IBR
news IBR
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History
After it became clear that "Shock and Awe" attacks such as the devastation of Shadow wouldn't bring the war to a rapid close, the Alliance settled in to a battle of attrition. Both sides new that with far more men and ships, the Alliance had the potential to simply 'starve out' the Independents with a series of calculated blockades preventing movement of men and material. Nearly from the start of the war, Indepenent leaders sought to counter this strategy.
To this end, the Independence Blockade Runner was developed, one of the few purpose-built warships serving in the Independent fleets. The production of this vessel early in the war was made possible only when Boros joined the Independent Planets, facilitating the capture of the shipyards at Ares. While the retreating Alliance forces destroyed much of the shipyards, the prototype Rapier class destroyers were overlooked. Equipped with a considerably oversized powerplant, the first six prototypes were fast, sleek vessels even when fitted with armored plating and weaponry meant for considerably larger ships. Faster and far better armored than the numerous small gunboats and Corvettes favored by the Independents, the Blockade Runners were primarily distractions, moving quickly into position to draw fire from larger Alliance ships while more manueverable vessels moved in for the kill, or transports slipped through the opening provided. A considerable crew complement for a vessel of its size manned the numberous point defense weapons, while ample docking capacity allowed the IBR to effectively mount boarding actions or function as a dropship carrier.
By the end of the war 28 IBRS were constructed, of which 6 were fitted out as Escort Carriers. With the development of AFAS Gunboat killers and subsequently overhwhelming Alliance victories in space, most of the vessels were destroyed. Some were captured and were kept by the Alliance for various purposes.
