CVN-82 Ranger class Nuclear Multi-Role Aircraft Carrier:

New Navy Intelligence Report 2320.25
Top Secret

Before the Coalition was able to recover three carriers from the remnants of the pre-Rifts Norfolk Naval Base, the conclusion had been that all United States surface carriers had been destroyed when the Rifts were triggered. When the Rifts appeared, the United states had a total of sixteen carriers including five carriers of the Ranger class. While our personnel has done some searching for the Saratoga class stealth carriers because it was thought that the ship would have a greater chance of survival, it had been thought that none of the other carriers had a reasonable chance of survival. One of the most promising locations are the bunkers built on the West Coast of the United States to house carriers. These bunkers are similar to those that had been built in Norfolk and were located in both Alameda California and Bremerton Washington. These bunkers were built just before the coming of the Rifts and are constructed of advanced materials and like the bunkers in Norfolk, they are likely to have survived. The report recommends the search is widened to these locations and have the Ranger class carrier class be added to our list of carriers we are searching for. Like the Saratoga class carriers, these vessels would make a good basis to form a surface fleet around and could be used as flagship.

The Ranger class carriers were initially designed as replacements for the Nimitz class carriers but due to a series of delays, were not completed until ten years after was initially planned. The reasons for the delay were alterations during the design phase including replacing the standard nuclear reactors with fusion reactors. CVN-82, USS Ranger, was completed in 2051 and was the first vessel of the class completed. The next four carriers of the class were completed approximately three years apart. USS Constellation (CVN-83) was completed in 2054, USS Kitty Hawk (CVN-84) was completed in 2057, USS Lexington (CVN-85) was completed in 2061, and USS Intrepid (CVN-86) was the final carrier of the class and was commissioned in 2065. The class was stopped at five carriers because little need was seen for more carriers by the Government due to most of the Nations being at peace. Eventually, this changed when tensions increased but new carrier designs were developed instead of constructing more Ranger class carriers. Still, the Ranger class carriers were an important element in the fleet and even though the lead carrier was close to fifty years old, there were no plans for decommissioning these carriers.

The Ranger class was well constructed and sturdy vessels that have several advantages over previous classes. The Ranger class carrier took advantage of advanced alloys and composites from the beginning and would be less effected by corrosion than previous carrier class. This should greatly reduce any refit that the carriers require. While the carrier includes some radar cross signature reduction, it is far less than was incorporated into the Saratoga class carrier. The design included more automation than previous carriers as well and require far fewer crew members. The ship required about sixty percent less crew than the old Nimitz class carrier. The vessels used four powerful fusion reactors which gave the vessel a top speed of 36 knots. While the Ranger had a similar sized air wing to older carriers, the ship had powerful electromagnetic catapults that were more efficient than the steam catapults on the Nimitz class carrier. The ship was fitted with catapults and arresting gear even though most aircraft designs under development were VTOL designs. Initially, ungraded versions of the Joint Strike Fighter were carried but were replaced by more advanced designs. By the coming of the Rifts, the main fighter compliment was composed of the advanced Sea Hawk fighter. The ship used a phased array radar system capable of tracking for both defense and air control. The carrier design carried a hull sonar system so that the carrier was not completely dependent on its escorts in that regard. All weaponry on the vessels were defensive and mostly designed to strop incoming missile strikes. A new vertical launch missile launcher system with a multiple reload system was designed to launch missiles for medium range defense of the carrier. The first two ships of the class initially carried four Phalanx point defense Gatling cannons and two short range RAM missile launchers for inner point defense. These mounts were replaced by four combination rail gun and short range missile launchers in later ships and upgraded in the first two ships of the class during refits. Long range defense was normally performed by escort vessels but the carrier was well protected against missile strikes in general.

