U.S. CVN-71 Theodore Roosevelt class Multi-Role Aircraft Carrier:


The Nimitz class carriers were the largest, finest ships built in their day. Designed as the follow-on to the U.S.S. Enterprise, U.S.S. America, and U.S.S. Kennedy, they were enormous ships with tremendous capabilities. In many ways, the Nimitz class ships represented a “worst-case” design, able to accommodate the most difficult conditions and threats. The were designed against the first Cold War expectation of immense Soviet conventional and nuclear firepower.


In the beginning of the “Mega-Damage” revolution, as many people called it, the leaders of the United States were convinced that peace would rule the future and as such was reluctant to finance large military expansion. While Russia had gone back to a Communist style government, it was not seen as a threat by most government leaders. In fact after the oligarches that had lead Russia prior to the communist take over, some even considered that it might be a positive change. As one might expect, military leaders generally did not agree with their government leaders, but they did not control the finances.


The United States Navy, with virtually all of their militray hardware becoming obsolete with the introduction of new materials and weapon systems, wanted to construct a new super carrier class. As well, the Nimitz class carriers were simply getting old and refitting them was not considered really cost effective. The president did not want to finance a new class of super carriers and instead had his defense secretary work on some less expensive alternatives. One project was for a conventionally powered carrier which was smaller than a fleet carrier and would be a minimalist design. This eventually became the Avenger class of escort carriers.


Funding for the refit of the Nimitz and Coral Sea class carriers was allotted in the early Twenty-Thirties into the Twenty-Forties as the SSSR began to grow more powerful. The United States government did not want to cause concern with its citizens and tried to explain the refit of the Nimitz class with the new super-strength materials was to help protect the ships against corrosion and natural weathering.


Prior to this, the U.S.S. Nimitz and U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower had already been retired although not yet scrapped. Neither was included in the refit and it was decided that the U.S.S. Carl Vinson was also too old to be refitted. It was decided that these first three Nimitz class would be retired and mothballed as potential mobilization. Later all three were scrapped.


Seven of the original nine Nimitz class carriers were refitted between 2034 and 2049. The Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) was already scheduled for Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) and was the first to be overhauled. She emerged from Newport News in 2037 a completely rebuilt ship. The others followed quickly. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)was completed in 2039, Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in 2041, George Washington (CVN-73) in 2043, John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in 2045, and Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in 2047. They held the line against the enemies of United States along the side of the newer Coral Sea and Avenger classes. Even with the newer Coral Sea class carriers, the refitted Nimitz class carriers were still considered symbols for the power of the United States for the next several decades.


Much of the refit for the Nimitz class was taken straight from the refits of the follow-on Coral Sea class carriers. The carriers were refitted and reconstructed using new super strength materials as they came in for extensive refitting. In addition to being able to withstand far greater damage, they were less effected by corrosion. This greatly reduced further refits that the carriers required. Radar absorbent materials were extensively used on the outer hull and superstructure of the ship to help lower the cross-section visible on surface search radars. The effects were to reduce the signature of the carriers, although no where near as great as the Coral Sea or Ranger classes.


Massive additional automation was incorporated into the carriers during refits, vastly decreasing the size of the crew. The crew was reduced to 2,350 with an air wing of 1,750 compared to 2,900 personnel and an air wing of 2,100 in their unaltered state. The old steam catapults were retained because replacing them with electromagnetic catapults would have required basically ripping the entire carriers apart in order to be fitted. This became less of a problem as more of the carrier’s air wing became VTOL capable.


Initially the original weaponry was retained including two Mk 29 box launchers for medium range missiles, two Mk 49 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) launchers for short range missiles, and three Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS mounts. Improved missiles and ammunition was developed for the weapon systems however. Long range defense was normally performed by escort vessels but the carrier were considered well protected against missile strikes in general. Both the SPS-48 and SPS-49 radars were mounted inside of protective housing similar to that of the experimental Spruance class destroyer U.S.S. Radford. A number of later vessels mounted their radars in similar housings.


