NationStates Jolt Archive

NSAA research technicians are seeking research partners for a new hovercraft missile launch platform.
This would be able to be used as a launch pad for almost any kind of missile, and could go almost anywhere on sea, and anywhere flat on land to launch its missiles.
It would also (in theory only) be able to be dismantled for transport on flatbed lorries across rough(er) terrain.
(ooc:this is a plausible real world tech unit as the us navy was working on developing one over 20 years ago that would have been capable of launching exocet missiles from two rear mounted launch tubes, and could be taken apart and transported, although it needed specially built lorries to transport and these needed specially built roads to drive along).
(ooc2: anyone who knows the specs of those old things, please post them here)

Pwnica is intersted in this project, and with NSAA's permission, would like to send technicians, scientists, money and supplies to help the research.

unified sith is interested we will help develop it

The Dominion is greatly interested in this project. Have you considered giving it some form of troop carrying capability, or perhaps using an Landing Craft Air Cussion (LCAC)-style vehicle's chassis as the basis for this hovercraft? Likely, it would not have very long range, nor would it be especially suited for crossing large stretches of open sea, and thus would likely need to be carried in amphibious warfare ships.

Our suggestion is that the armament of such a craft be focused towards the support of an amphibious landing. A quick craft such as this could provide an escort for LCAC-style vessels as they perform an opposed landing, much as attack helicopters are often detailed to escort helicopters carrying troops in hostile situations. If this is not in line with the project's goals, then the Dominion would be happy to contribute its expertise and use the knowledge gained from this endeavor to help it construct its own hovercraft gunships.

The basic idea was a small, dismantalable(if thats how you say it), missile launch platform that could go almost anywhere.
A troop transport or landing craft variant could be made but it would be fairly useless as it would be too small for any use other than landing a small special forces team.
A large landing craft/troop transport hovercraft (codenamed Pax Dei) is alrady in service in the NSAA navy, anyone who wants to buy one can do so, post here for interest (its based on the old vesper-thornicroft VT2 chassis base but heavily upgraded and much increased in size, it can carry 6 heavy tanks or the equivalent amount of other stuff)
Also, thanks for the help offers, any techies wanting to join can do so, and any nations that join in the research get full specs on its result and the hover-transport I use)

Edit: Double post numero uno

EDIT:double post numero duo :twisted:

Pwnica will send the aforementioned list of things to assist the research, then.

We are interested in the project. Please state how we could assisst best.

We would also like to assist. We are currently researching hovercraft as a means for support to our warships. We also have a hovercraft landing craft in our storefront.


The Phoenixius Council
Director of Intelligence


My nation's site: Phoenixius (http://www.freewebs.com/phoenixius)
My storefront: PIMS (http://s4.invisionfree.com/The_Unforgiven_Board/index.php?showforum=18)
My NS storefront: PIMS in NS (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=131891)
The Unforgiven's site: The Unforgiven (http://www.freewebs.com/unforgivenregion)

>CE: pay for some of the materials to build the prototypes if you would be so kind,
and >Phoenixus: just generally help.
(anyone involved, post ideas for modifications to the design at will)

Ok, so far we've ruled out Nuclear power for the generator as it would be too heavy for efficient travel. That means that we're going to have to go with conventional diesel or petrol engines, which means a short range. Also, these vessels are going to have to be coastal craft, as large waves would cause the hover-effect to decrease slightly, causing loss of power. For weapons, the recoil would be a problem, but we've suggested an advanced recoil absorption system, possible electromagnetic in origin, and using airjets to couter the movement of the hovercraft.

Ok, so far we've ruled out Nuclear power for the generator as it would be too heavy for efficient travel. That means that we're going to have to go with conventional diesel or petrol engines, which means a short range. Also, these vessels are going to have to be coastal craft, as large waves would cause the hover-effect to decrease slightly, causing loss of power. For weapons, the recoil would be a problem, but we've suggested an advanced recoil absorption system, possible electromagnetic in origin, and using airjets to couter the movement of the hovercraft.

Ok, so far we've ruled out Nuclear power for the generator as it would be too heavy for efficient travel. That means that we're going to have to go with conventional diesel or petrol engines, which means a short range. Also, these vessels are going to have to be coastal craft, as large waves would cause the hover-effect to decrease slightly, causing loss of power. For weapons, the recoil would be a problem, but we've suggested an advanced recoil absorption system, possible electromagnetic in origin, and using airjets to couter the movement of the hovercraft.

