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U.S. DDGN-168 Raymond Fox Guided Missile / Aviation Destroyer:


In the dangerous years before the coming of the Rifts, there was a need for small and medium combatant vessels as well as larger combatant vessels. This included both frigates and destroyers for the United States Navy as well as other nations. One important need was for multi-role escorts. Anti-submarine warfare was very important along with air defense.


The Japanese navy had a need for new designs as well to act as escorts for the carrier that they had under construction and their own plans were for a new destroyer class. It was decided that the new destroyer class would be designed and developed by the United States and Japan together in order to share costs. Later, Australia decided to order several of these fine vessels from the United States and eventually decided to construct several of their own as well.


As aviation destroyers, the design incorporated the ability to carry a large compliment of Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft for anti-submarine warfare roles. For this, the vessel carried a large flight deck aft and the hanger actually under the flight deck. In this respect, these vessels were similar to the long decommissioned Italian Vittorio Veneto class cruiser and French Jeanne D`Arc.


The destroyers are large and would likely be considered cruisers in many post Rifts navies. There was a passing similarity in appearance between the new destroyer class and the older Spanish F-100 class frigate, especially in the superstructure. As with most advanced designs, the destroyers were designed with a reduced radar cross signature.


While the destroyer carries fewer missiles than the Delaware class cruiser, it still carried a large number of missiles and was quite capable of task force protection. In order to facilitate the ship’s ability to perform in this role, it is equipped with the same long range Aegis type active phased array radar system as was carried on the Delaware class. Not only was the radar capable of long range detection and tracking, the system was designed to be capable of incredibly accurate fire control.


The construction of this destroyer class was started before the Darcey class guided missile frigates and several were in service before the first Darcey class frigate entered service. Some member of congress wanted to terminate production of the destroyers instead concentrate on the frigate due to the frigates carrying a similar weapon fit, not considering that these vessels were meant as much as aviation destroyers as missile destroyers. However, production of the destroyers was continued after a long and drawn-out debate in the United States Congress.


Over their long production run, slightly over one hundred of these fine destroyers were constructed by all nations involved in production. They would often operate with frigates and act as flagships for anti-submarine warfare groups. It is known that several of the Japanese constructed destroyers survived and it is quite possible that some of the other destroyers survived as well.


The first of the class, Raymond Fox, was named after an enlisted man who managed to get to the rank of three star admiral before retiring. Other ships of the class in United States service were mostly named after historic officers, largely captains and admirals, and enlisted personnel of the United States Navy. A smaller number named after historic individuals such as Secretaries of Defense / Navy and friendly leaders of foreign countries. More or less this naming convention has been the standard for destroyers and frigates since the first destroyer was commissioned in the United States Navy.


The Australian Navy followed a relatively similar naming convention, naming their own destroyers after their own officers and enlisted for the most part. The Japanese however named most of their destroyers for famous naval vessels of the Japanese navy. The first of the Japanese class was named Hyuga and the second vessel was named Ise with both being named after the hybrid battleship-carriers.


Like most other American designs of the time, the Fox class destroyer used a conventional hull design. There had been some development problems earlier with trimaran hull designs and the navy was a little shy of returning to them. Still, the plans for the next frigate and destroyer classes were to be a trimaran type design and there were a number of Coast Guard and lighter combatant designs using trimaran hulls.


The Fox class destroyers were designed wide hulled and were also fitted with hull stabilizers. As a result, the destroy class were both smooth riding and very seaworthy. This allowed for both high speeds operation and the operation of VTOL aircraft under far stormier weather conditions than might otherwise be possible.


Both the hull and superstructure were constructed from advanced alloys, composites, and ceramics. While the materials are not as advanced as later developed by the New German Republic, they were still both incredibly tough and virtually immune to corrosion. The materials are also designed to be radar absorbent and further reduce the destroyer’s radar cross signature. The angles on the faces of the ship’s superstructure combined with the special materials gave these vessels excellent stealth characteristics.


The first several vessels of the class were completed with gas turbine propulsion. After a few years of service, they were converted to fusion turbines. Fusion turbines gave these vessels virtually unlimited duration as well as having greater output. Later vessels of the class were fitted with fusion turbines before completion. Already perfected, these destroyers used an electric drive system. In addition however they were fitted with variable pitch propellers. As a result, these destroyers are extremely maneuverable and capable of radical speed changes. In order to reduce noise levels, the machinery is isolated, the hull is sound absorbent, and a bubble masking system is used.


In addition to the similar radar suite to the Delaware class guided missile cruiser, the Fox class destroyer is fitted with a sensitive and long range towed array sonar and effective bow mounted sonar system. While the Japanese destroyers mount the same systems as the American destroyers, the Australian vessels have a different sonar array. In any cases, the sonar systems feed into the same computer system as the radar, integrating all sensor data. Data from other vessels and even aircraft is also integrated into the sensor picture.


