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New Sovietskiy Borodino class Amphibious Multi-Role Command Ship:


Since their inception, the military of the Soviet Union has often done things their own way. Some of these designs created a rethinking of the way that military designs are built while others might be described as simple oddities.


The concept behind the Borodino class was to combine the features of a gunfire support vessel, amphibious carrier, amphibious command ship, and amphibious transport in a single vessel. Different experts will report how successful the vessel design was. Generally Soviet leaders state that the design is the most advanced amphibious vessel in existence while Western military experts consider the design to be overlarge and very expensive for its capabilities. Most Western military analysts also stated that it would have been better off for the roles to be performed by several vessels.


When the Soviet Navy began expanding after they reformed in 2027, the first priority was the construction of conventional naval units including destroyers, cruisers, submarines, and carriers. Under the normally democratic leadership of the previous few decades, the Russian navy was in a sad state. Amphibious vessels were considered a low priority and Soviet amphibious doctrine was to use civilian “Roll On / Roll Off” vessels for amphibious landings.


Only after the conventional Soviet naval forces had been rebuilt to a large extent, plans could be drawn up for amphibious vessels including an amphibious command ship. The design of the Borodino class started as something a bit like the American Wasp class amphibious assault ship. As had occurred with several Soviet designs before the fall of the original Communist government in the late Twentieth Century, the design evolved with numerous features being added to the design until the vessel was far larger and complex than originally planned.


The Borodino was not laid down until 2045 with the vessel only being completed in 2051. Further vessels were delayed and the program was even considered for cancellation at time. The second ship of the class, Kronshtadt, was not laid down until 2054 and not completed until 2059. Only two additional vessels of the class were completed with a total of four vessels entering service by 2070. At that point in time, no additional amphibious vessels of the Borodino were planned.


The four ships of the Borodino class formed the core of Soviet amphibious groups although as time went on they were asked to take on more and more roles. In some cases, they were assigned roles more in common with fleet carriers and filled gaps where carriers of the Arkhangelsk class were not available. Another role that these amphibious vessels were tasked with was performing command and control roles for anti-submarine warfare. Finally, their landing craft were often replaced by specialized minesweeping craft and these amphibious vessels would for the core of mine warfare groups.


At the time of the Great Cataclysm, all four Borodino class amphibious vessels remained in commission. Even though no further ships were planned, there were no planned to retire these amphibious vessels. Two were known to have been underway when the Great Cataclysm occurred with the two others being in protective bunkers. While it is likely that most if not all of these vessels have been destroyed, their actual status is unknown. No one has reached the bunkers where the best protected of these vessels were docked although they are the most likely to have survived.


With regards to their design, the Borodino class amphibious vessels had a very unusual in appearance with a single angled flight deck similar to the old Kiev class aircraft carrying cruiser. Only Vertical Take Off and Landing designs can be operated effectively off these vessels and originally Yak-141 Freestyle VSTOL Fighter and helicopters were carried. Both transport and attack helicopters were usually embarked. As time went on these aircraft were replaced.


First the transport helicopters were replaced by the Yak-228 “Minstrel” tilt rotors. Next, the attack helicopters were replaced by the Mi-221 “Firefly” Attack VTOL aircraft. Finally, only a few years before the coming of the Rifts, the Yak-141 Freestyle VSTOL fighter was replaced by the more advanced Yak-244 Firedancer VSTOL fighter. The Borodino class amphibious vessels were among the last Soviet ships to receive the more advanced fighter. In some cases, reserve Yak-141S Freestyle VSTOL fighters might still be embarked aboard these amphibious vessels.


In common with the American Wasp class amphibious assault ship, these vessels had a set of rear doors which lead to a well deck. Compared to the more contemporary American Tripoli class amphibious assault ship, the Soviet vessel carries a smaller marines compliment although still of considerable size. In addition, a large number of vehicles can be carried and is designed to carry two air cushion landing craft. If landing craft are not carried, the number of armored vehicles can be increased by around fifty percent.


The first two Borodino class amphibious vessels were not originally fitted to carry heavy cyborg troops although later ships were fitted during construction. During refits, facilities were later added to the older amphibious vessels as well. Two berthing areas were modified, either during construction or later, for the use by heavy cyborg soldiers although the majority of cyborg personnel carried were of the light cyborg types.


