NationStates Jolt Archive

Calypso-class Dreadnaught
Trimaran Battleship
(Jointly offered by Hybalt Industries and the Portland Iron Works).

Originally designed by Hybalt industries for Sarzonia, the plans were never put into effect due to technological constraints. Now redesigned to reflect changes in the armament, plus with additional advanced sensors and systems, the Calypso has breathed new life. Armed with a 20 inch ETK railgun, it is especially designed to preform as a battleship killer. The long single barrel serves to accelerate the round fired, producing devastating damage on impact.

The vessel itself is subdivided into 40 watertight compartments below the waterline. If needed, they can be sealed off individually to prevent the spread of leaks. The engine rooms are located in 4 separate sealed compartments, to reduce the chance of a direct hit disrupting the power supply. Vital functions, such as engines/fuel storage are clustered near the center of the main hull, allowing the secondary hulls to shield them from direct fire.

The vessel is armored with several layers of material, which complement each other. The outer covering is made of a ceramic mix, fired in ovens and arranged plate by plate. Built for defense against kinetic-based weaponry, it diffuses the energy of contact and spreads it out along the outside of the ship, absorbing the shock. A titanium composite is underneath, strengthened with heat resistant metals, it is lightweight, yet incredibly strong. This second layer is proof against explosive weaponry. Special care has been taken to armor the traditionally weak area of the vessel, including beneath the waterline, around magazines and storage chambers, surrounding the propulsion system, and fire control/gunnery positions. The strongest sectors are the turrets, especially at the base, ship control and navigation center (bridge), and along the broadside.

Weaponry aboard the ship is built to outmatch those of similar designs. 2 triple turrets of Electro/Thermal Kinetic Guns seek to provide a dual blow. Constructed to fire the MGA-12 "Ironstorm" round, the shot consists of a solid 2000 lb. reinforced steel/titanium slug. The projectile relied on the massive kinetic force generated from impact to cause damage, benefiting from an armor piercing, arrow-dynamic shape to increase speed and performance. One of the few type of shells built to penetrate heavily armored targets. Recoil is minimal due to extensive dampening. This can be substituted by another round.

Beyond the larger guns, dozens of smaller ones protect the ship in close quarter combat. GK26 missile launchers are for anti-ship combat. They are usually launched in groups of up to 1 hundred. Automated tracking systems with a human override assign targets to each missile, factoring in the relative importance of each foe and success of strike. Similar systems work with the VLS, usually used to deliver cruise missiles or tactical missile strikes. The GR-25B CIWS/RAM system combines aspects of both, providing high aspects of success, superior guidance, and delivery (high rate of fire). Torpedoes have a separate guidance system to prevent enemy EW interference. Ten helicopters can be housed at once in the spacious hanger, equipped with a machinery and repair shop.

All weaponry is laser guided and radar guided, directed from fire control armed with state of the art sensors and constant feeds from other sources, such as satellites. A secure and wireless receiver to an encrypted channel allows for rapid communication of orders and close coordination of fleet movements. There are the standard navigational suites, and long-range radar. Surface tracking and targeting matrixes work together to simultaneously record the actions of up to several hundred vessels. An entire system of defensive measures share information and coordinate actions against threats. These include decoys, burst fire, concentrated fire, etc. In essence the entire ship is networked together in order to streamline and make efficient procedures, while in battle or out.

Power Plant: 8 Nuclear Reactors/Steam Turbine System, 4 shafts
Displacement: 1,125,000 tons full load
Length: 1020 meters
Beam: 185 meters
Speed: 35 knots
Draft: 14 meters
Range: Limited only by Supplies and Nuclear Fuel
Crew: 5,300
Armor: 800-1200mm Titanium Composite, Layered Kinetic-Reducing Ceramic Plates
Aircraft: 10 large helicopters w/ extensive hanger and helipad
Armament: 1 20” aft Electro/Thermal Kinetic rail gun, 6 25” Electro/Thermal naval guns (2 triple turrets in fore), 12 6” guns (10 twin turrets), 20 2” guns (15 twin turrets), 30 0.5” AA guns, 8 42-Cell VLS (168 SAM/SSM Missiles), 6 Quad Canisters MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems (48 cells each), 16 GR-25 CIWS Systems
Torpedoes: 10 GAST torpedo shafts (2 on front and back, 3 each broadside), SDAD anti-submarine system
Sensors: PAAMS (Long Range Radar, Multi-Function Radar), GS44 Short Range Surface Search/Tracking, G04 Navigation, GN-20 bow-mounted sonar, G23 Close Engagement Control, GS39 Gunfire Control, GN-2E 3D radar
Electronic Warfare: 12 GE-2 Chaff/Flare Dispensers, "Apollo" ECM/ESM suite, Ultra-Sonic Sonar Jamming
Countermeasures: ARAD system (anti-missile), NESS (anti-missile), TDASW suite (anti-torpedo), 8 GE-2 Chaff/Flare Dispensers, G-56 Long Range Surface Tracking
PRICE: $225 billion.

