British Royal Navy Daring class Destroyer (Type 45 - Batch One):


At the end of the Twentieth Century the British Royal Navy urgently needed a replacement for their aging Type 42 air defense destroyers, which were considered undersized, underpowered, under armed, and more than at the end of their useful service life. Previously, Great Britain had sought to develop a new class of air defense guided missile destroyers in collaboration with seven other NATO nations under the NFR-90 project. Due to varying requirements of the nations involved, the program collapsed.


Enter the Horizon project. Conceived as a powerful air defense destroyer featuring the latest technology, Horizon would be built in cooperation between Italy, France, and Great Britain, because all needed a ship design with much the same characteristics. Cost would go down, there would be a large commonality of parts, it would promote better relations between the three nations, and it would be delivered on time. It sounded too good to be true, and of course it was.


The Horizon project entered history as a classic example of why not to cooperate with the French. Numerous delays plagued the project. In addition, the French insisted on having far much more influence on the design than their involvement merited. While the French Navy only required four vessels, the Royal Navy required twelve. Finally, the ship would have ultimately have few of the characteristics that the Royal Navy wanted it to have. Probably the most significant was that while the Royal Navy wanted their destroyers able to provide long range coverage, the French and Italian navies were both looking to only relatively short range coverage.


Early in 1999, the British government withdrew from the Horizon project and left the Italians and French to muddle on with their own for several more years. Of course, this still left the Royal Navy in need of an air defense destroyer to replacing the aging Type 42 air defense destroyers. One of the Type 42 destroyers was already preparing to decommission and others were soon to follow.


In a remarkable crash program, in which the Royal Navy gave out basic requirements and defense companies were totally free to enter their own designs, a design was decided upon. Less than eighteen months later, BAE systems had designed and submitted the Type 45 destroyer. Halfway through 2000 the British Ministry of Defense ordered the first batch of three ships out of a total of twelve. The name chosen for the new class was to be the “Daring” class.


Large ships, the Daring class might be considered light cruisers by their size. From the beginning, effort was made to reduce the radar cross signature of these destroyer. In addition, they had plenty of space available for upgrades, and were considered very stable and reliable ships. Their propulsion was the then revolutionary Integrated Electrical Propulsion, in which two dedicated gas turbines supplied electrical power to the entire ship, including two huge (100 ton) electrical induction engines which drove the ships propellers.


Radar systems were the Type 1045 Sampson active phased array radar which was used for tracking and guidance, and the long range Marconi/Signaal S1850M phased array surface/air search radar. These were integrated with the weapons in the PAAMS (Principle Anti Air Missile System), and provided the ships with more raw tracking power than the United States AEGIS system. Although these destroyed did not mount a towed array sonar, they did mount the extremely effective Ferranti/Thomson Sintra Type 2050 sonar under the bow.


Unfortunately due to budgetary constraints the weapons fit was considered very marginal, at least on the first batch of ships. Only armed with a Vickers 4.5 inch gun, an inefficient forty-eight cell Sylver A-50 vertical launch system, two manually aimed 30 mm cannons, four 324 mm torpedo tubes, and two Phalanx 20 mm CIWS mounts, the first ships were very under armed for their size. Later batches did receive the larger Mk 41 vertical launch system, additional CIWS mounts, and powerful Storm Shadow surface to surface missiles for anti-ship use. All ships had a large hangar which could house the Merlin ASW helicopter.


While the Royal Navy had intended for the first batch to be significantly upgraded, this never happened. By the time that sufficient money was available, there had been a revolution in high strength materials and new weapon systems which required the rebuilding or replacing of much of the military hardware around the world. The British decided that the extra money would be better spend on a extra few of the FSC trimaran frigates. Ultimately several of these extra ships became the Hood class destroyers.