Ok, so far we've ruled out Nuclear power for the generator as it would be too heavy for efficient travel. That means that we're going to have to go with conventional diesel or petrol engines, which means a short range. Also, these vessels are going to have to be coastal craft, as large waves would cause the hover-effect to decrease slightly, causing loss of power. For weapons, the recoil would be a problem, but we've suggested an advanced recoil absorption system, possible electromagnetic in origin, and using airjets to couter the movement of the hovercraft.
(ooc: nice triple post, whats up with the damn forum today, this keeps happening to me today)
Anyway, those are all good ideas, but i'm not sure wether it would still be able to keep going in rough seas, at least if we turn up the lift engine in such sits.
And, it would maybe operate out of some kind of mothership for long range ops.
(ooc2: sorry if i took a long time posting, but theres some fools sitting next to me calling it a stupid idea)

Having just read this article, The Barronian States are EXTREMELY interested in your idea. I would like to be updated on all of what has been decided so far. My thanks

research is for those with hope, us cynics know there is none. Too bad we cant do anything about it.

OOC: These forums are really bad. If you get a 'page cannot be shown' page, you have to refresh or otherwise your post might not make it. And then when you try to delete it the forum says the post and then the thread doesn't exist! Gah.


Yeah, I'm beginning to think we will need a mothership for these craft, unless we can come up with a hyper-efficient engine with low weight.

the armed republic of challenger 2 is interested. We would like to know if
we can help and how we can help.have u thought about placing anti-aircraft weapons on the hovercraft? if this system is produce i would like 10 of them. if i can help please send a telegram !

BS> I dont think we decided anything yet, apart from the fact that its going to be a hovercraft.
General> I just thought, this is meant to be designed to launch ANY kind of missile, whats the biggest type of missile any of you have? and how big a launch platform would they need?

Right I've made a prelimenary design:

Virak class Hovercraft Missilecraft

Propulsion:
4 Elysius EY140 diesel engines providing electrical power
4 Four-Bladed 11.75 ft Dia Reversible-pitch propellers
8 63 in Dia Double Entry Double Discharge Centrifugal Lift Fans
Length Overall: 90.00 m
Beam: 45.00 m
Draft: 0.00 m
Speed: 45 knots
Capacity: 60 tons
Range: 200 miles
Armament:
4x Mk141 Eight-Cell BGM-88 Harpoon Anti-Shipping Missile Launcher (32 Missiles)
2x Conventional 20mm CIWS
10x Evolved Sea Sparrow Quad Pack Mk41 VLS Cells (40 Missiles)
Combat Systems:
1x PAAPR system
1x CACS v1.0
1x AN/SLQ-32A(V)3 Electronic Warfare Suite
1x MK 36 SRBOC Chaff and Decoy Launching System

Crew: 6 Officers, 20 Enlisted
Unit Cost: $800,000
Production Rights Cost: $8mil

Options: In order to improve the stealth of the ship, third generation stealth system, Archangel, can be fitted to the Virak. This will add an extra $2mil to the cost. (Classified as Virak-S); The visual stealth system, Mist, can be fitted to the Virak. This will add an extra $20 mil to the cost. (Classified as Virak-M)


I'm selling this at the moment, though it might change depending on whether its too poerful etc.

(ooc: that wasnt quite the idea, but so what?)
anyway, NSAA techs reveal a different version, codename waveskimmer.

(OOC2:Details will follow when i get back on a computer with internet, my comp lesson just ended)

Specs of the waveskimmer:

Waveskimmer class Hovercraft Missilecraft

Propulsion:
2x Lewis-Johnson MK4 electrical generators,
2x tri-blade Smithson Hover-turbines (for propulsion),
4x Quad-blade Smithson Hover turbines (for lift)
Length Overall: 20m
Beam: 12m
Draft: 0.00 m
Speed: 70 knots
Capacity: 8 tons
Range: 120 miles
Armament:
2x interchangable missile launch tubes (can carry NSAA phoenix cruise missiles, NSAA LRADS Long range missiles, and most small missile types in standard use)

Crew: 1 Officer, 6 Enlisted
Unit Cost: $200,000
Production Rights Cost: $4mil (free to all nations participating in this research program up until now.)

(OOC:Thats my version.)

Looks good. Seems more like a costal patrol craft. Mine was merely a heavy missilecraft for quick deployment. There will be others soon.

Uh, do the production rights include export rights too? Or is it only production?

Export rights and production rights, but with one proviso on the export rate, that you can't undersell me by more than 5,000 per unit.

I was actually going to sel it at the same price - no point in needless bidding wars. I will design a new hovercraft in the future, probably on the weekend, so I'll post that when I've finished.

I'm only going to sell to people who come to me asking, other than that i cant be bothered to set up a storefront for my stuff, so sod that.

We the people of The Federation of Upward Thinking would like to express our support of this project. We shall send technicians and scientists and any other resources we deem necessary and are asked to produce.
Secretary of Miltary Technology,
Stewart Einstein

Sadly, upward thinking, you are a bit late, but i'm still fine with you joining.