The status of the carriers recovered by the Coalition is interesting. The Coalition recovered two Ranger class carriers, CVN-82 Ranger which they renamed CSS Quebec and CVN-85 Lexington which they renamed CSS Lone Star. In some cases, the Coalition has reverted weapon systems that are derived from older systems. A careful check of records has revealed the reasoning behind this. The two Ranger class carriers, USS Ranger and USS Lexington, were being refitted at the time the Rifts appeared and the point defense rail gun / short range mounts had been removed to be upgraded at a nearby maintenance facility that was likely destroyed. Some reports indicate that the Coalition has mounted long range missile launchers with huge payloads for defense weaponry but this is false. Intelligence indicates that the standard medium range vertical missile launchers have been retained. The sonar systems seemed to have been replaced by older systems as well. A likely reason for this is that like the point defense guns, the sonar systems had been sent to a maintenance facility for updating. Like the point defense weaponry and sonar system, it appears that the Coalition has not recovered any Sea Hawk class fighters. Instead, the Coalition uses a combination of old Pre-Rifts fighter designs and new designs that the Coalition developed. The use of sky cycles is interesting because while a large number can be carried, the aircraft are slow and have a fraction of the capabilities of a real fighter. There have also been reports of the vessels carrying 4 Death Bringer class armored personnel carriers. These craft are massive and weigh more than 1200 tons fully loaded and the flight deck could not support them. It is believed that Naval Air Station Oceania was completely destroyed. The size of the crew has been increased in Ranger class carriers in service in the Coalition. This is believed to be because the crew is less well trained than United States Navy crews were in shipboard operations. The Coalition also has placed a huge number of marines on the vessel. The Coalition carriers carry a vast number of different power armor and fighter designs. This is believed to impede the general operations of the carrier due to a lack of similar capabilities in embarked vehicles. As well, the added personnel have causes the vessel to be far more cramped than the vessels had been in United States Navy service.

A secondary note is on CVN 73, George Washington which they renamed CSS Joseph Prosek. The vessel was commissioned in 1992 and had been used as a training carrier while most of the Nimitz class carriers had been scrapped. The carrier had been decommissioned in 2072 and put into mothball status. The carrier had been scheduled for scrapping but plans for scrapping had been delayed after the Guada Marta incident and refitting the vessel was considered. After the commissioning of the Ticonderoga, the ship was again scheduled to be scrapped but the carrier was still in United States Navy custody. All weapon systems, radar systems, and aircraft gear such as catapults were either removed on deactivated. The ship also lacks many of the new systems carried on the Ranger class carriers.

[Authors Note: This is an expansion of the vessels presented in Coalition Navy, correcting some errors and expanding on the vessels in other ways]

Model Type: CVN-82 Ranger class Multi Purpose Aircraft Carrier
Vehicle Type: Ocean, Multi Purpose Aircraft Carrier
Crew:
United States Navy: Ships Crew: 1420 (125 officers, 135 chief petty officers, 1160 enlisted [Has a high degree of automation]) Air Wing: 1060 (250 Pilots, 50 flight deck officers, 760 enlisted)
Coalition Navy: Ships Crew: 1650 (140 officers, 160 chief petty officers, 1350 enlisted [Has a high degree of automation]) Air Wing: 1150 (200 Pilots, 80 flight deck officers, 870 enlisted)
Troops:
United States Navy: 520 (160 pilots for Semper Fi Power Armors, 160 pilots for SAMAS power Armor, 200 soldiers in body armor)
Coalition Navy: 1500 (Includes 600 flying power armor pilots, 40 underwater power armor pilots, 6 Sea Spider Pilots, 20 Hellraiser pilots, one company of 160 Sea Dogs, squad of 10 Nautical Commando troops, and 36 Naval Infantry RTL Commandos)

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
United States Navy:
Power Armors:

	120	Semper Fi Power Armors (With Flight Packs)
	120	PA-04A SAMAS

Fighter/Aircraft Compliment:

	6	EV-84A General Cargo / Search and Rescue
	6	EVS-84A Anti-Submarine Warfare
	6	EVE-84A Electronics Warfare
	36	FV-45 Sea Hawk VTOL Jet Fighters
	24	FV-45-SW Sea Hawk VTOL Jet Stealth Fighters
	6	FV-45-EW Sea Hawk VTOL Jet Jamming Fighters
	12	Utility Tilt Rotors

Coalition Navy:
Power Armors:

	24	PA-06A "Death's Head" SAMAS Power Armor
	24	PA-07A "Smiling Jack" Light Assault SAMAS Power Armor
	20	PA-08A Special Forces "Striker" SAMAS Power Amor
	180	PA-09A Super SAMAS Power Armor
	120	PA-10A Amphibious "Sea SAMAS" Power Armor
	40	PA-20B Trident Light Amphibious Power Armor

Fighter/Aircraft Compliment:

	12	F-14D+ Super Tomcats / FA-18 Super Hornets
	24	CSN-115 "Sea Striker" Jet Fighters
	12	CSN-117 "Shrike" Interceptors
	12	CSN-118 "Dagger" Stealth Bombers
	6	CSN-120 "Eagle" Unmanned Drone
	6	CH-10N Sea Storm helicopters
	24	AFC-023 Sky Cycles

Other Vehicles:

