Serpiente class Minesweeper (Caramelles Kingdom):

(Modified Human Alliance Cobra class Minesweeper)

The Human Alliance Chevalier class escort cruiser is one of the oldest ships still in active service with any major power. A number of modified vessels are still operated by the Human Alliance in the minesweeper role although they have all been retired from the cruiser role. Still, far more of these vessels have been sold to other governments and mercenary companies. In the beginning of the Caramelles Republic formed, a number of these escort cruisers formed a large portion of the Caramelles Navy. When the Republic was overthrown, the Kingdom inherited these ships. More of these escort were acquired and these cruisers formed the backbone of the fleet in many respects.

In a war against the Telramund System, it was found that the old cruisers were shown to be obsolete and the fleet had huge losses in the resulting battles. The resultant was that a development program for replacement vessels was started. Education in the kingdom is below the standards in the advanced nations in the Three Galaxies and much of the technology for the new classes was captured from the Telramund System. A new cruiser and destroyer class were developed which between them replaced the old Chevalier class escort cruiser. These were the Baroness Victoria class cruiser and Mistral class destroyer. Still, it took decades before all of the escort cruisers could be replaced in front line service.

It was decided that these old cruisers would not be retired completely but instead would be assigned to other roles. The Kingdom already operated a number of these escort cruisers modified into minesweeper configuration. It was decided that the remainder that were still in good shape would also be converted. In the minesweeper role, the comparatively slow speed is not as critical compared to ships in front line service. The Serpiente minesweeper design is very similar in basic design to the Human Alliance Cobra class Minesweeper although there are differences in the design. It is hoped that eventually these minesweepers will be able to be retired and replaced by a modified versions of the Mistral class destroyer. While the Kingdom has not sold any of these minesweepers, there is no reason why they might not sell the design to interested parties.

Operation of these minesweepers has resulted in an extensive support network for these old hulls. As well, a number of the escort cruisers are kept in a "graveyard" to provide for spare parts. Since the Human Alliance does not provide supplies to the Caramelles Kingdom, the kingdom cannot get support from this direction although the kingdom also takes advantage of smuggling to support these old vessels. Generally these minesweepers are in surprisingly good condition for their age.

Main weaponry of the minesweepers is the original pair of long range missile batteries but all other weaponry is stripped from the original design. The heavy particle beams and point defense mounts are stripped from the light cruisers where converted to the Serpiente class minesweeper design. Like most minesweepers, the Serpiente is designed to engage mines at the edge of long range missile range. To perform this role, a powerful short range sensor system is mounted which includes gravity, radar, tachyon, and neutrino sensors. A payload of over seven hundred long range missiles are carried for this role.

Because missiles will often leak through the long range defenses of a minesweeper, point defense is critical to allow these ships to survive. Sixteen combination point defense mounts make up the point defense batteries. Each has forty-eight mini-missiles ready to fire. Eight of these mounts have heavy electromagnetic point defense rail guns and eight contain triple point defense particle beams. While the Caramelles Kingdom lacks the technology for the production of gravity rail guns, the 40 mm point defense rail guns are an excellent weapon system. Slower in rate of fire than many rail gun mounts, the heavier projectile makes up for this rate of fire.

While most of the weapon system are refitted or replaced, most of the other systems of the escort cruiser design are retained. While most warships operated by the Caramelles Kingdom use smaller and more efficient anti-matter plants, the Serpiente class minesweeper is powered by a fusion plant. As already discussed, the original propulsion system is slow by modern standard but is not as critical for minesweeper classes as it is for front line warship designs. These ships are limited to two and a half light years per hour in faster than light space. Some consideration was given towards replacing the shield generators with a more powerful generator but the power grid would also require being rebuilt to support the more powerful shields so the original shields were retained. These are weak by modern standard, not much more powerful than destroyer class shields.

For assistance with minesweeping roles, these vessels can embark four medium fighters or six light fighters. In some cases these minesweepers will not embark any fighters although the fighters can be highly useful in support of the minesweepers. Usually four Torero medium starfighters are carried although in some cases other fighters are embarked. The Kingdom is not advanced in the development of fighters. The Kingdom is considering copying the ICE Hyena light fighter and six of these the light fighters might be carried in the future aboard minesweepers if the vessels have not been retired.

All officers in the Kingdom are nobles with nobles having the best education in the kingdom. The common citizens have a fairly basic education in comparison. As a result, the Kingdom operates these ships with over twice the officer compliment of a Human Alliance Cobra class minesweeper. Berthing areas are modified with space for each enlisted crew reduced to make room for the additional officers. No troops are embarked but there is space set aside for eight fighter pilots.

This starship design uses modified starship speed and weapon range rules. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World / Three Galaxies for more details.

Model Type: Serpiente class Minesweeper
Vehicle Type: Minesweeper
Crew: 270 (48 Officers, 212 enlisted)
Troops: 8 fighter pilots.

Vehicle, Robots, and Power Armors:
Fighter compliment can vary with 6 Light Starfighters replacing 4 Medium Starfighters.
Fighter Compliment:

Medium Starfighters (Commonly the Torero Medium Starfighters in Kingdom service)

M.D.C. By Location:

	Sensor Suite:	1,000
	Electromagnetic Rail Cannons/Mini-Missile Batteries (8):	200 each
	Triple Particle Beam Cannons/Mini-Missile Batteries (8):	200 each
	Long Range Missile Batteries (2):	400 each
	Outer Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area):	120
	Inner Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area):	80
	[1] Bridge:	4,000
	Hanger Bay:	2,000
	[2] Main Engines (2):	5,000 each
	[3] Main Body:	15,000
	[4] Variable Force Field:	1,200 a side (7,200 Total)

Notes:
[1] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon to hit the bridge through the ship’s armor. This ship does not have an auxiliary bridge. Even if the bridge is destroyed, the ship can still be piloted from engineering but ship is -3 to dodge and all weapon systems will be at local control. Weapon hits near the bridge that do not penetrate the ships integrity can injure crew members on or near the bridge.
[2] Destroying the main engines means that the ship’s faster than light systems are destroyed and maximum sublight speed is reduced by half.
[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the cruiser out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
[4] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (360 M.D.C.) per melee round.

Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship to travel up to 60 percent of the speed of light. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 0.75 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 420 mph (676 kph), can enter an atmosphere and can leave but is not designed for atmospheric flight
Stardrive: Uses a Gravitonic Drive system that allows the ship to reach a maximum of 2.5 light years per hour.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either drive system. Carries about three years worth of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:
Length: 478 feet (145.7 meters)
Height: 105 feet (32.0 meters)
Width: 185 feet (56.4 meters)
Weight/Mass: 46,300 tons (42,000 metric tons)
Power System: Fusion with a 10 year life span. The ship normally only goes 5 years between refueling and refitting.
Cargo: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows for carrying up to 1,000 tons (907.2 metric tons) of cargo in addition to standard compliment of supplies and ammunition. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Ship’s officers have more space for personal items. Most of the ship’s spaces are taken up by extra ammunition, armor, troops, weapons, engine, and other equipment.
Market Cost: Costs for refitting a Chevalier class Escort Cruiser is around 100 million credits and the total cost is considered to be around 500 million credits (Chevalier class Escort Cruiser would cost about 400 million credits and Cobra class Minesweeper would cost about 450 millions to manufacture at present time although these cruisers are no longer produced.) The Kingdom would likely sell the Serpiente minesweeper for around 800 million credits even though none have been sold or refitted for other customers. Does not include fighter compliment (Caramelles Kingdom fighter compliment [Torero Fighters] cost approximately 100 million credits.)

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Two (2) Long Range Missile Batteries: Missile has a top speed of Mach 20 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 8% of light per turn (faster than any starship.) Whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target, launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will continue to travel in a straight line unless set to self destruct but has very low odds of hitting star ships (Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile, when unpowered, is at -25% to be detected.) Long range missiles do not have penalties to hit small targets unlike cruise missiles and are all considered smart missiles. Batteries can launch on multiple targets each at the same time. Batteries have a lower number of actual launchers than the modern CAF long range missile batteries and each launcher is slightly larger in size.
Maximum Effective Range: Long Range Missile range is 3,400 miles (5,470 km) in an atmosphere and 1,800,000 miles (2,897,000 km/9.7 light seconds) in space.
Mega-Damage & Properties: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details (Fusion warheads inflict 2D4x100 M.D.C. each.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), eight (8), sixteen (16), or twenty-four (24) missiles per battery, per melee attack.
Payload: 720 total, 360 long range missiles per battery.
Eight (8) 40 mm Electromagnetic Rail Gun/Mini Missile Batteries: Unlike most of the rail guns used on Phase World / Three Galaxies starships, these are standard electromagnetic rail guns. Comparatively heavy weapons, the rail guns fire a heavy 40 mm high density projectile and have excellent range. Each turret can rotate 360 and has a 180 arc of fire. Weapons are mounted around the ship for point defense. The rail gun still fires projectiles at incredible velocities compared to rail guns on Rifts Earth and projectiles are fired from the rail guns at a significant fraction of the speed of light. Missile has a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 2% of light per turn (slightly faster than any starship except if it is exceeding it maximum safe acceleration). Missile launchers can launch on multiple targets each at the same time.
Maximum Effective Range Mini-Missile range is 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space. Rail guns have a range of 12 miles (19.3 km) through atmosphere and 1,200 miles (1,930 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: Rail Cannon inflicts 3D6x10+30 M.D. for a 10 round burst. Mini-Missiles vary by mini-missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5). Mini-Missiles are fired one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) mini-missiles.
Payload: Rail Cannon has 2,000 Rounds (200 Bursts) each cannon, has forty-eight (48) mini-missiles at each launcher (384 total, can carry potentially several times more in storage holds).
Eight (8) Triple Particle Beam/Mini Missile Batteries: These mounts are similar to the rail gun mounts with the rail gun replaced by a triple particle beam. While damage is similar, range is less that the rail gun mounts. Each turret can rotate 360 and has a 180 arc of fire. Weapons are mounted around the ship for point defense. Missile has a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 2% of light per turn (slightly faster than any starship except if it is exceeding it maximum safe acceleration). Missile launchers can launch on multiple targets each at the same time.
Maximum Effective Range Mini-Missile range is 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space. Particle beams have a range of 8 miles (13 km) through atmosphere and 400 miles (640 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: Triple particle beam inflicts 3D6x10 M.D. per burst. Mini-Missiles vary by mini-missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5). Mini-Missiles are fired one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) mini-missiles.
Payload: Effective unlimited for the particle beam mounts, has forty-eight (48) mini-missiles at each launcher (384 total, can carry potentially several times more in storage holds.)

Sensor System of Note:

High Powered Mine Hunting Sensor System: This system includes radar, neutrino sensors, gravitic sensors, and tachyon based sensors. This is an active sensor system with a range of 1,242,740 miles (2,000,000 km / 6.6 light seconds) and covers a 15 degree radius cone. As stated, the system is an active system and is easily detected but gives a bonus of +15% to read sensory rolls to detect targets and a +4 on weapon systems when aiming at targets with the cone. Targets that are invisible but the invisibility is not specific to gravity sensors will also be detected.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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