Chinese Type 056 class Guided Missile Frigate:


During the Twenty-First Century, the Chinese navy steadily grew in size with frigates forming the backbone of the fleet. Like other navies, the introduction of the incredibly strong composites and alloys in the fourth decade of the century made much of their building program obsolete. Ships that were under construction were delayed or simply scrapped.


After a careful examination of options, the Chinese military decided to refit the most modern of their vessels completed prior to the material revolution with the new materials. Most older vessels were retired. This was similar to many other militaries around the world. At the same time, the Chinese navy decided to develop a number of new classes taking advantage of the new materials from the onset. Frigates, being among the most rapidly able to be build, were a large part of this new program.


One of the classes which the Chinese first developed of the new classes of warships was the Type 056 frigate. While developed for the Chinese navy, a number of these frigates were exported to other nations. Nations in South America, South East Asia, and Africa all operated these frigates. The Argentinean navy operated several of these frigates when the Ark Royal disappeared.


Since these ships used the new composites and alloys, these frigates were considered almost immune to the ravages of time with much of the class remaining in service when the Great Cataclysm remade the Earth. Most are believed to have been destroyed when the cataclysm occurred. Still, a number are known to survived including many that were at sea at the time of the Great Cataclysm.


Since the cataclysm, these ships have had varied lives with some ships passing through a variety of hands over the years. Others however are believed to be crewed by the descendants of their original crews and are more like families than anything else. In addition, a handful of these frigates have been found abandoned and been restored. Crew have found these ships to be surprisingly easy to maintain and repair.


As designed, these frigates were powered by a combination diesel and electric power plant. The first few vessels were completed with this system. However, there was a second technological revolution, this time in practical fusion plants. A combination diesel and electric power plant s a result, later vessels were fitted with fusion plants during construction. It is believed that most earlier vessels were later refitted with the new power plants as well. It is believed that by the time the Rifts came, no vessels remained which still powered by the conventional power plant. While top speed was originally considered to be around twenty eight knots, with the fusion power plant top speed was increased to around thirty two knots.


The hull was conventional in its basic design and similar to the previous Chinese frigate class. As was common with most warships of the time period, the superstructure was designed to reduce the vessel’s radar cross signature. In addition, the vessel was designed with various methods of quieting to reduce the ambient noise of the frigate including isolating the power plant and a bubble masking system.


Normal crew for the vessel the vessel was considered to be around one hundred and forty. For a Chinese design, the crew quarters were considered relatively spacious and comfortable. The ship was designed with full life support and can deal just as easily with freezing as well as sweltering temperatures. Compared to Western navy warships, the Type 056 had a lack of automation. A small number of “Troll” power armors could be embarked, usually four to six. There actually was space for a larger troop compliment, about forty if needed. Often these vessels were used for anti-piracy roles and additional troops could be extremely useful.


While sometimes compared to the American SPY-1 / Aegis radar system, it might be better to compare the radar system of the Type 056 frigate to that of the APAR systems developed for the Dutch navy. As with the APAR systems, the Type 355 SAPARS was an active phased array radar system. It is believed that the system was more or less indigenously developed without Soviet aid. Unlike the radar system, the sonar systems are believed to have been reverse engineered Soviet systems. The Type 056 frigate mounted both a hull and towed sonar array.


The ship’s main weaponry were missile systems with a forty-eight missile cell forward of the main superstructure. Unlike American missile launching systems, the launchers were clustered in octagonal patterns. Most common missiles were for air defense or against surface targets although anti-submarine torpedoes could also be fired from launchers. These launchers were not quite as adaptable as the Mk 41 launcher and were limited to long ranges and could not fire medium range missiles as quad packed missiles.


Forward of the main missile system, the ship mounted a 76.2 mm cannon. Used both against surface targets and against airborne targets, this weapon system was originally developed by the Soviet Navy but was later removed from New Soviet service although retained in Chinese service. Many mounts were recycled from older vessels and reconditioned to save costs. This was especially true on early vessels of the class. Standard payload is three hundred rounds with seventy-five ready to use. There were some proposals to replace it with a heavy rail gun but weapon system was considered acceptable so developing a replacement was considered a low priority.


The Chinese Navy developed their own combination defensive weapon system for last ditch use against missiles. Still, the general design is similar to the Soviet CADS-N-1 Kashtan close in weapon system. A fully automated system, the weapon mount featured a 30 mm seven barrel Gatling cannon mount combined with a battery of twenty-four short range missiles. Payload for the 30 mm cannon was 500 rounds with two drums with two hundred and fifty round each. While primarily for anti-missile use, the weapon system was also designed be able to be targeted against surface craft. The frigate was designed to mount two of these, one on the front part of the superstructure and the other on the after superstructure.