[Nice, my one critique would be that gun diameters are traditionally done in increments of even twos, so I would suggest taking your 25" guns up or down an inch or two. Of course, you could go for originality and all if you want those guns to stick out among the Doujin rivals. Personally, I try as much as possible to reduce necessary logistics, but that's just me.

Well, as an example:
I myself use the odd nubers only ont he following railguns:
21in
35in

These are becouse of the round I have designned for them. Next to that, I have tried to stay in the even-numbered, mainly becouse it is easy to make and remember.

OOC:Electro/Thermal Kinetic rail gunThat sounds sort of like a cross between an ETC gun and a rail gun...Is it? Electro-Thermal-Chemical (ETC) guns and rail guns are very different things, the first using a chemically energetic working liquid instead of conventional solid propellant, the second accelerating the projectile down the barrel with a strong magnetic field.

As the designer, I can answer that. No, it's not a cross between a railgun and a ETC gun. The kinetic is only there because of the tremendous energy exerted when the gun is fired, and the when the shell impacts the target. Otherwise it's a Electro-Thermal railgun with an elongated barrel.

range of gun?

[Nice, my one critique would be that gun diameters are traditionally done in increments of even twos, so I would suggest taking your 25" guns up or down an inch or two. Of course, you could go for originality and all if you want those guns to stick out among the Doujin rivals. Personally, I try as much as possible to reduce necessary logistics, but that's just me.

Hmm, I'm not sure why I did that, it was a long time ago. Typically, I tend to stay with even increment guns.

As the designer, I can answer that. No, it's not a cross between a railgun and a ETC gun. The kinetic is only there because of the tremendous energy exerted when the gun is fired, and the when the shell impacts the target. Otherwise it's a Electro-Thermal railgun with an elongated barrel.

I think what he's trying to say is that a railgun would be a gun that propells slugs through the use of large and powerful magnets. An ET(C) cannon is a gun that uses a propellant to fire it's load. They are definatly not the same, kinetic has nothing to do with it.

range of gun?

Several hundred miles for the 25 inch guns, depends on the round fired. Typically, a heavier round such as the "Ironstrom" can be sent a distance of a little less than 150 miles. The railgun can achieve up to 250 nautical miles.

BUMP for customers.

Any more questions or comments?

I think what he's trying to say is that a railgun would be a gun that propells slugs through the use of large and powerful magnets. An ET(C) cannon is a gun that uses a propellant to fire it's load. They are definatly not the same, kinetic has nothing to do with it.

You still havn't responded to this.

3.

$225 Billion to be wired upon confirmation.

Hmmm, not too bad, but a number of points.

Weight is far too low, more akin to a oil-tanker of that size than a battleship. I mean, I miscalculated on the Doujin somewhat, (it should be up in the 2 million ton range), so if you based it off that then my fault I guess, anyway...

Speed is way too high...Doujin is fatter, but it has much more powerful engines than the traditional shaft arrangement, and it still struggles to get to 30 kts. Even with a relatively sleek hull you will NOT be able to get past 30 unless running very light after a few days accelerating.

Weaponry is good, though the railgun is better suited towards ground bombardment. ETC guns are a good calibre, the lighter shells will allow a high rate of fire whilst still being exceptionally powerful weapons. Good mixture of lighter weapons too, although I would invest in a proper light calibre weapon system.

The only thing that really bugs me however, is the low price. NO WAY in hellwould you ever be able to produce it for that low a price unless in your nation slavery is legal and everyone likes to go bankrupt. Twice that much and you would still be struggling with an acceptable loss. Its the tradeoff Im afraid. Super-dreads are expensive and you have to make the investment.

