British Royal Navy Ramillies class Fast Attack Submarine:


Even prior to the end of the first Cold War, the British Royal Navy often had budgetary problems. Just before the original Falklands War, the British government was preparing to sell one of the Invincible class carriers to Australia. If Argentina had waited, the Royal Navy might have had no carriers it could deploy to the Falklands. Of course, the war occurred and the Royal Navy ended up retaining the light carrier.


After a rocky first couple of decades, the Twenty-First Century looked to be a time of comparative peace. Older military hardware was in large part retired while new military programs were delayed or even cancelled. While Communists had taken over the government of Russia and reformed the Soviet Union, many considered that it might be better after the oligarches that had ruled Russia for the last few decades. Those that brought up concerns were in the minority.


A number of military programs were cancelled including a follow-on fast attack submarine class to the Astute class. Granted, for their time the Astute class fast attack submarines were excellent boats. Still, technology had continued to proceed and the new design would have been considerably more advanced than the previous Astute class.


During the Twenty-Thirties, there was the development of advanced composites and alloys. These new materials were far stronger than those before and were virtually immune to the effects of the environment. At the same time, there were a number of advances in weapon technology which made weaponry more lethal than ever before.


Even so, the governments of the world were loath to spend huge sums of money on new military hardware. In many cases, older designs were refitted with the new materials while older hardware was retired. The British military was not exception. It was decided to refit the Astute class submarines with new materials while retiring the previous Trafalgar class submarines.


The British Royal Navy basically begged for funding for a new submarine class. Finally the British government relented and provided funding for five additional submarines of an upgraded Astute design, not a clean sheet design as the Royal Navy really wanted. So the new submarine HMS Ramillies was originally laid down as an “Improved” Astute design, something akin to the United States with the Improved Los Angeles class submarines.


One of the key improvement was the additional of twelve cruise missiles in a vertical launch system in the bow behind the main sonar dome. Another important improvement were the sonar systems with both the hull sonars and the towed array sonars greatly upgraded compared to prior sonars. Already considered an extremely quite design, there were some minor improvement in this regard as well. Of course the new materials enabled these submarines to dive deeper than any previous Royal Navy submarine classes.


While the HMS Ramillies was still under construction, there was a second technological revolution. This time it was in fusion power. Even though fusion power had long held the promise in cheap and clean power, the technology had been long in coming. It was decided to put the construction of the new submarine on hold while the design was modified to take advantage of the new technology. As a result, HMS Ramillies was almost three years late being completed. Because they were at earlier stages, her sisters had less delays during their construction.


A bit later on, the Royal Navy was able to persuade the government to fund an additional pair of boats for a total of seven of these “Improved” Astute class submarines. With the age and condition of the original Astute class submarines, especially the older boats, they were practically tied to the pier. In fact, these piers were actually the same estuary that retired Royal navy nuclear submarines had been kept for decades before a submarine recycling program had finally been developed by Great Britain.


  The seven “Improved” Astute class submarines were worked hard although both the new advanced materials and fusion power meant that wear was far less of an issue than with previous submarine designs. They had to be almost everywhere.


In order to man these submarines while not wrecking crews, the Royal Navy would frequently rotate crews between the pier tied Astute class submarines and the operational “Improved” Astute class submarines. It was almost like how the United States Navy kept Blue and Gold crews for their ballistic missiles submarines although it was unofficial in the case of these submarines. On occasion, the old Astute class boats would also deploy, including HMS Ajax during the second Falkland War.


After the second Falkland War, the situation changed drastically. Suddenly there was funding for additional warships, including submarines. Development was started on the new Ursula class fast attack submarine. At the same time, the remaining Astute class submarines were retired. It was also at this time that the “Improved” Astute class became the Ramillies class.


These submarines had to be the workhorse for several more years but at least there were additional submarines in the pipeline. As the new Ursula class submarines entered service, the Ramillies class were retained although were more frequently assigned to escort duties for battle groups, often operating relatively close. Often an Ursula class submarine would perform outer patrols and be used for hunting both surface ships and submarines.


