Monitors are ships that are about the same size of a heavy cruisers yet pack more firepower due to the fact that they have low endurance compared to cruisers, pack less engines, and do not have FTL drive systems. This space is used for heavier weaponry and more armor. The history of the monitor is pretty interesting. When coal fired steam ships on the oceans were a new advancement, the Northern States of United States on Earth constructed a very slow ship with heavy armor and two heavy guns. This ship was the U.S.S. Monitor. As time went on, the ship class called Monitor evolved into a few different classes of ships but all designs were designed for coastal use with heavy guns and heavy armor. When classes of starships were being names, in most cases old naval terms were being used. Because the monitor fit quite well in the terms of a heavily armed inter system ship.
Many systems cannot afford cruisers or other FTL capable ships so they purchase monitors. Due to the reduced mobility of Monitors, the systems than can afford cruisers will purchase them instead. These ships are either constructed in system, ship on large ships, or shipped in parts and assembled in system. The Rockcastle class Monitor is an older monitor design based on old Human Alliance cruiser designs. The original manufacture has been long out of business although the design is still reproduced. More modern monitors replace the weaponry with new weapon systems but the basic hull design is the same. As time goes on, more and more of the manufacturing facilities for the old type monitor are upgrading to produce the upgraded design.
The Monitor carries four large (28 cm) particle beams which is supported by four lighter anti-capital lasers. In later versions of this ship the particle beams have been replaced by longer ranged lasers and the lighter lasers have been replaced by heavy rail guns. Point defense is pretty good although not equal to modern standards. The ship has six point defense rail guns, six point defense lasers, and four point defense mini-missile launchers. Several different upgrades have been done to more modern monitors. Some include simple upgrades on the weapon systems and some include weapons that fire a wide spray. The ship carries two old style cruise missile launchers and four long range cruise missile launchers. These launchers have been upgraded to larger capacity launchers in later ships of the class. The shield are pretty powerful but are bulky compared to more modern units. More modern units can output about 20% more power.
Because they are operated within friendly systems, they do not carry fighters or marines because they are expected to come from the planets that they are protected. In some cases, they may be escorted by cargo ships that fill the roll of carrier or troop transport. More modern versions have been able to reduce the ships crew by a small amount using increased automation.
This ship design uses modified starship speeds and weapon ranges. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
Model Type: MA-22
Vehicle Type: Monitor
Crew: 344 (ship can be run by 75 crew-members)
Troops: None
Vehicles: None
M.D.C. By Location:
| Main Particle Beam Batteries (4): | 1,500 each | |
| Support Heavy Laser Cannons (4): | 750 each | |
| Point Defense Rail Gun Turrets (6): | 150 each | |
| Triple Barrel Defense Laser Turrets (6): | 150 each | |
| Cruise Missile Batteries (2): | 800 each | |
| Long Range Missile Batteries (4): | 500 each | |
| Mini-Missile Launchers (4): | 100 each | |
| Outer Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area): | 150 | |
| Inner Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area): | 100 | |
| [1] Bridge: | 12,000 | |
| [1] Auxiliary Bridge: | 12,000 | |
| [2] Main Engines (2): | 15,000 each | |
| [3] Main Body: | 55,000 | |
| [4] Variable Force Field: | 5,000 a side (30,000 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 also has an auxiliary
bridge. Even if both bridges are taken out, the ship can still be piloted
from engineering but 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 injure crew members on or near the bridge.
[2] Destroying the main engines means that ship FTL systems are destroyed
and maximum sublight speed is reduced by half.
[3] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the Monitor out of
commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support
and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating
wreck.
[4] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one
shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (1,500 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 60 percent of the speed of light. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate
at the rate of 0.6 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 400 mph (644 kph),
can enter an atmosphere and can leave but is not designed for atmospheric
flight
Stardrive: The Ship carries no Stardrive.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either Drive system.
Carries about one year worth of supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 810 feet (246.9 meters)
Height: 260 feet (79.2 meters)
Width: 430 feet (131.1 meters)
Weight/Mass: 210,000 Tons (190,500 tons)
Power System: Advanced Fusion with a 25 year life span
Cargo: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows
for carrying up to 1,000 tons of Cargo in addition to standard compliment
of supplies and ammunition.
Market Cost: 1.3 billion credits. Upgraded versions will range
from 1.5 to 2.2 Billion credits
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
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by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).
Copyright © 1999, Kitsune. All rights reserved.