Now, I understand you use future techniques, thats fine, but so do we, and still you are going to struggle. It is the only thing that bothers me really, otherwise its a very reasonable design with a lot of good ideas in it.

Well, as an example:
I myself use the odd nubers only ont he following railguns:
21in
35in

These are becouse of the round I have designned for them. Next to that, I have tried to stay in the even-numbered, mainly becouse it is easy to make and remember.

you are aware a rail gun isn't a barrel arnt you? its 2 parrellel 'rails' which the sabot sits on. The current then iduces a magnetic field and propels it along. It doesnt matter how large the space between the rails is (although it does help somewhat) i can have a rail gun with rails 1cm apart and so long as i put enough power into it it can outperform a large rail gun with a lesser current.

I thought the Doujin was horrendously expensive, but would $200 billion be reasonable? The fact is, no one will buy it with such a massive increase in price, and it's not as well known.

I thought the Doujin was horrendously expensive, but would $200 billion be reasonable? The fact is, no one will buy it with such a massive increase in price, and it's not as well known.

I sell the dumbed down Doujin for, what was it? 250 billion?

Well, thats just it...these things are expensive, they are expensive to build and more importantly, the facilities are expensive to build and maintain. You do not build these things in traditional shipyards, and keeping up the necessary dedicated facilities, dredging the channels or maintaining the offshore platforms or whatever.

These things are expensive..they have to be...they are not ships designed for the cost conscious. Thats the whole point, they are political tools to show the might of the nation that built them as much as they are weapons of war. $200 billion is the minimum you could sell one for with the smallest profit margin, yes.

What everyone has to realise is that these warships require a concentrated effort to build and maintain. If every two-bit dictator can afford one...then..well...you get point. These are not conventional warships, they are statements of intent. Selling them willy-nilly is just reckless IMHO, and that applies as much to Doujin as everyone else.

Well, thats just it...these things are expensive, they are expensive to build and more importantly, the facilities are expensive to build and maintain. You do not build these things in traditional shipyards, and keeping up the necessary dedicated facilities, dredging the channels or maintaining the offshore platforms or whatever.

These things are expensive..they have to be...they are not ships designed for the cost conscious. Thats the whole point, they are political tools to show the might of the nation that built them as much as they are weapons of war. $200 billion is the minimum you could sell one for with the smallest profit margin, yes.

What everyone has to realise is that these warships require a concentrated effort to build and maintain. If every two-bit dictator can afford one...then..well...you get point. These are not conventional warships, they are statements of intent. Selling them willy-nilly is just reckless IMHO, and that applies as much to Doujin as everyone else.

I have increased the price of the Calypso-class to $225 million in my storefront.

I will also be far more strict in the sale of both this class and the Freedom-class. In other words, I will likely perform a background check on nations that wish to purchase one of either class (though I might be inclined to sell only to a very small group of nations). So far, most of my sales have been for ships of my own design.

I have increased the price of the Calypso-class to $225 million in my storefront.

OOC: Err.... yah.... may I place an order for 1000 then? ;)

I do realize it's a typo.. :)

By the way, I searched everywhere for the freedom class, can't seem to find it.. Can you please post a link to your storefront?

Thank you..

And Granzi, I bought 7 at the earlier price of $68 billion.. I do not want to godmod, I would be glad to pay the difference (in yearly installments)..

And you know exactly what I think of the Calypso.. ;)

Here's the link to my storefront: Portland Iron Works (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=345001). The link to the Wilmington Shipyard Corporation is included in the first post on the thread.

OOC: Err.... yah.... may I place an order for 1000 then? ;)

I do realize it's a typo.. :)

By the way, I searched everywhere for the freedom class, can't seem to find it.. Can you please post a link to your storefront?

Thank you..

And Granzi, I bought 7 at the earlier price of $68 billion.. I do not want to godmod, I would be glad to pay the difference (in yearly installments)..

And you know exactly what I think of the Calypso.. ;)

No, it's fine. Any future purchases will be at the new price though.

The Calypso is now priced at $175 billion at the Portland Iron Works (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=345001) to bring it in line with the price at Hybalt.