Canadian Rainbow (Type 406) class Fast Attack Submarine:


While there were some tensions throughout the Twenty-First century and had a rocky start, the century for a while looked to be a time of comparative peace. The Canadian Navy built four Otter class submarines which were later converted to fusion and there was little need seen to increase the Canadian submarine forces.


As the century continued, tensions continued to mount however. The revitalized Soviet Union was building massive forces, China continued pushing against the nations around it, and India continued to be a thread. There were a number of “Brushfire Wars” in South America, Central America, Africa, and Asia. The United States and Western Europe, with the exception of Great Britain, also had simmering tensions between them. Canada initially tried to keep the peace and be a bridge between warring nations but eventually this could be seen as pointless.


It was decided that Canada would need a much more effective military in order to protect their own sovereignty. While there was a massive increase in army and air force budgets, the navy was seen as key to the nation’s survival. These included a greatly expanded surface force and new advanced submarine classes. A new class of light carriers was even planned although the carrier program suffered a number of delays.


Unlike the United States, Canada still had good relations with Western Europe. With the Victoria class, the Canadian Navy had been burned by Great Britain but the Canadian Navy had done far better with the Otter class submarine developed by Germany. As a result, the Canadian navy again approached Germany shipbuilding to develop a new submarine class.


Compared to the Otter class, this submarine class would be a true fast attack design, capable of around thirty knots, and fusion powered from the start. It would also be far better armed than previous designs. While the Canada had the yards for refitting submarines, they lacked the facilities for the building of submarines. Using the Type 402 class as a basis, the German engineers made a number of modifications and improvement to the original design.


Designated the Type 406 in Germany, the Canadian Navy named the first submarine HMCS Rainbow. As with the Otter class, these submarines were built in German yards. In total, four of these submarines were completed. As these boats entered service, the four Otter class were relegated to second line service and coastal defense. The Rainbow class was considered a vast improvement over the prior class and served with distinction.


Just prior to the coming of the Great Cataclysm, the Canadian Navy was looking towards an additional four fast attack submarines. Instead of a new design, plans were to repeat the Rainbow class submarine design, perhaps substituting more advanced composites and alloys. This would have vastly reduced development costs and completion times.


All four fast attack submarines were deployed when the cataclysm occurred. Of them, one managed to escape destruction initially and join the New Navy although was later lost. The status of the three other boats is unknown but it is possible one or more may have survived. These submarines would be considered more advanced than any designs with the exception of the New Navy, Triax, and the Republic of Japan.


Sightly longer than the German Type 402, these submarines were fitted with more powerful machinery as well. As a result, top speed was increased from twenty-eight knots to thirty-two knots. Even so, the Rainbow class was considered by many to be relatively slow compared to contemporary fast attack submarines. Diving depth was considered unchanged from the German submarine design.


While the Canadian shipbuilding industry developed a number of highly effective sonar systems for surface ships, it was decided to use German sonar systems on the Rainbow class. While United States sonar systems were also looked at, they tended to be more expensive and designed for larger submarines.


Initial designs showed six vertical launch cruise missiles in a similar manner to the Otter class but later sixteen long range missiles were substituted for the original launchers. In general, the long range missiles had plenty of range to engage almost any target, were more flexible, and a far larger number could be carried. Six torpedo tubes were retained with torpedoes carried slightly increased with a total of thirty-six torpedoes able to be carried including those in the tubes. While the Canadian Navy did not consider it especially effective, the sail mounted blue green laser was retained from the German Type 402.


The Canadian Navy preferred a slightly larger crew than the German Navy with a standard crew of forty-four crew. While it made for tighter quarters, it also made for an easier work load for the crew. In addition to the crew, these submarines could carry a small compliment of special forces personnel.


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: Rainbow / Type 406 class Submarine.

Class: Ocean, Fast Attack Submarine.

Crew: 44; 6 Officers, 6 chief petty officers, and 32 enlisted (Has a high degree of automation.)

Troop Capacity: 12 (Special Forces personnel.)


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

None.


M.D.C. by Location:

 

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

80 each.

 

Vertical Long Range Missile Launchers (16, bow of submarine):

100 each.

 

Retractable Blue-Green Laser Cannon Mount (1, mounted on aft quarter of sail):

100.

 

Main Sail:

480.

 

[1] Sail Planes (2, sail):

120 each.

 

[2] Pump Jet Propulsor (1):

350.

 

[3] Main Body:

2,000.

Notes:

[1] Destroying the submarine’s sail 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 sail 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: 18.4 mph (16 knots/ 29.6 kph).

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

Maximum Depth: 5,905 feet (1,800 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 on board.


Statistical Data:

Draft:    22.31 feet (6.8 meters).

Length:  216.93 feet (96.6 meters).

Beam:    27.23 feet (8.3 meters).

Displacement: 4,240 tons surfaced and 4,885 tons submerged.

Cargo: Submarine is very cramped, 20 tons (18.1 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies. 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 15 years.

Black Market Cost: Not for sale; many nations and organizations would pay hundreds of millions of credits for a new and undamaged Rainbow / Type 406 class submarine.


Weapon Systems:

  1. One (1) Retractable Blue Green Laser Cannon Mount: This laser mount is mounted on the aft part of the sail and is fully retractable so that it does not disrupt water flow at high speeds or add to the noise of the submarine. The laser cannon is useful both on the surface and underwater at low speeds [5.8 mph (5 knots / 9.3 kph) or less]. As a blue-green laser, they have a greater range underwater than they would otherwise. The weapon system is used mainly as close defense and against aircraft when on the surface. It can also be used to engage incoming torpedoes. The mount is controlled by a separate gunner and can rotate 360 degrees and had a 90 degree arc of fire.

    Maximum Effective Range: In Atmosphere: 6,000 feet ( 1,828.8 meters). Under Water: 3,000 feet (914 meters).

    Mega-Damage: 5D6 M.D. per single blast.

    Rate of Fire: Five (5) blasts per melee round.

    Payload: Effectively Unlimited.

  2. Six (6) 533 mm Heavy Torpedo Tubes: On the sides of the submarine are six torpedo tubes with three on each side. Tubes are 21 inches (533 mm) wide and torpedoes can be used against both surface ships and submarines. Torpedo tubes have a special automated reloading system to reduce noise. 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. Missiles are rarely carried however. Submarine normally carries thirty reloads for torpedoes (in addition to six torpedoes in the tubes) and can carry up to forty-eight 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) torpedoes. Reloading takes one full melee round.

    Payload: Six (6) heavy torpedoes total [Has thirty (30) additional heavy torpedoes for reloads.]

  3. Sixteen (16) Vertical Launch Long Range Missile Launchers: Mounted in the bow behind the main sonar dome, these launchers actually fire at a slight forward angle. Long range missiles were chosen instead of cruise missiles because a larger payload could be carried while still having similar range. Launchers are outside of the pressure hull. While developed mainly to engage surface and land targets, the system is also effective at engaging aircraft. Anti-Submarine rocket launched torpedoes also can be fired from the launchers (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.) 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.

    Maximum Effective Range: As per long range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Mega-Damage: As per long range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire long range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), or eight (8) long range missiles with all launchers operating together.

    Payload: Sixteen (16) long range missiles total. Submarine carries no reloads.

  4. Four (4) Advanced Decoy Drones: The submarine carries four 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: Four (4) decoy drones.

  5. 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. ]

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2018, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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