Northern Gun PC-200 “Tornado” Catamaran Light Patrol Vessel:


Northern Gun is a relatively new company as far as building patrol craft designs. In some ways, it was forced on them. Much of their raw materials is shipped across the Great Lakes and is vulnerable to attack and they need some way to protect their assets. Like most companies, the leadership sought ways of making a profit from this. Other than these vessels, Northern Gun only produces tugboat designs. The barges they use extensively are not built by the company itself but instead are old Pre-Rifts relics or built by other companies.


Due to costing more than many competing designs, the Northern Gun water craft designs do not sell as well as many of them although the Northern Gun vessels are generally of a higher quality than many of the competing designs. With the destruction of Iron Heart Armament, sales of these vessels have greatly increased although they are still considered a niche market with the company focused more in other areas. Unlike Iron Heart Industries, Northern Gun has kept their designs relatively small so as to not antagonize the Coalition. The Coalition seems mostly concerned with larger vessels


Before the coming of the Rifts, Catamaran designs had become quite popular on the Great Lakes. For both lower speed and higher speed applications, the Catamaran has several advantages. Far less expensive to operate than Hydro-Foils or Hovercraft, high speed catamaran ferries could be seen racing across the lakes. One of the features that Northern Gun needed was a high speed design which could respond quickly to emergencies while shallow drafted. As such, a catamaran design was considered the best option. Large deck space was also considered a useful feature for the design.


These vessels are not quite as large as the “Storm” class patrol boats, only displacing about one hundred tons, but are designed in a similar configuration. They are built from high strength alloys and composites although only comparatively lightly armored. They are designed for both patrol and fast strike roles. As such, they are quite fast. Their top speed is in excess of sixty knots. Thrust is provided by a pair of powerful water jets with a fusion reactor providing power. Virtually all large Northern Gun designs use fusion plants instead of conventional power plants.


Standard crew for these boats is eight although they require a crew of at least six to operate effectively. The vessels have space for a total of sixteen. Supplies carries aboard is sharply reduced compared to the Storm with only about two weeks carried compared to two months for the larger vessel. The boats will commonly carry about four troops in power armor although in almost as many cases the ship will carry only two or even none. Northern Gun does try to offer package deals with the boat where the customer gets a discount for purchasing Northern Gun flying power armors with the vessel. Of course some customers purchase power armors from other sources. Discounts for small arms and body armors are often as well. The boat has several energy clip chargers for the crew's weaponry. In addition to the power armor, a small rigid inflatable boat is carried on the stern of the vessel.


The boat has a relatively long range radar, around one hundred miles against relatively high altitude air targets, and capable of tracking a sizeable number of targets. At closer ranges, it is also quite capable against sea skimming targets. There is a set of short range sonar modules in each of the bows of the vessel. The boat can mount a towed array sonar system although it replaces the embarked small craft. Otherwise, the sensor systems are quite similar to those mounted in robot vehicles.


The NG-H155 Rail Gun Howitzer is quite powerful and fires a 15.5 mm round. It was first developed for the NG-V7 Hunter Mobile Gun. Being able to angle up to ninety degrees, its primary purpose is for anti-aircraft roles but is useful against surface targets as well. This is mounted in the bow of the vessel just ahead of the pilot house. Backing this up is a lighter rail gun mount above the pilot house. This is one of the standard Northern Gun models, the NG-202. Like the NG-202 mounted on the Samson power armor, it is modified for a greater rate of fire. There is some consideration given to replacing it with an energy weapon mount due to ammunition concerns.


Even with the rail gun mounts, the main weaponry of the boat are missiles. The boat might rush in while firing medium range missiles at an enemy vessel. The single launcher has the capacity for sixteen medium range missiles. The boat has a reloading system so it can volley fire its missiles rapidly. Volleys of eight missiles can be fired which empties the entire missile magazine in a pair of shots. Since the vessel does not have torpedo tubes, the only potential anti-submarine weapon are rocket boosted torpedoes carried instead of standard medium range missiles. As such, they are rarely carried unless needed.


Coupled with the medium range missile launcher is a short range missile battery of similar design. This launcher has a total of twelve short range missiles ready to fire and launcher has an automatic reloading system. A total of twenty-four short range missiles are carried. They are often used as the vessel's main defense against incoming missiles. As such, high speed anti-aircraft missiles which sacrifice payload for speed are most often carried.


Model Type: PC-200 Class Catamaran Light Patrol Boat
Vehicle Type: Ocean & Waterway, Light Patrol Boat
Crew: 8; 1 Officers, 1 Petty Officers, and 6 Enlisted (Has a high degree of automation) - Can be operated effective by 6 (reduce performance by -10% to all skill rolls [piloting, sensors, etc] and have -1 to strike and -2 to dodge penalties with a crew less than 6.)
Troops: 4 (Can embark maximum of 16 between crew and passengers) - sometimes only two are embarked.