Over the years, there was strong consideration given to replacing the weapon system but it was generally considered adequate. Some ideas involved replacing it with a more advanced system which used a rail gun instead of a Gatling gun. For ships operated since the Great Cataclysm, many operators have found it hard to get ammunition for the 30 mm cannon and have replaced it with other weapon systems including rail guns. Some also just rely on the short range missiles.


As a last ditch defense against incoming missiles that leak through the close range defense system, the frigate mounted both missile decoy systems and an advanced electronic warfare suites. Both are similar to the systems operated by other navies and have had a number of upgrades over the years.


Beside the ability to fire long range anti-submarine rocket launched torpedoes, the vessel was designed with a pair of 324 mm triple torpedo tubs used for antisubmarine purposes. The Chinese navy decided to use medium range torpedoes similar to what were mounted in most Western vessel designs instead of Soviet type systems. A total of thirty-six torpedoes could be carried with interceptor torpedoes also available.


As well, the ship was designed with a small hanger and the capacity to operate one VTOL aircraft for anti-submarine warfare purposes. In Chinese service, this was a helicopter although the Chinese military was believed to have been developing a replacement design just prior to the Great Cataclysm. Those operating these vessels currently may operate a variety of aircraft from the flight deck.


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: Type 056-A Frigate.

Class: Guided Missile Frigate.

Crew: 140 total; 10 officers, 12 chief petty officers, and 128 enlisted.

Troops: 4 helicopter pilots or VTOL pilots, 6 power armor pilots, and 32 troops in standard body armor.


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

Power Armor Compliment:

 

6

KRS-12 “Troll” Heavy Power Armors.

Aircraft Compliment:

 

1

Changhe Z-18ASW-N ASW / Search and Rescue Helicopters.

M.D.C. by Location:

 

Bridge:

380.

 

[1] Type 355 SAPARS Active Phase Array Radar Panels (4, superstructure):

180 each.

 

[2] Single barrel 3 inch (76.2 mm) / 60 cal DP AK-176 Gun System (1, gun mount):

60.

 

Single barrel 3 inch (76.2 mm) / 60 cal DP AK-176 Gun System (1, forward):

100.

 

Type 850 Combination Anti-Missile Systems (2, superstructure):

225 each.

 

HQ-24 Eight Cell Long Range Vertical Launch Systems (6, forward):

120 each.

 

B-542 Triple 324 mm Medium Torpedo Launchers (2, sides):

40 each.

 

[2] Type 952 Chaff / Decoy Launchers (2, superstructure):

10 each.

 

Hanger (aft):

325.

 

VTOL / Helicopter Pad (aft):

250.

 

Outer Hull (per 40 foot / 12.2 meter area):

80.

 

[3] Main Body:

1,250.

Notes:

[1] Destroying the Type 355 SAPARS active phase array radar system will disable primary long range search and fire control systems but guns have backup systems and the Type 455 panels can partially compensate for each other.

[2] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “called shot,” but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.

[3] Destroying the main body causes the ship to lose structural integrity, causing the ship to sink. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship.


Speed:

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

Range: Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 10 years and requires maintenance as well). Ship carries four (4) months of supplies on board.


Statistical Data:

Draft:    19.0 feet (5.8 meters) mean and 24.3 feet (7.4 meters) including sonar dome.

Length: 414.7 feet (126.4 meters) waterline and 454.4 feet (138.5 meters) overall.

Width:   52.5 feet (16.0 meters).

Displacement: 3,850 tons standard and 4,220 tons fully loaded.

Cargo: Can carry 220.5 tons (200 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies. 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 ammo, armor, troops, weapons, and engines.

Power System: Design was originally conventional diesel propulsion, converted to two nuclear fusion reactors with an average life span of 15 years. Normally refuels every 10 years.

Black Market Cost: Rarely available, if found on the black market would probably cost 100 to 250 million credits. Cost does not include embarked craft and power armors.


Weapon Systems:

  1. One (1) 3 inch (76.2-mm) 59-cal DP AK-176 Naval Gun: The ship mounts a rapid fire three inch gun mount forward of the superstructure and missile launchers. This weapon mount is a Russian / Soviet style weapon mount and is mounted on multiple different classes. The main weaknesses of the gun are its relatively short range and the fact that it cannot use rocket assisted projectiles. The gun was carried on many ship classes around the world until well into the Twenty First century. The guns can be used against other ships, ground targets, aircraft, and even missiles. Theses guns were among the smallest that could use a proximity fuse for their warheads.

    Maximum Effective Range: 4.66 miles (4.04 nautical miles/7.5 km) for standard projectiles.