	2	CSN-0006 Sea-Spider Walker
	10	IAR-4 Hellraiser Infantry Assault Robot

M.D.C. by location:

	[1] Electromagnetic Catapults (4):	100 each
	[1] Arrester Cables (4):	50 each
	[2] Elevators (4):	400 each
	Hanger Doors (4):	400 each
	[3] Flight Deck:	4,000
	Combination Anti-Missile System (4, Flight Deck - US Navy):	200 each
	CIWS C90R Rail Gun Mounts (4, Flight Deck - Coalition):	120 each
	Mk 55 Eight Cell Vertical Medium Range Missile Launchers (2):	300 each
	Chaff Launchers (4, Superstructure - US Navy):	10 each
	[4] Phase Array Radar Panels (4, Superstructure):	200 each
	[5] Bridge / Command Tower:	3,200
	Outer Hull (per 40 foot / 12.2 meter area):	80
	[6] Main Body:	12,000

Notes:
[1] If the catapults are destroyed, non VTOL or STOL aircraft cannot be launched. If Arrester Cables are destroyed, non VTOL or STOL aircraft cannot land until arrester cables are replaced.
[2] If all three elevators are destroyed, no aircraft can be moved from the hangers to the main flight deck.
[3] If the flight decks are destroyed, only VTOL aircraft can be launched or land. VTOL aircraft are at -15% to piloting.
[4] If Forward Control Bridge and Rear Control Tower are destroyed, the ship can still be piloted from engineering but with a -15% to piloting rolls. Communication and sensor equipment are not concentrated on the bridge to reduce the effectiveness of bridge hits.
[5] Destroying Phase Array radar panels will destroy the ship's fire control systems but secondary systems have backup systems and panels can compensate for each other. All Bonuses are lost if panels are destroyed.
[6] Destroying the main body destroys propulsion and power systems, disabling the ship. The ship is fitted with an advanced polymer armors that allow the ship to withstand up to -3000 MDC before losing structural integrity and sinking. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship.

Speed:
Surface: 41.5 mph (36 knots/ 66.7 kph)
Range: Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Ship carries six months of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:
Length: 1110 feet (338.3 meters) overall
Draft: 40 feet (12.2 meters)
Width: 240 feet (73.2 meters)
Displacement: 76,500 tons standard and 108,600 tons fully loaded
Cargo: 10,000 tons (6,000 on Coalition vessels) 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 Fusion Reactors, average life span is 20 years
Market Cost: Not for Sale but costs around 1.5 billion credits to construct. If found and sold on the black market would probably cost 5 to 8 billion credits. It is believed that Golden Age Weaponsmiths sold the carriers to the Coalition for about 2 billion credits each.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. Point Defense Mounts (4): These weapons are out on the sides of the hull below the carrier's flight deck. Two are forward on either side of the flight deck and the other two mounts are mounted toward the rear on either side of the rear of the carrier.
   1. Four (4) Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems (US Navy): These mounts are carried on the United States version of the Carrier. These anti-missile defense systems combine both a rapid fire rail gun and a short range missile launcher. While mounted in one system, both defense systems have separate tracking systems. The short range missile launchers can target up four targets and can fire a volley up too twice per melee. The rail gun is capable of destroying any missile or inflicting serious damage on aircraft. The rail gun can fire on automatic at up to six targets per melee (Has +3 to strike missile and +2 to strike aircraft). The rail gun is very similar to those carried on the Sea King Cruiser and it is likely that the Sea Kings rail guns came from a prototype of this system. The system also can be used against other ships and ground targets. The system has a 360 degree rotation and can elevate up to 90 degrees to fire at targets directly overhead.
      Maximum Effective Range: Rail Guns: 11,000 feet (2 miles / 3.2 km). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Damage: Rail Guns: 3D4x10 MD per burst of 40 rounds (Can only fire burst). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Rate of Fire: Rail Guns: 6 attacks per melee. Short Range Missiles: 2 attacks per melee, can fire one at a time or in volleys of two or four.
      Payload: Rail Guns: 8000 rounds (200 burst) each. Short Range Missiles: 16 short range missiles each.
   2. Four (4) Coalition CIWS C90R Gatling Rail Guns (Coalition Navy): Carried on the Ranger class carriers operated by the Coalition. This is a close copy of the original pre-rifts weapon system but the tracking system has been improved and refined to have better hit probability against missiles. The most obvious modification is that the auto cannon has been replaced by a six-barrel rapid fire rail gun that fires 20 mm special discarding sabot rounds. Like the original MK 15 Phalanx, the system is unmanned and fully automated. It is designed to have a much greater payload than the original pre-rifts autocannon CIWS system. The weapons can be used on surface targets as well as against missiles and aircraft. Each rail gun can fire on automatic at up to six targets per melee (Has +4 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft).
      Maximum Effective Range: 6,000 feet (1,828 meters)
      Mega-Damage: 3D4x10 for a burst of 60 round
      Rate of Fire: Six bursts per melee for each mount (Has +4 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft).
      Payload: 6,000 rounds (100 bursts) each.
2. Mk 55 Vertical Medium Range Missile Launchers (2): Unlike most vertical launch systems, these launchers fire the missiles on a 6 degree angle to the side. This is to prevent a missile that fails on its launch from crashing into aircraft on the flight deck. The missiles are arranged in an 2 by 4 pattern, and each launch cell has six reloads. One launcher is mounted on the front port side of the hull and the other is mounted on the rear starboard side of the hull of the carrier. Each system can launch up to 8 missiles simultaneously each and the launcher is automatically reloaded. These launchers act as the ships middle point defense and are normally used to engage incoming air targets and missiles. Outer point defense is performed by the air compliment or escorting vessels.
   Maximum Effective Range: As per medium range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Mega Damage: As per medium 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 (Each launcher operates independently)
   Payload: 8 missiles in each launcher, with 48 missiles in each magazine for automatic reloads, for a total of 112 Medium Range Missiles including missiles in launcher.
3. Chaff Launcher (4 - US Navy Only): Located on the sides of the hull of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. All four launchers must be operated or effects will be reduced. Reduce effects of launchers by 50% per launcher not used. Rifts Earth decoy 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
   01-35 Missile or Missile volley detonates in chaff
   36-60 Missile or Missile volley loses track of target, may lock onto another target
   61-00 No Effect; Missile Still on target
   Payload: 24 each for a total of 96
4. Advanced Towed Decoys (4 - US Navy Only): The vessel carries four advanced towed decoy drones. They are each a small automated vehicle that creates a false sonar image designed to mimic the vessels. The decoy is dragged behind the carrier using a cable. If decoys are not destroyed, they can be recovered and repaired. Rifts Earth decoy systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World weapons due to technological difference.
   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.
   Range: Not Applicable
   Rate of fire: One can be deployed at a time and requires 2 minutes to deploy (Reel Out) another decoy
   Payload: 4 Decoys.