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

4Flying Power Armors (2 Common)


M.D.C. by Location:

Howitzer Rail Gun Turret (Bow):160
[1] Howitzer Rail Gun Barrel (in Turret):80
[1] NG-202 Light Rail Gun Mounts (1, Superstructure):75
NG-MRM-8 Medium Range Missile Launchers (1, After Deck):120
NG-SRM-12 Short Range Missile Launchers (1, After Deck)100
[1] Spotlight (4):20 each
Bridge / Pilot House:225
[2] Radar System (Superstructure):120
[3] Catamaran Hulls (2)200 each
[4] Main Body:525


Notes:
[1] 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.
[2] Missiles mount targeting systems function but system can no longer track and target multiple incoming missiles simultaneously.
[3] Destruction of a Catamaran Hull will cause the vessel to sink although must be targeted underwater or damage is to main body.
[4] Destroying the main body will cause the vessel to collapse and lose structural integrity. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the vessel.


Speed:
Surface: 76.0 mph (66 knots/ 122.3 kph)
Range: Effectively Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Vessel carries about two weeks of supplies on board.


Statistical Data:
Length: 78.75 feet (24.00 meters)
Draft: 3.25 feet (0.99 meters)
Width: 34.50 feet (10.52 meters)
Displacement: 88.50 tons standard and 102.4 tons fully loaded.
Cargo: Can carry 2 tons (1.81 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies. Each crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Vessel's officers have more space for personal items. Most of the vessel's spaces are taken up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons, and engines.
Power System: Nuclear Reactor, average life span is 20 years
Black Market Cost: 100 million credits. Towed Array sonar system costs an additional 12 million credits.


Weapon Systems

  1. Rapid Fire Howitzer Rail Gun (1): Mounted on the bow of the vessel and although an anti-aircraft design, it is also a very effective combat weapon against other boats. The cannon is controlled by the gunner. It is identical to the NG-H155, with the exception of a slightly different turret and external barrel, from the NG-V7 Hunter Mobile Gun. The turret can angle 90 degrees up and 30 degrees down and has 360 degree rotation.
    Maximum Effective Range: 6,000 feet (1,828 meters).
    Mega Damage: Short Burst of 40 rounds: 1D6x10. Long Burst of 80 rounds: 2D6x10.
    Rate of Fire:Equal to the pilots combined hand to hand of gunner (usually 5 or 6).
    Payload: Carries 8000 (200 short burst or 100 long bursts) rounds in a drum magazine. The vessel does not normally carry additional magazines. Reloading is done inside the vehicle and takes two melee rounds (30 seconds) for two crewmen or passengers and six melees (90 seconds) if only one person is involved or the people aren't trained in the reload procedure.
  2. NG-202 Light Rail Gun Mount (1): This mount is above the pilot house / bridge on the superstructure.. The weapon is located in the cupola (mini-turret) over the main turret, and has a 360-degree rotation of fire and can elevate 90 degrees so the rail gun can engage aerial targets. Like the cannon on the Samson Power Armor, this cannon has been modified for a higher rate of fire.
    Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet ( 1,200 meters)
    Mega-Damage: A burst is 60 rounds and inflicts 1D6x10 M.D. One round does 1D4 M.D.
    Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-6) of the gunner.
    Payload: 12,000 round drum, that's 200 bursts! The vessel does not normally carry additional magazines due to space requirements. Reloading the drum takes 15 minutes if done by hand, 5 minutes if done with robots and special equipment.
  3. NG-MRM-8 Medium-Range Missile Launchers (1): This mount is mounted together with the short range missile launcher. Luncher is controlled from the bridge / pilot house by a weapon's officer. They are usually outfitted with High-Explosive, Fragmentary or Plasma missiles. Rocket boosted torpedoes are carried only when needed and usually between four and eight missiles are caried in such cases (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.) The launcher can rotate up or down 180 degrees, allowing it to engage air and ground targets. This vessel uses an automatic loading system and additional missiles for reloads.
    Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
    Mega-Damage: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (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.
    Payload: Eight (8) in launcher ready to fire. The vessel has one set of reloads (8 medium range missiles for a total of 16 medium range missiles) for the launchers which takes one melee to reload launchers. When needed, four (4) to eight (8) are rocket boosted torpedoes.
  4. NG-SRM-12 Short-Range Missile Launcher (1): This tube style launcher is mounted with the medium range missile launcher. Launcher has a capacity for twelve short range missiles. Launchers is controlled from the bridge / pilot house by a weapon's officer. They are usually outfitted with High-Explosive, Fragmentary or Plasma missiles. High speed SAM style missiles are often fired. The launcher can rotate up or down 180 degrees, allowing it to engage air and ground targets. This vessel uses an automatic loading system and additional missiles for reloads.
    Maximum Effective Range: Varies by short range missile type (Go to revised bomb and missile tables for details - SAM style missiles normally.)
    Mega-Damage: Varies by short range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details - SAM style missiles normally.)
    Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time, or in volleys of two (2), four (4), six (6), or twelve (12) missiles.
    Payload: Twelve (12) in launcher ready to fire. The boat has one set of reloads (12 short range missiles for a total of 24 short range missiles) for the launchers which takes one melee to reload launchers.


Special Systems:
The vessel has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following special features:



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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2010, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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