Even though the class is considered to be lighter armed than the Delaware class cruiser, the destroyer is well equipped to deal with most potentially threats. In addition to having an excellent anti-aircraft suite, it is well equipped to deal with shore bombardment, surface warfare, and anti-submarine warfare. These vessels has also been upgraded in terms of weapon several times in service.


As commissioned, the first block of Fox class destroyers were armed with a conventional 155 mm cannon. Later, this was replaced by an electro-thermal cannon of the same caliber. Compared to the conventional model, the electro-thermal model is far longer ranged and stowage was able to be increased. The weapon system also used many of the same components as the electro-thermal cannon mounted in the USA-M-10 Galahad self propelled howitzer. The main gun mount is positioned in the forward part of the destroyer, forward of both the superstructure and the main missile battery.


On a slightly raised deck is the main missile battery. Even though the destroyer mounts a single vertical launch system, the Mark 59 has ninety-six missile cells. Each cell can carry one long range missile or a pair of medium range missiles. Unlike the Mark 41 vertical launch system, the Mark 59 was even deeper and allowed for a reload of the launcher. Normally these launchers carried mostly dual purpose anti-surface and anti-air missiles, but several anti-submarine missiles were carried as well.


In order to deal with threats that made it through the destroyer’s outer defenses, the destroyer mounts four “Sea Sabre” point defense mounts which combine a short range missile launcher with a powerful rail gun. Normally the short range missiles engage incoming threats first and the rail gun is the last ditch weapon to destroy any that leak through or when the short range missile launchers run out of missiles. These rail guns could also be used against small surface targets. As with the electro-thermal cannon, the first several destroyers of the class carried standard Mk 15 Vulcan CIWS and Mk 49 RAM missile launching system but both were replaced with the newer systems when they became available.


While the primary weapon against submarines are embarked aircraft, the destroyer mounts four torpedo tubes on each side. In a quad mounting, their have an autoloading system to enable more rapid fire of torpedoes. Often the tubes will carry some interceptor torpedoes as defense against incoming torpedoes.


In the role of more passive defenses, the destroyer carries anti-missile chaff and decoy systems along with towed decoys against torpedoes. The destroyer also has a powerful jamming system although modern active phased array sensors can often avoid being jammed.


Dues to having a fair amount of automation, these ships are designed to be operated by a moderate sized crew. In general, these destroyers are considered quite comfortable.


Unlike most smaller naval vessels, the Fox class destroyer was designed to carry a compliment of marines. In fact, these destroyers can carry a larger marine compliment than the Delaware class cruiser. The ability to use the vessels large flight deck for assault missions was not lost on the designers. However, with a full marine compliment aboard, crew compliment is considerably more cramped. While the Semper Fi power armor was the preferred armor, there were never enough to go around and often PA-04A SAMAS power armors filled the gap.


One of the key reasons for the development of these destroyers were the embarked aircraft. As far as hanger space, these ships have the ability to embark six helicopters or other VTOL aircraft. In order to get aircraft from the hanger to the flight deck, there is a central flight deck elevator. Normally, the Kingfisher class VTOL aircraft were carried. The usual compliment was four anti-submarine variants and two electronic warfare variants. These would normally be replaced by transport versions when the ship was used for assault roles. In some cases these destroyers have carried “Steel Tiger” attack VTOL aircraft.


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: DDGHN-168 class Destroyer.

Vehicle Type: Ocean, Guided Missile and Aviation Destroyer.

Crew: 185; 15 officers, 22 chief petty officers, and 148 enlisted (Has a high degree of automation)

Troops: 56 Kingfisher pilots / crew members, 60 Power armor pilots (Flight capable Semper Fi power armors normally), and 220 marines.


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

Power Armor Compliment:

 

40

APA-15 “Semper Fi” Power Armors (have flight packs / sometimes replaced by PA-04A SAMAS).

Aircraft Compliment:

 

4

EVS-84A Kingfisher Anti-Submarine Warfare model.

 

2

EVE-84A Kingfisher Electronics Warfare model.

M.D.C. by Location:

 

Bridge:

550.

 

[1] SPY-5D Phase Array Radar Panels (4, superstructure):

400 each.

 

Mk 84 Single Barrel 155 mm / 68 Electro-Thermal Cannon Barrel (1, gun mount):

125 each.

 

Mk 84 Single Barrel 155 mm / 68 Electro-Thermal Cannon Mount (1, forward):

300.

 

Mk 44 “Sea Sabre” Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems (4, superstructure):

200 each.

 

Mk 59 Ninety-Six Cell Vertical Launch System (1, forward):

750.

 

Mk 52 Quad 12.75 inch (324 mm) Medium Torpedo Launchers (2, sides):

50 each.

 

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

10 each.

 

Hanger / Flight Deck (aft):

800.

 

[3] Hanger Elevator (center of flight deck):

400.

 

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

100.

 

[4] Main Body:

3,000.

Notes:

[1] Destroying the SPY-5 phased array radar panels will destroy the ship’s fire control systems but guns have backup systems and panels can partially compensate for each other.

[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] If elevator is destroyed, no aircraft can be moved from the hangers to the main flight deck.