The first three Nimitz class carriers retained their original twin nuclear reactors which were of a fission design. During refit, their reactors were simply refueled. The later four carriers however had their fission reactors replaced by four fusion reactors. While the first three carriers refitted retained the top speed of around thirty-two knots, the later carriers could reach a top speed of thirty-four knots after being refitted.


As the newer Ranger class carriers came into service, the Theodore Roosevelt' class carriers were decommissioned and scrapped. U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt was decommissioned in 2045 and U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln in 2048.  The U.S.S. George Washington was decommissioned in 2051 when the U.S.S. Ranger was commissioned. She was retained as a reserve carrier until 2058 when she was recommissioned as a training carrier. It was likely she was retained in that role because she had been converted to fusion. She served in that capacity for almost forty years until 2097. The coming of the Rifts kept her from being scrapped and Golden Age Weaponsmiths was able to salvage her in 95 P.A. (2381 A.D.)


The Ranger class U.S.S. Lexington and U.S.S. Intrepid replaced the decommissioned U.S.S. Ronald Reagan and U.S.S. John C. Stennis respectively in 2061 and 2064. With the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan decommissioning, the last of the conventional fission carrier power plant were retired. While the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan was soon scrapped, U.S.S. John C. Stennis was retained in reserve for a period of time due to being converted to fusion power and easier to return to service.


In 2074, the remaining carrier, U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, was refitted again with a SPX-1A active phased array radar system with the SPS-48 and SPS-49 radars being removed altogether. There was not sufficient space to replace the Mk 29 medium range missile box launchers and they were retained although they became harder to maintain as time went on. The Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS and Mk 49 RAM launchers however were replaced by four Mk 44 “Sea Sabre” combination rail gun and short range missile turrets.


The catapults were deactivated with the retirement of the last Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft from the carriers' deck. A ski-jump similar to that of the Soviet Kuznetsov was built over the bow to help ease take-offs of heavily loaded aircraft. There was concern over a projected reduced deck-handling capability, but these fears never panned out due mostly to the superb training and experience of the US Navy deck crews. The arrestor cables and associated machinery was removed at the same time. The additional room was utilized in other areas of the refit of the vessels.


As a training carrier, the U.S.S. George Washington had a limited refit as well. The SPS-48 and SPS-49 radars were replaced by SPS-88 active phased array radar system. Her catapults were deactivated although retained. Her arresting gear was retained unmodified however. When she had been recommissioned as a training carrier, all of her weaponry was removed.


The U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson (CVN-77) was considered built with more advanced capabilities and is considered to be a half-sister to the Nimitz class. The basic hull and power plants were the same and the Nimitz class, but many changes separated her from her siblings. Many of the “Smart Ship” systems tried out on the U.S.S. Yorktown (CG-47) were incorporated to reduce the manning of the ship. Nearly twenty-five percent less crew were required to run the ship. These systems were incorporated into the refit of the other Nimitz class ships and were continuously developed and improved the further reduce the crew in other refits.


Process and work flow improvements were implemented into the design. Additional weapons elevators and  fuel spots were built into the flight deck in the area at the base of the island. This “pit stop” was incorporated to more easily refuel and rearm aircraft for a faster turn-around. The SPS-49 long-range air-search radar was also incorporated into a slightly extended and enlarged island, eliminating the need for the separate tower for the unit. The redesigned and enlarged island had additional new features including a wider bridge with a new starboard bridge wing to help conn the ship during underway replenishment operations.


While U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson retained the two Mk 49 RAM launchers and three Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS mounts, the Mk 29 box launchers were replaced by two eight cell self defense Mk 41 vertical launch systems mounted on enlarged sponsons. While limited to medium range missiles, the carrier could carry up to thirty-two medium range missiles in the launchers.


Like the other Nimitz class ships, the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson was overhauled in 2051. The ship underwent conversion with new composites and alloys as well as having her SPS-48 and SPS-49 radars enclosed in a structure similar to those on her sister ships. As with the later overhauls, her original twin fission reactors were replaced by four fusion reactors.


