New Sovietskiy Sovremenny-III class AAW Destroyer:

The Sovremenny class destroyers, intended primarily as Anti-surface and Anti-air destroyers and built alongside the Udaloy class had largely ceased production, and were smaller, and less effective than the Udaloys, but more suited to the role of AAW combat. Hence, under the Presidency of Vladimir Putin, a plan was put forth to lengthen the sixteen Sovremenny class destroyers then fit for combat operations by a total of ten meters (33 feet) with five meters (16.4 feet) at the location of each of the missile launchers and the missiles launchers were replaced by higher capacity vertical launch missile launchers. As well, the Sensor suite was replaced by more powerful systems.

By the time the SSSR retook control of Russia in 2014, all sixteen had been converted. Realizing the necessity for naval expansion to compare with the all-powerful navies of the Western powers, but not having the money to spend on advanced designs, the Soviet Naval planners decided to begin the construction of new "lengthened Sovremenny class AAW destroyers" to compliment the ASW Udaloys that they were also building; The hull design was well known and proven, and hence it would be much cheaper to build them than to build destroyers of a new class, allowing the Soviet Navy to field a huge number of destroyers, though, admittedly, to a 1980s hull design.

A total of 48 new Sovremenny class AAW destroyers (Sovremenny-II, officially), were built by the SSSR.

However, the hull lengthening weakened the Sovremenny class, at least, the original conversions, and two were retired from cracking and hull fatigue before the MD-revolution. As Mega-Damage technology found its way into the Soviet Navy in masse, the remaining 62 Sovremenny destroyers were converted. They have slightly less hull protection than the Udaloys, but are still an excellent designs, the Mega-Damage materials being used to strengthen the frame to prevent more fatigue problems on the 14 remaining original lengthened versions.

After their Mega-Damage conversions were completed, the Sovremenny class destroyers were excellent Anti-Aircraft destroyers, with a huge compliment of medium and short range SAMs, but strangely lacking in LRMs, though they still held their two quadruple cruise missile launchers.

All 62 remaining Sovremenny class AAW Destroyers were in operation as Sovremenny-III design at the coming of the Rifts.

Of the twenty Sovremennys in the Pacific fleet, three are in the hands of Pirates, one is part of the Republic of Japan's navy, another four are confirmed wrecked, and the whereabouts of the other twelve are unknown.

Of the eighteen Sovremennys in the Red Banner Northern Fleet, (Also known as the White Sea Fleet), ten are largely confirmed to have been destroyed outright. Warlord Burgasov possesses one other, which is non-operational and used as parts hulk. He has made repeated attempts to reach reputed naval and weapon caches in military bases on Novaja Zemla and at Murmansk, but because of the bizarre and turbulent weather of the White Sea, has been unable to reach those bases. He believes up to six Sovremennys may be at those several bases, relatively intact, similar to the four Moskvas and six Udaloys. The final Sovremenny is the only ship of Warlord Alekseyevna's fleet, excepting a single Mega-Damage Icebreaker, neither of which have gone to sea in years; His only port is nearly constantly frozen over, anyway. Both ships are in very poor shape.

Of the Twelve Sovremennys in the Black Sea fleet, one traveled with the Kirov to the Romania Free City of Constanta, eight are confirmed destroyed, one serves as the flagship of Kolodenko's comparatively tiny Black Sea Flotilla, and the remaining two are missing.

Of the twelve in the Baltic Sea Fleet, seven were destroyed outright, and three others are in the hands of Warlord Sokolov; Two have been stripped for parts to keep the other running, though one of the two stripped could be brought back to service with the help of the NGR. The eleventh is in Warlord Burgasov's Baltic flotilla (He has territory bordering both the Baltic and White seas). The final ship fled to the NGR after weathering the Rifts at Sea in the Baltic; it is used as a museum ship in Kiel now, after years as a training ship in the NGR's navy, and a testament to the struggles of its crew to survive on the Baltic when the Rifts came, as well as being a representative of a Pre-Rifts naval vessel of a rather ancient time.

Model Type: Sovremenny-III class AAW Destroyers
Vehicle Type: Refitted SDC to MDC conversion AAW Destroyers.
Crew: 344; 30 officers, 314 petty officers and enlisted crew members.
Troops: 12 Power armor pilots only; Also, aircrews (8 personnel) for one helicopter and support/maintenance personnel.