To raise some extra money, it was decided in the early Twenty-Thirties to sell the first batch of ships. A willing buyer was quickly found in the Canadian Navy. Several air defense warships designs had been cancelled or died with the Canadian Navy in desperate need for such a warships. The Iroquois class destroyers had been retired over a decade earlier and they had been considered well and truly obsolete even then. While slightly newer, the Halifax class frigates were also in desperate need of replacement as well.


Upon transfer of the three Batch One destroyers to the Canadian Navy, these Type 45 destroyers did receive some significant upgrades. This included the rebuilding the ships using the new composite and alloy materials, allowing them to withstand far greater damage. Additional weaponry was fitted to the destroyers at the same time, some of it coming from retired Iroquois class destroyers.


With regard to weaponry, was the addition of sixteen vertical launch cells amidships, between the masts. As designed, there was space set aside for these launchers. The actual launchers came from retired Iroquois class destroyers. Each missile cell was larger and more flexible than those in the Sylver vertical launch system, giving the ships some desperately needed diversity in their launch systems. The installment of the Mk 41 vertical launch system did mean that most of the command and control facilities on the ships had to be removed, but the Canadian navy really only needed parts of those facilities anyway.


Between the raised forward Sylver vertical launch system and the bridge the ships received two quad-tube Mk 141 launchers for the RGM-84 Harpoon missile. Later these, like the vertical launch systems, were modified to fire a larger variety of missiles. Unfortunately the Mk 15 Phalanx 20 mm CIWS was not upgraded, due to a lack of funding. A number of leaders in the Navy wanted to replace the gun system with the SeaRAM system that fired the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). Fortunately for the Canadian Navy, it was an oversight which they were never forced to regret. The old Vickers / BAE systems 4.5 inch gun was retained, although it was upgraded to fire more rapidly.


While the original gas turbine engines were not replaced at this time, in later service the gas turbines were replaced by fusion turbines. Still, it was not until many of the navies of the world had already converted their warships over to fusion power. Even though the fusion turbines could produce far greater power than the original gas turbines, it was decided to put a limiter in so that the rest would not be over stressed. Otherwise, the entire propulsion system would require replacement and reinforcement.


It was decided that these destroyers would retain their original names although there was quite a bit of protest from some of the more nationally minded people in Canada. Until the Great Cataclysm, these destroyers served the Canadian Navy with distinctions. There was rumor of the possible retirement but they remained on active duty until that fateful day.


In the huge ley line storms that followed, both HMCS Daring and HMCS Diamond were destroyed. However, somehow HMCS Dauntless survived. Through a freak accident, such things appeared to be incredibly common during the Great Cataclysm, she was frozen solid along with her entire. The whole destroyed ended up being encased in a huge iceberg but somehow not crushed.


After many years, the iceberg has almost melted away, and only a small layer of ice of about a meter thick now covers the ship. Still encase however, she drifts near the coast of Greenland. There she awaits discovery, by those fortunate enough to find her. All her weapons are fully loaded, and once cleared of the ice along with the frozen bodies of her old crew, she should be ready to set sail once again. Only some minor repairs would be necessary to get her operational once again.


Author Note: With respect to time line, these designs may or may not reflect our modern time line. The time line of these writeups diverged from our time line starting around 1999. Consider the universe that these designs are created for to be an alternate universe not bound by ours.


Model Type: Type 45 Daring Class - Batch One.

Class: Air Defense Missile Destroyer.

Crew: 180 personnel; 18 officers, 18 chief petty officers, and 144 enlisted.

Troops: 8 Merlin crew members and berthing for 55 marines.


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

Aircraft Compliment:

 

1

Helicopters or other VTOL Aircraft (Commonly Westland Merlin HM 1 helicopter - ASW Model.)


M.D.C. by Location:

 

Royal Armament 4.5 inch (114 mm) / 55 Barrel (1, gun mount):

60.

 

Royal Armament 4.5 inch (114 mm) /55 Mk 8 Naval Gun Mount (1, forward):

180.

 

Mk 15 20 mm Phalanx Gun CIWS (2, superstructure):

100 each.