Still considered in good shape, in 2077, she underwent a second refit that replaced her Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS and Mk 49 RAM launchers with four Mk44 “Sea Sabre” CIWS mounts. It was not considered worth replacing her self defense length Mk 41 launchers as those on the Coral Sea class carriers were. The catapults and arrestor cables and all associated equipment was removed and finally a ski-jump was built over the bow of the ship. Finally, her SPS-48 and SPS-49 radar systems were removed and replaced by the SPX-1A active phased array radar system. When she emerged, the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson was a close sister to the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, and the two ships were often mistaken for each other. Noticeably differences include the slightly larger superstructure on the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson and the lack of Mk 29 box launchers.


The U.S.S. Harry S. Truman remained in service until 2084, when she was decommissioned and scrapped. The  U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson was scheduled to remain in service until 2102, when the Ticonderoga class carrier U.S.S. Enterprise would replace her, and was at sea with the 4th Fleet off the coast of Chile on December 22, 2098 when the Rifts came.


It is unknown what became of her crew, but the New Navy found the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson grounded in Antarctica in the Bellingshausen Sea in 2165. The ship was in perfect condition, mostly because of her strengthened anti-corrosive hull, save for her aircraft being thrown around the hanger. Not a soul was found on board, nor were any signs of struggle found anywhere. The ship was thoroughly inspected, her engines replaced, and was tasked as the flagship of the New Navy’s Second Fleet. The fleet operates in the Pacific Ocean to keep the ocean safe from Naut’Yll and Horune raiders.


Over the careers of these carriers, just above every carrier aircraft from the Nineteen-Seventies to almost the end of the Twenty-First Century. The original fighter component of the air wing of a Nimitz class carrier considered of the F-4 Phantom and F-14 Tomcat. The F-4 Phantom was replaced by the F/A-18 Hornet in the Nineteen-Eighties and early Nineteen-Nineties. In turn, the F-14 Tomcat was replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. When the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter entered service, it replaced the older F/A-18 Hornet.


When these carriers were being refitted, their fighter wing consisted of a mix of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and upgraded versions of the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters were steadily being retired and additional F-35C Joint Strike Fighters were replacing them. In the Twenty-Fifties, these were retired and largely replaced by the fusion powered FV-38 Panther II VTOL strike fighter. By the coming of the Rifts, the main fighter compliment of the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson was composed of the advanced FV-45 Sea Hawk VTOL fighter although usually a squadron of FV-38 Panther II VTOL strike fighter were retained. These were supported by variants of the EV-84 Kingfisher and the V-22N Super Osprey Tilt Rotors.


The inclusion of these nuclear powered aircraft as well as the removal of the catapults and arrestor systems allowed the crews to further be reduced to 2,150 with an air wing of 1,310. This made for a much more roomy ship, and allowed for the berthing of 400 troops for power armor. The ships' interior was redesigned to rapidly reconfigure for missions other than those traditionally associated with "big deck" carriers. The changes included air wing enlisted berthing areas with extra personnel stowage (weapons, ammunition, etc.) required by Marine or Army personnel who might be embarked in place of the normal air wing. Additionally, air wing planning, control, and unit spaces were more capable for joint operations, so that special units like Army helicopter battalions or Marine air wings could use them with a minimum of modifications.


On a side note, the U.S.S. George Washington (CVN-73) was found by Golden Age Weaponsmiths in 95 P.A. (2381 A.D.), and was sold to the Coalition States, which was renamed C.S.S. Joseph Prosek. The carrier had been decommissioned in 2097 and put into mothball status. As mentioned previously, all weapon systems had already been stripped from the vessel when it was converted to a training carrier. Otherwise, all of the radar systems and aircraft gear had been deactivated.


Some reports indicate that the Coalition mounted long range missile launchers with huge payloads for defense weaponry on the carrier but this appears to be false. Instead, the ship mounts medium range box launchers similar to the Mk 29 launcher although of Coalition manufacture. They do however contain twelve instead of eight short range missiles. In addition, the Coalition appears to have mounted eight Coalition CIWS rail-gun mounts for inner point defense. They are generally not considered as capable as the Mk 44 “Sea Sabre” defense system or even the old Mk 49 RAM launchers.


