New Sovietskiy Neustrashimyy class Frigate:

The Neustrashimyy class Frigate was designed as a multi purpose Frigate for the Russian Navy, and under President Vladimir Putin, mass production was begun of the design, to replace the Krivaks of all three variants, and numerous other aging designs in Russian service. Under the reformed SSSR, production of the Neustrashimyy class continued. Though the USN, RN, and other major navies of the world continued developing new designs and improved hull forms, the Soviet Union went for the tough, durable reliability of the Neustrashimyy class, and also their simplicity of construction, allowing for continued mass production. Though there were proposals to replace the design, like many other smaller Soviet warships, none were taken. It was decided, that, like the reliable T-34 against the better German tanks in the later part of "The Great Patriotic War," large numbers of these ships could overwhelm the technological edge of the Western navies, which was questionable in the Soviets opinion; Stealthiness can help a surface warship only so much, and regular electronics and weaponry upgrades kept the Neustrashimyy class in a fighting trim. One open question was wether it would have been about the same cost to build new ships instead of refitting the older ships.

When the "MD-Revolution" swept the planet's militaries, Neustrashimyy class production had stopped at no less than 120 ships (!), though they were spread between the Red Banner Northern Fleet, the Pacific Fleet, the Baltic Fleet, the Black Sea Fleet, and the Caspian Sea Flotilla.

All of these ships were converted to MD technologies as quickly as possible, which considerably extended the lifespans of the older models and made them like new ships again for a far cheaper cost than designing and beginning construction of purpose-built MD-frigates.

After the coming of the Rifts, the huge numbers of these ships insured that many are in service with Pirates, virtually all of the Warlords of Russia that have territory on the White, Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas, the Polish Kingdoms, and for several vessels, the NGR, and a few were salvaged by the Republic of Japan and incorporated into their small navy for defense against the Horune and other menaces. More have been wrecked, and a fair number from the Pacific and Red Banner Northern Fleets are simply missing.

Unsurprisingly, a fair number of these ships were manufactured and sold to various nations around the world for export; They could be found in Africa, South America, Central America, the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean, various nations of Oceania/Asia, etc. Quite simply, the Neustrashimyy class is about as dirt common as a warship can be in Rifts Earth, comparable to the proliferation of Fletcher class destroyers and their variants in the navies of the world after WWII when the USN began to retire and sell them.

Model Type: Project 1154.0; Neustrashimyy class Frigate.
Class: Guided Missile Frigate
Crew: 210 (18 officers) not including Power armor and aircraft pilots and technicians (20 total).

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
4Power Armors
1Helicopters or other VTOL Aircraft (Usually to ASW)

M.D.C. by Location:
Particle Bolt / Plasma Burst Cannon (Front):500
Combination Anti-Missile Defense System (2):200 each
SA-N-9 Gauntlet Octuple VLS (1, Forward):300
Modified Kh-35/SS-N-25 Uran/Switchblade SSM Tubes (8):100 each
Triple mount type 53 torpedo launchers (2, Sides):80 each
Killer Dart Launcher:50
[1] MR-760 Fregat-MA/Top Plate 3-D Air Search Radar System:80
Hanger:200
Bridge:250
[2] Main Body:1,200

Notes:
[1] Destroying the Top Plate System radar system will eliminate the ship's long range air search ability but weapon systems have backup fire control 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 -100 MDC before losing structural integrity and sinking. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship.

Speed:
On Water: 35 knots (40.3 mph / 64.8 kph)
Range: Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 10 years and requires maintenance as well). Ship carries one month of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:
Draft: 26.5 feet (8.09 meters)
Width: 51.2 feet (15.6 meters)
Length: 425.3 feet (129.63 meters)
Displacement: 3,210 tons standard displacement, 4,200 tons displacement with full load, and 4,350 tons maximum displacement.
Cargo: Can carry 300 tons of extraneous cargo. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Ships officers have far more space for personal items. Most of the ship's spaces are taken up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons, and engines.
Power System: 2 Nuclear Fusion Reactors, average life span is 10 years
Market Price: 200-400 million credits on the black market for an intact model.

Weapon Systems:

  1. Particle Bolt / Plasma Burst Cannon: The plasma burst cannons, alternately referred to as "Particle Bolt" cannons, can be used both for anti-ship and anti-aircraft purposes, and is the standard Soviet energy weapon for all of their mega-damage surface warships of the 21st century. This cannon is mounted in a single turret, with a 260-degree arc forward.
    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. SA-N-9 Gauntlet Octuple VLS (1): This launcher is mounted behind the Plasma Burst cannon and before the superstructure of the ship. This launcher was 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 fire on multiple targets simultaneously.
    Maximum 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 in any combinations and at multiple targets at the same time.
    Payload: 32 medium range missiles total.
  3. Modified Kh-35/SS-N-25 Uran/Switchblade SSM Tubes (8): The tube style launchers are similar in most ways to the American Harpoon Launchers and French Exocet launchers and fired a similar missile. Many military experts considered the missile to be a copy of the Harpoon. When the ships were refitted, the tube launchers were modified to the Soviet version of the standard MD-Long Range Missile. While any long range missile type can be carried, usually special surface skimming missiles will be carried in launchers and are used against surface targets only.
    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 in volleys of two, four, or eight (All launchers operate together)
    Payload: 1 missile each launcher for a total of 8 long range missiles (Has no missiles in storage for reloads).
  4. Kashstan CADS-N-8 CIWS Systems (2): Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems. 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 systems 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: 4000 feet (1220 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.
  5. Two (2) Triple 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 three 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 equivalent 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, or 3 per side, launcher can fire a maximum of two volleys per melee each launcher.
    Payload: Each tube has two reloads available for a total of 18 torpedoes.
  6. Killer Dart Launcher: 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. One launcher in the superstructure of the Frigate.
    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.

Primary Sensors:

[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.]

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

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

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

Return to Vehicles, Robots, and Power Armors on Rifts Earth and Mutants In Orbit