Launched in 2747, the Riga Class destroyer/carrier takes its name from a Hegemony frigate design launched more than 300 years earlier. The modern Riga was rushed into production after the death of First Lord Simon Cameron on the distant world of Stars End. With Aleksandr Kerensky acting as regent for the 8-year-old Richard Cameron, a war between the member states looked increasingly likely. Sixty of the vessels had deployed before the dreadful events of Christmas 2766. Most of these Rigas were deployed in the Periphery, but a few remained in the Hegemony. Two of these vessels became the first victims of Jonathan Cameron's Reagan Space Defense System, which hit them with ground-based lasers and particle cannons as they maneuvered to support SLDF units fighting for survival in the Hegemony capital of Geneva.
         An astounding 26 Riga Class vessels survived the ensuing war, a testament to the capabilities of the new design. With the exception of four badly damaged craft, all of these left in the Exodus fleet. These compact and sophisticated vessels formed the largest single contingent in the fleet and subsequently became the primary patrol vessels of the Exodus fleet. However, the war that erupted between the remnants of the SLDF in the early 29th century claimed many of these vessels. Only six Rigas that had accompanied Nicholas Kerensky to Strana Mechty survived.
         These surviving vessels served for more than 100 years. When new, post-Exodus designs began to gain the upper hand, the Rigas underwent extensive refits, in effect becoming a new class of WarShip. This new class, known as the York, began to operate in 2947 and enabled Clan Star Adder to defeat Clan Nova Cat in a trial for the BattleMech factory on Brim.
         The York retained the excellent armor and weapons of the Riga, but also mounted more anti-fighter systems, such as point-defense lasers, that discouraged the fighter attacks most WarShips are so vulnerable to. Five complete hangar decks, each of which can hold a full Star of OmniFighters, were also added to the new design.
         Only Clan Nova Cat has deployed any York class vessels in the Inner Sphere, but reportedly, Clans Ghost Bear and Smoke Jaguar also maintain some of these excellent vessels in their fleets.

Blood Spirits - Stooping Kite
Cloud Cobra - Brimstone, The Protector, Nebulous
Coyote - Un-named (under construction)
Ghost Bears - Ursa Minor
Ice Hellions - Pack Leader
Nova Cats - Anna Rosse
Smoke Jaguars - Lioness (dest/capt in Operation Bulldog), Queen Lynx (dest/capt in Operation Bulldog)
Snow Ravens - Corvidae
Star Adder - Exodus Ranger, Star Fire (Destroyed 5/13/3060 above Hoard), Exodus Avenger, Exodus Sentinel