[4] 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: 46 mph (40 knots/ 74.1 kph).

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


Statistical Data:

Draft:    20.1 feet (6.12 meters) hull and 31.0 feet (9.45 meters) including sonar dome.

Length:  611.2 feet (186.29 meters) waterline and 641 feet (195.38 meters) overall.

Width:   70 feet (21.3 meters).

Displacement: 10,150 tons standard and 12,400 tons fully loaded.

Cargo: Can carry 1,200 tons (1,088.6 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: Nuclear fusion reactors,, average life span is 20 years. Early vessels originally were powered by gas turbines.

Market Cost: Not for Sale but if found on the black market would probably cost 500 million credits. Cost does not include embarked craft and power armors.


WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. One (1) Mk 84 Single Barrel 155 mm / 68 Electro-Thermal Naval Gun: Main weapon mounted in turret in front of ship and replaced previous conventional 155 mm artillery on the first few of the class. Similar to the cannon carried on the USA-M-10 Galahad self propelled howitzer. The projectile is loaded into the barrel, behind which there is a “propellant,” which is a dot of light metal. A powerful electromagnetic force is applied to the metal, which causes its atoms to “switch” directions. This happens so violently that the metal turns to plasma, and this expanding gas then drives the projectile forward. The reload system is fully automated and the rate of fire can be maintained as long as the system retains ammunition. While the projectiles has a lot greater range than standard 155 mm projectiles, they carry the same size warheads and inflicts about the same damage. Self Guided projectiles can be used for pinpoint accuracy although G.P.S. Satellite guided projectiles are no longer useful due to the elimination of the satellites. Guided projectiles are far more expensive. Both non rocket assisted and rocket assisted projectiles are available for the weapon system. Weapon is not designed to use Extended range Guided Munitions and they were not seen as necessary with the great range of the electro-thermal projectiles. The gun mount can rotate 360 and has a 90 arc of fire.

    Maximum Effective Range: 31.1 miles (27 nautical miles / 50 km) for standard projectiles, and 49.7 miles (43.2 nautical miles / 80.0 km) for rocket assisted projectiles.

    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 Assisted 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 five (5) single shots per melee round.

    Payload: 600 rounds total.

  2. Four (4) Mk 44 “Sea Sabre” Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems: One system is on the front of the superstructure, one system on the rear of the superstructure, and one is on either side of the superstructure. 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.

  3. One (1) Mk 59 Ninety-Six Cell Vertical Launch System: Launching cells are located forward behind the 100 mm rail gun mount on a raised deck. The system is similar to the vertical launch system employed on many ships in the late twentieth century to launch the SM-2 series missile but since the missiles are smaller they have a reload system that reloads from under the launcher and can reload within 15 seconds. The launcher have a total of ninety-six individual cells and is eight missile cells longs by twelve cells wide. The launcher can fire up to half its total payload per melee. The launcher can use a vast variety of missiles including surface skimming missiles and rocket propelled torpedoes (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.) Each cell can carry one long range missile or two medium range missile. The reload for the cell must carry the same load as the main cell. Long range missiles are normally used against large targets and aircraft further out where the medium range missiles will normally be used to engage closer targets. About half of all long range missiles carried are fusion warheads and most missiles are normally smart missiles.

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

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

    Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), sixteen (16), thirty-two (32), or forty-eight (48) missiles for the whole launcher per melee round. Missile cells are automatically reloaded and are ready to fire next melee.

    Payload: Ninety-six (96) missile cells in launcher with reload systems for each cell (one reload each cell). One (1) long range missile or two (2) medium range missiles may be carried per cell but reload must be the same load out as well. The ship will often carry twenty-four (24) cells with two medium range missiles each and the other cells loaded with one long range missile each.

  4. Two (2) Mk 52 Quad 12.75 inch (324 mm) Medium 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 four tubes each. Interceptor torpedoes are also available for launchers / tubes to use against incoming torpedoes. The The tubes have an automatic reloading system and can be fired quickly. The ships carries a total of 80 torpedoes for reloads. Treat warheads as medium range missile warheads.

    Maximum Effective Range: 20 miles (17.4 nautical miles / 32 km) for standard torpedoes.

    Mega-Damage: By medium torpedo warhead type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Can fire medium torpedoes one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) medium torpedoes per side, launcher can fire a maximum of two (2) volleys of torpedoes per melee each launcher.

    Payload: Four (4) medium torpedoes each launcher for a grand total of eight (8) medium torpedoes. Has an additional eighty (80) medium torpedoes for reloads.

  5. Two (2) Chaff / Decoy Launchers: Located on the superstructure of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. Both 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 forty-eight (48) canisters.

  6. Four (4) SLQ-52B Naiad Advanced Towed Torpedo Decoys: 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:


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Picture by Mischa (E-Mail Mischa) & Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune). Click on line drawing for a better view.

Mischa has no art home page at present but many other items on my site.


Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2017, & 2018, Kitsune & Mischa. All rights reserved.


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