Denali Heavy Minesweeper (Converted Everest class Gun Cruiser):
Originally built by the Human Alliance, the Everest class gun cruiser was produced in large numbers although in smaller numbers than the Natasha Kurganov class missile cruiser. The Human Alliance originally planned to build a heavy minesweeper based off of the Everest class but the ship was never actually authorized. Even though the heavy minesweeper design went as far as full plans actually being drawn up, the old Cobra class minesweeper remained in service with the Human Alliance. Heavy minesweepers have many advantages over lighter vessels in the minesweeper role because they can carry much heavier point defense batteries, better armored, and have much heavier force fields.
Numbers of Everest class gun cruisers have found their way into the hands of both mercenary and the navies of various smaller powers. A number of these cruisers have been converted to different roles including both heavy minesweepers and assault cruisers. Generally these converted vessels serve with mercenaries companies because smaller navies have less need for assault cruisers or heavy minesweepers.
The Denali originally served in the Human Alliance Navy but was passed to the Consortium Navy when it was formed. Later, the Consortium Navy sold the gun cruiser as surplus and the cruiser served for several decades in the navy of a planetary self defense force. Eventually the cruiser found its way into the hands of several mercenary captains which the latest captain converted the Denali to a heavy minesweeper configuration. The ship has had its name changed several times but the latest captain returned the ship to its original name. It is surprising how close the conversion of the Denali is to the original plans of the Everest based heavy minesweeper originally planned by the Human Alliance. A number of other Everest class gun cruisers have been converted in a similar manner to the Denali.
The main change to the heavy minesweeper compared to the original gun cruiser configuration is to remove the four 12 cm laser mounts and replace them with minesweeping sensors and additional point defense batteries. The ship retains six mini-missile batteries and six electromagnetic point defense rail guns. The eight point defense lasers are removed and replaced by sixteen variable focus particle beams. As well, most of the cargo capacity is eliminated to increase payload of the four long range missile batteries by fifty percent. The long range missile batteries are the main weapon used against mines and there is some consideration being given to replacing the missile batteries with more modern launchers. The two 28 cm and four 18 cm particle beams are retained, retaining most of the long range beam firepower of the cruiser.
The shields, armor, and propulsion system are unmodified compared to a standard Everest class gun cruiser. Few Everest class gun cruisers have their propulsion system replaced due to the design requiring complete rebuilding to be replaced. It does make the cruiser a bit slow by modern standards. Shield and armor are easier to replace but are still fairly expensive. Some Everest class have their shields replaced with shields from the Warshield class cruiser.
The ship is modified with additional automation to reduce crew requirements although the heavy minesweeper cannot be considered up to modern standards. In addition, the troop compliment is reduced. The heavy minesweeper does embark a larger compliment of space power armors than a standard Everest class cruisers. “Knock Off” versions of the Silver Hawk armor are carried. As well, the standard compliment of eight light fighters and eight medium fighters are replace by twenty light fighters. The Denali embarks Hyena class light fighters as its standard compliment. These fighters are commonly operated by mercenaries, are surprisingly capable, and are affordable.
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: CA-34 (Modified)
Vehicle Type: Heavy Minesweeper (Converted Gun Cruiser)
Crew: 288 (ship can be run by 75 crew) - 28 Officers and 260
Enlisted.
Troops: 60 marines, 30 "Knock Off " Silverhawk Pilots (in some
cases), and 30 fighter pilots.
Vehicles:
Power Armors & Robots:
| 30 | “Knock Off” Silver Hawk Power Armors |
| 20 | MSX-128 Hyena Light Starfighters |
M.D.C. By Location:
| 28 cm Main Particle Beam Batteries (2): | 1,500 each | |
| 18 cm Secondary Particle Beam Batteries (4): | 1,200 each | |
| Secondary Particle Beam Batteries (4): | 1,200 each | |
| Point Defense Electromagnetic Rail Gun Turrets (6): | 150 each | |
| Variable Focus Particle Beam Cannon Turrets (16): | 150 each | |
| Long Range Missile Batteries (4): | 500 each | |
| Mini-Missile Launchers (6): | 100 each | |
| Outer Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area): | 150 | |
| Inner Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area): | 100 | |
| [1] Bridge: | 10,000 | |
| [1] Auxiliary Bridge: | 10,000 | |
| Hanger Bay: | 12,000 | |
| [2] Main Engines (2): | 15,000 each | |
| [3] Main Body: | 40,000 | |
| [4] Variable Force Field: | 4,000 a side (24,000 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 also has an auxiliary
bridge. Even if both bridges are taken out, 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% (1,200 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 0.8 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 400 mph (644 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 3.5 light years per hour.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either drive system.
Carries about four years worth of supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 720 feet (219.5 meters)
Height: 280 feet (85.3 meters)
Width: 450 feet (137.2 meters)
Weight/Mass: 185,000 Tons (168,000 tons)
Power System: Anti-Matter with a 25 year life span. The ship
normally only goes 7 years between refueling and refitting.
