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New Sovietskiy Marshal Isachenkov Amphibious Warfare Ship:


When Communist leaders took control in Russia in the Twenty-First Century, an important consideration was to revitalize the Soviet militaries. In general, the Russian military had been in horrible shape. For the navy, combat vessels were considered a priority. Carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines were considered be of a far higher priority amphibious vessels being of a comparatively low priority.


In fact, the Soviet Navy planned to use civilian “Roll On / Roll Off” vessels for amphibious operations if needed. While there was some criticism, amphibious operations were considered a low priority by the Soviet Navy. However, realizing that there were several potential enemy bases which could only effective be assaulted by amphibious operations, the Soviet naval leadership slowly began considering that a force of amphibious vessels should be laid down. Even then, civilian vessels were considered an important boost to military forces and amphibious training incorporated civilian “Roll On / Roll Off” vessels even up to the coming of the Great Cataclysm. Still, it should be noted that the Soviet Navy planned to increase their amphibious forces before the coming of the cataclysm but events overtook construction.


The Marshal Isachenkov class amphibious warfare ship cen be considered roughly equivalent to the American amphibious assault ships including such vessels as the older LPD-17 San Antonio class amphibious transport dock although there are important differences. In addition to the Marshal Isachenkov class, the Soviet navy constructed the Borodino class amphibious multi-role command ships although in much smaller numbers.


Even though the old Soviet Ivan Rogov class amphibious vessels had been scrapped during democratic rule of Russia, they still appear to have formed the basis for the development of the Marshal Isachenkov class amphibious vessels. They fill a quite similar role as well, designed to carry a large number of troops and ground combat vehicles. As designed, these vessels had no facilities for cyborg troops but were later refitted to carry them.


Marshal Isachenkov, the namesake of the class, was laid down in 2043 compared to 2045 for the Borodino, the namesake of that class of vessels. The Marshal Isachenkov required three and a half years to complete but construction time decreased as more were completed and later ships of the class required only about two years to complete. A total of about one Marshal Isachenkov class amphibious transport was laid down every two years but original plans had been to build them at the rate of one vessel per year. Eventually a total of sixteen of these amphibious warfare ships were completed but this fell considerably short of original plans. Still, it was expected that these amphibious vessels would have been complimented by twice as many civilian vessels during times of war.


Before the coming of the Rifts, eight more amphibious vessels of a similar design had been authorized. In fact, four had already been laid down but none had been completed before the cataclysm destroyed the shipyards. They would have been slightly larger than the Marshal Isachenkov class but would have filled basically the same role. It is believed that all were destroyed when the shipyards were destroyed.


As far as the Marshal Isachenkov class amphibious warfare ships, several are none to have been deployed with amphibious task forces during the Great Cataclysm. Most of the others had been in port during the cataclysm although several additional Marshal Isachenkov class vessels were being made ready to deploy. Most Marshal Isachenkov class amphibious vessels probably were destroyed. However, it is unknown if any survived the coming of the Rifts. There are stories of one or more Soviet amphibious vessels caught in the polar icecap, leaving many to wonder.


One major change compared to the Ivan Rogov class amphibious vessels was that the Marshal Isachenkov class only had a rear vehicle door and no forward door. This was due to the fact that the forward door creates problems with high speed operation. Even with high strength composites and alloys, these doors would be under tremendous stresses. Interestingly, these new amphibious vessels were more like American amphibious vessels in this respect.


Instead of diesel engines as with the American San Antonio class amphibious transport dock, it was decided that power would be provided by a pair of gas turbine engines. Many foreign military experts consider it extremely likely that these gas turbines are copies of General Electric LM-2500 gas turbines. It is commonly thought that Soviet large diesel technology lagged behind that of the West. With these gas turbines, the ship’s top speed was around twenty-four knots.


Interestingly though, the use of gas turbines made it easier to replace the engines with fusion turbines. On early vessels, the original gas turbines were replaced by fusion turbines during refits. Later vessels however had the fusion turbines installed during construction. In addition to giving these ships virtually unlimited range, the fusion turbines increased the top speed to about twenty-six knots.


As far as electronics, these ships were relatively austere. There is a saying among naval circles that steel is cheap. Modern composites and alloys, while more expensive than steel, is still far cheaper than electronics. With regard to the amphibious vessel’s radar, these ships carried a single rotating active phased array radar system known as “Morning Star” which is very capable and acts as both the main fire control and air search radar. Even though a conventional system would have been actually cheaper, it was decided to mount a reasonably capable radar system. The only other major electronic system that the Marshal Isachenkov class has is an electronic warfare suite. No sonar systems are mounted and the Marshal Isachenkov class depends on other vessels for defense against submarines.


A major difference between the Marshal Isachenkov class and American amphibious vessels is that the Soviet vessel was far more heavily armed. The ship carried a forward mounted twin barrel 152-mm gun mount. No American amphibious vessels built around the same time mounted any guns. While the cannon was mainly designed for shore bombardment, it was considered useful against attacking vessels as well. Even though surface attacks by destroyers and such vessels was considered unlikely, attacks by corvettes and patrol boats were considered far more likely.


These warships carry a number of missile systems. Used primarily for shore bombardment, the amphibious vessel carries a number of cruise missiles. On each side of the superstructure are four cruise missile launchers for a total of eight cruise missiles. Primarily for self defense against missiles, but also useful against aircraft and attacking power armors, the Marshal Isachenkov class carries eight octuple rotary medium range missile launchers. These launchers are mounted on the superstructure with four to either side of the bridge.


