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REEF SSCR-1 “Narwhal” modified Trident Submersible Escort Carrier:


In their exploration of the east coast of what had once been the United States, the R.E.E.F. found an underwater United States Navy underwater bunker from before the Great Cataclysm. In the bunker were a number of Trident class submersible escort carriers that had been in various states of completion.


Attempts were made to ascertain what happened to the shipyard personnel and boat crews. Little is known for sure but the best that the investigators have come up with was that the crew and personnel attempted to abandon the facility and perished while trying to flee for safety.


While not yet operational, two of the boats were in the final stages of completion. The United States Navy had even officially named them the U.S.S. Narwhal and the U.S.S. Porpoise. There were four additional submersible escort carriers that were far less far along.


As one might expect, the R.E.E.F. decided to commission the first two vessels into their own fledgling navy. It was decided that the original names would be retained for both vessels. These vessels gave the R.E.E.F. the ability to train with some of the advanced vessels on post cataclysm Earth as well as the ability to study the technology of the vessels.


Detecting a pair of Trident class vessels operated by an unknown power, the New Navy decided to contact them. The New Navy is a force formed from the from the surviving submarine crews of the United States Navy and consider such vessels a potential threat if they end up in the wrong hands. There were concerns that the New Navy would either have to sink the submarines or attempt to capture them.


Of course the New Navy was also interested in where the boats had actually come from. While the New Navy actually had records of the underwater bunker, the facility was thought destroyed. Record from only a few years after the Great Cataclysm indicate that an attempt to find the base showed only wreckage.


Luckily the encounter turned out to amicable. After some negotiation, the New Navy offered to help the R.E.E.F. to complete the four partially completed vessels in return for transferring the facilities over to the New Navy. Even operating these six submersible escort carriers would be a challenge for the fledgling R.E.E.F. Navy. As a result, the leaders in the R.E.E.F. agreed without much issue.


The trade had a number of other side benefits as well. One of the more minor ones was that the New Navy offered to help complete a number of armored bunkers at the R.E.E.F. base. Similar to those used by the United States Navy prior to the Great Cataclysm, they could also be used by New Navy vessels visiting the R.E.E.F. facility.


It has long been a concern as well by the R.E.E.F. with various militaries spying on them, especially the Coalition. These bunkers would help to alleviate that as well. So far two bunkers have been completed with plans to complete at least two more bunkers.


More important however is the experience in submarine operations which the New Navy has been able to provide. Initially they provided personnel to both train crews and to fill key personnel shortages. As time went on, the R.E.E.F. vessels have also been able to train with the New Navy. On occasion, the New Navy has even learned from the tiny R.E.E.F. navy.


Even before contact between the R.E.E.F. navy and the New Navy, the R.E.E.F. navy modified both the hangers and launch systems in order to operate their own Logan Veritech fighters in place of the Manta Ray submersible fighters. Already producing a number of aircraft designs, setting up the facilities to produce a new and unfamiliar design was not considered practical.


A number of these submersible fighters found alongside the Trident class submersible escort carriers, having already been delivered prior to the commissioning of the two vessels. They were carefully examined and it was determined that the craft would give little in terms of advantages over the Logan Veritech fighters with the Logan being more flexible in some situations. As a good will gesture, the R.E.E.F. gave the Manta Ray submersible fighters to the New Navy.


Luckily, these submersible escort carriers were able to be adapted to operate the Logan Veritech fighter without any major issues. Even so, modifications required that the fighter compliment was reduced from twelve fighters to ten per vessel. Otherwise, fighter operations remain extremely similar.


The fighters simply launch from the bays when the vessel is on the surface using powerful electromagnetic catapults. On the surface, each launch requires about thirty seconds to lock a fighter on the catapult and then accelerate the fighter along the launch rails.


Launching underwater requires more time, about forty-five seconds per launch. This is because the hangars have to be evacuated of air and the fighters have to be moved into the launch area while flooded. The submersible carrier does not have enough air to be wasted on launches and it is stored in tanks after the hangar has been flooded. To be retrieved, the fighters must land where the launch rails are located and then are dragged back into the landing bay / hangar.