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
12Power Armors
1Helicopters or other VTOL Aircraft (Usually to ASW)

M.D.C. by location:
Bridge:300
[1] Mini "Pod Hunter" Soviet AEGIS system (Superstructure):160
Particle / Plasma Cannon (2, 1 fore, 1 aft - Single Barrel):500 each
Combination Anti-Missile Defense System (4):200 each
Modified SS-N-22 Sunburn Quadruple Launchers (2):600 each
SA-N-9 Gauntlet Octuple VLS (4, Forward and Aft):300 each
Short Range Missile VLS (2, 1 forward, 1 aft):300 each
Double mount type torpedo launchers (2, Sides):100 each
Killer Dart Launchers (2, Sides of Flight deck):50 each
Chaff Launchers (8, Superstructure):10 each
[2] Main Body:1,500

Notes:
[1] Destroying "Pod Hunter" AEGIS system will disable primary search and fire control systems; In addition, 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.
[2] Destroying the main body destroys propulsion and power systems, disabling the ship. The ship is fitted with advanced polymer armors that allow the ship to withstand up to -300 MDC before losing structural integrity and sinking. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship.

Speed:
Surface: 33 knots (38.0 mph / 61.1 kph)
Range: 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:
Length: 546 feet (166.4 meters)
Draft: 21.3 feet (6.5 meters) light load and 25.7 feet (7.8 meters) full load
Width: 56.4 feet (17.2 meters)
Displacement: 6,850 tons standard and 8,200 tons fully loaded.
Cargo: 200 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 ship's spaces are taken up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons, and engines.
Power System: 4 Nuclear Fusion Reactors, average life span is 20 years
Market Cost: Not for Sale but if found on the black market would probably cost 500-600 million credits.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. Particle Bolt / Plasma Burst Cannons (2): The ship originally mounted twin barrel AK-130-MR-184 cannons but it was decided to replace them with single barrel plasma burst cannons in order to reduce topside weight. The plasma burst cannons, alternately referred to as "Particle Bolt" cannons, can be used both for anti-ship and anti-aircraft purposes, and are the standard Soviet energy weapons for all of their mega-damage surface warships of the 21st century. These two cannons are mounted in two single turrets, one with a 240-degree arc forward, and the other with a 240-degree arc aft.
    Maximum Effective Range: 10 miles (16 km)
    Mega Damage: 6D6x10 per blast
    Rate of Fire: 3 attacks per melee round, per cannon.
    Payload: Effectively unlimited.
  2. Kashstan CADS-N-8 CIWS Systems (4): Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems. One forward/port, one forward/starboard, one aft/port, one aft/starboard. This anti-missile defense system combines both a rapid fire laser and a mini-missile launcher. While mounted in one system, both defense system have separate tracking systems. The mini-missile launchers are designed to blanket fire a pattern of fragmentation mini-missiles to explode in the path of incoming missiles and/or aircraft and rip them apart with a wall of flak; The laser cannon is capable of destroying any missile or inflicting serious damage on aircraft.
    Maximum Effective Range: Laser Cannons: Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 m). Mini-Missiles: As per mini-missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Damage: Laser Cannons: 1D4x10 MD. Mini-Missiles: As per mini-missile type (Usually fragmentation) (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Rate of Fire: Laser Cannons: 6 attacks per melee. (+2 to strike aircraft; +3 to strike missiles.) Mini-Missiles: 1 attack per melee round only; Fires volleys of eight missiles per attack (+8 to strike because of number.) (+2 to strike aircraft; +3 to strike missiles.)
    Payload: Laser Cannons: Effectively unlimited. Mini-Missiles: 32 Mini-missiles each.
  3. Modified 3M-80/SS-N-22 Moskit/Sunburn Quadruple Launchers (2): Redesigned to fire the standard Soviet P-2000 "Vulkan-B" (NATO designation: SS-N-30 "Snark") multi-purpose heavy cruise missile of the M.D. technology era, these launchers were originally designed to carry and fire the SS-N-22 Sunburn heavy Anti-ship missile, for which the P-2000 is a replacement. Each launcher contains 4 P-2000 heavy anti-ship cruise missiles. Cruise missiles are considered smart missiles (These smart missiles have advanced tracking and avoidance systems that give them a +5 to strike, +3 to dodge, and 2 attacks per melee until they strike their target or run out of fuel.) and the launcher can track on multiple targets. These awesome missiles are multi-purpose against land or sea targets and have incredible capabilities, but pay for it in size and expense; The huge dedicated launchers for these missiles can carry nothing else and even the massive Kirov has a small number compared with the hordes of less capable cruise missiles that could be carried by the new NATO M.D.C. ships, however, in this rare case, the SSSR has gone for quality over quantity.