 

30mm Mark 44 Bushmaster II Auto Cannon Mounts (2, superstructure):

50 each.

 

Sylver A-50 48 cell Vertical Launch System (1, forward):

280.

 

Mk 41 Tactical Length 16 Cell Vertical Launch System (1, amidships):

160.

 

Mk 141 Missile Canisters (8 total, behind Sylver A-50 launcher):

100 each.

 

Dual 12.75 inch (324 mm) Cray Marine Medium Torpedo Tubes (2, sides):

35 each.

 

[1] Type 1045 Sampson Active Phased Array Radar System (superstructure):

250.

 

[1] Marconi/Signaal S1850M Air/Surf. Search Radar (superstructure):

180.

 

[2] Sea Gnat Chaff / Decoy Launchers (4, superstructure):

10 each.

 

Hangar (aft):

200.

 

VTOL Pad (aft):

150.

 

Bridge:

300.

 

Outer Hull (per 40 foot / 12.2 meter area):

50.

 

[3] Main Body:

1,200

Notes:

[1] Destroying both the Type 1045 Sampson rotating active phased array radar system and the S1850M air / surface search radar system will destroy the ship’s main long range fire control and tracking systems but the vessel has backup systems with a shorter range (Equal to robot vehicle sensors.)

[2] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “called shot,” but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body destroys the ship’s structural integrity, causing it to sink. There are enough flotation devices and inflatable life rafts to accommodate everyone aboard.


Speed:

On Water: 33.9 mph (29.5 knots / 54.6 kph).

Range: As Built: 9,206 miles (8,000 nautical miles / 14,766 km) at 18 knots (20.7 mph/ 33.3 kph).

As Refitted (with Fusion Turbines): Effective unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Ship carries a maximum of six (6) months of supplies on board.


Statistical Data:

Draft:    16 feet (4.8 meters).

Width:   66.7 feet (20 meters).

Length:  474.3 feet (144.3 meters) waterline and 503.3 feet (151 meters).

Displacement: 5,800 tons standard and 7,200 tons fully loaded.

Cargo: Can carry 400 tons (369.9 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies. Each enlisted crew member had a small locker for personal items and uniforms, and junior ratings were housed in six berth cabins, with senior ratings sharing two berth cabins. Ship’s officers had far more space for personal items, and lived in individual cabins. Most of the ship’s spaces are taken up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons, and engines.
Power System:

As Built: Two WR21 Rolls Royce Gas Turbine Generator sets and two Rolls Royce electric induction motors. The ship has a total of 40MW of power for the motors (54,000 shp) and the ship has two shafts.

As Refitted: Two nuclear fusion turbine reactors with an average life span of 20 years.

Black Market Price: Not for sale but if found on the black market would probably cost 150 million or more credits. Cost does not include embarked craft and power armors.


Weapon Systems:

  1. One (1) Royal Armament 4.5 inch (114 mm) / 55 Mk 8 Mod 2 Naval Gun: Based upon a naval gun from the twentieth century, this design has changed little, except for a gun shield designed to reduce the weapon’s radar cross signature and improved reliability and firepower. It is fully automated, and is usually aimed by radar. The gun can be used against other ships, against ground targets, and against aircraft. The use of rocket assisted projectiles is also possible. The gun mount can rotate 300 and has a 55 arc of fire.

    Maximum Effective Range: 17.4 miles (15.1 nautical miles / 28 km) for standard projectiles and (20.5 nautical miles / 38 km) for rocket assisted projectiles.

    Mega-Damage: Standard Projectiles: 2D6x10 to a blast radius of 25 feet (7.7 meters) for High Explosive, 3D6x10 to a blast radius of 6 feet (2 meters) for High Explosive Armor Piercing, and 4D6x10 to a blast radius of 25 feet (7.7 meters) for Plasma. Rocket Assisted Projectiles: 2D4x10 to a blast radius of 20 feet (6.1 meters) for High Explosive, 2D6x10 to a blast radius of 4 feet (1.2 meters) for High Explosive Armor Piercing, and 3D6x10 to a blast radius of 20 feet (6.1 meters) for Plasma. Use the statistics for 105 mm artillery warheads (Go to Battlefield Artillery for Rifts for more information - standard or rocket assisted as appropriate).