As with the U.S. Navy point defense weaponry, it appears that the Coalition has not recovered any newer U.S. Navy fighter designs, and instead use a combination of old Pre-Rifts fighter designs and new designs that the Coalition has developed. The use of sky cycles is interesting because while a large number can be carried, the aircraft are slow and have a fraction of the capabilities of a real fighter. There have also been reports of the vessels carrying 4 Death Bringer class armored personnel carriers. These craft are massive and weigh far more than any aircraft operated off the flight decks of the carriers and the flight deck could not support them. There is a wide variety of aircraft operated from the carrier which is likely to impede the general operations of the carrier due to a lack of similar capabilities in embarked aircraft.


With regard to the crew, the size of the crew has been increased on the C.S.S. Joseph Prosek when compared to when the carrier was operated by the United States Navy. This is believed to be in part because the crew is less well trained than US Navy crews were in shipboard operations. The Coalition also has placed a huge number of marines on the vessel. Included in this is a sizeable power armor compliment, around twice that of the Nimitz class carriers when they embarked power armors. As a result, the added personnel have caused the carrier to be far more cramped than the vessels had been in United States Navy service.


Authors Notes: This is an expansion of the vessels presented in Coalition Navy, correcting some errors and expanding on the vessels in other ways.


In addition 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: CVN-71 Theodore Roosevelt class Multi Purpose Aircraft Carrier

Vehicle Type: Ocean, Multi Purpose Aircraft Carrier

Crew:

United States Navy: Ships Crew: 2,150 (165 officers, 195 chief petty officers, and 1,790 enlisted [Has a high degree of automation]). 

Air Wing: 1,310 (200 Pilots, 105 flight deck officers, and 1,005 enlisted).

Coalition Navy: Ships Crew: 2,350 (210 officers, 230 chief petty officers, and 1,910 enlisted [Has a high degree of automation]) Air Wing: 1,540 (200 Pilots, 120 flight deck officers, and 1,220 enlisted).

Troops:

United States Navy: 400 (120 pilots for “Semper Fi” Power Armors, 120 pilots for SAMAS power Armor, and 160 soldiers in body armor).

Coalition Navy: 576 (Includes 360 flying power armor pilots, 32 underwater power armor pilots, 6 Sea Spider Pilots, 12 Hellraiser pilots, one company of 120 Sea Dogs, squad of 10 Nautical Commando troops, and 36 Naval Infantry RTL Commandos).


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

United States Navy:

Power Armor Compliment:

 

100

USA-PA-04A SAMAS Power Armors.

 

100

APA-15 “Semper Fi” Power Armors (with flight packs).

Fighter/Aircraft Compliment:

 

6

EV-84A Kingfisher Utility VTOLs - General Cargo / Search and Rescue Model.

 

6

EVE-84A Kingfisher Utility VTOLs - Electronics Warfare Model.

 

6

EVS-84A Kingfisher Utility VTOLs - Anti-Submarine Warfare.

 

12

FV-38 Panther II VSTOL Fighters.

 

24

FV-45 Sea Hawk VSTOL Jet Fighters.

 

12

FV-45-SW Sea Hawk VTOL Jet Stealth Fighters.

 

4

FV-45-EW Sea Hawk VTOL Jet Jamming Fighters.

 

8

V-22N Super Osprey Tilt Rotors - Transport / Search and Rescue Model.

Coalition Navy:

Power Armors Compliment:

 

20

PA-06A “Death’s Head” SAMAS Power Armor.

 

20

PA-07A “Smiling Jack” Light Assault SAMAS Power Armor.

 

16

PA-08A Special Forces “Striker” SAMAS Power Amor.

 

150

PA-09A Super SAMAS Power Armor.

 

100

PA-10A Amphibious “Sea SAMAS” Power Armor.

 

32

PA-20B Trident Light Amphibious Power Armor.