    Maximum Effective Range: 1600 miles (2575 km) in Ballistic Trajectory attack mode; 1,000 miles (1,608km) when on a sea-skimming detection avoidance attack mode. An additional -2 to detection when in sea-skimming mode.
    Mega Damage: 6D6x100 M.D.C. inflicted to the target on a direct hit with a critical strike on a roll of 18-20 and a blast radius of 80 ft (24.4 m) in which 6D6x10 M.D.C. is inflicted; Critical damage can only be sustained from the direct hit, not from being inside the blast radius. Alternatively, the missile can carry a 15 kt tactical nuclear warhead, or a standard Soviet Heavy Torpedo to be deployed when the missile reaches the area of a suspected submarine. The torpedo can be fitted with a 5 kt tactical nuclear warhead.
    Missile Speed: In Ballistic mode, the missile attains a speed of Mach 12 during the boost phase and Mach 9 during the descent phase. In Sea-Skimming mode, the missile maintains a sustained flight speed of Mach 5.
    Rate of Fire: One at a time, or volleys of 2, or 4 per melee.
    Payload: 8 P-2000s (SS-N-30s) (4 per launcher - No Reloads)
  4. Modified SA-N-9 Gauntlet Octuple VLS (4): These launchers are mounted forward and aft around the ship's superstructure and the ship was lengthened to fit the launchers and they replace the original Uragan SAM systems. These launchers were originally designed to launch RZ-130 Kinzhal/Klinok/SA-N-9 Gauntlet missiles but have been refitted to launch standard Rifts medium range missiles. They can launch on either ground, surface, or air targets. The launchers can launch at multiple targets simultaneously.
    Effective Range: Varies with medium range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Mega-Damage: Varies with medium range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of any amount up to 8 missiles for each launcher (32 missiles total) in any combinations and at multiple targets at the same time.
    Payload: 192 medium range missiles total (48 missiles per launcher)
  5. Short Range Missile VLS launchers (2): This is a new weapons system that is mounted in front of the medium range missile launchers and aft behind the medium range missile launchers on the ship in launchers imbedded in the deck in front . These missile launchers fire volleys of short range fragmentation missiles, principally anti-aircraft, though they are also capable of carrying other missile types. They are designed to engage and destroy incoming aircraft and power armors and sometimes cruise and long-range missiles; And they can also be used to inflict damage on ships at shorter ranges, especially to sensitive electronics.
    Maximum Effective Range: As per short range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Mega Damage: As per short range missile type - Normally Fragmentation (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Rate of Fire: Each launcher can fire a volley of up to 15 missiles each round, and a second volley of up to 10 missiles in that same round. (50 missiles total) It takes one melee round of the launcher not firing missiles, and all it's missiles currently expended, for it to be fully reloaded.
    Payload: 25 missiles per launcher, 50 total; 75 reloads for each launcher, a total of 200 short range missiles.
  6. Two (2) Twin Tube 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 two tubes each. The tubes have been modified to use an automatic reloading system and can be fired quickly. These are modern, variable option torpedoes that are about 25% faster than the latest US designs of the time period. These torpedoes are also slightly larger than the standard US torpedo launchers. (These torpedoes are considered the equivlant of smart missiles and have advanced tracking and avoidance systems that give them a +5 to strike, +4 to dodge, and 2 attacks per melee until they strike their target or run out of fuel.)
    Maximum Effective Range: 40 miles (64 km)
    Mega Damage: Uses super heavy warheads that inflict 2D4x100 MD (By Heavy torpedo warhead type - See Revised Rifts Torpedoes). Alternatively, a 5kt tactical nuclear warhead may be fitted. The torpedo can be used, either with a conventional or nuclear warhead, as the warhead of a P-2000 heavy anti-ship missile.
    Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2 per side, launcher can fire a maximum of two volleys per melee each launcher.
    Payload: Each tube has three reload available for a total of 16 torpedoes.