With regard to weaponry other than embarked aircraft and troops, the amount of weaponry carried on Borodino class amphibious vessels was incredible compared to amphibious carriers built by other nations. Most of the heavy weaponry of the vessel, including missile launchers, were mounted on the forward deck of the amphibious vessel. Included in these missile launchers are forty-eight cruise missile launchers. While the cruise missiles could be used against ships, their main role was for ground bombardment strikes.


Also mounted on the forward deck, the amphibious vessel mounted octuple rotary vertical launcher systems for both long range and medium range missiles. In total, the Borodino class amphibious vessels mounted sixteen octuple long range missile launchers and sixteen octuple medium range missile launchers. With one hundred and twenty-eight long range missiles and the same number of medium range missile, the ship was as heavily armed as most Soviet cruisers of the same era.


Short range defenses are not forgotten although they are distributed more evenly. A total of eight combination anti-missile defense systems are mounted on the sides of the hull. Originally, the CADS-N-1 mount was carried with a 30-mm Gatling cannon combined with missile launchers. During refits, these point defense mounts were replaced with the CADS-N-6 with a pulse laser replacing the Gatling cannon.


Similarly to most Soviet cruisers and destroyers of the era, the Borodino class amphibious vessels mounted 152-mm gun mounts. In the amphibious vessel’s case, they were twin barrel mounts similar to the Alexandr Nevskiy class heavy missile cruiser with one mounted forward of the superstructure and the other aft of the superstructure. The main role for the mounts was shore bombardment although most captains did not like to perform this role due to having to get close to the coastline. Over the horizon attacks were much safer and the ship was arguably better equipped for this role.


Even with the heavy weaponry carried aboard these amphibious vessels, the extensive anti-submarine warfare equipment left Western military experts scratching their heads. On either side of the hull was five twenty-one inch torpedo tubes and two “killer dart” torpedo interceptor systems. General thought among Western naval circles was that such vessels should not engage in direct anti-submarine warfare.


Western amphibious carriers such as the earlier Wasp class and later Tripoli class already had larger superstructure than conventional fleet carriers. On the Borodino class amphibious vessels, the superstructure was even larger. In addition to full command and control facilities enabling it to operate as a flagship, the Soviet amphibious vessel mounted both the “Pod Hunter” and “Morning Star” active phased array radar systems. While the former is a fixed array system with four diamond shaped panels, the later uses a rotating single panel array.


These amphibious vessels were also expected to operate as anti-submarine warfare platforms and as a result were fitted with both hull and towed array sonar systems. In order to clear the well deck doors, the towed array sonar was in a special mount above doors. When in use, the system extended outwards so the sonar array is clear of the doors. Of course, craft could not be launched from the well deck while the towed array sonar is being used.


The first two vessels of the class, the Borodino and Kronshtadt, used four gas turbines connected to twin shafts for propulsion. These gas turbines appear to have been close copies of later model General Electric LM-2500 gas turbines and the American gas turbine engine designs are believed to have been used instead of Soviet engines due to being more efficient. As the hull design was not optimized for high speed operations, the top speed of the vessel was only around 28 knots even with these powerful gas turbine engines.


Later vessels of the class replaced these gas turbines during construction with fusion turbines giving both virtually unlimited range and an increase of speed to just over thirty knots. During refits, the first two ships of the class had their gas turbines replaced with fusion turbines as well in order to bring them up to the standards of the later two vessels of the class.


Due to the huge number of systems carried aboard the Borodino class amphibious vessels and their multi-role nature, the crew of these vessels was relatively large. They were generally not well liked by the crews because of the number of tasks that they were expected to perform. Even so, these ships mounted extensive automation to reduce the crew to be able to be operated with as small as crew as they were. In addition, the construction of high strength composites and alloys means that, in addition to being able to take incredible damage, there is little if any corrosion and hull maintenance is reduced to a fraction of what it might be using conventional materials.


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: Borodino class Amphibious Multi-Role Command Ship.

Vehicle Type: Ocean, Amphibious Multi-Role Command Ship.

Crew: 1,228; 128 officers, 1,100 petty officers and enlisted crew members.(Has a high degree of automation and can be run effectively by 450 crew members) The ship also can carry a flagship staff of 40 personnel when acting as a flagship.

Troops: 120 aircraft pilots, 250 vehicle crew members, 1,000 normal troops normal troops (including partial conversion cyborgs and /or light cyborg soldiers), and 300 heavy cyborg soldiers (often equipped with jet packs.)


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

 

Assault

Carrier

Light

Carrier

ASW

Carrier

Mine

War

 

Fighter/Aircraft Compliment:

 

4

0

0

0

Mi-221 “Firefly” Attack VTOL.