    Rate of Fire: Up to six (6) single shots per melee round.

    Payload: 800 rounds total.

  2. Two (2) 30mm Mk 44 Bushmaster II Auto Cannon Mounts: Two 30 mm cannons were mounted on the sides of the superstructure, one on each side. These weapons had a good range and rate of fire, but lacked the punch to do damage to large targets. Since they were manually aimed, they were little good against missiles, and the crew often joked that they were only good for “Shooting life boats and survivors in the water.” Primarily however, they are for defense against small boats and similar threats. Each gun can rotate 270 degrees and has a 90 degree arc of fire.

    Maximum Effective Range: 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).

    Mega-Damage: 2D6 per round, and 1D6x10 for a burst of 30 rounds.

    Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).

    Payload: 600 rounds (20 bursts) each. Ship carries an additional 12,000 rounds of ammunition in magazines. Auto cannons requires 3 minutes (12 melees) to reload by properly trained personnel (Double for untrained crews.)

  3. Two (2) General Dynamics / Raytheon Mk 15 Phalanx Block II 20 mm Auto Cannons: Mounted on each side of the superstructure, these weapon are simply the standard six barrel Phalanx system that is using Ramjet rounds instead of standard. The weapon systems are still quite effective at destroying incoming missiles and are fully automated. The weapons can be used on surface targets as well as against missiles and aircraft. Each auto cannon can fire on automatic at up to six targets per melee (Has +3 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft).

    Maximum Effective Range: 5,000 feet (1,524 meters).

    Mega-Damage: 2D6x10 for a burst of 60 round (2D4 for each round but gun always fires in bursts).

    Rate of Fire: Six (6) bursts per melee for each mount (Has +3 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft).

    Payload: 600 rounds (10 bursts) each. Ship carries an additional 12,000 rounds of ammunition in magazines. Auto Cannon requires 2 minutes (8 melees) to reload by properly trained personnel (Double for untrained crews.)

  4. 4 One (1) Sylver A-50 48 Cell Vertical Launch System: A French design, this launcher is mounted in the raised portion of the deck in front of the bridge. Because the launcher was a relatively inefficient for a launcher of its size, it could not fire the diversity of missiles that the American Mk 41 launcher was capable of. As such, only a single long range missile or a pair of medium range missile could be fitted per cell. Originally designed to fire the VL MICA, Crotale VT-1, Aster 15, and Aster 30 missiles. Anti-Submarine rocket launched torpedoes also can be fired from the launcher (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)

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

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

    Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), or eight (8) missiles per melee round and can be fired at multiple targets at the same time.

    Payload: Forty-eight (48) missiles cells in forward VLS launcher (possible total of 48 long range missiles). One (1) long range missile or two (2) medium range missiles may be carried per missile cell. Normal missile compliment is thirty-two (32) long range missiles and thirty-two (32) medium range missiles. Ship carries no reloads.

  5. One (1) Mk 41 Tactical Length 16 Cell Vertical Launch System: Mounted during a later upgrade and was located amidships, between the masts. An American design which was much more flexible than the French Sylver A-50 launcher, the slightly larger cells allowed for two long range missiles or four medium range missiles to be loaded into one cell. It also provided a better rate of fire. The tactical length version could not carry cruise missiles and used almost exclusively to house surface to air missiles. From the beginning, the launchers have been found to be very flexible and adaptable and the launcher can carry two long range missiles or four medium range missiles per cell. Anti-Submarine rocket launched torpedoes also can be fired from the launcher (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)

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

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

    Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volley of two (2), four (4), or eight (8) missiles for launcher per melee and can be fired at multiple targets at the same time.