In order to minimize delays, the R.E.E.F. completed their first two Trident class vessels with few modifications, only those required to support their own equipment. When it was decided to complete the other four vessels with the assistance of the New Navy, the idea of modifying the designs was more practical. It was decided to replace the cruise missile batteries with additional long range missile batteries.


There were a number of concerns with the cruise missile batteries and they were considered of limited effectiveness. While long range missiles only have a slightly smaller warhead and only have marginally less range, they are effective against aircraft while cruise missiles are not. As In addition, Southern Cross Manufacturing, the weapon company started by the R.E.E.F., does not actually produce cruise missiles. While the New Navy now provides cruise missiles for two R.E.E.F. submersible escort carriers that retain the launchers, initially stocks were extremely limited.


Even though it was not considered practical to make major modifications to the first two vessels, some minor modifications were considered practical. Most of these same modifications were also later applied to later vessels. One of these includes the fitting of different energy weapons than are mounted on the standard Trident class submersible carrier.


The fitting of the ion and laser cannons to the submersible had not been completed prior to having been abandoned although they were ready to be installed. It was decided to modify the mounts and instead all four were replaced by far more powerful particle beams. These are copies of the PB-20 particle beam cannon from the US-G14 Space Glitter Boy. Mounting these to later vessels was even easier, not requiring modifying the existing mounts. One of the few criticism of the particle beams compared to the original weaponry is that they have a limited payload and require drawing power from a capacitor instead of directly from the fusion reactors of the submarine.


As with the Manta Ray submersible fighters, a number of Semper Fi power armors were found in the underwater bunker. These were both for the facility itself and for the marines aboard the vessels preparing to be commissioned. In a similar manner to the fighters, these were examined and in the end it was decided to embark the Katana SAMAS power armor used by other R.E.E.F. units. While the Semper Fi power armor is more effective, there would be logistical issues. Similarly to the Ray submersible fighters, the Semper Fi power armors were given to the New Navy except for a handful of suits retained for evaluation purposes.


Model Type: REEF designation SSCR-1 (New Navy designation for Tridents is SSVN-22)

Class: Light Submersible Carrier.

Crew: 144 total; 14 officers, 18 chief petty officers, and 112 enlisted personnel (Has a high degree of automation.)

Troop Capacity: 56 total; 16 ADCAP Logan pilots and 40 marines (PA-03 Katana SAMAS Power Armors.)


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

Power Armor Compliment:

 

4

Aqua-Tech LEA-50 Deep Sea Power Armors.

 

40

REEF PA-03 Katana SAMAS Power Armors.

Fighter / Aircraft Compliment:

 

10

ADCAP Logan Veritech Fighter.


M.D.C. by Location:

 

[1] Sail mounted SPX-2S Rotating Active Phased Array Radar System (sail):

150.

 

533 mm (21 inch) Torpedo Tubes (6, 4 front sides, 2 rear sides):

150 each.

 

Long Range Vertical Launch Missile Batteries (4 in first two ships, 6 in others):

250 each.

 

Cruise Vertical Launch Missile Batteries (4, first and second ship in class only):

300 each.

 

Retractable PB-20S Heavy Particle Beam Gun Mounts (4, 2 forward / 2 aft of sail):

400 each.

 

Logan Fighter Launch Bays (2):

500 each.

 

Main Sail:

1,200.

 

[2] Bow Planes (2):

200 each.

 

[3] Pump Jet Propulsor (1):

500.

 

[4] Main Body:

4,200.


Notes:

[1] Destroying the SPX-2S rotating phased array radar panel will destroy the vessel’s main fire control systems against air target but the vessel has backup systems with a shorter range (Equal to robot vehicle sensors.) Note that the submarine does not need to surface in order to use the radar system but only the radar had to be brought above the surface.

[2] Destroying the submarine’s bow planes will reduce the submarine’s ability to change depths but will not eliminate it. It also makes it difficult for the submarine’s crew to control the submarine giving a penalty of -25% to all underwater piloting rolls.