 

0

10

0

0

Yak-141S Freestyle VSTOL fighters.

 

12

12

8

8

Yak-244 Firedancer VSTOL Fighters.

 

8

0

0

0

Yak-228A“Minstrel” Cargo / Rescue Tilt-Rotor Aircraft.

 

0

4

16

16

Yak-228B“Minstrel” ASW / Utility Tilt-Rotor Aircraft.

 

2

2

2

2

Yak-228C “Minstrel” Radar Tilt-Rotor Aircraft.

Landing Craft / Small Craft Compliment:

 

0

0

0

4

Elektrik Air Cushion Mine Warfare Craft.

 

2

0

0

0

Tijger Air Cushion Landing Craft.

Tanks & Other Vehicles:

 

30

0

0

0

PT-262 Light Amphibious Tanks (Or 15 Main Battle Tanks.)

 

50

0

0

0

BMD-9 Amphibious Vehicles (Or 25 Troop Transports.)

 

50

0

0

0

Support Vehicles (Various).

M.D.C. by Location:

 

152 mm Cannon Barrels (4, cannon mounts):

100 each.

 

152 mm AK-152-2 Twin Barrel Cannon Mount (1, forward / aft of superstructure):

300.

 

CADS-N-6 Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems (8, hull):

225 each.

 

SS-N-40 Cruise Missile Vertical Launchers (48, forward):

150 each.

 

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

150 each.

 

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

125 each.

 

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

100 each.

 

Killer Dart “Interceptor” Torpedo Launchers (2):

80 each.

 

[1] Chaff / Decoy Launchers (8, hull / superstructure):

10 each.

 

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

200 each.

 

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

250.

 

[3] Elevators (2, 1 port sides / centerline):

300 each.

 

Hanger Doors (1, port side):

300.

 

[4] Angled Flight Deck:

2,000.

 

Rear Vehicle / Well Deck Doors:

600.

 

[5] Main Bridge / Superstructure:

2,500.

 

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

80.

 

[5] Main Body:

8,500.

Notes:

[1] 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.

[2] 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.

[3] If both elevators are destroyed, no aircraft can be moved from the hangers to the main flight deck.

[4] If the flight deck is destroyed, VTOL aircraft and helicopters can be launched or landed although at -15% to piloting.

[5] If bridge / superstructure is destroyed, the ship can still be piloted from engineering but with a -15% to piloting rolls. Communication and sensor equipment are not concentrated on the bridge to reduce the effectiveness of bridge hits.

[6] 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: 35.1 mph (30.5 knots/ 56.5 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:    41.3 feet (12.6 meters) including sonar dome.

Length:  871.1 feet (265.5 meters) waterline and 922.9 feet (281.3 meters) overall.

Width:   107.6 feet (32.8 meters) waterline and 179.1 feet (54.6 meters) overall.

Displacement: 43,100 tons standard and 54,300 tons fully loaded.

Cargo: Can carry 5,000 tons (4,536 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies. Increase to 12,000 tons (10,886 metric tons) without vehicles embarked. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Ships 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: Four fusion turbine engines, average life span is 10 years. First two vessels of the class mounted four gas turbine engines originally but were later refitted.

Black Market Cost: Not for Sale but costs around 1.5 billion credits to construct. If found and sold on the black market would probably cost 3 to 6 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 with one mounted in the front of the vessel’s superstructure and the other is mounted on the aft section of the vessel’s 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. Eight (8) Kashstan CADS-N-6 CIWS Systems: 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. Fort-Eight (48) SS-N-40 Cruise Missile Vertical Launchers: The launchers are located in a slightly raised platform on the from part of the Amphibious Multi-Role Command Ship. 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), twelve (12), or twenty-four (24) cruise missiles per melee round.

    Payload: One (1) cruise missile per launcher for forty-eight (48) cruise missiles total.

  4. Sixteen (16) Long Range Octuple Rotary Vertical Launch Systems: These launchers are mounted on the bow of the vessel with eight on either side of the cruise missile launchers. 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 missile launchers on each side of the bow of the vessel outside the long range missile launchers. 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. Two (2) Killer Dart “Interceptor” Short Range Torpedo Launchers: 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 each launcher for one hundred and twenty-eight (128) interceptor torpedoes total.

  8. Eight (8) Chaff / Decoy Launchers: Located on the sides of the hull of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. All eight 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 one hundred and ninety-two (192) 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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