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Audacious Class Frigate:

The Audacious class frigates were designed in the early years of the twenty first century, amongst fierce critisism. In the early stages of their design, when they were still known as the FSC (Future Surface Combatant), the descision was made to give these ships a Trimaran hullform. Tests with a technology demonstrator (the RV Triton) had shown that this hullform would yield considerable advantages in the fields of fuel economy and in deck space. The design was fiercely opposed by the more conservative groups in the Royal Navy. Words like "Untested", "Gamble", and "Unwise" were heard often, but the descision to go ahead with the Trimaran hullform was final. The fact that other navies, in particular the U.S. Navy, had also invested in the program had a lot to do with this.

Unlike with the previous class of major combatants build for the Royal Navy, the first FSC to slip into the sea set the standard for all those that followed. The Audacious was a sleek trimaran, with her two secondary hulls set about halfway her main hull. Her deckhouse was a single massive block, upon which a sleek radar tower was set. Behind the deckhouse there was a large flightdeck, very suitable for the two large Merlin helicopters the class would carry. At the rear of the ship there was a deck for a large towed passive sonar array. The ship was powered by two Rolls Royce WR21 gas turbines and an indirect electric propulsion.

The weapons fit was fairly complete, something which had been on the minds of a lot of RN commanders. They still remembered the first batch of Daring class destroyers, which carried little more than a medium calible gun and a inefficient VLS system. In contrast to this, the Audacious carried a new 155 mm cannon for fire support and a 32 cell Sylver VLS for its Air Defense missiles in front of the bridge, two 16 cell Strategic Length MK-41 VLS systems for anti surface cruise missiles mounted in the superstructure (one over each secondary hull), and two SEA RAM short range missile systems for close in defense. Lastly the ship carried two double tubed torpedo launchers.
Although most in the RN would rather have had a 32 cell MK-41 VLS in place of the French Sylver launcher, contractual obligations didn`t allow for it. Even so, the weapons fit was quite impressive for a ship this size.

The electronics fit was also quite impressive. The main radar was a slightly simplified Sampson phased array radar, which had excellent range and power. There was a Ferranti bow sonar, and a very large passive towed array sonar. a good ECM suite was also fitted. All of this made the ship very well equipped for anti submarine operations, especially when the two Merlin helicopters were considered.

The ship carried a number of small vehicles including four small zodiac style boats, and two Merlin helicopters fitted for ASW operations.

Because the Royal Navy became severely underfunded in the thirties, these powerful ships went much longer without a refit that anyone had thought. But when in the early fifites the Mega-Damage revolution came, the Royal Navy gained enough funds to start a rebuilding plan for some warships. Among the first to be rebuilt was the H.M.S. Audacious. Although none of the rebuilt ships were finished in time to join in the Two Years War for South Africa, the Audacious WAS finished in time to join another battle: The second Falklands war!
Together with planes from the Falklands, a rebuild Type-23 frigate (The H.M.S. Montrose, the MDC refit prototype) nd the Trafalgar (a rebuild Astute Batch II class submarine), the Audacious defeated a flotilla of seventeen refitted MDC warships from Argentine. But the Audacious was lost with all hands during the battle. Only the arrival of the incomplete H.M.S. Temeraire, the first purpose-build British MDC carrier, prevented the Argentines from taking the Falklands anyway.

Because the Falklands campaign had proven that the MDC conversions of the Audacious class were very successful, and because it was clear that in this hardening political climate Brittain needed a powerful Royal Navy, it was decided that all remaining Audacious class frigates would undergo the MDC refit. Apart from more powerful armor and electronics, the major changes were the replacement of the forward "Sylver" launcher with a 32 cell tactical lenght MK-41 launcher, and the replacement of the gas turbines with nuclear turbines, giving greatly improved endurance.
At the end of the century, most of the 24 strong class were still in service, although there were advanced plans for a replacement class. Three of these ships were part of the Temeraire`s battlegroup, and when the Rifts came they were all berthed in Portsmouth.They were the Leander, Arethusa, and the Boadicea, and they were all locked away in the mysterious bubble that suddenly surrounded Portsmouth scant minutes before the disaster struck.