[3] Destroying the submarine’s pump jet propulsor causes serious problems. The submarine will no longer be able to use forward momentum and the bow planes to keep the submarine level. It is recommended that ballast tanks are immediately blown so submarine comes to the surface.

[4] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body destroys the submarine’s structural integrity, causing it to sink. If the submarine is underwater, the entire crew will die unless protected by environmental armors that can withstand the pressure that the submarine is under. If on the surface, there are enough flotation devices and inflatable life rafts to accommodate everyone aboard.


Speed:

Water Surface: 40 knots (73.6 km/46 mph).

Underwater: 40 knots (73.6 km/46 mph).

Maximum Depth: 2.5 miles (4,000 meters.)

Range: Effectively unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). The vessel carries twelve (12) months of supplies on board.


Statistical Data:

Height:  50 feet (15.2 meters) not including periscopes and antenna.

Width:   65 feet (19.8 meters).

Length:  560 feet (170.7 meters).

Displacement: 17,200 tons surfaced and 19,400 tons submerged.

Cargo: Submarine is very cramped, 60 tons (54.4 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Boat’s officers have a bit more space for personal items although still extremely cramped. Most of the boat’s spaces are taken up by embarked craft, extra torpedoes, weapons, and engines.

Power System: Nuclear fusion; average energy life of 20 years. Normally refuels every 10 years.

Black Market Cost: Not for sale; many nations and organizations would pay hundreds of millions to billions of credits for a new and undamaged Trident or Narwhal class submersible escort carrier. Cost does not include embarked craft and power armors.


Weapon Systems

  1. Four (4) Retractable PB-20S Heavy Particle Beam Gun Mounts: Cannons are on the top of the submarine with two forward of the main sail and two aft of the submarines sail. The weapons are mounted in the same locations and replace both the Ion Cannons and the laser cannons on the trident class submersible carriers. The particle beams are effective the same as are mounted on the USA-G14 Space Glitter Boy. The weapon is modified to have has a higher payload and recharge rate than the original weapon carried by the power armor. Weapons are used underwater against submarines and torpedoes and above the water against aircraft, missiles, and other targets. The cannon mount can rotate 270 and the barrel can elevate up to 85 degrees in order to engage airborne targets. Normally controlled by a gunner inside of mount but can also be controlled by crew on the bridge of the sub in case of casualties.

    Maximum Effective Range: On the Surface: 11,000 feet (about 2 miles/3.2 km). Under Water: 5,500 feet (about 1 mile /1.6 km).

    Mega Damage: Each cannon inflicts 4D6x10 per blast.

    Rate of Fire: Each cannon can be fired equal to combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 5 or 6).

    Payload: 60 shots in each capacitor, recharges at the rate of one shot every 30 seconds for each particle beam.

  2. 2 Six (6) 533 mm Heavy Torpedo Tubes: On each side of the submarine forward of the main sail but behind the bow are two torpedo tubes and there is a single tube on each side of the hull on either side of the stern of the submarine. Tubes are 21 inches (533 mm) wide and torpedoes can be used against both surface ships and submarines. For warheads, heavy torpedoes should be treated as having long range missile warheads. Along with standard torpedoes, the launcher can also theoretically fire missiles (long or cruise) in special canisters and rocket boosted ASW torpedoes. As far as is known, missiles have never been carried aboard the Trident class in this manner. Submarine carries seventy-two reloads for torpedoes (in addition to six torpedoes in the tubes) and can theoretically carry up to one hundred and forty-four mines in place of torpedoes.

    Maximum Effective Range: 40 miles (34.8 nautical miles / 64 km) for torpedoes.

    Mega-Damage: By heavy torpedo warhead type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details), can theoretically fire missiles (long range or cruise missiles) in special canisters as well (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire heavy torpedoes one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), or four (4), or six (6) heavy torpedoes. Reloading takes one full melee round.

    Payload: Six (6) heavy torpedoes total [Has seventy-two (72) additional heavy torpedoes for reloads.]