When HMS Ark Royal and her battle group were attacked while on patrol off the coast of Argentina, HMS Royal Oak was assigned to her along with a pair of Ursula class submarine and HMS Thunderer, a cruise missile submarine. Along with the rest of the battle group, she was thought lost after a nuclear weapon detonated over the fleet. It was always a mystery why none of the submarines survived the blast but they were though lost as well.


Of course the reality was that the battle group was able to shoot down all of the missiles before they struck. However, a freak accident caused one of the missiles to detonate and temporarily activate what would later be called the South American Sea Triangle. An electrical storm like nothing anybody onboard any of the vessels had ever seen engulfed the fleet. Even the crews of the submarines could feel the storm deep underwater.


When the incredible storm faded, HMS Royal Oak was brought forward in time along with the rest of the battle group.


Author Note: With respect to time line, these designs may or may not reflect our modern time line. The time line of these writeups diverged from our time line starting around 1999. Consider the universe that these designs are created for to be an alternate universe not bound by ours.


Model Type: Ramillies class Submarine.

Class: Ocean, Fast Attack Submarine.

Crew: 98; 12 Officers, 12 chief petty officers, and 74 enlisted.

Troop Capacity: 12 - Usually Royal Marines or Special Air Service (SAS) personnel.


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

None.


M.D.C. by Location:

 

533 mm (21 inch) Torpedo Tubes (6, front / sides of submarine):

100 each.

 

Vertical Cruise Missile Launchers (12, bow of submarine):

125 each.

 

Main Sail:

550.

 

[1] Bow Planes (2):

180 each.

 

[2] Pump Jet Propulsor (1):

400.

 

[3] Main Body:

2,400.

Notes:

[1] Destroying the submarine’s bow planes will reduce the submarine’s ability to change depths but will not eliminate it. It also makes it difficult for the submarine’s crew to control the submarine giving a penalty of -25% to all underwater piloting rolls.

[2] Destroying the submarine’s pump jet propulsor causes serious problems. The submarine will no longer be able to use forward momentum and the bow planes to keep the submarine level. It is recommended that ballast tanks are immediately blown so submarine comes to the surface.

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body destroys the submarine’s structural integrity, causing it to sink. If the submarine is underwater, the entire crew will die unless protected by environmental armors that can withstand the pressure that the submarine is under. If on the surface, there are enough flotation devices and inflatable life rafts to accommodate everyone aboard.


Speed:

Surface: 28.8 mph (25 knots/ 46.3 kph).

Underwater: 36.8 mph (32 knots /59.3 kph).

Maximum Depth: 3,937.0 feet (1,200 meters).

Range: Effectively unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Boat carries six (6) months of supplies for crew and troops on board.


Statistical Data:

Draft:    32.80 feet (10 meters).

Width:   37.07 feet (11.3 meters).

Length:  335.30 feet (102.2 meters).

Displacement: 7,550 tons surfaced and 7,910 tons submerged.

Cargo: Submarine is very cramped, 10 tons (9.07 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies [normally used for equipment for Royal Marines / Special Air Service (SAS) personnel.] Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Boat’s officers have a bit more space for personal items although still extremely cramped. Most of the boat’s spaces are taken up by extra torpedoes, weapons, and engines.

Power System: Nuclear fusion; average energy life of 20 years. Normally refuels every 10 years.

Black Market Price: Not for sale; many nations and organizations would pay hundreds of millions of credits for a new and undamaged Ramillies class Submarine.


Weapon Systems:

  1. Six (6) 533 mm Heavy Torpedo Tubes: The boat mounts six torpedo tubes in the bow just behind the bow sonar array with three to either side. Tubes are 21 inches (533 mm) wide and torpedoes can be used against both surface ships and submarines. For warheads, heavy torpedoes should be treated as having long range missile warheads. Along with standard torpedoes, the launcher can also fire missiles (long range or cruise missiles) in special canisters and rocket boosted ASW torpedoes. Submarine carries thirty-eight reloads for torpedoes (in addition to six heavy torpedoes in the tubes) and can carry up to seventy-six mines in place of torpedoes.

    Maximum Effective Range: 40 miles (34.8 nautical miles / 64 km) for torpedoes.

