T.W. Nautilus class Submarine:

Techno-Wizards have come up with many unusual ideas including the refitting of Pre-Rifts Cruisers and even creating enchanted versions of old sail frigates. Most of these creations are at least based on real life vehicles. The Nautilus class submarine is not based on any real world submarine and it is actually copied from the fictional submarine "Nautilus" from the author Jules Verne's novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". Where the Techno-Wizards manufacture these vessels is a mystery but they are works of art and are as capable as modern submarines in most respects. Like most Techno-Wizard creations, the submarines are a combination of both magic and technology. In appearance, the submarines look much like the submarine from the Disney film version of the story "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". The submarines major exception is that the nose of the submarine has four torpedo tubes and on top of the bow are twelve missile launching tubes. Several of these submarines have been seen and it is assumed that more will be constructed. The Coalition is very nervous about these submarines and has issued a sink on sight order for these submarines. No encounters have taken place but it is very likely the Coalition will be the loser in any encounter with these boats

The hull has a large number of surface features, such as horns and spines, which would normally make the submarine very noisy and have no stealth features. This is not the case and in reality, this submarine is quieter than virtually anything created with technology. The reason for this is because the ships hull and outside features, such as spines, are enchanted with a variation on the spell "Globe of Silence". This enchantment cause an area of silence that is one foot out from the ships hull. The only way to detect the submarine seems to be to detect an area that is too quiet and this is very difficult. Only the very best sonar operators have any chance at all. As an added benefit, the submarine is complete undetectable by active sonar systems and torpedoes cannot lock on the submarine using their sonar. This special enchantment initially created a major problem for the submarine. This was that submarine could not hear anything itself through its hull sonar because the sonar was in the area of silence. For this reason, a special sonar system was developed fr the submarine. The system actually extends out the bottom of the submarine but has all the features of a standard hull sonar. The submarine does operate a towed array sonar system as well. This is located near the rear of the submarine. It is believed that the designs for the sonar systems were either purchased from Golden Age Weaponsmiths or that they were pirated from old American Empire submarines. The sensor system are backed by powerful fire computers that are much smaller than the original designs. A final special feature of the submarines hull is that, due mostly to some of the enchantments, it can withstand the pressures of huge depths underwater and can dive far deeper than any of the Coalition submarines. Life support on the submarine is magical in nature which allows the Nautilus submarine to operate for long periods of time and food and weapons are the only reasons why the submarine will have to be resupplied

Weapon systems are a mixture of pure technological and techno-wizardry. The pure technological weapons are four standard torpedo tubes in the bow and twelve vertical launch missile launchers just behind them. The ship has two T.W. Gatling cannons in mounts that retract when the submarine dives. These cannons are very useful when the ship is attempting to capture a ship. While the submarine does carry noisemakers, they are considered of very limited utility due to the fact that getting a torpedo lock is virtually impossible unless the Nautilus is using active sonar which the ships, submarine, or other vehicle can track on.

Because the submarine is small when compared to some of the new submarines and much of the submarine is taken up by equipment, the spaces on the submarine are cramped but wherever possible the submarine is designed to look internally much like the Nautilus from Jules Verne's novel was. Luckily, much of the submarines equipment on the submarine is smaller than the Twentieth Century equivalent. The submarine normal carries 12 mystic power armors.

Model Type: TW-SS-20K
Vehicle Type: Ocean, Magical Fast Attack Submarine
Crew: 38 with at least 1 techno-wizard and 1 other spell casting types.
Troops: 12 (pilots for Mystic Power Armors)

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

12

Mystic Power Armors

M.D.C. by location:

	Torpedo Tubes (4 - Bow of submarine):	80 each
	VLS Long Range Missile Launchers (12, Bow of Submarine):	40 each
	T.W. Retractable Gatling Cannons (2, forward and aft):	125 each
	Main Sail / Bridge:	800
	[1] Bow Planes (2):	300 each
	[2] Propeller (1):	500
	[3] Main Body:	2,250
	[4] Armor of Ithan Force Field (Three Times per Day):	1,000