    Payload: Sixteen (16) missiles cells in VLS launcher (possible total of 32 long range missiles.) Two (2) long range missiles or four (4) medium range missiles may be carried per missile cell.

  6. Eight (8) Mk 141 Long Range Missile Canister Launchers: These launchers are special canisters mounted behind the Sylver A-50 vertical launch system. They mount on the deck of the vessel and are effectively bolted on. While the launchers are reusable, they are still inexpensive and are easily jettisoned if damaged. Originally designed for the RGM-84 Harpoon missile but adapted for a larger variety of ordnance. While any long range missile type can be carried, usually special surface skimming missiles will be carried in launchers and are used against surface targets only.

    Maximum Effective Range: As per long range missile type (Surface skimming missiles have 25% less range than normal long range missiles, 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 in volleys of two (2), four (4), or eight (8) long range missiles with all launchers operating together.

    Payload: One (1) long range missile each launcher for a grand total of eight (8) long range missiles (Has no missiles in storage for reloads.)

  7. Two (2) Dual 12.75 inch (324 mm) Cray Marine Medium Torpedo Tubes: There is one twin launcher on each side of the ship. Each twin torpedo launcher has two torpedo tubes and tubes are 12.75 in (324 mm) wide. Torpedoes are normally used against submarines but can be targeted against surface targets as well. Interceptor torpedoes are also available for launchers / tubes to use against incoming torpedoes. Ship carries 40 reloads for torpedoes. For the most part torpedo warheads are equal to medium range missile warheads.

    Maximum Effective Range: 20 miles (17.4 nautical miles / 32 km) for standard torpedoes.

    Mega-Damage: By medium torpedo warhead type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire medium torpedoes one at a time or in volleys of two (2) medium torpedoes per side. Reloading tubes requires two (2) full melee rounds.

    Payload: Two (2) medium torpedoes each launcher for a grand total of four (4) medium torpedoes. Has an additional forty (40) medium torpedoes for reloads.

  8. Four (4) Sea Gnat Chaff / Decoy Launcher: Located on the superstructure of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. All four launchers must be operated or effects will be reduced. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not be effective against Phase World / Three Galaxies missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles) and reduce effects of launchers by 10% per launcher not used (Add +10% to rolls per launcher not used.) Only useful against missiles, not useful against torpedoes underwater.

    Range: Around Ship.

    Mega Damage: None.

    Effects:

    01-35

    Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud - Missiles are all destroyed.

     

    36-60

    Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (May lock onto another target.)

     

    61-00

    No effect, enemy missile or missile volley is still on target.

    Payload: Six (6) each for a total of twenty-four (24) canisters. Ninety-six (96) reload canisters are carried, reloading takes two melee rounds.

  9. Four (4) Graseby Type 188 / SLQ-25F Nixie Towed Decoys: Originally Graseby Type 188 but replaced by the SLQ-25F Nixie in Canadian service. Both systems have similar performance. Special decoy which are towed behind the ship. The Coalition has not seen a need for this system so has not equipped their ships with it. It generates a sound like the ships propellers in order to confuse incoming torpedoes. Only effective at speeds 28.8 mph (25 knots / 46.3 kph) and below. Otherwise, the noise of the ship’s systems and propellers is too powerful to mask. 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.: 5 each.

    Range: Not Applicable although decoy is deployed approximately 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) from the vessel.

    Effects: The decoy has a 65% chance of fooling ordinary non military sonars and non smart guided torpedoes, the decoy has a 35% chance of fooling military level sonars (like those of the Coalition) and non “smart” torpedoes, and the decoy has a 10% chance of fooling advanced military sonars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and “smart” torpedoes.

    Payload: One ready to use, with three more ready to deploy. It takes approximately three minutes (twelve melee rounds) to reel out another decoy.

Special Systems:.


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Writeup by Mischa (E-Mail Mischa) and revised by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2000, 2001, & 2018, Mischa & Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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