Royal Navy Dreadnought class Ballistic Missile Submarines:

The Dreadnought class ballistic missile submarines were a replacement for the Vanguard class. Because of the poor military environment of the first half of the 21th century the Vanguards had been kept in service for much longer than their intended service life of thirty years, and when the money for military expenditures finally did become available, it was spend on the MDC revolution programs. Even later, the money went to the production of the first of the Temeraire class battlecarriers.
Ultimately the Vanguard class served until the early seventies, at which point they were so old that their hulls and reactors were in some cases dangerously close to catastrophic failure. When this became public, the outcry was so great that the British government nearly fell. The public would not allow the government to lose Britains nuclear deterrence. Several newspapers had been quick to point out that the loss of the nuclear ballistic submarines would lower the country to the level of France, which had given up its nuclear force two decades before...

The shipbuilders of BAE had, at the beginning of the Mega Damage revolution in the fifties, proposed a design for a combined Strike/Ballistic nuclear submarine. Due to lack of funds, this proposal had been rejected. Now, acting upon the public outcry, the government ordered four of these subs to be laid down at once, the lack of the latest technology withstanding. Any later models of the class would employ the latest technology, but the first four had to be finished fast. The only concessions to more modern technology that could be build in were some stronger materials for the hull, and parts of the combat systems.

The Dreadnought class, as they became known, were of roughly the same size and shape as the United States Ohio class ballistic missile submarines. The differences were that the Dreadnoughts had X shaped control surfaces aft for better maneuvrability, a pump jet propulsor standard, and that the sail of the submarine was located much further aft than on the Ohios. The reason for this was that the Dreadnought only carried eighteen Ballistic Nuclear Missiles, whereas the Ohios carried twenty four. The Sail and many of the internal spaces had been moved backwards, in order to provide room for a large automated magazine for Long Range Missiles in the bow of the ship. This gave the Dreadnoughts a significant strike capability for more limited actions than all-out nuclear war. For self defense there were four torpedo tubes, and the Dreadnoughts also carried fifteen marines with Underwater power armor aboard.
The main power system was a Rolls Royce designed natural coolant circulation fission reactor, with a nuclear core life of thirty five years. The elimination of pumps for the cooling system significantly reduced engine noise, and the Dreadnoughts were some of the quitest submarines of that moment.

Like most submarines, the Dreadnought class is still quite cramped and the ship only has tiny staterooms shared by multiple officers although enlisted now actually have enough bunks for the entire crew, which means that there is no more need to hot bunk. Originally, the submarine class had two crews. The submarine would then rotate between crews to remain operational for longer periods of time. However, since the Dreadnought was locked in the stasis bubble when she was in Portsmouth for repairs to one of her turbines, there is only one crew available for her. The Dreadnought carried a full complement of ballistic missiles aboard of her when the Rifts came. Enough nuclear weapons to start a second Coming of the Rifts, should they be used unwisely.
All other ships of the class are believed to be destroyed or are lost since the Rifts. Perhaps it is just as well...

Model Type: SSSBN-1 Class
Class: Strategic Strike Ballistic Submarine
Crew: 105 total; 10 officers, 12 chief petty officer, 78 enlisted.
Troops: 15 Marines.

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

M.D.C. by Location:

15

Underwater Power Armors

	Torpedo Tubes (4 - Bow of submarine):	60 each
	Long Range Missile Launchers (6 - Bow of submarine):	60 each
	Ballistic Missile Launchers (18, Behind Main Sail of Submarine):	90 each
	Main Sail:	400
	[1] Sail Planes (2):	140 each
	[2] Pump Jet Propulsor (1):	300
	[3] Main Body:	2,100

Notes:
[1] Destroying the submarines sail planes will reduce the submarines ability to change depths but will not eliminate it. It also makes it difficult for the submarines crew to control the submarine giving a penalty of -25% to all piloting rolls.
[2] Destroying the submarines Pump Jet Propulsor causes serious problem. The submarine will no longer be able to use forward momentum and the bow planes to keep the submarine level. It is recommended that ballast takes are immediately blown so submarine comes to surface.
[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body destroys the submarine's structural integrity, causing it to sink. If the submarine is underwater, the entire crew will die unless protected by environmental armors that can withstand the pressure that the submarine is under. If on the surface, there are enough flotation devices and inflatable life rafts to accommodate everyone aboard.

Speed:
Surface: 26.6 mph (23 knots/42.6 kph)
Underwater: 33.5 mph (29 knots /53.7 kph)
Maximum Depth: 2,400 feet (720 meters)
Range: Effectively Unlimited due to fission engines (does not need to refuel for the projected life of the submarine, but does require maintenance). Ship carries 9 months of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:
Draft: 38 feet (11.4 meters)
Width: 43 feet (12.9 meters)
Length: 612 feet (183.6 meters)
Displacement: 17,764 tons standard and 19,750 tons submerged
Cargo: Submarine is very cramped, 12 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 torpedoes, weapons, and engines.
Power System: One Rolls Royce natural coolant circulation fission reactor driving two turbines, with a core life of thirty five years.
Black Market Price: Not Available.