  7. Killer Dart Launchers (2): These so called "Killer Darts" are a Russian interceptor torpedo, designed primarily for intercepting and hitting incoming torpedoes, with a secondary function against small submersibles and submersible power armors. In surface application they are used like a homing version of the old style Soviet anti-submarine rockets, and can be used against large submarines. The Killer darts are considered smart missiles and have +5 to strike against any target. They are a larger and more powerful version of the killer darts normally fitted to submarines, thanks to less space concerns and different operational requirements. Two launchers are on the sides of the destroyer on either side of the flight deck
    Maximum Effective Range: 7 miles (11.2 km); The Killer Darts can stop before their propellent runs out, using internal systems to sink to virtually any submarine's operational depth or drift with a current, and then power back up for a final home-in on target.
    Mega-Damage: 2D4x10
    Rate of fire: Each launcher can fire salvos of up to eight killer darts per melee.
    Payload: 64 Killer Darts per launcher (128 total)
  8. Depth Charge/Mine multi-purpose Racks (2): Two launchers, on the aft fantail, one to each side. Though they normally carry mines, they can also carry depth charges. These explosive devices are used against submerged craft below the submarine when surfaced or submerged.
    Maximum Effective Range: Depth charges: Any depth in Earth's Oceans up to 3280.8 feet (1000 meters). They can be set to explode at any pressure level, and will detonate there. Mines: Laid at the position behind the ship.
    Mega-Damage: Depth charges: 2D6x10 MD - explosive canisters. (Blast concussion radius of 656.2 feet / 200 meters.). Damage considerably increased for nuclear depth charges. Mines: Standard mine has a damage of 4D4x10+25 MD to a blast radius of 40 meters, or double damage if a direct impact; The mines have passive sensors which can detect ships at a range of 2 km, and a mounted computer that makes the determination to wait till contact to explode or detonate as soon as the target is in the blast radius. There are also nuclear mines available. Both nuclear mines and nuclear depth-charges have a warhead that has a depth of 469 meters, and a blast radius out to 678 meters in which 1D4 x 1000 is inflicted, out to 3418.6 feet (1,042 meters) with 1D4 x 100, and out to 1,303 meters with 2D4 x 10. There are also "Torpedo Mines" available which carry a single standard Soviet torpedo and tracking systems for it; It's fired as soon as an enemy ship is detected entering the 2 km detection zone. Nuclear tipped versions of this torpedo are available that have the same warhead have the nuclear mines and nuclear depth-charges. Those nuclear warheads are 5 kt in yield. The mines contain a long cable and anchor to attach them to the bottom, up to 1 km down, or can be the "Free-drifting" type. They are programmed to recognize and not detonate against Soviet vessels, but this program is not always effective (Only 75% of the time), so ships of the SSSR must still use caution in minefields.
    Rate of Fire: Five can be launched from each rack per melee round (A total of ten), but for launching mines, the process is normally slower and more spread-out to create a minefield.
    Payload: 20 Depth-Charges OR Mines per launcher, 40 total.
  9. Chaff Launcher (8): Located on the superstructure of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. At least four launchers must be operational for the full effects; One additional launcher can be brought on for each destroyed until four have been destroyed. Adding more than four launchers in operation does not increase effects. Reduce effects of launchers by 50% per launcher below 4 not used or disabled. 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: 24 each for a total of 192.

Special Systems:

The ship has all systems standard on the most advanced of modern robot vehicles, but with their relative short range, are designed only as secondary sensor systems. The primary and secondary systems are as follows:

Radars:

Sonars:
These are normally the secondary units on other ships, but because the Sovremenny class is optimized against surface and aerial threats, these sonars serve as the only sonar systems:

[New Navy, New Sovietskiy, 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.]

Image drawn and copyrighted by Mischa (E-Mail Mischa). Click on line drawing for a better view.
He has no art home Page at present but many other items on my site.

Initial Writeup by Marina O'Leary (LusankyaN@aol.com ).

Reformatting and revisions by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).

Copyright © 2000 & 2001, Marina O'Leary & Kitsune. All rights reserved.

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