Vannes Peregrine class Destroyer:

For a single system, the Vannes had one of the largest space navies at one time. It also was one of the few systems that built their own designs. As one might expect, they also had large shipbuilding facilities to support this fleet. There are a few systems that continue to build their own designs including New Coventry although many of the ships in their navy are Consortium vessels.

At its peak, the Vannes Navy contained a couple of dozen cruisers, around one hundred destroyers, and a number of other vessels. The main destroyer class was the Onyx class. As the Vannes system decided against the escort cruisers and corvette mix of the Human Alliance, they needed a destroyer which was more capable that the corvette but smaller and less expensive to built than an escort cruiser. In addition, a dozen of these destroyers were converted with reduced weaponry but a larger troop compliment. These became known as the Beryl class fast transport.

Eventually, the Onyx class became aged and approached obsolescence. Compared to newer ships, it was considered slow, not as well protected as new ships, and had inadequate sensors system. Weaponry was generally considered reasonable however. Instead of developing a new destroyer class, it was decided to use the basic design of the Onyx class and update it to deal with new threats. A similar plan of upgrade was done with the Tigress class cruiser, modifying the design of the Sceptre class cruiser.

Being that the Peregrine design was basically just an upgrade on the original Onyx class destroyer, one might expect a program of simply rebuilding and refitting existing vessels. Instead, it was decided that new ships would be constructed. In large part, this program is believed to have been done to support shipbuilding industries. There are other advantages of new built ships such as far more cost effective to improve armor protection if it is possible at all.

Over the years, there had been a lessening of tension between the Vannes system and their neighbors. It was considered safe to reduce the number of ships is the Vannes system navy. Part of this included cutting active destroyer forces from around one hundred to around eighty ships. Although some of the older Onyx class were put in inactive reserve forces, also know as the mothball fleet, most were either scrapped or declared surplus. Initially, the dozen active Beryl class fast transports were reduced to eight. Eventually however, a transport version of the Peregrine class replaced them. This became known as the Diamond class.

Eventually, the Vannes system joined the Consortium of Civilized Worlds and the larger power took over the defense of the region of space that the system was in. Without the need for such a large navy, the system leadership decided to further reduces the size of their navy. As one might expect, hawks in the government fought tooth and nail with the support of the navy leadership. Still, in the end, the hawks and navy leadership lost the battle and the fleet was reduced to four cruisers and two dozen destroyers.

Initially, the plan is to retain two dozen of the Peregrines in active duty but eventually replace them with “Longbow”configured Scimitar class patrol ships. Of the remained, twenty were retained in the inactive fleet reserves although well maintained. Four of the eight Diamond class fast transports have also been retained in active navy forces. There is no plans to replace these ships any time in the immediate future. Other destroyers are either scrapped or declared surplus.

A major change in the Peregrine class compared to the Onyx class is that it uses an anti-matter plant. While compared to modern anti-matter plants, the plant is underpowered but produced far greater power than the original plant and a much smaller plant could be used. Along with the anti-matter plant, contra-grav drives are significantly improved as well with a top speed of four light years per hour. While a bit slow for modern vessels, the ship still is the equal of the Kreeghor Berserker class attack vessel. The in system drives are also improved but by a smaller margin compared to the faster than light drives.

Variable force field are about one third more powerful than the original system on the Onyx class. While these shields are not quite equal to modern standards, it is still far better than the original shields. Coupled with the use of newer and more advanced alloys and composites used in the ship’s construction, these destroyers are able to withstand far greater damage. The hull is able to withstand about fifty percent greater damage than the Onyx class due to the use of these new materials. Still, in comparison, the Consortium Scimitar class patrol vessel is quite a bit tougher than the Peregrine class.

Generally, weaponry was considered adequate for the role the destroy was expected to fill. As a result, the weapon was little altered although payload improved in some areas and number were also improved. The twin long range missile batteries were retained although magazines were modified to increase the number of missiles. A total of just over three hundred and eighty long range missiles are carried, allowing an extra full volley to be fired. Point defense batteries are increased as well with both six mini-missile batteries and six point defense electromagnetic rail gun mounts. In general, the electromagnetic rail guns were considered quite adequate and as electromagnetic rail guns are easy to maintain.

