Btw: Being newer than the Claw means not much, the Bengal is also a pre-war design IIRC the first ship was built 2619. And while the Austin is indeed newer than the Claw (the whole Gettysburg class is rather new) it fits the same role as the battleships of the pre-war era. That's what I meant to say. Also it looks similar to the Bengal carrier in many ways, which is the reason I assume that the class was actually planned for a longer time. It fits nicely.
You mean adding the Storyline to the movie. Nope! I take the Claw Marks as a Source and not the ***** Movie!
From the Claw Marks:
Pride of the Fleet
The TCS Tiger's Claw
2642: The Confederation military command, determining that a need exists for a heavy space carrier,
authorizes design of the Bengal-class carrier line. Trojan Four Spaceyards wins the assignment to build the
new line of carriers.
2644: The newly-launched TCS Tiger's Claw, on its shakedown cruise, carrying a minimal spacecrew and
an under-experienced command, finds itself in the path of a surprise Kilrathi invasion force. The ship's
unexpected presence along the Kilrathi flight plan, clever tactics on the part of the command crew, and
performance above and beyond the call of duty by the spacecrews rout the superior Kilrathi force. Shortly
thereafter, Tiger's Claw is given permanent assignment in Vega Sector.
2645: The second Bengal-class space carrier, the Kipling, is launched. Owing to design modifications, the
Kipling and all subsequent Bengals are 10 meters shorter and several tonnes less massive than the Tiger's
Claw, making the Tiger's Claw the biggest space carrier in its class.
2649: Tiger's Claw performs a delaying action to allow Confederation transports carrying ground troops to
retreat out of Kilrathi-occupied space. The engagement, known as Custer's Carnival, concludes with Tiger's
Claw seriously damaged but able to return to port. The carrier is in spacedock undergoing repairs and
refitting until early '50.
Thats the story of the Claw. And Bossmann died in the Firrekan System by 2556. The movie damaged the storyline with the Claw, the fighters, "Pilger Blair", Bossmanns dead and the Novel Freedom Flight. For me Wing Commander are Wing 1-4, Prophecy, Secret Ops, Privateer, Armada and Academy. Adding the Novels from Forstchen. Thats it.
And in Secret Missions - Crusade Jazz talking about that the Austin is bigger, modern and better then the Claw. So thats the reason why I changed the Gettysburg to 850 m from 550m. 16 fighter on a ship that is nealy the tripple time of an Exeter, that have 18 fighters?
Size from the three ships: