New Sovietskiy Drakon class Fast Attack Submarine:


Over the decades of inept “democratic” rule which Russia suffered through from the last decade of the Twentieth Century through most of the second decade of the Twenty-First Century, the Russian Submarine forces was allowed to rot until it was a shadow of its former self. Well, that is how the New Soviet Communist government reported it when they took over the government in 2027. The reality is a bit different with many of the old Soviet power brokers actually to blame for the sad shape of Russia during the so-called “democratic” rule.


Immediately upon taking control of the government, the new leaders planned for a large military expansion program including the construction of new submarines. Few of the submarines dating from before the fall of the previous Soviet Union remained operational and few new submarines were built to replace them. Otherwise, maintenance had not been up to Western standards. In many cases, the submarines had been operated long beyond their planned service careers as well and were long past when they should have been scrapped.


Halfway through the designing of a new fast attack, cruise missile, and ballistic missile submarine classes, there was a revolution in high strength composites and alloys. This made virtually all military designs obsolete overnight and did much to level the playing field with regard to these new materials. Various modifications were made in the designs in order to take advantage of the new materials and weapon systems.


The old Soviet navy often built several fast attack submarines which filled similar roles. However, the designers combined their talent in the case of the new fast attack submarine class in order to develop the Drakon class fast attack submarine. The first of the Drakon class fast attack submarines was laid down in 2034, the same year as the first Novik class destroyer. About forty of these submarines were built with initial construction at the rate of one submarine every year.


When first developed, the Drakon class fast attack submarine was were among the most advanced submarines in the world. These submarines were expected to fulfill a number of different missions. Chief among these missions was to act as battle group escorts and as independent hunter killer submarines. A secondary mission was to perform the role of cruise missile platforms against shore targets although cruise missile submarines were more commonly employed in this role.


Even though more advanced submarines were in service, these boats where still used in front line service when the Great Cataclysm overtook the Soviet Union along with the rest of the world. Several of the submarines are known to have survived the coming of the Rifts and found their way to a secret Soviet base under Antarctica. Interestingly, the crew of another submarine, after being unable to contact their nation or any other Soviet vessel, decided to surrender / defected to the United States submarine forces centered around the U.S.S. Ticonderoga. The Soviet forces in Antarctica and the New Navy forces have encountered each other but the Soviet fleet has rebuffed all attempts at contact.


As previously described, the Drakon class were constructed out of advanced composites and could dive deeper than any previous Soviet submarine class. Soviet submarine classes were already known for their deep diving abilities. Diving depth of the new Soviet fast submarine was 1,800 meters compared to 1,500 meters for the contemporary American Tigershark class fast attack submarine.


Unlike the hull of the American Tigershark class, which is more of a cigar shape, the hull of the Drakon class is teardrop shaped like the old Soviet Akula class submarine. Later American fast attack submarines adopted more of a teardrop shaped hull. Compared to the American Tigershark class, the Drakon class is also quite a bit larger although it is actually only slightly larger than the old Akula class.


As built, the first eight vessels of the Drakon class used a standard fission type nuclear reactor. Later submarines replaced this with a pair of fusion reactors with similar output. As the older submarines required refueling, their original nuclear reactors were replaced by fusion reactors as well, bringing them up to the standards of later vessels. While the fusion reactors require refueling more frequently than the conventional nuclear reactors, they are far easier to refuel and require far less maintenance as well. Incredibly powerful for its size, the power plant could drive the submarine faster than any previous classes since the Soviet Alfa / Lira class yet was still extremely quiet, almost up to Western standards. With a top speed of around 40 knots, the Drakon class was considerably faster than the American Tigershark which had entered service the same time.


Designed for silent operations up to ten knots, these submarines employed various methods to reduce their noise considerably compared to older Soviet and Russian submarine classes. Included in this was far better isolation for the propulsion system from the hull. In addition, the submarine used a pump jet propulsor instead of a standard propeller and the submarine itself was covered by special sonar absorbent rubber materials.


Sensors were far better than older Soviet and Russian submarine classes although still considered slightly inferior to systems on the contemporary American Tigershark class. Especially with respect to the towed array sonar, the range is vastly better than previous Soviet sonar system and sensitivity was also vastly improved. While in service, the sonar systems were updated and upgraded several times.


Weaponry is considered quite unusual by American and British naval standards. One of the chief reason for this is because the Soviet submarine incorporated a short range anti-torpedo interceptor system on either side of the hull. In comparison, the American navy preferred to fire multi-warhead torpedoes exclusively from standard tubes on both their submarines and surface vessels. These interceptor torpedo launchers are located outside the pressure hull and can only be reloaded while the submarine is in port.


Otherwise, the Drakon class is armed with eight forward mounted 650 mm torpedo tubes. Compared to torpedo tubes mounted on American submarines, these tubes are far larger and have the ability to fire torpedoes with greater range and heavier warheads. A total of forty-eight torpedoes are usually carried as reloads with eight interceptor torpedoes. While missiles can be carried in canisters, they were rarely carried in service due to the relatively large number of cruise missiles already carried.


Behind the submarine’s sail, the Drakon class are armed with sixteen vertical style cruise missile launchers. Able to be used at depths down to forty-five meters, these cruise missiles are considered effective both against surface targets and against ground installations. Finally, the submarine is armed with a short range missile system on the sail for use against aircraft. As with the cruise missile launchers, the missiles can be fired underwater although limited to twenty-four meters.


In comparison to American submarine classes of the same period, the crew of the Drakon class is far smaller with a crew of only fifty standard. This is due to impressive automation although the Soviet submarine was not expected to operate for as long a period of time away from base as American submarines were expected to. Generally little maintenance was done aboard these Soviet submarines while underway. In addition, the Drakon class has no provision for troops while the American Tigershark has provision for twenty-four marines. Crew compartments were considered to be more comfortable that those on American submarines and includes a number of luxuries.


An even more major change from American submarine classes is that the entire crew of the Drakon class are officers as it was with the old Soviet Alfa / Lira class submarine. In general, the education of the Soviet population was considered to lag behind the West. As a result, extensive training was required for the crew of the submarine, more than would be considered consistent with short term enlisted crew.


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: Drakon class Fast Attack Submarine.

Class: Ocean, Fast Attack Submarine.

Crew: 50; All Officers (Has a high degree of automation).

Troop Capacity: None.


M.D.C. by Location:

 

25.6 inches (650 mm) Super Heavy Torpedo Tubes (8, front of submarine):

150 each.

 

Vertical Cruise Missile Launchers (16, behind sail):

125 each.

 

Short Range Missile Launcher (1, sail):

100.

 

Killer Dart “Interceptor” Torpedo Launcher (2, sides):

80 each.

 

Towed Array Sonar Housing (aft):

300.

 

Main Sail:

800.

 

[1] Bow Planes (2):

250 each.

 

[2] Pump Jet Propulsor (1):

400.

 

[3] Main Body:

3,200.

Notes:

[1] Destroying the submarine’s bow planes will reduce the submarine’s ability to change depths but will not eliminate it. It also makes it difficult for the submarine’s crew to control the submarine giving a penalty of -25% to all underwater piloting rolls.

[2] Destroying the submarine’s pump jet propulsor causes serious problems. The submarine will no longer be able to use forward momentum and the bow planes to keep the submarine level. It is recommended that ballast tanks are immediately blown so submarine comes to the surface.

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body destroys the submarine’s structural integrity, causing it to sink. If the submarine is underwater, the entire crew will die unless protected by environmental armors that can withstand the pressure that the submarine is under. If on the surface, there are enough flotation devices and inflatable life rafts to accommodate everyone aboard.


Speed:

Surface: 23.0 mph (20 knots/ 37.1 kph).

Underwater: 46.6 mph (40.5 knots /75.1 mph).

Maximum Depth: 5905.5 feet (1,800 meters).

Range: Effectively unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Boat carries 4 months of supplies on board.


Statistical Data:

Height:  54.5 feet (16.6 meters) not including periscopes and antenna.

Width:   41.0 feet (12.5 meters).

Length:  375.7 feet (114.5 meters).

Displacement: 7,900 tons standard and 13,200 tons submerged.

Cargo: Submarine is very cramped, 16 tons (14.5 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies. Each junior officer has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Senior boat’s officers have more space for personal items. Most of the boat’s spaces are taken up by extra torpedoes, weapons, and engines.

Power System: Nuclear fusion; average energy life of 20 years. Normally refuels every 10 years

Black Market Price: Not for sale; many nations and organizations would pay hundreds of millions of credits for a new and undamaged Drakon class fast attack submarine.


Weapon Systems:

  1. Eight (8) 650 mm Super Heavy Torpedo Tubes: On the bow of the submarine are eight torpedo tubes. Located above the bow sonar array, these tubes are 25.6 inches (650 mm) wide and torpedoes can be used against both surface ships and submarines. Along with standard torpedoes, torpedo tubes can also fire missiles (long range or cruise missiles) in special canisters, rocket boosted anti-submarine (ASW) torpedoes, and mines. These are modern, variable option torpedoes that are about 25% faster than the latest US torpedo designs of the time period. Submarine carries forty-eight reloads for torpedoes. Soviet submarines normally carry a number of interceptor torpedoes where the standard Soviet tactic is to fire an interceptor torpedo down the path of a torpedo fired at the submarine.

    Maximum Effective Range: 40 miles (34.8 nautical miles / 64 km) to 60 miles (52.1 nautical miles / 96.6 km), depending on torpedo type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)

    Mega-Damage: By heavy torpedo or super heavy torpedo warhead type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details), can fire missiles (long range or cruise missiles) in special canisters as well (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire torpedoes one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), four (4), or eight (8) torpedoes. Reloading takes one full melee round.

    Payload: Eight (8) torpedoes total [Has forty-eight (48) additional torpedoes and missiles for reloads with eight (8) “Interceptor” torpedoes normally carried.]

  2. Sixteen (16) Vertical Launch Cruise Missile Launchers: In the rear of the submarine behind the main sail, the submarine has a vertical launch missile system for launching cruise missiles. Missiles are launched in special canisters that enable the missiles to be used in depths down to around 150 feet (45.7 meters.) Most missiles normally carried are fusion warhead with smart missile guidance. Launchers can fire at multiple targets simultaneously and are designed to be used against surface ships and against land targets.

    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), or eight (8) cruise missiles per melee round and can be fired at multiple target at the same time.

    Payload: One (1) cruise missile per launcher for sixteen (16) cruise missiles total. Submarine carries no reloads.

  3. One (1) Sail Mounted Short Range Missile Launcher: The submarine has a retractable short range missile launcher on the sail for defense against aircraft although is effective against incoming missiles as well. Launcher can be used while the submarine is up to 80 feet (24 meters) deep and is useful against aircraft hunting the submarine while the submarine is underwater. Short Range Missiles are usually a mixture of 50% Armor Piercing and 50% Plasma. Launchers can lock onto multiple targets at the same. The systems missile launchers can target up four targets simultaneously and can fire a volley up to twice per melee.

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

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

    Rate of Fire: Can fire short range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) short range missiles and can be fired up to two (2) times per melee round.

    Payload: Sixty-four (64) short range missiles.

  4. Two (2) Killer Dart “Interceptor” Short Range Torpedo Launchers: These launchers are mounted on the sides of the submarine. 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 are mounted outside of the submarines pressure hull in retractable mounts. The launchers can only be reloaded in port. American and European designed prefer to fire interceptor torpedoes exclusively from their standard torpedo tubes. Launcher is primarily designed to intercept incoming torpedoes but can be used against other vessels, against large submarines, and 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: Forty-eight (48) interceptor torpedoes each for ninety-six (96) interceptor torpedoes total.

  5. Noisemakers: The submarine carries noisemakers in order to decoy torpedoes. They are most effective against normal torpedoes and less effective against “smart” torpedoes. Considered in many ways to be the last line of defense against incoming torpedoes and similar systems are carried on most submarines. The noisemakers are launched from the middle of the submarine.

    Effects: 50% of decoying normal torpedoes and 20% of decoying smart torpedoes.

    Rate of Fire: Two (2) noisemakers at a time (Can be reloaded in one melee round).

    Payload: Twenty (20) noisemakers.

Special Systems:

The submarine has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following special features:


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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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