The Hunter is considered one of the finest destroyer ever constructed and they are the foundation of the Wolfen fleets. The battle records record the enormous glories of this class. The problem is that the design is simply getting old and the Wolfen have been considering a replacement for over a decade. In recent years, this has become a greater concern with ships such as the Reaper class Corvette and the Kreeghor X-Ray laser mounting berserker class vessel. This situation called for the mounting of extremely heavy main weaponry along with better cruise missile launching ability than the Hunter. Several designs have been set forward but none have shown all the qualities that were desired. The was until the Predator design was completed. The ship was extremely simple in some respects and extremely radical in others. The key to the whole design might be summed up in saying that most of the unnecessary equipment has been stripped or reduced. The only major problem The design was also for two different designs. One is a full range destroyer and the other is a stripped and smaller design that is meant for system defense. The ship design has just passed the classes trials and a medium sized order of these vessels has been placed. It is planned for about one quarter of the Hunters in the Wolfen fleets to initially be replaced by these vessels within about fifteen years. The Hunters that will be removed from service will likely be the most decrepit and sold or scrapped instead of being put in reserve fleets. Due to the older Hunter class being able to carry fighters, the remaining hunters will be kept in service. The planned operation of the Predator are in packs and are to be operated like large fighters. The present plan is also to have a Stalker class escort carrier operate for every six of them to give the fighters support that they themselves lack.
Like most warships, the Predator is built around its weaponry. The ships are basically a simple stubby cigar with 4 larger bubbles on the corners of the ship near the bow of the vessel. These are were the missiles are fired from revolver style missile launchers. Each revolver only carries six missiles which limits the ships firepower to twenty four cruise missiles. While this is only half of what the hunter can carry, the ship can fire all of its cruise missiles within just a few seconds. A pack of Predator class destroyers could easily overwhelm the defenses of a much large vessel and in the same manner as the Ferret and Cheetah Corvettes and the T.G.E. Berserker. Normally, at least one missile in each revolver is a decoy or jamming missile. Where the ship is really outstanding is in the ships beam weaponry. The ships only carry a single capital ship sized laser. The opening is in the bow of the vessel and the weapon stretches for most of the length of the vessel. While the range has been cut compared to those carried on most cruisers, the damage the weapon can inflict is incredible. The other problem is that the weapon eats enormous amounts of power and has a limited number of shots before recharging. The Wolfen would like to get the design for Grasers and mount them in replacement of the heavy laser. The ship has outstanding point defense. It carries four medium range missile launchers to intercept missiles and fighters at range. The original plan was to only carry two but was modified during construction. The ship also has 4 GR-1000 rail guns and four variable focus particle beams. The ships of the vessel are about the same power level as those carried on the Hunter and the Predator carries heavier armor even though it is only slightly larger. Both versions of the vessels are very fast at sublight speeds and are as fast as many starfighters. The system defense version does not carry any FTL drives but the destroyer carries them. The FTL pods are four large bubble near the rear of the destroyer version. The ship is not designed for large scale repairs but is constructed in a modular design which allows for the quick replacement of parts in proper facilities.
The ship has a smaller crew than a Hunter due to the addition of far more automation and the vessel has a crew of only eighteen for the destroyer model and only sixteen in the system defense vessel. Chances are that large numbers of these vessels will be lost in most engagements so the reduction in crew makes good sense. The vessels carry no fighters and no marines as well.
This starship design uses modified starship speed and ranges.
See Revised
Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
| Model Type: | PD-226-A | Destroyer Version |
| PD-226-B | System Defense Version |
| Crew: | PD-226-A | 18 (1 Officers, 17 Enlisted) |
| PD-226-B | 16 (1 Officers, 15 Enlisted) |
Vehicle, Robots, and Power Armors: None
M.D.C. By Location:
| 20 cm Capital Laser Cannons (1, Front): | 1000 | |
| GR-1000 Rail Gun Turrets (4): | 400 each | |
| Variable Focus Particle Beam Turrets (4): | 100 each | |
| Rotary Cruise Missile Launchers (4) | 800 each | |
| Medium Range Missile Batteries (4): | 450 each | |
| FTL Drive Nodes (4): | 800 each | |
| [1] Bridge: | 1,500 | |
| [2] Main Body: | 5,000 | |
| [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 of the ship is destroyed, 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] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the destroyer 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.
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 1.2 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is Mach 5 (3,350 mph /
5,400 kph), can enter an atmosphere because flight system is by contra
grav.
Stardrive: Destroyer Version: Uses a Gravitonic Drive
system that allows the ship to reach a maximum of 4.5 lightyears per hour.
System Defense Version: None
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either Drive system.
Carries about two month worth of supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 350 feet (106.6 meters)
Height: Destroyer Version: 105 feet (32.0 meters) System
Defense Version: 80 feet (24.4 meters)
Width: Destroyer Version: 105 feet (32.0 meters) System
Defense Version: 80 feet (24.4 meters)
Weight / Mass: Destroyer Version: 8,267.3 tons (7,500
metric tons) System Defense Version: 4960.4 tons (4,500 metric tons)
Power System: Advanced Fusion with a 10 year life space. The
ship normally only goes 5 years between refueling and refitting.
Cargo: Small cargo hold that can carry up to 250 ton of cargo
not including standard compliment of supplies and ammunition. Hold is 20
x 20 x 20 feet in dimensions (6.1 x 6.1 x 6.1 meter). 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 ammunition, armor, troops, weapons, engine, and other equipment.
Market Cost: Not for sale but may be sold in the future. If
sold, would probably sell for around 350 millions for the
System Defense
Version and 420 million for the Destroyer Version
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).
Copyright © 2000, Kitsune. All rights reserved.