[Suicide Junkie]

Those frigates will waste 900 kt of space on engines and bridge/lifesupport/crew quarters, while the dread wastes only a little over 100.

The dread also gets heavy mounts, so it gets a bonus 70% more damage per kt of weapons.

The little ships will pop one by one, reducing the firepower coming back at the dread, while the dread only loses shields.

So, the dread will blow them away.