Model Type: Audacious Class Frigate
Vehicle Type: Ocean, Guided Missile Frigate
Crew: 105; 7 officers, 15 Chief Petty officers, and 83 enlisted (Has a high degree of automation)
Troops: 15 Merlin crew members, 35 marines.

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
20X-10A or X-10B Predator Power Armors
15Underwater Power Armors
2Westland Merlin HM 1 helicopters

M.D.C. by location:
Bridge:450
[1] Sampson Active Phased Array Radar System:500
Vickers 6.1 inch/55 MK 3 Naval Gun:180
MK-41 Tactical 32 cell VLS (1, Forward):200
MK-41 Strategic 16 cell VLS (2, sides of superstructure)110
Torpedo Launchers (2, sides):50 each
Sea RAM CIWS (2):100 each
Hanger (Aft):350
Outer Hull (per 80 ft area):85
[2] Primary Hull (Main Body):1,200
[3] Secondary Hulls (2, either side of Primary Hull): 400 each

Notes:
[1] Destroying the Phased Array radar panels will destroy the ships fire control systems but guns have backup systems and panels can compensate for each other.
[2] Destroying the main body causes the ship to lose structural integrity, causing the ship to sink. If the Secondary Hulls are still intact, the ship will sink very slowly and will take a full twenty four hours to sink. This may give the ships crew time to patch the damage to an extent that the ship will float but all propulsion will be destroyed but the ship may be repairable. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship.
[3] Destruction of one secondary hull will reduce stability and negate bonuses due to quiet design and for piloting. Destruction of both secondary hulls will give the ship a -20% penalty to piloting and give a bonus of +20% to be detected. Ships speed is also reduced to 30 knots (34.5 mph / 55.6 kph)

Speed:
Surface: 60 knots (69 mph / 111.1 kph)
Range: Unlimited due to fusion turbines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Ship carries six months of supplies and consumables on board.