Cargo: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows
for carrying up to 500 tons (453.6 metric tons) of cargo in addition to
standard compliment of supplies and ammunition (Most space has been set
aside for marine support). 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: A Everest class gun cruiser would cost about 2.1
billion credits to manufacture in present time in the Three Galaxies. When
available, these ships sell for 4.3 to 6.4 billion credits. The refit of
vessel cost around 500 million credits. Cost does not include embarked
craft.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
- Two (2) 28 cm Main Particle Beam Batteries: In the front
of the ship are two 28 cm particle beam cannons. These can be fired forward
and can be angled up to 120 degrees aft (can only fire one cannon at a
target at that angle but can spin to be able to bring both batteries to
bear) and can fire at a 30 degree angle up or down. The weapon system cannot
be used to engage targets while traveling at faster than light velocities.
Maximum Effective Range: 70,000 miles (112,650 km)in space and 70 miles (112.7 km) in an atmosphere.
Mega Damage: 1D4x1000 M.D.C. each (Both can be linked for 2D4x1000 M.D.C. for both)
Rate of Fire: Maximum of three (3) times per melee per particle beam.
Payload: Effectively Unlimited. - Four (4) 18 cm Secondary Particle Beam Batteries: These 18
cm particle beams are mounted in the sides of the ship. Batteries can be
fired up to 180 degrees toward the rear on either side (can only fire two
cannons at a target at that angle but can spin to be able to bring both
batteries to bear) and can fire at a 45 degree angle up or down. Only two
cannons can be fired as one volley. The weapon system cannot be used to
engage targets while traveling at faster than light velocities.
Maximum Effective Range: 70,000 miles (112,650 km)in space and 70 miles (112.7 km) in an atmosphere.
Mega Damage: 3D6x100 M.D.C. each (Two can be linked for 6D6x100 M.D.C. for both)
Rate of Fire: Maximum of three (3) times per melee per particle beam.
Payload: Effectively Unlimited. - Six (6) Point Defense 15 mm Electromagnetic Rail Guns: Unlike most
of the rail guns used on Phase World / Three Galaxies starships, these are standard electromagnetic
rail guns. They are used as an anti-starfighter and missile weapon and
against targets that are impervious to energy. Each rail gun is in a turret
that can rotate 360 and has a 180 arc of fire. Projectiles are fired from
weapons at a significant fraction of the speed of light. Rail guns use 15 mm depleted uranium projectiles. The weapon system cannot be used to
engage targets while traveling at faster than light velocities.
Maximum Effective Range: 16 miles (26 km) through atmosphere and 800 miles (1,290 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: Rail gun inflicts 3D6x10 M.D.C. for an 80 round burst.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 16,000 Rounds (200 Bursts) each cannon. - Sixteen (16) Variable Focus Particle Beam Mounts: These particle
beams are copied from those carried on the CAF Assault Shuttle and will
fire a very powerful narrow beam and can fire a scatter effect that is
less powerful but is capable of striking multiple targets. The weapon system
is quite useful against missiles although the cone is not as wide as Tachyon
cannon sprays are (Gives +2 bonus vs fast moving targets such as missiles.)
Weapons are mounted in turrets that can rotate 360 and have a 180 arc of
fire. Each mount can be operated by a gunner or a gunner program (+2 to
strike, 3 Attacks per melee).
Maximum Effective Range: 300 miles (480 km) in space and 3 miles (4.8 km) in an atmosphere.
Mega Damage: Single Target: 4D6x10 per blast. Wide Beam: 5D6 to all targets within a 5,000 foot (1,524 meter) diameter area. When fired as a wide beam, the cannon cannot be used on targets closer than 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) away.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited. - Four (4) 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
individual 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 launcher, per melee attack.
Payload: 1,440 total, 360 long range missiles per launcher. - Six (6) Mini-Missile Launchers: These are missile turrets
used for point defense against enemy fighters and missiles. 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.) Batteries 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.
Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of four (4) or eight (8) mini-missiles.
Payload: 128 per launcher for a total of 768 mini-missiles. Cargo hold has an additional 3,072 mini-missile. Reloading launchers from cargo hold takes 1D6 minutes.
Sensor System of Note:
- High Powered Mine Hunting Sensor System: This system is mounted in place of the forward 12 cm laser beams. This system includes radar, neutrino sensors, gravitic sensors, and tachyon based sensors. This is an active sensor system with a range of 1,242,750 miles (2,000,000 km / 6.67 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 or +20% 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. The other ship’s sensors are at cruiser level except the ship’s close range fire control sensors.
[ Altara TM, Brodkil TM, Bushido Industries TM, CAF TM, Catyr TM, CCW TM, Consortium of Civilized Worlds TM, Coyles TM, Free Worlds Council TM, Gene Splicers TM, K-Hex TM, Kankoran TM, Kittani TM, Kreeghor TM, Kydian TM, Machine People TM, M.D.C. TM, Mega-Damage TM, Metzla TM, M’Kri Hardware TM, Monro TM, Mutants in Orbit TM, Naruni Enterprises TM, Noro TM, Paradise Federation TM, Phase World TM, Psylite TM, Rifter TM, SAMAS TM, S.D.C. TM, Seljuks TM, Splugorth TM, Sunaj TM, Trans-Galactic Empire TM, Tri-Galactic Military Service TM, United Worlds Warlock TM, U.W.W. TM, Wolfen TM, and Zembahk 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. ]
Image drawn and copyrighted by "DevilDalek".
More "DevilDalek" artwork at DeviantArt
Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2011, Kitsune. All rights reserved.