Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock

The Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock functioned as a mobile drydock and repair facility, categorized as a space station. It saw action throughout the Imperial Era, serving both the forces of the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. Its mobile nature made it a rare asset. The Imperial Navy possessed only a limited number, while the Alliance Fleet had just two: the Sanctum and the recently acquired Imperial vessel, Reserve.

Description

The Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock, a mobile shipyard styled as a space station, was a product of Rendili StarDrive. Its primary function was to serve as a transportable drydock and maintenance hub for starships. The Harbor-class's design was noted for its tall, slender structure, more akin to a skyscraper than a conventional spacecraft. Protruding from its central vertical hull were numerous long docking arms, each equipped with multiple access ports. Substantial horizontal support structures extended from the main body, facilitating drydock operations. The Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock also featured an elevated superstructure, resembling a city, built above the docking facilities. This area accommodated the station's personnel, passengers, and essential support systems. Each docking bay was capable of servicing starships ranging from frigate to [cruiser](/article/cruiser] size, up to a silhouette 6 classification. The station provided living quarters for a large number of technicians, along with workshops, manufacturing areas, laboratories, and other resources needed to repair extensively damaged vessels or maintain a small fleet or battle group.

Despite its mobility, the Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock was not fast or maneuverable, making it highly susceptible to attack. This vulnerability existed despite the presence of heavy armor. Its extensive armament was primarily designed for defense against starfighters and boarding craft, rather than large-scale offensive engagements. Due to their inherent vulnerability, Harbor-class stations were typically accompanied by at least one or two frigates for combat support or integrated into larger battle groups, relying on the protection of other vessels. Harbor-class stations were not typically equipped to launch or recover starfighters as it could be a dangerous operation, although they often had the starfighters of visiting ships.

The Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock incorporated hyperdrives: a class 3 primary drive and a class 16 secondary drive. It also possessed long-range sensors and a navigation computer. The station's armaments included six port turret-mounted twin light turbolaser batteries, thirty port turret-mounted quad laser cannons, six starboard turret-mounted twin light turbolaser batteries, thirty starboard turret-mounted quad laser cannons, and ten tractor beam projectors. It could also carry a complement of short-range runabouts and shuttlecraft. The station was operated by a crew of 4,500 officers, [engineers](/article/engineer], and enlisted personnel, and it could accommodate up to 8,000 passengers. Its supply stores were sufficient for two years of operation.

Role

The Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock functioned as a mobile repair and resupply station, providing essential services to docked starships. It served in a support capacity, either independently with an escort or as an integral part of a larger fleet or battle group.

History

Throughout the Imperial Era, numerous Harbor-class Mobile Space Docks were in operation, primarily within the Imperial Navy of the Galactic Empire. The Alliance Navy of the Rebel Alliance possessed two such vessels during the Galactic Civil War: the fully operational Sanctum and the recently captured Imperial station, Reserve. Following its capture, the Reserve underwent repairs and refitting at an Alliance-controlled shipyard. On one occasion, an Alliance Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock provided service to two MC80 Liberty Type Heavy Star Cruisers and one MC80A Home One Heavy Star Cruiser.

Behind the scenes

The Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock was initially mentioned and depicted in the 2018 Fully Operational roleplaying book by Fantasy Flight Games, where it was incorrectly identified as the Haven-class. The 2020 supplement Starships and Speeders corrected this, identifying it as the Harbor-class.

Sources

Fully Operational (Initial mention)
Starships and Speeders (First official identification as Harbor-class Mobile Space Dock)