Statistical Data:
Length: 475 feet (142.5 meters)
Height: 45 feet (13.7 meters)
Width: 80 feet (24 meters)
Displacement: 4,900 tons standard and 6,500 tons fully loaded
Cargo: 400 tons of nonessential equipment and supplies. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Ships officers have more space for personal items. Most of the ships spaces are take up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons, and engines.
Power System: Nuclear Turbines, average life span is 20 years
Market Cost: Not available.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. One (1) Vickers 6.1 inch/55 MK 3 Naval Gun: This gun was designed in the early days of the century, and was designed to replace the old 4.5 inch naval gun. It features increased reliability and firepower, is fully automated, and is usually aimed by radar. The gun can be used against other ships, against ground targets, and against aircraft. The use of rocket assisted projectiles is also possible.
    The turret can rotate 360 and has a 90 arc of fire.
    Effective maximum Range: 23.5 miles (36.4 km)
    Mega-Damage: Standard Projectiles: 2D6x10 to a blast radius of 25 ft (7.7 m) for High Explosive, 3D6x10 to a blast radius of 6 ft (2 m) for High Explosive Armor Piercing, and 4D6x10 to a blast radius of 25 ft (7.7 m) for Plasma. Rocket projectiles: 2D4x10 to a blast radius of 20 ft (6.1 m) for High Explosive, 2D6x10 to a blast radius of 4 ft (1.2 m) for High Explosive Armor Piercing, and 3D6x10 to a blast radius of 20 ft (6.1 m) 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).
    Rate of Fire: Up to four single shots per melee.
    Payload: 600 rounds total.
  2. Sea RAM CIWS (2): The ship has two mounts on both sides of the superstructure, on the aft corners of the superstructure, next to the MK-41 VLS. The system was designed in the early twentyfirst century and the weapon system was used for ship defense. The system was a completely autonomous trainable Short-range missile launcher, which held eleven missiles. While the system can be used against ships, it was normally used only against missiles or aircraft. Each Turret can rotate 360 and has a 180 arc of fire. Each launcher can fire on automatic at up to six targets per melee (Has +3 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft).
    Range: As per short range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Mega Damage: As per short range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Rate of Fire: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 missiles per melee. Does NOT fire volleys.
    Payload: 11 short-range missiles each. Ship carries an additional 110 SRMs in magazines. The launcher requires 2 minutes (8 melees) to reload by properly trained personnel (Double for untrained crews).
  3. MK-41 Tactical 32 Cell VLS (1): A very reliable VLS launcher, dating back from the previous century, made in the USA, and exported to numerous countries. The tactical length version could not carry Cruise Missiles, and on the Audacious class was used almost excusively to house Surface to Air missiles of various sizes. It replaced a inefficient French designed VLS.
    Effective Range: As per long or medium range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Mega-Damage: As per long or medium range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volley of 2, 4, or 16 per melee and can be fired at multiple targets at the same time.
    Payload: 32 missile cells in the VLS launcher (Can carry a total of 64 long range missiles). Two long range missiles or Four medium range missiles may be carried per cell, and a usual complement was 48 LRMs and 32 MRMs.
  4. MK-41 Strategic 16 Cell VLS (2): A American design which was much more flexible than the French Sylver launcher of the same period, the Strategic length VLS cells could hold either a single Cruise Missile, two Long range missiles, or four medium range missiles. On the Audacious class these cells carried LRMs and CMs for Surface to Surface engagements.
    The launchers are located on the superstructure, just above the secondary hulls.
    Effective Range: As per Cruise or long range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Mega-Damage: As per cruise or long range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volley of 2, 4, or 16 per melee and can be fired at multiple targets at the same time.
    Payload: 16 missile cells in each VLS launcher (Can carry a total of 16 cruise missiles). One cruise missile, two long range missiles or four medium range missiles may be carried per cell.
  5. Two (2) Torpedo Launchers: Mainly design for anti-submarine warfare but can be used against surface targets. There is on launcher on each side of the ship. Each torpedo launcher has 2 torpedo tubes and has automatic reload systems. Ship carries caries 80 reloads for torpedoes.
    Range: 20 miles (32 km)
    Mega Damage: By Medium torpedo warhead type (See Revised Rifts Torpedoes).
    Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2 each launcher per side, launcher can fire a maximum of two volleys per melee each launcher.
    Payload: Has 80 torpedoes for reloads.
  6. Sea Gnat Chaff Launcher (4): Located on the superstructure of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles.
    Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not operate on Phase World missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles.)
    Range: Around Ship
    Mega Damage: None Payload: 6 each for a total of 24. 96 reloads are carried, reloading takes two melees.
  7. SLQ-25A Towed torpedo decoy (1)A decoy which is towed behind the ship. It generates a sound like the ships propellers in order to confuse incoming torpedoes. Only effective at speeds below 18 knots. Otherwise the noise of the ships systems and propellers is to powerful to mask. This decoy can only be used when the Towed Sonar Array is not in operation.
    Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not operate on Phase World missiles due to technological difference.
    M.D.C.: 10
    Effects:: The decoy has an 65% chance of fooling ordinary non military sonars and non smart guided torpedoes, the decoy has a 35% chance of fooling military level sonars (like those of the Coalition), and the decoy has a 10% chance of fooling advanced military sonars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and smart torpedoes.
    Range: Not Applicable
    Payload: 1, with four more as reloads. It takes three minutes (twelve melees) to reel out another decoy.

Special Systems:
The ship has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following special features:

Bonuses:

[Golden Age Weaponsmiths and Triax are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

By Mischa (E-Mail Mischa).

Copyright 2000 Mischa. All rights reserved.

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