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New Sovietskiy Alexandr Nevskiy Heavy Missile Cruiser:


When the Communist government took power back in the Twenty-First Century in Russia, the Soviet military began a massive expansion program. In addition to the two dozen cruisers of the Svietlana class which were built, the new Soviet navy planned to build eight cruisers of a heavier class of cruiser. Still, the program had to be cut short at two vessels in order to continue funding the building of other classes, which were seen as more important.


The first of the heavy cruiser class, the Alexandr Nevskiy, was laid down in 2043 and the second vessel, the Voroshilov was not laid down in 2047. These ships were initially planned to act as flagships for larger task forces than the Svietlana class. However, the lighter cruisers could perform this role quite adequately and instead these heavy cruisers were most often assigned the role of ground support which the ship’s heavy gun and heavy cruise missile battery allowed them to perform quite well.


One of these heavy cruisers normally served in the Northern Fleet while the other served in the Pacific Fleet. Periodically the two heavy cruisers would trade fleets. They were often assigned to amphibious task forces where a Borodino class amphibious command ship / carrier were not assigned to. Due to their large long range missile payload, the heavy cruisers could perform task force defense admirably and could defend the amphibious task forces that they are escorting quite well.


This is not to say that the ships were never assigned to normal task groups and the Alexandr Nevskiy was the flagship of the Soviet task force during one of the tense times between the Soviet Union and China. There is strong evidence which indicates that it actually fired against Chinese vessels in one of these. United States Intelligence was able to capture images of the Soviet heavy cruiser with light battle damage. As well, several Chinese patrol boats were lost around the same time. The official Chinese position is that the patrol boats were lost in a storm but it is far more likely that they were actually sunk by the Soviet heavy cruiser.


As with virtually all of the new Soviet naval forces built after the communists regained power in 2027, the Alexandr Nevskiy class was retained until the coming of the Great Cataclysm. There had been a number of refits over the years but most of them had been relatively minor. Immediately before the apocalypse occurred, both heavy cruisers had been deployed to act as command vessels for Soviet task forces.


It is believed that the Voroshilov was in the Northern Fleet and the American fast attack submarine U.S.S. Redfin reported having torpedoed the heavy cruiser off the coast of Norway. The American submarine reported hearing breakup noises just before fleeing the area. Intelligence indicated that the heavy cruiser had been leading an amphibious task force which had been assigned to capture Iceland and the submarine had been ordered to intercept the battle group.


The Alexandr Nevskiy is believed to have been assigned to the Pacific Fleet but had actually been in the Indian ocean at the time of the Great Cataclysm. There were several cruise missiles fired at Diego Garcia, probably to eliminate the island as a staging point for American forces, and it likely that the Alexandr Nevskiy was involved. Unlike the Voroshilov, there are no reports with regards to the possible fate of the Alexandr Nevskiy.


Even with the massive shipbuilding programs around the time that the Alexandr Nevskiy class were laid down, the Soviet Navy made every effort possible to keep building costs down. As a result, the heavy cruiser shared many features with other Soviet navy classes. The Alexandr Nevskiy hull is a basically an enlarged version of the hull used for the Svietlana class missile cruiser. While the hull is only slightly wider, it is lengthened significantly compared to the missile cruiser for the additional cruise missiles carried.


In addition, the superstructure of the heavy cruiser is virtually identical to the lighter cruiser to reduce costs. With few exceptions, the electronics are also identical to those of the Svietlana class. These include the radar systems, both a four panel active phased array system known in the West as “Pod Hunter” as the primary system and a single rotating active phased array system known as “Morning Star” as a backup. While not generally considered quite as capable as the most advanced American and Japanese systems, the systems were still highly capable.


Propulsion originally used for the Alexandr Nevskiy class were four gas turbine engines which are believed to copies of later versions of the American General Electric LM-2500 gas turbines. As designed, top speed for the Alexandr Nevskiy class was thirty knots but in practice was limited to a bit below that. In later service, the original gas turbine engines were replaced by fusion turbines. With the new fusion turbines, top speed went up by around two knots. One of the reasons, although not generally considered a primary one, that the two Alexandr Nevskiy class heavy cruisers were often assigned to the slightly slower amphibious units was due to their slightly slower tactical speed compared to the Svietlana class.


A similar weapon suite is carried on the heavy cruiser to those carried on the Svietlana class missile cruiser. Many are also shared by the Novik class destroyer. Compared to the Svietlana class missile cruiser, one of the most major differences in the Alexandr Nevskiy class is in the heavy gun armament. The heavy cruiser carries two twin 152 mm cannons mounted in the forward part of the ship compared to two single 152 mm mounts with one positioned in the front and the other positioned on the aft of the Svietlana class. The other major change is that the extended hull allows the Alexandr Nevskiy class to carry with twenty four cruise missiles versus sixteen cruise missiles for the smaller guided missile cruiser.