    Mega-Damage: By heavy torpedo warhead type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details), can fire missiles (long range or cruise missiles) in special canisters as well (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire heavy torpedoes one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), four (4), or six (6) heavy torpedoes. Reloading takes one full melee round.

    Payload: Six (6) heavy torpedoes total [Has thirty-eight (38) additional heavy torpedoes for reloads.]

  2. Twelve (12) Vertical Launch Cruise Missile Launchers: In the front of the submarine but behind the sonar dome, the submarine has a vertical launch missile system for launching missiles. Launchers are outside of the pressure hull. Missiles are launched in special canisters that enable the missiles to be used in depths down to around 150 feet (45.7 meters.) Most missiles warheads normally carried are fusion as well as being smart missiles. The launchers were originally designed to carry BGM-109 Tomahawk anti-ship missiles but were modified to fire all standard cruise missiles. The cruise missile usually carried was the hypersonic Fasthawk in its sea skimming anti ship and semi ballistic land attack guises.

    Maximum Effective Range: As per cruise missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details / for Fasthawk missiles, go to missile description for details.)

    Mega-Damage: As per cruise missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details / for Fasthawk missiles, go to missile description for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire cruise missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), or six (6) cruise missiles and can be fired at multiple target at the same time.

    Payload: Twelve (12) cruise missiles total. Normal cruise missile complement is eight (8) land attack and four (4) sea skimming anti ship Fasthawk cruise missiles. Submarine carries no reloads.

  3. Eight (8) Advanced Decoy Drones: The submarine carries eight advanced decoy drones. They are a small automated vehicles that creates a false sonar image designed to mimic the submarine’s sonar signature. It has a small propulsion system that can simulate movement [has a maximum speed of 23.0 mph (20 knots / 37.0 kph)] and maneuvers. In addition to be able to be used to decoy torpedoes, they can sometimes be used to trick another vessel while the submarine moves into position. If decoys are not destroyed, they can usually be recovered and repaired if they can be retrieved. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not be effective against Phase World / Three Galaxies guidance and targeting systems due to technological differences.

    M.D.C.: 20.

    Range: Not applicable. Decoys do however have a duration of 30 minutes (120 melee rounds) once launched.

    Effects: The decoy has an 80% chance of fooling ordinary non military sonars and non smart guided torpedoes, the decoy has a 50% chance of fooling military level sonars (like those of the Coalition) and non “smart” torpedoes, and the decoy has a 25% chance of fooling advanced military sonars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and “smart” torpedoes.

    Rate of Fire: Boat can launch one decoy drone per melee round.

    Payload: Eight (8) decoy drones.

  4. Noisemakers: The submarine carries noisemakers in order to decoy torpedoes. They are most effective against normal torpedoes and less effective against “smart” torpedoes. Considered in many ways to be the last line of defense against incoming torpedoes and similar systems are carried on most submarines. The noisemakers are launched from the middle of the submarine.

    Effects: 50% of decoying normal torpedoes and 20% of decoying smart torpedoes.

    Rate of Fire: Two (2) noisemakers at a time (Can be reloaded in one melee round).

    Payload: Twenty (20) noisemakers.

Special Systems:

The submarine has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following special features:


[ Altarain TM, Bandito Arms TM, Brodkil TM, Chipwell Armaments TM, Coalition States TM, Cyber-Knight TM, Federation of Magic TM, Free Quebec TM, Golden Age Weaponsmiths TM, Horune TM, Iron Heart Armaments TM, Kankoran TM, Kittani TM, Kydian TM, Larsen’s Brigade TM, M.D.C. TM, Mechanoids TM, Mega-Damage TM, Megaversal Legion TM, Millennium Tree TM, Mutants in Orbit TM, Naruni Enterprises TM, Naut’Yll, New Navy TM, New Sovietskiy TM, NGR TM, Nog Heng TM, Northern Gun TM, Phase World TM, Psyscape TM, Rifter TM, SAMAS TM, S.D.C. TM, Shemarrian TM, Splugorth TM, Stormspire TM, Sunaj TM, Tolkeen TM, Triax TM, Wellington Industries TM, Wilk’s Laser Technologies TM, Xiticix TM, and Zaayr 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. ]


Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2018, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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