The Assault Frigate Mk. II was a further development of the Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser modification project, which produced the Mark I Assault Frigate. Although the modification procedures allowed for some variation between individual craft, the most common assault frigate configuration had large dorsal engine fins, and could operate with less than a third of the Dreadnaught's crew requirements (4,820 nominal / 1600 minimum) thanks to extensive automation systems.
