Hades-Class Frigate

A Hades-class frigate is a light scout ship in service with the ISA navy. Hades frigates are moderately armed and are usually assigned to picket patrols and orbital security.

Function
Hades frigates were designed to tune-in ahead of the main fleet and provide battlespace reconissance. When in battle, they screen larger ships and provide anti-fighter support. When not supporting the main fleet, Hades frigates are assigned to support and security roles, enforcing customs laws and clamping down on piracy in colonial space.

Hades frigates are armed with 10 launch tubes, usually housing Excavation-class missiles, and use anti-fighter cannons for self-defense. Hades ships are not designed to last long against larger warships. Their realtively weak shields and minimal armament ensure these ships always travel in battlegroups or in small squadrons of other Hades frigates.

These ships also have the grim distinction of being the first type of human warship to encounter and then be destroyed by a Singulus armada. A small, six-ship formation was obliterated when it encountered a full on assault by Singulus Motherships and Styxx -class cruisers. The squadron fought back but was destroyed in minutes.