As final defense, the amphibious ship carried originally four CADS-N-1 close in weapon systems. Each contained short range missile launchers combined with a point defense auto-cannon. These were mounted basically on the corners of the superstructure. In later service, these were replaced by CADS-N-6 point defense mounts which is similar but substituted a pulse laser for the auto-cannon. The laser is similar to heavy energy rifles used by the Soviet military and fires four blast bursts.


While the Marshal Isachenkov class carries about the same number of combat vehicles as the Borodino class amphibious multi-role command ships, the Marshal Isachenkov class carries a greater number of actual troops. In order to bring combat vehicles and troops ashore, the amphibious vessel normally carries a pair of air cushion landing craft. When these landing craft are not embarked, the amphibious vessel can carry almost fifty percent greater number of combat vehicles.


Initially the Marshal Isachenkov class was not fitted to carry cyborg troops but in later service were refitted to carry them. The Soviet Union used cyborgs in a similar manner to how the United States and most Western nations used power armors. In addition to carrying light and partial conversion cyborg troops, these ships were refitted to enable them to carry up to four hundred heavy cyborgs. Many were often fitted with flight packs to enable them to fill a similar role to flying power armors operated by many Western nations.


While hovercraft are used to transport heavy cargo loads and vehicles to shore, more rapid transport of lighter forces was often performed by embarked aircraft. A total of six aircraft could be embarked for this purpose. In early service this was usually performed by helicopters but mostly replaced by the Yak-228 “Minstrel” tilt rotor. In some cases two of the tilt rotors are replaced by the Mi-221 “Firefly” Attack VTOL. In earlier service, sometimes a pair of attack helicopters might be embarked.


At around one hundred and eighty-five, these vessels required lower crew than the previous Ivan Rogov class. Crew berthing was considerably more spacious than troop berthing although crew quarters are not considered up to Western standards. In some cases there had been issues with these ships due to not having any real flag facilities even though they have been required to effectively fill the role of flagship for small amphibious groups composed of patrol boats and civilians vessels.


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: Marshal Isachenkov class Amphibious Warfare Ship.

Vehicle Type: Ocean, Amphibious Warfare Ship.

Crew: 185; 20 officers, 165 petty officers and enlisted crew members (Has a high degree of automation and can be run effectively by 100 crew members.)

Troops: 20 VTOL aircraft crew members, 250 vehicle crew members, 1,200 normal troops (including partial conversion cyborgs and /or light cyborg soldiers), and 400 heavy cyborg soldiers (often equipped with jet packs.)


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

 

Amphibious

Transport

Amphibious

Assault

Mine

Warfare

 

Fighter/Aircraft Compliment:

 

0

2

0

Mi-221 “Firefly” Attack VTOL.

 

6

4

0

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

 

0

0

6

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

Landing Craft / Small Craft Compliment:

 

0

0

4

Elektrik Air Cushion Mine Warfare Craft.

 

2

2

0

Tijger Air Cushion Landing Craft.

Tanks & Other Vehicles:

 

30

30

0

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

 

50

50

0

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

 

50

50

0

Support Vehicles (Various).

M.D.C. by Location:

 

152 mm Cannon Barrels (2, cannon mount):

100 each.

 

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

300.

 

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

225 each.

 

SS-N-40 Cruise Missile Vertical Launchers (8, 4 each side of superstructure):

150 each.

 

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

125 each.

 

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

10 each.

 

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

250.

 

[3] Rear Flight Deck:

400.

 

Hanger (aft):

600.

 

Rear Vehicle / Well Deck Doors:

400.

 

[4] Main Bridge / Superstructure:

800.

 

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

65.

 

[5] Main Body:

4,500.

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 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.

[3] If the flight deck is destroyed, no aircraft can be launched or land.

[4] 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.

[5] 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: 29.9 mph (26 knots/ 48.2 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:    24.0 feet (7.3 meters).

Length:  648.5 feet (197.7 meters) waterline and 697.20 feet (212.5 meters) overall.

Width:   106.6 feet (32.5 meters)

Displacement: 16,500 tons standard and 22,400 tons fully loaded.

Cargo: Can carry 4,000 tons (3,630 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies [Increase to 10,000 tons (9,072 metric tons) without vehicles.] 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: Two fusion turbine engines, average life span is 10 years. Older vessels mounted two gas turbine engines originally but were later refitted.

Black Market Cost: Not for sale but costs around 400 million credits to construct. If found and sold on the black market would probably cost 600 to 800 million credits. Cost does not include embarked craft and power armors.


WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. One (1) Twin Barrel 152 mm AK-152-2 Naval Guns: The ship carried a single double barrel turret mounted on a forward platform on 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 total.

  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. Eight (8) SS-N-40 Cruise Missile Vertical Launchers: The launchers are located on sides the superstructure with four on either side. 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) or four (4) cruise missiles per melee round.

    Payload: One (1) cruise missile per launcher for eight (5) cruise missiles total.

  4. Eight (8) Medium Range Octuple Rotary Vertical Launch Systems: Mounted on top of the superstructure, these are located with four on either side of the bridge. They are mounted on top of the main 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 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. 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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