New Sovietskiy Burkut (Golden Eagle) class Guided Missile Frigate:


Before the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late Twentieth Century, the Soviet Navy had been growing at an incredibly rate. This all ground to a halt with the end of the Cold War and the Soviet Navy mostly rusted in port for the next few decades. Many ships were scrapped until, by the time of the Soviet reformation, there was little of this once proud war machine.


As a result, while the Western powers had the option to refit old ships when the revolution in high strength materials made the war machines of the world largely obsolete, this was not an option for the New Soviet navy. Still, a few of the surviving Soviet / Russian ships were refitted with these new composites and alloys, but they were scrapped as enough new construction warships entered service to replace these older vessels. One of the few exceptions was the carrier Kuznetsov. It had become something of a status system and was almost completely rebuilt.


At almost two hundred frigates, the Soviet Navy had operated a huge number of frigates. They were relatively small and easy to built in large numbers. As with the Soviet navy in general, only a handful remained in service a few decades later including a pair of Neustrashimyy class frigates. These were initially refitted with new materials but no other frigates were judged worth rebuilding.


Otherwise, only a small number of Burevestnik (known as the Krivak class in Western circles) class frigates remained in service initially but were not refitted. Scrapped within a few years, they were used as training vessels while new construction warships entered service. The two Neustrashimyy class frigates were transferred to training duties themselves as newer warships entered service. They only remained in that role for a relatively short time as well and were retired themselves. Unlike the Burevestnik class, the two Neustrashimyy class frigates were sold to India instead of being scrapped.


Almost destroyer sized, the first of the Burkut class guided missile frigates was laid down in Twenty Thirty-Eight compared to Twenty Thirty-Four for the first Novik class multi-role destroyer. The United States began construction of the slightly smaller Richard E. Byrd class frigate at around the same time. Over the next decade, a total of about two dozen of these large New Soviet frigates were built.


In part due to cost but also likely due to concerns over the construction of these large frigates competing with destroyer construction, it was eventually decided to develop a slightly smaller and less expensive frigate. This became the Tigr class light frigate. Construction of the Novik class destroyers continues along with over forty of the new Tigr class light frigate being completed. In general, the New Soviet Navy preferred more capable destroyers and built far more destroyers than they did frigates.


Even though built in relatively small numbers and not as well liked as the Novik class destroyers, the Burkut class frigates were generally well liked. While generally classified as “Guided Missile Frigates,” the Burkut class frigate were quite large and might be better considered a general purpose design. Prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Soviet Navy tended to mount a great many different systems on different vessels. The New Soviet Navy tended to try to simplify this and the Burkut class frigates shared many systems with other New Soviet built around the same time. It should be noted that they had extensive anti-submarine capabilities for their size.


Because these new frigates used the new composites and alloys, corrosion was not a major factor and the Burkut class frigates had long life spans. One was lost due to an accident but the remainder remained operation until the coming of the Rifts. All but two Burkut class frigates remained in full active duty with those two assigned to officer training duties. Three Burkut class frigates are known to have survived and it is believed that several more may be intact in the frozen arctic.


For propulsion, the Burkut class frigates originally used a pair of gas turbines which are believed to essentially be copies of the American LM-2500 Gas Turbines. A huge amount of Soviet technology was lost during the intervening decades and the Soviet copied systems when they could get away with it. It is believed that the New Soviet Navy copied the technology through India. Upgraded models, in addition to being extremely fuel efficient, they could produce almost 35,000 horsepower each. Top speed with these gas turbines was considered to be just under thirty-two knots.


In common with other gas turbine powered warships, including the Novik class destroyers, these engines were later replaced by fusion turbines. Derived from fusion engines developed for aircraft, these engines could almost be dropped into place in order to replace the original gas turbines. In addition to giving the upgraded frigates virtually unlimited range, these new engines gave the vessels and increased top speed of the Burkut class frigates to around thirty-four and a half knots. The United States and Western European navies had gone to electric drive engines while Soviet vessels initially retained a more conventional drive system with variable pitch blades.


In contrast to the United States and Western European navies, these frigates did not feature any major radar reduction in their design although they did feature a sophisticated electronic warfare suite including a powerful jamming suite and anti-missile chaff system. Instead of fixed active phased array panels, the frigates mounted a single rotating active phased array which was also electronically steered. Known as “Morning Star” in the West, this same array was mounted on the Marshal Isachenkov class amphibious warfare ships as their main radar systems and on both carriers and cruisers classes as a backup radar system. The Burkut class frigates also mounted an advanced sonar system including both a hull sonar dome and towed array.


Considered too small to mount a 152 mm gun, it was decided to mount a single 100 mm AK-100 gun mount towards the front of the Burkut class frigate. The 100 mm AK-100 gun mount had been originally developed in Nineteen Sixty-Seven, long before the dissolution of the first Soviet State. Designed to engage both surface targets and aircraft and extremely reliable, new rounds were developed for the gun to keep it effective. Due to a high rate of fire, it is quite effective even though lighter than what most larger combatant vessels carried. A total of four hundred and eighty rounds are carried for the gun mount.


Just behind the 100 mm gun mount and to the starboard side, the frigate mounts a single “Killer Dart” torpedo interceptor launcher. Firing short range high speed torpedoes, the system is considered quite effective against torpedoes fired against the frigate. While not normally used in other roles, the “Killer Dart” system is also considered effective against underwater attacks from power armors.


Behind the AK-100 gun mount and “Killer Dart” torpedo interceptor systems, the Burkut class frigate mounts its missile batteries on a raised deck. Compared to the Novik class destroyer, the missile battery of the frigate is substantially reduced with eight medium range and four long range vertical launch systems. A total of sixty-four medium range missiles and thirty-two long range missiles are normally carried. Otherwise, these weapon systems are identical to weapon systems carried on the Novik class destroyer and a number of other contemporary New Soviet warship classes.


The development of the vertical launch systems carried on the frigate was a torturous process. Early in the development process, the New Soviet navy considered strongly copying the American Mk 41 vertical launching system. Later, the New Soviet navy purchased the French Sylver missile system but the deal fell through. Finally, it was decided to use the vertical launch systems from the SA-N-6 “Grumble” and SA-N-9 “Gauntlet” missile systems and simply modify it for both medium and long range missiles.


On either side of the frigate are triple torpedo tubes near midships where the funnels are located from when it was originally gas turbine powered. Due to weight concerns, the number of tubes had to be reduced from the quintuple tubes carried on most larger New Soviet vessels. Still, while most Western surface vessels mounted 324 mm tubes, the New Soviet frigate design mounted 533 mm tubes. While primarily used for anti-submarine warfare, the torpedoed can also be useful against surface targets. In addition to standard long range torpedoes, special rocket propelled torpedoes can also be fired. There is a total of twelve torpedoes carried for reloads with tubes automatically reloaded between firing.


On the superstructure itself, the Burkut class frigate mounts a pair of close in anti-missile defense mounts. Originally the frigates mounted the CADS-N-1 close in weapon system in these position but there were replaced in later service with system generally considered more capable. In some ways similar, the replacement Kashstan CADS-N-6 CIWS Systems combines short range missiles with a laser that is a modified version of the S-500 Cyclone Pulse Laser Rifle. A total of thirty-two short range missiles are carried and ready to fire for each mount. Designed to engage missiles which leak through the out missile defenses, it is a quite capable autonomous defense system.


The rear section of the superstructure is a hanger which is designed for two helicopters or other VTOL aircraft. Almost exclusively anti-submarine aircraft are embarked. In early service, the Ka-27 Helix helicopter was usually embarked but later replaced by the Yak-228 “Minstrel” tilt rotor. Unlike the Novik class destroyer, the landing pad extends all the way to the stern of the frigate.


In common with other warships in the New Soviet Navy, there were no provisions for flying power armors aboard the Burkut class frigate. Generally, the New Soviet military did not operate many power armors but instead preferred cyborg troops. In later service, a total of eight troops were often embarked for shipboard defense with the troops often being full conversion or partial conversion cyborgs. In some cases they might also have flight packs available to them.


These frigates were designed with advanced crew automation although they still had larger manning that many Western frigate designs. Even those vastly improved in terms of training compared to either the original Soviet navy or the Russian navy post Soviet Union, personnel training still tended to lag behind the training of the Americans and other Western nations. Designed for reasonable crew comforts, the officers’ accommodations were still not as luxurious as previous classes like the Kirov and Slava classes were from before the dissolution of the first Soviet Union.


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: Burkut class Guided Missile Frigate.

Vehicle Type: Ocean, Guided Missile Frigate.

Crew: 165; 18 officers, 147 petty officers and enlisted crew members.(Has a high degree of automation and can be run effectively by 80 crew members.)

Troops: 8 helicopter crew members, 8 troops for shipboard defense (Including partial conversions and light cyborgs.)


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:

300.

 

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

250.

 

[2] Single Barrel 100 mm / 70 AK-100 Gun Barrel (1, gun mount):

80.

 

Single Barrel 100 mm / 70 cal AK-100 Gun System (1, forward):

120.

 

CADS-N-6 Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems (2, superstructure):

225 each.

 

Octuple Rotary Long Range Vertical Launch Systems (4, forward):

150 each.

 

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

125 each.

 

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

80 each.

 

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

80.

 

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

10 each.

 

Hanger (aft):

350.

 

VTOL / Helicopter Pad (aft):

250.

 

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

80.

 

[3] Main Body:

1,300.

Notes:

[1] Destroying the “Morning Star” rotating active phased array radar panel will destroy the ship’s main fire control systems. However, 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.

[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: 39.15 mph (34 knots/ 63.01 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:    18.37 feet (5.6 meters) including sonar dome.

Length:  388.5 feet (118.4 meters) waterline and 427.17 feet (130.2 meters) overall.

Width:    51.84 feet (15.8 meters).

Displacement: 4,200 tons standard and 4,800 tons fully loaded.

Cargo: Can carry 100 tons (90.72 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 two 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 300 to 400 million credits. Cost does not include embarked craft and power armors.


Weapon Systems:

  1. One (1) Single Barrel 100 mm / 70 cal AK-100 Gun System: Mounted on the forward part of the vessel. Older weapon system but very effective with new ammunition types. The mount has a 360 degree rotation and can elevate up to 85 degrees as well as depress 5 degrees. The gun fire rapidly at the rate of 50 rounds per minute and is radar directed. Weapon inflicts large amounts of damage when rapidly fire. The weapon is useful on land, surface, and air targets. Plasma rounds are a late pre-Rifts innovation and are rare and expensive.

    Maximum Effective Range: 8.1 miles (7.04 nautical miles / 13 km).

    Mega-Damage: High Explosive: 1D4x10+10 with 12 foot (3.7 meter) blast radius per single shot and 3D4x10+30 with 25 foot (7.6 meter) blast radius for three round burst. High Explosive Armor Piercing: 1D6x10+10 with 5 foot (1.5 meter) blast radius per single shot and 3D6x10+30 with 10 foot (3 meter) blast radius for three round burst. Plasma: 2D6x10 with 15 foot (4.6 meter) blast radius per single shot and 6D6x10 with 30 foot (9.1 meter) blast radius for three round burst.

    Rate of Fire: Up to four (4) single shots or bursts per melee round.

    Payload: 480 rounds total.

  2. Two (2) Kashstan CADS-N-6 CIWS Systems: One is mounted on either side of the frigate’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. Four (4) Long Range Octuple Rotary Vertical Launch Systems: The frigate mounts four of these launchers forward of the ship’s superstructure. 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 four (4) 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 thirty-two (32) long range missiles total.

  4. Eight (8) Medium Range Octuple Rotary Vertical Launch Systems: The frigate mounts eight of these launchers forward of the ship’s superstructure. 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 eight (8) 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 sixty-four (64) medium range missiles total.

  5. Two (2) Triple 21 inch (533 mm) Torpedo Launchers: Mainly design for anti-submarine warfare but can be used against surface targets. There is one launcher on each side of the ship with three 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) or three (3) heavy torpedoes per side. Reloading all three tubes takes one full melee round.

    Payload: three (3) heavy torpedoes/ missiles each launcher for a grand total of six (6) heavy torpedoes/missiles [Has twelve (12) heavy torpedoes/missiles for reloads.]

  6. One (1) Killer Dart “Interceptor” Short Range Torpedo Launcher: The launcher is mounted on the bow of the vessel behind the 100 mm gun mount and slightly off to the starboard side. 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.

  7. 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: Twelve (12) each for a total of forty-eight (48) 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. ]


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


Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2011, 2017, & 2019, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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