In the early years of the Terran Alliance, the naval command identified a need for a WarShip that could operate independently not only as a combat vessel, but also as an exploration and cargo carrier when required. They needed it to be able to function competently even in the furthest reaches of the Alliance, or beyond the other realms of the Inner Sphere. The ship also had to be heavy enough to withstand some of the arduous demands places on ships in the harshness of space during exploration or combat. Di Tron Industries supplied the Terran Navy with the answer: the Dart-class cruiser.
         The Dart-class was a ship designed specifically for independent duty. The construction of the ship included very large fuel storage tanks and a cargo bay massing over 15% of the ship's mass. Built into the hull were six-drop collars to handle the large military and civilian class DropShips. However, not the largest of Warships, it was large enough to have a reinforced structural integrity not commonly found on WarShips of the same size.
         One unique aspect of the Dart was its maneuver drives: the new Century 4000s.Though massive, they were robust and very dependable. Most engineers joked that they were required only to change the oil and filter during scheduled maintenance periods for the drives. 1,200 tons of standard armor protected the ship's hull. The weapons were a mixture of heavy energy weapons and naval autocannons.
         The Dart-class served for nearly 200 years before they were retired in favor of the new Avatar cruisers. Many of the Periphery nations purchased the ships, and they saw service into the Reunification War. The Essex-class SLS Gettysburg destroyed the last known Dart in the New Vandenburg revolt in 2722.