A Design Study – Paris class “Frigate” (Destroyer)

A Design Study – Paris class “Frigate” (Destroyer)

The following design study is for a frigate of the line, what some call a “starship destroyer” or “star destroyer”. Operationally this vessel will operate as a core vessel in the battleline with other frigates of the line and flagship frigates of the Richelieu etc. classes. Operation with fast cruising frigates like the Suffren constituting the fast wing of the fleet is not necessary as achieving the same speed on a balanced hull is not possible.

Specifications

1.       Use 150 MW fusion plant (smallest available fusion plant) as greatest MW per ton and lowest cost per MW

2.       Overall tonnage less than 10,000 tons (and less than 1,000 Traveller dTons = 14,000 m3)

3.       Warp efficiency greater than 3.0 with reasonable loads, but no need to match Suffren or other ships of the “fast wing” of the fleet.

4.       Use latest technologies

5.       Greatest possible protection , i.e. armour = 10, screens = 6, compromise on stealth and other features to achieve (this led to rejection of hull masking and thus the ability to make a short, fatter hull with less material value modelled on the Ypres)

6.       Maximum possible turret firepower (the fatter hull after all other systems were accounted for limited the number of weapons mounts to 15, and given the required speed we were able to make they all x2+1dbls with UTES in jack turrets)

7.       Large guided weapon complement ca. 50% greater than a Suffren (paralleling the Kiev/ Konstantin) = 24 Ritage-2’s – 8 communicators as per Richelieu etc.

8.       Large submunitions complement with heaviest available warhead (10x2) but only 2 rounds per launcher needed (ultimately 8 fitted)

9.       Capability to carry 560 m3 (40 Traveller dTons) of small craft, i.e. two large fighters or platoon landers and maintain them.

a.       Additionally, to allow carriage of 1-2 additional fighters in rider mounts. (feature dropped as costing too much surface area and adding to armour cost)

Tactical Employment

Whilst larger cruisers and attached fighters form the fast wing of the fleet (a la the Battlecruiser Force), the destroyers and flagships (with fighter squadrons) form the main body. Since the major action is likely to be a blockade of Earth and engagement with the enemy main body within hours of the declaration of war the majority of these ships are based at a protected station near Earth – that is a station with a large “no entry- free fire”  zone approximately 30 light seconds from Earth of which there are several. The envisioned scenarios are:

1.       War with Manchuria (Jade)  – impose blockade and send expeditionary force against Manchurian fleet base at Mercury whilst fast wing attempts to intercept Manchurian raiders fleeing the system. Long term provide squadrons for expeditionary warfare against colonial holdings.

2.       War with Imperial Germany (Iron) – conduct major fleet action against German battleline immediately and impose blockade of Earth, fast wing to pursue any leakers. Long term provide squadrons for expeditionary warfare against colonial holdings.

3.       War with America (Silver) – destroy American naval facilities in Earth orbit and send expeditionary force against Mars base. Detach fast wing to pursue leakers. Long term provide squadrons for expeditionary warfare against colonial holdings.

4.       The nightmare scenario, Jade-Iron-Silver without support from Red (UK) – destruction of enemy orbital holdings priority and expeditions against Mars and Mercury immediately launched.

5.       Alien Invasion (Black) – plan black retains the central feature of suborning forces to Les Force Humaines (LFH) pro rata to potentially hostile nations, thus maintaining home defence as a minimum requirement.

Cost Breakdown

Propulsion: 37% (stutterwarp and proportion of reactor cost dedicated to it)
Weapons: 20% (weapons, combat electronics and proportion of reactor – excludes cost of launched weapons)
Protection: 42% (armour, screens and proportion of reactor dedicated to screens)
Crew, life support etc.: 1%

Stats

French Paris Class Frégate- Destructeur design study

Design Date: 2294

First Example Laid Down: ?

First Example Completed: ?

Fleets in Service: France

Number in Service: staff requirement for 4 in this class if chosen design

Performance

Warp efficiency: 3.09 (standard load) (3.12 unloaded)

Power Plant: 150 MW fusion

Fuel: nil (may carry bladders for small craft)

Range: 7.7 light years

Endurance: six months life support

Mass: 8,841 tons unloaded

Cargo Capacity: 840 cubic meters

Crew: 120 (30 Bridge, 27 TAC, 8 Small Craft, 24 Engineering, 10 troops, 12 stewards, 4 medical); Passengers: 5

Comfort: 0;

Emergency Power: 1 week

Total Life Support: 120 for 180 days

Cost: MLv212.72 (excluding launched weapons etc.)

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 6

Screens: 6

Radiated Signature: 7

Radial Reflected: 6

Lateral Reflected: 7

Target Computer: +2;

Radial Profile: -1

Lateral Profile: +1

Armour: 10

Hull hits: 600/120 (by SC)

Power Plant Hits: 100/20

Active: 16 and redundant

Passive: 12 and redundant

Other:

Weapons

15 x2+1dbl lasers in jack turrets (1x 128, 5x 123, 5x 178, 2x 345, 2x 567)
8 internal (jack) submunitions launchers (2 shots each, 10x2 warhead)

Ordnance Load

24 Ritage-2 in 8 bays

Sensors and Electronics:

Active-16 with redundant antenna
Passive-12 with redundant antenna
Navigation Radar
DSS
Gravitational

Crew Hits:
Bridge: Captain, Navigator, Helm, 3 Engineer, 4 Communications, 5 Computer
TAC: 15 Fire Control (turrets and sm), 8 Remote Pilot, 2 Flight Control, Active Operator, Passive Operator

Damage Control: 39 (13 teams)