Fighter/Aircraft Compliment:

 

12

F-14D+ Super Tomcats Interceptors / FA-18E/F Super Hornet Multi-Role Fighters.

 

24

CSN-115 “Sea Striker” Jet Fighters.

 

12

CSN-117 “Shrike” Interceptors.

 

12

CSN-118 “Dagger”Stealth Bombers.

 

4

CSN-120 “Eagle” Unmanned Drone.

 

4

CH-10N Sea Storm helicopters.

 

4

CH-12N Sea Wasp helicopters.

 

24

AFC-023 Sky Cycles.

Other Vehicles:

 

2

CSN-0006 Sea-Spider Walkers.

 

6

IAR-4 Hellraiser Infantry Assault Robots.

M.D.C. by location:

 

Point Defense Mounts:

 

 

 

Mk 44 Combination Anti-Missile System (4, flight deck - US Navy):

200 each.

 

 

CIWS C90R Rail Gun Mounts (4, flight deck - Coalition):

120 each.

 

Light Gun Mounts:

 

 

 

[1] USA-M31 Medium Defense Rail Guns (4, sides - US Navy):

50 each.

 

 

[1] C-40R Medium Defense Rail Guns (4, sides - Coalition):

50 each.

 

Medium Range Missile Batteries:

 

 

 

Mk 41 Self Defense 8 Cell Vertical Launch Systems (2, flight deck - CVN-77):

110 each.

 

 

C-MRM-12 Medium Range Box Launcher (2, flight deck - Coalition):

250 each.

 

Radar Systems:

 

 

 

[2] SPX-1A Rotating Active Phased Array Radar System (CVN-75 & CVN-77):

200.

 

 

[2] SPS-88 Rotating Active Phased Array Radar System (CVN-73 / Coalition):

160.

 

[1] Chaff / Decoy Launchers (4, hull / superstructure - US Navy):

10 each.

 

[3] Steam Catapults (4, flight deck - reactivated on Coalition carrier):

100 each.

 

[3] Arrester Cables (4, flight deck - reactivated on Coalition carrier):

50 each.

 

[4] Elevators (4, sides):

300 each.

 

Hanger Doors (4, sides):

300 each.

 

[5] Flight Deck:

2,400.

 

[6] Bridge / Command Tower:

2,000.

 

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

70.

 

[7] Main Body:

7,850.

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 SPX-1A / SPS-88 rotating phased array radar panel will destroy the ship’s main fire control systems but the vessel has backup systems with a shorter range (Equal to robot vehicle sensors).

[3] If the catapults are destroyed, non VTOL or STOL aircraft cannot be launched. If arrester cables are destroyed, non VTOL or STOL aircraft cannot land until arrester cables are replaced.

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

[5] If the flight decks are destroyed, only VTOL aircraft can be launched or land. VTOL aircraft are at -15% to piloting.

[6] If bridge/ control tower 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.

[7] Destroying the main body causes the ship to lose structural integrity, causing the vessel to sink. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship.


Speed:

Surface: 39.2 mph (34 knots/ 63 kph) in fusion powered versions.

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


Statistical Data:

Draft:    38.4 feet (11.7 meters).

Length:  1,040 feet (327 meters) waterline and 1,092 feet (332.9 meters) overall.

Width:   134 feet (40.9 meters) waterline and 252 feet (76.8 meters) flight deck.

Displacement: 78,243 tons standard and 107,500 tons fully loaded.

Cargo: Can carry 8,000 tons (7,260 metric tons) [5,000 tons (4,536 metric tons) on Coalition vessel] 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: 4 Fusion Reactors, average life span is 20 years. Originally powered by 2 nuclear (fission) reactors.

Black Market Cost: Not for Sale but costs around 1.25 billion credits to construct. If found and sold on the black market would probably cost 5 to 8 billion credits. It is believed that Golden Age Weaponsmiths sold the carrier to the Coalition for about 2 billion credits each although still partially stripped. Cost does not include embarked craft and power armors.


WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. Four (4) Defensive Gun Mounts: Originally M2HB .50 Caliber Machine Guns were fitted in these locations. These gun mounts are designed to give defense primarily against attacking small boats and similar threats. Not considered effective against aircraft or missiles. Mounted on the sides of the hull, they are often unmanned when the carrier is actually underway.

    1. Four (4) USA-M31 Medium Defense Rail Guns (U.S. Navy): These rail gun mounts were identical to those carried on the USA-PA-04A SAMAS power armor although outfitted with a double sized ammunition drum. The rail gun has fewer bursts and is heavier but the rail gun inflicts more damage than the post Rifts C-40R.

      Weight: Rail Gun: 110 lbs (49.9 kg), Double Ammo Drum: 280 lbs (127.0 kg).

      Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters).

      Mega-Damage: A burst of 40 rounds inflicts 1D6x10. One round inflicts 1D4+1.

      Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).

      Payload: Each has a 4,000 round magazine for 100 bursts.

    2. Four (4) C-40R Medium Defense Rail Guns (Coalition Navy): These are the same basic rail guns as are carried by the Coalition PA-06A “Death’s Head” SAMAS Power Armor. Unlike the U.S. Navy mounts, they only have the normal ammo drum although a second ammo drum is read to use

      Weight: Gun: 92 lbs (41.4 kg), Ammo-Drum: 190 lbs(85.5 kg).

      Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)

      Mega-Damage: A burst is 40 rounds and inflicts 1D4x10 M.D.,one round does 1D4 M.D.

      Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).

      Payload: Each has 3,000 round drum for 75 bursts. A second ammo drum is mounted next to the rail gun and is ready to use.

  2. Four (4) Point Defense Mounts: Replaces original Mk 15 Vulcan CIWS and Mk 49 RAM launchers. These weapons are out on the sides of the hull below the carrier’s flight deck. Two are forward on either side of the flight deck and the other two mounts are mounted toward the rear on either side of the rear of the carrier.

    1. Four (4) Mk 44 “Sea Sabre” Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems (U.S. Navy): These mounts are carried on the United States version of the carrier. This anti-missile defense system combines both a rapid fire rail gun and a short range missile launcher. While mounted in one system, both defense systems have separate tracking and fire control systems. The short range missile launchers can target up four targets and can fire a volley up to twice per melee. Quite powerful, the rail gun is capable of destroying any missile or inflicting serious damage on aircraft. The rail gun can fire on automatic at up to six targets per melee (Has +3 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft). In its design, the rail gun is very similar to those carried on the Sea King cruiser and it is likely that the Sea King’s rail guns came from a prototype of this system. The system also can be used against other ships and ground targets. The system has a 360 degree rotation and can elevate up to 90 degrees to fire at targets directly overhead.

      Maximum Effective Range: Rail Guns: 11,000 feet (2 miles / 3.2 km). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

      Mega-Damage: Rail Guns: 3D4x10 M.D. per burst of 40 rounds (Can only fire bursts). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

      Rate of Fire: Rail Guns: Six (6) attacks per melee round. Short Range Missiles: Two (2) attacks per melee round, can fire short range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) short range missiles.

      Payload: Rail Guns: 8,000 rounds (200 burst) each. Short Range Missiles: Sixteen (16) short range missiles each.

    2. Four (4) Coalition CIWS C90R Gatling Rail Guns (Coalition Navy): Carried on the Ranger class carriers operated by the Coalition. This is a close copy of the original pre-rifts weapon system but the tracking system has been improved and refined to have better hit probability against missiles. The most obvious modification is that the auto cannon has been replaced by a six-barrel rapid fire rail gun that fires 20 mm special discarding sabot rounds. Like the original Mk 15 Phalanx, the system is unmanned and fully automated. It is designed to have a much greater payload than the original pre-rifts auto cannon CIWS system. The weapons can be used on surface targets as well as against missiles and aircraft. Each rail gun can fire on automatic at up to six targets per melee (Has +4 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft).

      Maximum Effective Range: 6,000 feet (1,828 meters).

