Hawker class System Defense Boat:
The Hawker class System Defense Boat is based on the venerable Dervish class System Defense Boat and has many advantages including more powerful engines, stronger shields, heavier missile batteries, and better point defense. They are far more expensive and actually push close to the cost of a new destroyer. Still, the vessels are a bit cheaper and can be very effective in system defense roles. They still have the standard weakness of most system defense vessels in that they cannot withstand a huge amount of abuse although they are far better than the Dervish class that they are based on. Most of the modifications were simply replacing old systems with newer and more effective systems and none of the systems are truly cutting edge. Several companies are licenced to produce the Hawker class System Defense Boat and there are several different system defense boat designs that are similar to the Hawker. As well new construction, many upgrades on the Dervish produce a similar vessel although hull, engine, and shields usually remain unmodified.
The Hawker replaces most of the weapon systems with new and more effective systems. The cruse missile battery can fire off one third more cruise missiles at one time making it a much harder hitting vessel. The interior has been modified so that more cruise missiles can be carried. Point defense is far more capable than the original design was. The four mini-missile launchers are replaced by two cruise missile launchers, allowing the ship to engage incoming missile volleys much further out. The direct fire point defense weapons are upgraded as well with the lasers being replaced by variable focus particle beams. The original rail guns are retained being in many ways easier to maintain than more advanced gravity rail guns. The main battery of the heavy lasers is also retained unaltered from the standard Dervish design.
Electronics and Sensors are generally improved but many of the components are a bit dated and many are of civilian design. Still, many of the civilian components are almost up to military specifications and allows for better systems without a vast increase of cost. The remaining systems are standard, not top of the line, military grade equipment.
The shields and armor of the Hawker are slightly better than those on the Dervish and the shields are basically standard destroyer shield generators. The shield generator produces about twenty percent greater power than the original shield. The ship still carries a fusion reactor but the reactor is of a slightly longer duration and produces more power. The extra power is needed because more powerful engines are mated to the ship and the ship is slightly faster. Like all system defense boats, the Hawker has no form of FTL propulsion.
This ship design uses modified starship speeds and weapon ranges. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
Model Type: SDB-24
Vehicle Type: System Defense Boat
Crew: 14 (2 officers)
M.D.C. By Location:
Heavy Laser Cannons (2): | 800 each | |
Variable Focus Particle Beam Cannon Turrets (2): | 150 each | |
Point Defense Rail Gun Turrets (2): | 150 each | |
Cruise Missile Battery: | 800 | |
Medium Range Missile Batteries (2): | 450 each | |
[1] Bridge: | 1,100 | |
[2] Main Body: | 3,500 | |
[3] Variable Force Field: | 1,000 a side (6,000 Total) |
Notes:
[1] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon
to hit the bridge through the ships armor. This ship does not have an auxiliary
bridge. Even if the bridge is destroyed, the ship can still be piloted
from engineering but the ship is -3 to dodge and all weapon systems will
be at local control. Weapon hits near the bridge that do not penetrate
the ships integrity can still injure crew members on or near the bridge.
[2] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the vessel out of commission.
All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal
gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
[3] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one
shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (300 MDC) per melee round.
Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship
to travel up to 50 percent of the speed of light. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate
at the rate of 1.0 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum Effective speed is Mach 2, can
enter an atmosphere because flight system is by contra grav.
Stardrive: The Ship carries no Stardrive.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either Drive system.
Carries only about four weeks worth of supplies on board. Life support
systems are also limited to about three months.
Statistical Data:
Length: 240 feet (73.2 meters)
Height: 65 feet (19.8 meters)
Width: 88 feet (26.8 meters)
Weight: 2,350 tons (2,131.9 metric tons)
Power System: Fusion with a 10 year life span (fusion is far
cheaper than anti-matter). The ship normally only goes 3 years between
refueling and refitting.
Cargo: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows
for carrying up to 40 tons of Cargo in addition to standard compliment
of supplies and ammunition. 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 ammunition, armor,
troops, weapons, engine, and other equipment.
Market Cost: 265 million credits. Other upgraded versions will
range from 250 to 300 million credits and original version costs around
180 million credits.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
[ Phase World TM, Naruni TM, Kreeghor TM, and CAF TM 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 DUO (duo@pt.tizeta.it).
More Duo artwork at
The Planet
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).
Copyright © 2001, Kitsune. All rights reserved.