Otherwise, the heavy cruiser carries the same basic long range and medium range missile batteries as the Svietlana class guided missile cruiser. These include sixteen octuple rotary vertical launcher systems for both types of missiles and developed from older missile launcher designs. The Soviets had originally attempted to purchase the French Sylver missile launching system but the deal had fallen through and the Russian navy had been forced to develop an alternative system.


Eight of the octuple long range missile launchers are mounted immediately behind the 152 mm cannons with eight of the octuple medium range launchers behind them on a raised platform. The remaining eight octuple medium range missile launchers are above the rear hanger and the final eight octuple long range launchers are mounted behind the helicopter deck on the fantail of the heavy cruiser. In total, the heavy cruiser carries one hundred and twenty-eight long range missiles and one hundred and twenty-eight medium range missiles.


As with the Svietlana class, the heavy cruisers originally carried four CADS-N-1 Close in weapon system for inner missile defense. These combine a point defense Gatling cannon with short range missiles. These weapons were mounted on the corners of the superstructure. In later refits, these were replaced by a combination short range missile and pulse laser weapon known as CADS-N-6. Major change from the original point defense is replacing the Gatling cannon with a pulse laser. The laser is similar to soviet heavy combat rifles and fires a four blast burst. While longer ranged than the laser rifle that it is based on, it is much shorter ranged than the original auto-cannon carried in the CADS-N-1. Still, the unlimited payload for a last ditch weaponry was considered very effective.


For anti-submarine warfare, the Alexandr Nevskiy class carries five heavy torpedo tubes on either side of the vessel and a “Killer Dart” short range interceptor torpedo system. The heavy torpedo launchers are designed for long range purposes and can fire anti-submarine rocket launched torpedoes. However, the killer dart system is far shorter ranged in designed primarily for short range high speed interception of torpedoes. Unlike the Svietlana class where it is mounted on the bow, the “Killer Dart” interceptor system is mounted on the fantail.


While the heavy cruiser carries basically the same automation as the Svietlana class missile cruiser, the heavy cruiser does require a larger crew to operate. Standard crew is almost four hundred but the Alexandr Nevskiy class can likely be operated by a much smaller crew if needed. The flag facilities are only slightly larger than those on the Svietlana class but marine facilities are greatly increased.


As built, the Alexandr Nevskiy class was designed for a marine compliment of eighty marines. Cyborgs were still highly experimental and there were no provisions for them initially. Later, half of the helicopter hangers were converted for the use by heavy cyborgs and an additional twenty heavy cyborgs could be embarked. Both light cyborgs and heavy cyborgs were sometimes fitted with jet packs and filled a similar role to power armors on American and wester warships. The ships were originally designed to carry four aircraft but the compliment was reduce to two embarked aircraft.


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: Alexandr Nevskiy class Heavy Missile Cruiser.

Vehicle Type: Ocean, Heavy Missile Cruiser.

Crew: 388; 42 officers, 346 petty officers and enlisted crew members.(Has a high degree of automation and can be run effectively by 200 crew members) The ship also can carry a flagship staff of 34 personnel when acting as a flagship.

Troops: 8 helicopter crew members, 80 troops for shipboard defense and other missions (including partial conversions and light cyborgs), and 20 heavy cyborg soldiers (usually with jet packs.)


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

 

2

Helicopters or other VTOL Aircraft (Ka-27 Helix early service / Yak-228 “Minstrel” later service.)

M.D.C. by Location:

 

Bridge:

700.

 

[1] “Pod Hunter” Soviet AEGIS Phased Array Radar Panels (4, superstructure):

200 each.

 

[1] “Morning Star” Active Phased Array Radar (1, superstructure):

250.

 

152 mm Cannon Barrels (4, cannon mounts):

100 each.

 

152 mm AK-152-2 Twin Barrel Cannon Mounts (2, forward):

300 each.

 

CADS-N-6 Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems (4, corners):

225 each.

 

SS-N-40 Cruise Missile Vertical Launchers (24, 12 each side):

150 each.

 

Octuple Rotary Long Range Vertical Launch Systems (16, 8 forward 8 aft):

150 each.

 

Octuple Rotary Medium Range Vertical Launch Systems (16, 8 forward 8 aft):

125 each.

 

21 inch (533 mm) Quintuple Mount Type Torpedo Launchers (2, sides):

100 each.

 

Killer Dart “Interceptor” Torpedo Launcher (1, aft):

80.

 

[2] Chaff / Decoy Launchers (4, superstructure):

10 each.

 

Hanger (aft):

800.

 

VTOL / Helicopter Pad (aft):

300.

 

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

80.

