat characteristics: The ship is best used in large numbers and in defensive positions to support its MSs. All of its weapons are designed for long range combat. The ship usually depends on its 6 MSs to effectively compensate for its weaknesses and destroy their target(s) before reaching close range. The GN Missiles are tracking missiles that hunts down its intended target, but weak in maneuverability.

Overall, the hull is strong enough to withstand all conventional non-GN weapons, but has limited endurance against GN-particle weaponry. The hull can endure limited damage against GN-beams and GN-missiles; against GN-blades and beam sabers. For stealth, the ship can disperse GN Particles to mask its signature against enemy units, but only effective against Katharon, not CB sensors. The ship also carries anti-beam countermeasures to protect itself against enemy beam fire; however that would limit the ship's combat capabilities within the dispersal field.

While not as fast as the CBS-74 Ptolemaios 2, the class is the fastest made by the ESF. The most effective way to down the ship (as with most ships) is by destroying the bridge. ESF engineers never built a second-bridge should the ship lose its main bridge. Once the bridge is destroyed, all system controls will fail and the ship will be effectively "dead in the water." Because of its lean design, the ship requires routine re-supply. Alone, the ship is ineffective against CB, only a large fleet of its class can effectively handle against CB. By AD 2314, the class was upgraded and re-classified as the Volga-class.