Special Systems:

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

• SPY-4C Three Dimensional Search Radar System Phased array radar system designed for the Ranger class carrier and the system designed prior to the system carried on most United States navy destroyers and cruisers. The incredibly advanced radar and computer system first developed before the coming of the Rifts and is similar to the system as that which is carried on Coalition Navy vessels. Powerful and flexible radar system that is comprised of four panels that each emit radar waves. If allowed by the horizon, the system can track out to 600 miles (966 km) and can simultaneously track and identify up to 768 targets at one time. The system controls missile launched from the long range missile launchers and the system track and guide each individual missile to an individual target for up to 192 targets. If a target is eliminated, missiles are automatically guided to a new target. The system can also control missiles launched from other linked vessels as well and can also act as fire control for gun mounts. The system gives a +10% to read sensory rolls, +2 on initiative, and +1 to strike.
• Advanced Hull Sonar (US Navy): Mounted under the bow of the ship. Range of 25 miles (21.7 nm / 40.2 km). This hull sonar system has both a passive and active system built in. Sonar system can track up to 32 targets at one time
• Hull Sonar System (Coalition Navy): Mounted under the bow of the ship, this system is similar to the pre-rifts SQS-53C hull sonar. Sonar system has a range of around 16 nautical miles (18.4 miles / 29.6 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
• Command and Control Facilities: The carrier carries extra communications equipment and command facilities, to enable the ship to operate as the flagship for a flotilla. When operating in a flotilla, all ships get a +1 on sensor rolls, +1 to strike on all weapons, and +10% on communications.
• Radar Defeating Profile & Radar Absorbing Materials: The ship superstructure is designed so that the radar profile of the ship is reduced and the ship is covered with radar absorbing materials. Because of this, attempts to detect the ship using radar are made with a -10% penalty to read sensor rolls when attempting to detect this ship. Go to General Detection Penalties for more information on penalties and bonuses to use with stealth.
• Combination Radar Detectors and Active Jamming System: Combination of radar detection system (ESM) and an active jamming system. The system can detect another radar system at 125% of the range of the transmitting radar. In jamming mode, causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that it is jamming, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4 penalty to all radar guided weapons.

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