Weapon Systems:

1. Four (4) Heavy Torpedo Tubes: On the lower bow of the submarine are four torpedo tubes. Tubes are 21 inches (533 mm) wide and torpedoes can be used against both surface ships and submarines. For warheads, heavy torpedoes should be treated as having long missiles warheads. Along with standard torpedoes, launcher can also rocket boosted ASW torpedoes. Submarine carries 12 reloads for torpedoes.
   Range: 40 miles (64 km)
   Mega Damage: By Heavy torpedo warhead type (See Revised Rifts Torpedoes), can fire missiles (Long Range or Cruise) in special canisters as well (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, or 3. Reloading takes 1 full melee
   Payload: 4 Total (Has 12 torpedoes for reloads)
2. Long-Range Missile Launchers (6): These launchers look like torpedo tubes, and are located in the front of the vessel well above the four real torpedo tubes (inbetween the two sets of tubes the forward sonar array is located). This makes it look as if there are ten torpedo tubes in the bow of the ship, althouhg the Missile tubes have a larger diameter. All missiles are locked in a special canister. The canister protects the missiles from water and pressure. This configuration allows for a more efficient storage of missiles in the available space, and the missiles in their canisterss are launched horizontally, like torpedos, after which the canister automatically heads for the surface. At the surface the canister pops out of the water, and the missile bursts out. A automatic reloading system is used for reloading the missile tubes. All launchers operate as one system and are used to engage enemy aircraft, ships, and ground targets.
   Maximum Effective Range: As per long range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Mega Damage: As per long range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or volleys of 2, 4, or 6 as often as three times per melee round.
   Payload: 126 in launch system.
3. Eighteen (18) Trident D-5 Strategic Ballistic Missiles: Behind the submarines sail are two rows of nine ballistic missiles. These missiles make the Dreadnought class one of the most dangerous ship classes on the Earth. Missiles can be launched at depths up to 300 feet. The Brits simply bought the designs from the United States, but fitted British electronics. Missiles have a range of 6,000 nautical miles but essentially enter a low orbit to do so they would probably either be destroyed by the debris rings or by defense satellites. Missiles can be launched at targets less than 1,000 nautical miles without entering a ballistic trajectory. Each missile has 14 warheads that are each the equivalent of a nuclear long range missile warhead. The missiles can hit targets up to 100 miles away from where the missile breaks into its multiple warheads and can target multiple targets. Each warhead has independent guidance and is considered a smart missiles.
   Range: 6,904.7 miles (6,000 nautical miles / 11,112 km ) but must be launched ballistically, 1,150.8 miles (1,000 nautical miles /1,852 km) with missiles being launched sub ballistically. Missile warheads can hit targets withing a 115 miles (100 nautical miles /185 km) of where the missile breaks into fourteen warheads.
   Mega Damage: Each missile have 14 warheads which each are equal to a nuclear long range missile warhead Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of fire: One at a time or in volley of 2, 4, or 6 and can be fired at multiple target at the same time.
   Payload: 18 Trident Ballistic missiles total. Submarine carries no reloads.
4. Advanced Decoys (8): The submarine carries eight advance decoys drones. They are a small automated vehicles that creates a false sonar image designed to mimic the submarines sonar signature. It has a small propulsion system that can simulate movement (has a top speed of 10 knots) and maneuvers. If decoys are not destroyed, they can be recovered and repaired.
   Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World weapons due to technological differencences.
   M.D.C.: 20
   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 the decoy has a 25% chance of fooling advanced military sonars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and smart torpedoes.
   Duration: Decoys have a duration of 30 minutes (120 melee rounds).
   Range: Not Applicable.
   Rate of fire: Ship can launch one drone per melee.
   Payload: 8 Decoys

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

• Extended Life Support: This submarine has an enhanced like support system when compared to most other vehicles because it is designed to operate underwater for extended periods of time. The submarine has an incredible air recycling system that allows the crew to recycle air for six months before the atmosphere is too stale to breath. The submarine also has a 96 hour supply of oxygen to support the recycling system.
• BAE Systems Type 3045 Hull Sonar System: Sonar system has a range of around 24 nautical miles (27.6 miles / 44.4 km). This hull sonar system has both a passive and active system built in. Sonar system can track up to 24 targets at one time.
• BAE Systems Type 3070B Towed Array Sonar: The system is basically a long and very sensitive sonar system carried behind the submarine on a long cable. Sonar system has a range of around 90 nautical miles (103.7 miles/166.7 km). This towed array Sonar is a passive only sensor system. Sonar system can track up to 48 targets at one time.
• ESM: This system is mounted in mounted in the superstructure and is extended in a similar manner to a periscope. The antenna is very hard to detect both visually and by radar. Can detect another radar system at 125% of the range of the transmitting radar.
• Quieted propulsion and Anechoic Coating: The ship is designed with a very quiet pump jet propulsor design, the submarines reactor makes very little noise, and the ships is coating by a sonar defeating rubber coating. The submarine is -50% to detect when traveling at less that 5 knots and is at -30% to detect when traveling at speeds greater than that.

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By Kitsune (E-Mail Mischa ).

Copyright © 2001, Mischa. All rights reserved.