 

[3] Main Body:

3,800

Notes:

[1] Destroying “Pod Hunter” AEGIS active phased array panels will disable primary long range search and fire control systems. However, the “Morning Star” rotating active phased array radar acts as medium range radar but does not have the ability to track as many targets. In addition, standard robot sensors for the time period, not needing large antennas to be effective, were installed in well-protected points in the hull as secondary systems. As well, “Pod Hunter” phased array radar 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: 36.3 mph (31.5 knots/ 58.4 kph).

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


Statistical Data:

Draft:    25.6 feet (7.8 meters).

Length:  589.9 feet (179.8 meters) waterline and 641.4 feet (195.5 meters) overall.

Width:   76.1 feet (23.2 meters).

Displacement: 10,500 tons standard and 14,600 tons fully loaded.

Cargo: Can carry 800 tons (725.8 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: Originally conventional gas turbine propulsion, converted to four nuclear fusion turbine reactors with an average life span of 10 years.

Black Market Cost: Not for sale but if found on the black market would probably cost 900 million to 1.1 billion credits. Cost does not include embarked craft and power armors.


WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. Two (2) Twin Barrel 152 mm AK-152-2 Naval Guns: The ship carried two double barrel turrets mounted in front of the main superstructure. The weapon is based on standard artillery systems and was carried on a most Soviet combatant vessels. Weapon preferred by most crews over the dual 130 mm cannon carried on many previous classes because while it has a slower rate of fire, it has a longer range using rocket propelled rounds and has the ability to inflict larger damage per round. Can use both standard rounds and rocket propelled rounds. Weapon does not have the extremely long range projectiles available to the American 155 mm cannon. The turret can rotate 360 and has a 90 arc of fire. The weapon mount is heavily automated and is capable against other ships, against ground targets, and against aircraft. Plasma rounds are a late pre-Rifts innovation and are rare and expensive.

    Maximum Effective Range: 15.3 miles (13.2 nautical miles / 24.7 km) for standard projectiles and 24.9 miles (21.6 nautical miles / 40.0 km) for rocket propelled rounds.

    Mega-Damage: Standard Projectiles: 2D6x10 to a blast radius of 25 feet (7.7 meters) for High Explosive, 3D6x10 to a blast radius of 6 feet (2 meters) for High Explosive Armor Piercing, and 4D6x10 to a blast radius of 25 feet (7.7 meters) for Plasma. Rocket projectiles: 2D4x10 to a blast radius of 20 feet (6.1 meters) for High Explosive, 2D6x10 to a blast radius of 4 feet (1.2 meters) for High Explosive Armor Piercing, and 3D6x10 to a blast radius of 20 feet (6.1 meters) for Plasma. Use the statistics for 155 mm artillery warheads (Go to Battlefield Artillery for Rifts for more information - standard or rocket assisted as appropriate) when using artillery rounds.

    Rate of Fire: Up to four (4) single shots per barrel/cannon per melee round (Can fire up to 8 shots per turret per melee round.)

    Payload: 600 rounds each turret for a total of 1,200 rounds.

  2. Four (4) Kashstan CADS-N-6 CIWS Systems: One is mounted on each of the four corners of the ship’s superstructure. Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems which combines both a rapid fire laser and a short range missile launchers. While mounted in one system, both defense systems have separate tracking systems. Short range missiles are designed to be able to track and target multiple missiles simultaneously. Laser system fires four blast bursts and is capable of destroying missiles and inflicting serious damage on aircraft. Laser is similar to the S-500 Cyclone Pulse Laser Rifle with extended range. System can be targeted against surface targets and ground targets.

    Maximum Effective Range: Laser Cannons: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Mega Damage: Laser Cannons: 1D6x10 for four blast burst. Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type - Usually fragmentation warheads (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Laser Cannons: Six (6) attacks per melee. (+2 to strike aircraft; +3 to strike missiles.) Short Range Missiles: can fire short range missiles one at a time or in volley of two (2), three (3), or four (4) short range missiles per launcher. Can fire up to two (2) times per melee round in place of gun fire.

    Payload: Laser Cannons: Effectively unlimited. Short Range Missiles: Thirty-two (32) short range missiles per mount.

  3. Twenty-Four (24) SS-N-40 Cruise Missile Vertical Launchers: The Alexandr Nevskiy class carries four more cruise missile launchers on each side compared to the lighter Svietlana. The cruise missile launchers are considered the vessel’s main anti-ship and anti-ground weaponry. The launchers are located on either side of the superstructure on raised platforms with twelve launchers on each side for a total of twenty-four cruise missiles. The cruise missiles can be fired be fired at either ground or surface targets but cannot be targeted on air targets. The launchers can launch at multiple targets simultaneously.