Notes:
[1] Destroying the submarines bow 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 propeller 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.
[4] Each activation lasts for 30 minutes

Speed:
Surface: 46 mph (40 knots /74.1 mph)
Underwater: 46 mph (40 knots /74.1 mph)
Maximum Depth: 5 miles (8 km)
Range: Effectively Unlimited due to magical life support. The submarine carries four months worth of supplies on board

Statistical Data:
Length: 236.2 feet (72 meters)
Draft: 23.6 feet (7.2 meters)
Width: 26.2 feet (8 meters)
Displacement: 2,200 tons submerged
Cargo: Submarine is very cramped, 6 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: Magical and Nuclear, Should have an average lifespan of 20 years
Black Market Cost: very rare and expensive, normal cost is about 500 million credits but often will costs much more.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. TK Gatling Cannons (2): Mounts have been enchanted by a series of spells so the cannons act as a more powerful version of the TK Machine gun. Each mount is retractable inside of the ships hull for when the submarine is diving. This increases the weapons damage and instead of being reloaded, the cannons must be recharged by the spell Telekinesis and 100 P.P.E. once per month. The cannon does full damage to targets that are impervious to energy. Additional optics and fire control have been added to enable the system to track and target aircraft and missiles
   Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).
   Mega Damage: 12D6
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: Unlimited, although the spells (100 P.P.E. each cannon) on each must be renewed every month whether the cannon have been used or not .
2. Four (4) Heavy Torpedo Tubes: On the 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 fire missiles in special canisters and rocket boosted ASW torpedoes. Submarine carries 20 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, 3, or 4. Reloading takes 1 full melee
   Payload: 4 Total (Has 20 torpedoes for reloads)
   
3. Twelve (12) Vertical Launch Long Range Missile Launchers: In the front of the submarine but behind the torpedo tubes, the submarine has VLS for launching missiles. Missiles are launched in special canisters that enables the missiles to be used in depths down to 300 feet.. Most missiles normally carried are fusion (Also smart missiles).
   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). table).
   Rate of fire: One at a time or in volley of 2, 4, 8, or 12 and can be fired at multiple target at the same time.
   Payload: 12 missiles total. Submarine carries no reloads
4. Noisemakers: The submarine carries noisemakers to decoy torpedoes. The noisemakers are launched from the middle of the submarine.
   Effect: 50% of decoying normal torpedoes
   Rate of Fire: 2 at a time (Can be reloaded in one melee)
   Payload: 20 Noisemakers
5. Techno-Wizard Modifications: The Nautilus has the following Techno-Wizard Modifications built into the ship. These require P.P.E. or I.S.P. from the ships crew or P.P.E. battery.
   Special Features:
   Shadow Meld (8th Level) 20 PPE or 40 ISP
   Impervious to Energy (8th level) 40 PPE or 80 ISP
   Invisibility-Superior (8th Level) 40 PPE or 80 ISP

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

• Magical Submarine Silencing Feature: This system is always active and it is an application of a modified version of the spell "Globe of Silence". The hull, propeller, and all exterior features are protected by this spell which extends outward by 1 foot (0.3 meters). This blocks all interior noises as well. This renders the submarine completely undetectable using active sonars and can only be detected by passive sonar by trying to find an area which there are no sounds (close to impossible, 5% chance with an incredible sonar operator). Torpedoes have penalties of -10 to strike the submarine and lose all bonuses. If the enchantment is disabled, the submarine would be at +30% to de detected.
• Hull Sonar System: Sonar system in under the subs hull and must be extended before it can be used. 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 16 targets at one time and has a +10% to read sensor and weapon system skill rolls.
• Towed Array Sonar: Mounted just before the submarines propeller. 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 32 targets at one time.
• See the Invisible Optics: The submarine has several special optical systems with see the invisible on them. Same as spell and used at will. The optics have a 2,000 feet (610 meters) range. Can see forces, objects, and creatures which can turn invisible, or are invisible. Can also see vaporous beings and astral bodies.
• 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.

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

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).

Copyright © 1999, Kitsune. All rights reserved.