R.D.F. Sword class Ocean Strike Cruiser:


The old Burke class destroyers formed the backbone of the United States Navy before the coming of the Global Government after the crashing of the SDF-1. These were retained in service by the Global Government and were considered excellent vessels. Still, the vessels are powered by Gas Turbine engines and had limited endurance. Because of this it was decided that not further vessels of this class would be completed by the Global Government.


Still, a new medium combatant vessel design would be needed to compete with the ever growing number of ships in the EBSIS Navy. Of special concern were the Slava class cruisers which the EBSIS had refitted with new missiles and new high strength composites recovered from crashed Zentraedi vehicles. These ships were considered very dangerous and it was though at that time that the EBSIS would continue production after the surviving vessels were refitted.


As the same time as the decision was made not to continue production of the Burke class, a new design was finalized. It was based on the old United States Virginia class guided missile cruiser. The vessels had served through much of the Global War and had been refitted with new radar systems during the Global War. There were few vessels from other navies which had the size for such a role and the Ticonderoga class cruisers were too overweight to be considered as a basis for the new design. This new design was put into production as the Sword class with the non-American admirals overriding their America colleagues over naming the class after states. Originally, plans were for twelve of these vessels to be built but it was reduced to six vessels when no new Slava cruisers were built. Each of the class were named after a type of sword with the first vessel named the Broadsword with later vessels name the Rapier, Cutlass, Claymore, Katana, and Scimitar.


The weapon and sensor layout is similar to the larger Tiger class Battlecruiser which is based on the refitted USS Long Beach. The ship mounts a pair of five inch gun mounts with one forward and one aft. These are mainly used for defense against small craft although can be used against larger ships, against aircraft, and even for shore bombardment if needed. The Strike Cruiser only mounts two Mk 41 missile systems instead of four on the Tiger class Battlecruiser. One is forward of the main superstructure but aft of the forward gun mount while the other is aft of the helicopter pad and forward of the aft gun mount. Both defensive and anti-ship missiles are carried in the missile cells. Forward of the superstructure are also eight harpoon missile tubes which increase the number of long range missiles which can be carried. For close in defense, the Phalanx CIWS mounts are dispensed with and instead a pair of RAM short missile launchers are carried for close missile defense. For anti-submarine warfare, three torpedo tubes are carried on each side. The radar suite is virtually identical to that carried on the Tiger class with the SPY-1D phased array radar systems with Aegis computers for air defense along with a SPS-49 long range air search radar inside of an enclosed mast. The SPS-49 radar system has a longer range than the SPY-1 radar system and the enclosed mount reduces the radar cross signature. Unlike the Tiger class, the Sword class carries a towed array sonar to compliment the hull sonar.


For propulsion, the Sword class mounts two fusion reactors which provide far more power than the engines on the original Virginia class nuclear cruisers and the new vessels have a top speed of thirty six knots even though they have a wider beam than the older design. The design of the hull and the superstructure are designed to reduce the radar cross signature of the strike cruiser although most do not consider the Sword class to not be a true stealth vessel. The system on the vessel require less personnel due to additional automation. The strike cruiser were meant to be able to operate as flagships and carry flagship facilities although more limited than the Tiger class.


Model Type: CGN-2 class Guided Missile Strike Cruiser
Vehicle Type: Ocean, Guided Missile Cruiser
Crew: ship’s complement 348 (28 Officers and 320 Enlisted), and Flagship staff 30 (5 Officers, 25 Enlisted - when acting as a flagship)


Mecha and Vehicles:

2Sea-Sergeant


M.D.C. by Location:

Bridge:250
[1] Phase Array Radar Panels (4, Superstructure):200 each
[1] SPS-49 Search Radar Tower:250
Forward & Aft Mk 41 Missile Launchers (2, 64 cells each):300 each
Missile Canisters (8 total, forward of superstructure)60 each
GDC Mk 49 Rolling Airframe Missile Quad Launcher (2):50 each
Torpedo Launchers (2, sides):25 each
Five Inch (127 mm) cannon Turret (Forward Aft):150 each
Hanger (Aft):500
[2] Main Body:1,000


Notes:
[1] Destroying Phase Array radar panels will destroy the ships fire control systems but guns have backup systems and panels can compensate for each other.
[2] 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: 36 knots (41.5 mph/ 66.7 kph). Cruise is normally around 30 knots (34.5 mph/ 55.6 kph).
Maximum Effective Range: Effectively Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well).


Statistical Data:
Draft: 30.5 feet (9.3 meters) mean and 32.8 feet (10.0 meters) under sonar dome
Beam: 68.0 feet (20.7 meters)
Length: 586.6 feet (178.7 meters) overall
Displacement: 11,500 tons standard and 12,200 tons fully loaded
Cargo: Can carry 500 tons of extraneous cargo. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. ship’s officers have far more space for personal items. Most of the ship’s spaces are taken up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons, and engines.
Main Engine: 2 Fusion Reactors, average life span is 20 years
Market Price: Not available.