      Mega-Damage: 3D4x10 for a burst of 60 rounds.

      Rate of Fire: Six (6) bursts per melee for each mount (Has +4 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft).

      Payload: 6,000 rounds (100 bursts) each.

  3. Two (2) Medium Range Missile Batteries: Originally U.S. Navy Nimitz class carriers except the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson (CVN-77) mounted two Mk 29 Sea Sparrow launchers. The Thomas Jefferson (CVN-77) always mounted self defense length Mk-41 vertical launch systems on slightly enlarged sponsons. Mounted on sponsons, these missile launchers are designed to deal with medium range threats that are not engaged by the carrier’s escorts.

    1. Two (2) Mk 41 Self Defense Length 8 Cell Vertical Launch Systems (CVN-77 only): Mounted in sponsons in the sides of the flight deck. The carrier has two vertical launch systems each with eight missiles. These were the shortest Mk 41 type launchers and were originally designed to fire the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) but later modified to fire all medium range missile types. While other types of missiles can be carried, normally only defensive missiles are carried.

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

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

      Rate of Fire: Can fire medium range missiles one at a time or in volley of two (2), four (4), or eight (8) medium range missiles for both launchers per melee and can be fired at multiple targets at the same time.

      Payload: Eight (8) cells for missiles in each VLS (16 missile cells with a possible total of 64 medium range missiles). Each missile cell can carry four (4) medium range missiles. Not generally reloaded while at sea although carrier has additional medium range missiles for embarked aircraft.

    2. b Two (2) Medium Range Missile Box Launchers (Coalition Navy): Mounted in sponsons in the sides of the flight deck. Box launchers are similar to the Mk29 Sea Sparrow launchers carried originally although missile payload is increased from eight to twelve medium range missiles. While other types of missiles can be carried, normally only defensive missiles are carried. Launchers can be manually reloaded if required but is time consuming.

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

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

      Rate of Fire: Each launcher can fire medium range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), or six (6) medium range missiles. Medium range missiles can be fired at multiple targets at the same time.

      Payload: Twelve (12) medium range missiles in each launcher for a total of twenty-four (24) medium range missiles. The carrier has additional medium range missiles carried for embarked aircraft but reloading launcher requires six minutes (30 seconds per missile); twice as long if the crew is not familiar with the loading procedure.

  4. Four (4) Chaff / Decoy Launchers (US Navy Only): Located on the sides of the hull 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 differences. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles) and reduce effects of launchers by 10% per launcher not used (Add +10% to rolls per launcher not used.) Only useful against missiles, not useful against torpedoes underwater.

    Range: Around Ship.

    Mega Damage: None.

    Effects:

    01-35

    Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud - Missiles are all destroyed.

     

    36-60

    Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (May lock onto another target.)

     

    61-00

    No effect, enemy missile or missile volley is still on target.

    Payload: Twenty-four (24) each for a total of ninety-six (96) canisters.

  5. Four (4) SLQ-52B Naiad Advanced Towed Torpedo Decoys (US Navy Only): The vessel carries four advanced towed decoy drones. They are each a small automated vehicle that creates a false sonar image designed to mimic the vessels. The decoy is dragged behind the vessel using a cable. If decoys are not destroyed, they can be recovered and repaired. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not be effective against Phase World / Three Galaxies guidance and targeting systems due to technological differences.

    M.D.C.: 20 each.

    Range: Not Applicable although decoy is deployed approximately 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) from the vessel.

    Effects: The decoy has an 80% chance of fooling ordinary non military sonars and non smart guided torpedoes, the decoy has a 50% chance of fooling military level sonars (like those of the Coalition) and non “smart” torpedoes, and the decoy has a 25% chance of fooling advanced military sonars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and “smart” torpedoes.

    Rate of Fire: One can be deployed at a time and requires two (2) minutes to deploy (reel out) another decoy.

    Payload: Four (4) towed decoys.

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. ]


Writeup by Kamikazi (kamikazi_gm@hotmail.com) & Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


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


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