Katana-class

The Katana-class Light Attack Craft is a fictional class of spaceship in David Weber's Honorverse, a series of science fiction novels which depict space warfare in the 41st Century.

In the Honorverse, Light Attack Craft (LAC) are small, non-hyperspace capable warships with light armament and scarce protection. As such, they have been considered to not have a role in heavy fleet combat, as they were easy targets for more powerful vessels and being more suitable for patrol and customs duties. However, thanks to technological advances originated in the Manticoran Alliance (one of two factions engaged in a long and brutal war), the LAC were reintroduced as a viable warship type, being carried through hyperspace by massive carrier vessels and fighting much in the manner of an aircraft carrier and its air wing.

It is Grayson's space superiority LAC, designed to defend against other advanced LAC designs. It is armed with three superdreadnaught sized point defense laser clusters, and The New Viper anti-LAC missile, based on the Mark 31 counter-missile. They are also equipped with sidewalls, a two stage bow wall.

The Viper anti-LAC missile retains the acceleration of the Mark 31 counter missile it was derived from and adds a light laser warhead designed to penetrate LAC sidewalls. This missile is significantly smaller and shorter ranged than a conventional LAC missile, but due to its acceleration and maneuverability it is a deadly dogfighting missile at close range. The superdreadnaught strength laser clusters are extremely fast firing compared to a normal laser, and pack enough firepower to penetrate LAC sidewalls at close range. Like the Viper missile, the choice of heavy laser clusters trades off long range punch for rapid close range anti-LAC firepower.

Effects on Tactics

The Katana was designed by Grayson on the theory that other powers could build advanced LACs based on the Maticoran IDeaS and that a space superiority LAC would be needed to combat these advanced LACs. The Katana's weapons mix was optimized to make it deadly to other LACs at the expense of ability to attack full up starships. However in addition to its anti-LAC role, the Katana is often used to supplement the anti-missile defenses of a fleet. The Viper anti-LAC missile remains an extremely capable counter-missile, matching the anti-missile performance of the cheaper dedicated Mark 31 counter-missile it was derived from.