Compared to the Onyx class, the Peregrine has a slight reduced crew due to additional automation although still a fair amount larger than that of a Scimitar. Like the Onyx class, the Peregrine class does not have any embarked fighters. It does retain the same limited troop compliment however. Troop compliment is forty with ten usually embarked with power armors. Those remaining in service often carry Silverhawk power armors in place of ground armors but often reduce total troop complement to twenty. The explanation is simply that they are rarely used.

For the Diamond class troop transport, long range missile magazines are reduced to under one hundred and fifty missiles. This allows for a troop compliment of up to one hundred and sixty marines, forty more that the Beryl class fast troop transport. Eighty of those embarked usually are in power armor. No assault shuttles are embarked in these transports. For the four fast troop transports remaining in service, twenty of the power armors embarked are usually replaced with Silverhawk power armors.

As with other ships of the Vannes system, a number of these ships have found their way far outside of the system’s control. Some of these have been modified as well. One common modification is to replace the original variable force field generator with more powerful systems. Those carried on the Scimitar, Hunter, and Berserker destroyer classes are about twenty-five percent more powerful. Others have replaced the point electromagnetic rail guns with gravity rail guns or directed energy weapons. In addition, like those remaining in service with the Vannes system, many have the power armors replaced by either Silverhawk or “Knock Off” power armor designs.

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:	VDD-22	Peregrine class Destroyer
	VHST-23	Diamond class Fast Transport

Vehicle Type: Destroyer or Fast Transport

Crew:	VDD-22	148 (15 Officers and 133 Enlisted)
	VHST-23	140 (15 Officers and 125 Enlisted)
Troops:	VDD-22	40 Marines (10 in Power Armors)
	VHST-23	160 Marines (80 in Power Armors)

Vehicle, Robots, and Power Armors:

Power Armors:

VDD-22	VHST-23
10	20	Silver Hawk Power Armors
	60	Light Power Armors

M.D.C. By Location:

	Point Defense Electromagnetic Rail Gun Turrets (4):	150 each
	Long Range Missile Batteries (2):	500 each
	Mini-Missile Launchers (4):	100 each
	[1] Bridge:	1,200
	[2] Main Engines (2):	1,600 each
	[3] Main Body:	3,800
	[4] Variable Force Field:	800 a side (4,800 Total)

Notes:

[1] Destroying the main engines means that the ship’s faster than light propulsion systems are destroyed and maximum sublight speed is reduced by half.

[2] 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.

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the destroyer 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% (240 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 Mach One (660 mph / 1193 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 4.0 light years per hour.

Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either drive system. Carries about one year worth of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:

Length: 395 feet (120.4 meters).

Height: 82 feet (25.0 meters).

Width: 122 feet (37.2 meters).

Weight/Mass: 8,800 tons (7,980 metric tons)

Power System: Anti-Matter with a 25 year life span. The ship normally only goes 7 years between refueling and refitting.

Cargo:

Peregrine class Destroyer: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows for carrying up to 160 tons (145.1 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.

Diamond class Fast Transport: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows for carrying up to 600 tons (544.3 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: An Peregrine class Destroyer would cost about 225 million credits and Diamond class Fast Transport would cost about 200 millions to manufacture in present time in the Three Galaxies. Ships are no longer being produced. When available, these ships sell for 350 to 450 million credits. Cost does not include embarked craft or power armors.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

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. When used in space, projectiles are fired from rail guns at a significant fraction of the speed of light. The weapon system cannot be used to engage targets while traveling at faster than light velocities. Rail guns use 15 mm depleted uranium projectiles.

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.
Two (2) Long Range Missile Batteries: Long range missiles have a top speed of Mach 20 in an atmosphere and in space have 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) per battery, per melee attack.

Payload: Peregrine class Destroyer: 384 total, 192 long range missiles per battery. Diamond class Fast Transport: 144 total, 72 long range missiles per battery.
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: 64 per launcher for a total of 384 mini-missiles.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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