Weapon Systems:

  1. Five-inch Cannon Turrets (2): The ship mounts a five inch gun on the bow and stern of the vessel. The guns are very reliable although it fires at a relatively slow rate (20 rounds per minute). Standard cannon used on US warships. Uses a special ammo that uses the new Robotech heavier warheads. The guns can be used against other ships, against ground targets, and against aircraft. The five inch guns can also use rocket assisted projectiles for extended range.
    Maximum Effective Range: 12 miles (10.4 nautical miles/19.3 km) for standard projectiles, 20 miles (17.4 nautical miles/32.2 km) for rocket propelled rounds.
    Mega-Damage: Standard Projectiles: 1D6x10 to a blast radius of 25 ft (7.7 m) for High Explosive and 2D4x10 to a blast radius of 6 ft (2 m) for High Explosive Armor Piercing. Rocket projectiles: 1D4x10 to a blast radius of 20 ft (6.1 m) for High Explosive and 1D6x10 to a blast radius of 4 ft (1.2 m) for High Explosive Armor Piercing. Cannons can also use special purpose warheads, use the statistics for 105 mm artillery warheads (standard or rocket assisted as appropriate) for Rifts (Go to Battlefield Artillery for Rifts) and reducing damages by about half.
    Rate of Fire: Five shots per cannon per melee.
    Payload: 400 rounds per mount. Each mount normally carries usually carries 150 High Explosive, 150 High Explosive Armor Piercing, 50 Rocket Propelled High Explosive, and 50 Rocket Propelled High Explosive Armor Piercing. The ship will carry special rounds when employed in artillery roles.
  2. Two (2) MK 41 Strategic Vertical Launch Missile Launchers: Both launchers have 64 cells for the provision of missiles. Original missiles used in launcher include the Tomahawk cruise missile and the SM-2 missile. Tomahawks have been updated with heavier warheads but the SM-2 missiles that the launcher was originally designed for are much larger than the present long range missiles carried in the launcher but it was simpler to retain the same launcher and simply converted to launch standard long range and medium range missiles. Each cell can carry one Tomahawk, two long range missiles, or four medium range missile. Long range missiles are normally used against large targets and aircraft further out where the medium range missiles will normally be used to engage closer targets.
    Maximum Effective Range: As per missile type. See long or medium range missile types (See Robotech RPG book) or RDF Tomahawk missile for more details.
    Mega Damage: As per missile type. See long or medium range missile types (See Robotech RPG book) or Tomahawk missile for more details.
    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, 16, or 32 for both launchers per melee and can be fired at multiple target at the same time.
    Payload: 64 cells missiles in each launcher (possible total of 256 long range missiles). Two long range missiles or four medium range missiles may be carried per cell. The ship will often carry 8 cells (16 Cells / Tomahawk Missiles total) in each launcher with Tomahawks, 16 cells in each launcher filled with medium range missiles (32 Cells / 128 Medium Range Missiles total), and 40 cells in each launcher filled with long range missiles (80 Cells / 160 Long Range Missiles total.)
  3. Long Range Missile Launchers (8): These launchers are special canisters that are located directly in front of the superstructure of the ship. These canisters were copied from Old United States Harpoon canister launchers. While the launchers are reusable, they are still inexpensive and are easily jettisoned. 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 missile, See Robotech RPG book).
    Mega Damage: As per long range missile type (See Robotech RPG book).
    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, or eight (All launchers operates together.)
    Payload: One (1) missile each launcher for a grand total of eight (8) long range missiles (Has no missiles in storage for reloads).
  4. GDC Mk 49 Rolling Airframe Missile Quad Launchers (2): One is located on either side of the strike cruiser's superstructure. These are Pre Global War RAM missile launching system and has been modified to use 21 Short Range Missiles. This missile mounts main purpose is for inner anti-missile point defense and was originally designed to deal with cruise missiles . Short Range Missiles are usually a mixture of 50% Armor Piercing and 50% Plasma. Launchers can lock onto multiple targets at the same. The systems missile launchers can target up four targets and can fire a volley up to twice per melee.
    Maximum Effective Range: As per short range missile type (See Robotech RPG book).
    Mega Damage: As per short range missile type (See Robotech RPG book).
    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two or four and can be used up to twice per melee per mount
    Payload: 21 missiles each mount.
  5. Two (2) Torpedo Launchers: There is one launcher on each side of the ship. Each torpedo launcher has 3 torpedo tubes and tubes are 12.75 in (324 mm) wide. Torpedoes are normally used against submarines but can be targeted on surface targets as well. Ship carries 60 reloads for torpedoes. Treat warheads as medium range missile warheads.
    Maximum Effective Range: 20 miles (32 km)
    Mega Damage: Treat warheads as medium range missile warheads (See Robotech RPG book).
    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, or 3 per side, Reloading takes 1 full melee
    Payload: 3 torpedo each launcher for a grand total of 6 torpedo (Has 60 torpedoes for reloads).


Special Systems:


The ship has all systems standard on a Destroid plus the following special features:



[ EBSIS TM, Mega-Damage TM, Rifter TM, and S.D.C. TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

[ Macross®, Robotech®, Robotech: Sentinels®, SDF-1®, Southern Cross®, and Zentraedi® are registered trademarks owned and licensed by Harmony Gold USA, Inc. ]


Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2005, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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