  3. Four (4) Cruise Vertical Launch Missile Batteries (First Two of Class Only): The first two ships of the Narwhal class carry cruise missile launchers but on later ship classes they have been replaced with additional long range missile launchers. These are mounted with two on either side of the sail and are located outside of the main pressure hull. With a limited payload, they are considered extremely powerful but of limited effectiveness with long range missiles being more flexible and inflicting almost comparable damage. Cruise missiles have minuses to hit small targets although the system can engage more than one target simultaneously. Missiles can be fired while the submarine is underwater with a maximum depth of around 150 feet (45.7 meters.)

    Maximum Effective Range: As per cruise missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Mega-Damage: As per cruise missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire cruise missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), or four (4) cruise missiles per melee round and can be fired at multiple target at the same time.

    Payload: First and second ships of class only: Two (2) cruise missiles per launcher for eight (8) cruise missiles total. Submarine does not carry any additional cruise missiles for reloads.

  4. Four (4) or Six (6) Long-Range Missile Batteries: The first two ships of the class carry four of these launchers but later ships of the class carry two additional long range missile launchers using the space for the four cruise missile launchers and payload. As with the cruise missile batteries, the long range missile batteries are located outside of the pressure hull. While developed mainly to engage surface and land targets, the system is also effective at engaging aircraft. Anti-Submarine rocket launched torpedoes also can be fired from the launchers (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.) Designed to be able to engage one than one target at the same time. Long range missile batteries can be used on the surface or fired while the submarine is underwater with a maximum depth of around 150 feet (45.7 meters.)

    Maximum Effective Range: As per long range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Mega-Damage: As per long range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire long range missiles one at a time or volleys of two (2), four (4), or eight (8) long range missiles per launcher per melee round. Maximum total between launchers is thirty-two (32) or forty-eight (48) long range missiles per melee round and can be fired at multiple target at the same time.

    Payload: For first and second ships of class: Thirty-two (32) long range missiles per launcher for a total of one hundred and twenty-eight (128) long range missiles. For third and later ships of the class: Thirty-two (32) long range missiles per launcher for a total of one hundred and ninety-two (192) long range missiles.

  5. Eight (8) Advanced Decoy Drones: The submarine carries eight advance decoys drones. They are a small automated vehicles that creates a false sonar image designed to mimic the submarine’s sonar signature. It has a small propulsion system that can simulate movement [has a maximum speed of 23.0 mph (20 knots / 37.0 kph)] and maneuvers. In addition to be able to be used to decoy torpedoes, they can sometimes be used to trick another vessel while the submarine moves into position. If decoys are not destroyed, they can usually be recovered and repaired if they can be retrieved. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not be effective against Phase World / Three Galaxies guidance and targeting systems due to technological differences.

    M.D.C.: 20.

    Range: Not applicable. Decoys do however have a duration of 30 minutes (120 melee rounds) once launched.

    Effects: The decoy has an 80% chance of fooling ordinary non military sonars and non smart guided torpedoes, the decoy has a 50% chance of fooling military level sonars (like those of the Coalition) and non “smart” torpedoes, and the decoy has a 25% chance of fooling advanced military sonars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and “smart” torpedoes.

    Rate of Fire: Boat can launch one decoy drone per melee round.

    Payload: Eight (8) decoy drones.

  6. Noisemakers: The submarine carries noisemakers in order to decoy torpedoes. They are most effective against normal torpedoes and less effective against “smart” torpedoes. Considered in many ways to be the last line of defense against incoming torpedoes and similar systems are carried on most submarines. The noisemakers are launched from the middle of the submarine.

    Effects: 50% of decoying normal torpedoes and 20% of decoying smart torpedoes.

    Rate of Fire: Two (2) noisemakers at a time (Can be reloaded in one melee round).

    Payload: Twenty (20) noisemakers.

Special Systems:

The submersible escort carrier has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following special features:



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Image drawn and copyrighted by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune) & Mischa (E-Mail Mischa). Click on line drawing for a better view.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 1998 to 2001, & 2019, Kitsune. All rights reserved.



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