    Mega-Damage: High Explosive: 1D4x10 M.D.C. with 10 foot (3 meters) blast radius per single shot and 3D4x10 M.D.C. with 20 foot (6.1 meters) blast radius for three round burst. High Explosive Armor Piercing: 1D6x10 M.D.C. with 4 foot (1.2 meters) blast radius per single shot and 3D6x10 M.D.C. with 8 foot (2.4 meter) blast radius for three round burst. Plasma: 2D4x10 M.D.C. with 12 foot (3.7 m) blast radius per single shot and 6D4x10 M.D.C. with 25 foot (7.6 meter) blast radius for three round burst.

    Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (Three round bursts count as one attack.)

    Payload: 300 rounds. Ship normally carries usually carries 100 high explosive, 100 high explosive armor piercing, and 100 plasma rounds.

  2. Two (2) Type 850 Combination Anti-Missile Systems: Close range anti-missile defense systems which combines both a seven barrel 30 mm Gatling Cannon and a short range missile launchers. One is mounted on the forward and the other on the after part of the vessel’s superstructure. While mounted in one system, both defense systems have separate fire control and tracking systems. Short range missiles are designed to be able to track and target multiple missiles simultaneously. Gatling cannon fires burst of 20 or 40 rounds at incoming air attacks, especially missiles, usually those which leak through the missile defense. While not the primary function, the system can be targeted against surface targets and ground targets.

    Maximum Effective Range: 30 mm Gatling Cannons: 9,840 feet (3,000 meters). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Mega Damage: 30 mm Gatling Cannons: 2D6x10 for a short burst of 20 round, 4D6x10 for a long burst of 40 rounds, and 3D6 for each round. Both bursts count as one attack. Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: 30 mm Gatling Cannons: Six (6) attacks per melee round (+2 to strike aircraft; +3 to strike missiles.) Short Range Missiles: Two (2) attacks per melee round, can fire short range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) short range missiles.

    Payload: 30 mm Gatling Cannons: 500 Rounds (2 Drums of 250) - 25 short bursts / 12 long bursts. Short Range Missiles: Twenty-four (24) short range missiles per mount.

  3. Six (6) HQ-24 Eight Cell Long Range Vertical Launch Systems: Mounted in front of the ship’s superstructure, launchers have eight cells each for a total of forty-eight cells mounted in octagonal patterns. Launcher is not as flexible as the Mk 41 launcher and can only fire long range missiles. Missiles are primarily anti-air missiles although ground attack is a secondary role of launcher. Similar multi-purpose missiles are used in both cases. As well, anti-submarine rocket launched torpedoes can also be fired although rarely carried. The launchers can launch at multiple targets simultaneously.

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

    Mega-Damage: Varies with 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 any amount up to twelve (12) long range missiles total in any combinations and at multiple targets at the same time (All launchers combined.)

    Payload: Forty-eight (48) long range missiles total [Eight (8) each launcher.]

  4. Two (2) B-542 Triple 324 mm Medium Torpedo Launchers: Mainly design for anti-submarine warfare but can be used against surface targets as well. Interceptor torpedoes are also available for launchers / tubes to use against incoming torpedoes. Each torpedo launcher has three torpedo tubes and tubes are 12.75 in (324 mm) wide. The tubes have an automatic reloading system and can be fired quickly. Ship carries a total of thirty-six (36) reloads for torpedoes. For the most part torpedo warheads are equal to medium range missile warheads.

    Maximum Effective Range: 20 miles (17.4 nautical miles / 32 km) for standard torpedoes.

    Mega Damage: By medium torpedo warhead type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire torpedoes one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or three (3) torpedoes per side. Launcher can fire a maximum of two (2) volleys of torpedoes per melee each launcher.

    Payload: Three (3) medium torpedoes each launcher for a grand total of six (6) medium torpedoes. Has a total of thirty-six (36) medium torpedoes for reloads.

  5. Two (2) Type 952 Chaff / Decoy Launchers: Located on the superstructure of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. Both launchers must be operated or effects will be reduced. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not be effective against Phase World / Three Galaxies missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles) and reduce effects of launchers by 10% per launcher not used (Add +10% to rolls per launcher not used.) Only useful against missiles, not useful against torpedoes underwater.

    Range: Around Ship.

    Mega Damage: None.

    Effects:

    01-35

    Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud - Missiles are all destroyed.

     

    36-60

    Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (May lock onto another target.)

     

    61-00

    No effect, enemy missile or missile volley is still on target.

    Payload: Twelve (12) each for a total of twenty-four (24) canisters.

Special Systems:

The ship 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 © 2010 & 2019, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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