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

    Mega Damage: Varies with cruise missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire cruise missiles one at a time, or volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), or twelve (12) cruise missiles per melee round.

    Payload: One (1) cruise missile per launcher for twenty-four (24) cruise missiles total.

  4. Sixteen (16) Long Range Octuple Rotary Vertical Launch Systems: These launchers are mounted with eight forward and eight launchers aft of the ship’s superstructure. Forward long range missiles are mounted forward of medium range medium range missile launcher and rear long range missiles are mounted on the fantail of the vessel below the helicopter deck. These launchers are modified versions of previous vertical launch missile systems. Each launcher has eight long range missiles in a rotary launcher. Missiles are designed for long range defense and against surface targets. They can launch on either ground, surface, or air targets. 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: Each launcher can fire a single long range missile at a time. Combined, the launchers can fire long range missiles one at a time or in volleys of any amount of long range missiles up to sixteen (16) long range missiles total in any combinations and at multiple targets at the same time. Can be fired up to twice (2) per melee round.

    Payload: Has eight (8) long range missiles per launcher for one hundred and twenty-eight (128) long range missiles total.

  5. Sixteen (16) Medium Range Octuple Rotary Vertical Launch Systems: These launchers are mounted with eight forward and eight launchers aft of the ship’s superstructure. Forward medium range missile launchers are mounted aft of the long range missile launchers and aft launchers are mounted on the top of the helicopter hanger. These launchers are modified versions of previous vertical launch missile systems. Each launcher has eight medium range missiles in a rotary launcher. Normal role for the missiles is to act as medium defense of the vessel. They can launch on either ground, surface, or air targets. The launchers can launch at multiple targets simultaneously.

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

    Mega-Damage: Varies with medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Each launcher can fire a single medium range missile at a time. Combined, the launchers can fire medium range missiles one at a time or in volleys of any amount of medium range missiles up to sixteen (16) medium range missiles total in any combinations and can be fired at multiple targets at the same time. Can be fired up to twice (2) per melee round.

    Payload: Has eight (8) medium range missiles per launcher for one hundred and twenty-eight (128) medium range missiles total.

  6. Two (2) Quintuple 533 mm Torpedo Launchers: Mainly design for anti-submarine warfare but can also be used against surface targets. There is one launcher on each side of the ship with five tubes each. They fire a heavy twenty-one inch (533 mm) torpedo, larger than those fired by the surface ships of the United States and allies. These are modern, variable option torpedoes that are about 25% faster than the latest U.S. torpedo designs of the time period. There is an automatic torpedo loading system which reduces time required to reload and fire. These torpedoes are considered the equivalent of smart missiles and have advanced tracking and avoidance systems that give them a +5 to strike, +3 to dodge, and two attacks per melee until they strike their target or run out of fuel.

    Maximum Effective Range: Conventional Torpedoes: 40 miles (34.8 nautical miles / 64 km). Rocket Boosted Torpedoes: Rocket: 120 miles (104.3 nautical miles / 193 km). Torpedo: 20 miles (17.4 nautical miles / 32 km).

    Mega-Damage: Conventional Torpedoes: By heavy torpedo warhead type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.) Rocket Boosted Torpedoes: By medium torpedo warhead type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire heavy torpedoes one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), or five (5) heavy torpedoes per side. Reloading all five tubes takes one full melee round.

    Payload: Five (5) heavy torpedoes/ missiles each launcher for a grand total of ten (10) heavy torpedoes/missiles [Has twenty (20) heavy torpedoes/missiles for reloads.]

  7. One (1) Killer Dart “Interceptor” Short Range Torpedo Launcher: The launcher is mounted on the fantail of the vessel. These so called “Killer Darts” are a Russian interceptor torpedo, designed primarily for intercepting and hitting incoming torpedoes, with a secondary function against small submersibles and submersible power armors. They mount in a similar position to the ASW Rail launchers carried on late Twentieth Century Soviet vessels. In contrast, American and European designers prefer to fire interceptor torpedoes from their standard torpedo tubes. Launcher is primarily designed to intercept incoming torpedoes but can be used against other vessels, against large submarines, and even against underwater troops. Other torpedoes can be used but are very rarely used.

    Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (609.6 meters) using interceptor torpedoes, other torpedoes use standard rules (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)

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

    Rate of Fire: Each launcher can fire salvos of up to eight (8) light interceptor torpedoes per melee round.

    Payload: Sixty-four (64) interceptor torpedoes.

  8. Four (4) Chaff / Decoy Launchers: Located in the superstructure of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. All four 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: Twenty-four (24) each for a total of ninety-six (96) 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. ]


Vessel drawing is created and copyrighted by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Initial Concepts by Marina O'Leary (LusankyaN@aol.com ).


Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2002, 2003, & 2017, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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