05-16-2010, 09:37 PM
It's something that's been rattling around in my brain for a while, and it occured to me to try applying it to the Roughriders.
The idea is this: space-flight capable wet navy assets. Really, not a new idea. Fenspace even has one such example in the USS Stingray. However, it's the scale that makes it quite notable. That is, one that probably rivals the SDF-1 in sheer tonnage.
First of all, note that this is to be the sole representative of the Roughrider's Wet Navy forces. As such, firepower available should be roughly equal to that of one or two strike groups and a battalion of marines. Second, the timeframe for this monster is going to be sometime in the 2020's - by then relations with the major 'Dane-side governments should be good enough to allow a peacekeeping force such as this in international waters and at the beck and call of the UN.
Would there be viable oceans on Mars and Venus at this time? Or are we still waiting on that?
Other venues could be Alpha-Centauri, moons of New Texas, and pretty much anywhere else you could use and float a wet navy force.
The general layout was inspired by the ill-fated 'super-carrier' from Genocyber - a massive trimaran hulled ship. (Unfortunately, I'm unable to find an image at this time.) The forward-center hull is dedicated as a platform for offensive weaponry. Primarily, two turrets inspired by WWII era battleships, both packing three heavy-calibur rail guns each. This is primarily a land-attack weapon capable of striking with surgical precision over long range using guided hypersonic projectiles. Other weapon systems include two 'full-sized' VLS launchers (balistic missile defense, anti-ship, anti-air), four conventional major-calibur gun mounts (mid-range self-defense), and several close-in weapon systems (anti-missile, anti-air).
One further nasty little surprise is the twelve full-size torpedo tubes. Located below the waterline, they are arranged in a 'broadside' configuration. Submarine skippers that think they can attack without impunity have another thing coming.
The after hulls are... unique. Each hull has a flight-deck running it's length. Either one can be used for rotary-winged or fixed wing craft for redundancy sake. (I swear to God, with carriers these days it's take one little missile to the flight deck and it's game over...) Straddling the two hulls is a superstructure that carries the phased array radar system among other fun toys.
Another surprise lies beneath the superstructure - a pair of Tuatha de Dannen-class submarines. Primarily they are built with amphibious landings in mind, however they can readily repel an attacking submarine. Or at least scare the holy crud out of them.
Propulsion is handled through the judicious use of magneto-hydrodynamic drives for seafaring, and ion-drives for spacefaring. Powerplant is four Roughriders 'candle-stick' reactors (two in each of the aft hulls) providing a classified amount of horsepower.
Speed is about what you might expect - fast for something her size, but still slow relative to smaller ships. At least, until you kill the 'Full Military Power' governer on this thing and then you'll want to make damn sure your clear of that thing. Don't expect that to happen very often, though, as it puts a serious strain on the powerplant and drives. If that ever happens, expect a visit to the shipyards to be soon in coming.
The idea is this: space-flight capable wet navy assets. Really, not a new idea. Fenspace even has one such example in the USS Stingray. However, it's the scale that makes it quite notable. That is, one that probably rivals the SDF-1 in sheer tonnage.
First of all, note that this is to be the sole representative of the Roughrider's Wet Navy forces. As such, firepower available should be roughly equal to that of one or two strike groups and a battalion of marines. Second, the timeframe for this monster is going to be sometime in the 2020's - by then relations with the major 'Dane-side governments should be good enough to allow a peacekeeping force such as this in international waters and at the beck and call of the UN.
Would there be viable oceans on Mars and Venus at this time? Or are we still waiting on that?
Other venues could be Alpha-Centauri, moons of New Texas, and pretty much anywhere else you could use and float a wet navy force.
The general layout was inspired by the ill-fated 'super-carrier' from Genocyber - a massive trimaran hulled ship. (Unfortunately, I'm unable to find an image at this time.) The forward-center hull is dedicated as a platform for offensive weaponry. Primarily, two turrets inspired by WWII era battleships, both packing three heavy-calibur rail guns each. This is primarily a land-attack weapon capable of striking with surgical precision over long range using guided hypersonic projectiles. Other weapon systems include two 'full-sized' VLS launchers (balistic missile defense, anti-ship, anti-air), four conventional major-calibur gun mounts (mid-range self-defense), and several close-in weapon systems (anti-missile, anti-air).
One further nasty little surprise is the twelve full-size torpedo tubes. Located below the waterline, they are arranged in a 'broadside' configuration. Submarine skippers that think they can attack without impunity have another thing coming.
The after hulls are... unique. Each hull has a flight-deck running it's length. Either one can be used for rotary-winged or fixed wing craft for redundancy sake. (I swear to God, with carriers these days it's take one little missile to the flight deck and it's game over...) Straddling the two hulls is a superstructure that carries the phased array radar system among other fun toys.
Another surprise lies beneath the superstructure - a pair of Tuatha de Dannen-class submarines. Primarily they are built with amphibious landings in mind, however they can readily repel an attacking submarine. Or at least scare the holy crud out of them.
Propulsion is handled through the judicious use of magneto-hydrodynamic drives for seafaring, and ion-drives for spacefaring. Powerplant is four Roughriders 'candle-stick' reactors (two in each of the aft hulls) providing a classified amount of horsepower.
Speed is about what you might expect - fast for something her size, but still slow relative to smaller ships. At least, until you kill the 'Full Military Power' governer on this thing and then you'll want to make damn sure your clear of that thing. Don't expect that to happen very often, though, as it puts a serious strain on the powerplant and drives. If that ever happens, expect a visit to the shipyards to be soon in coming.
