New Empire
21-08-2004, 19:19
Orca class SSN Refit
http://img50.exs.cx/img50/6982/orcatitle.png
Design
The SSN-53 Orca uses a fairly conventional design from the looks of it, the exception being a teardrop style hull used by the upcoming American Virginia Class and newer Russian submarines. The submarine has a Seawolf style tail and dampening cover for the propulsor. Two bowplanes are mounted on the hull. The skin of the Orca is made out of fiber composites and polymers for sound dampening. This is over a thick hull of carbon ceramics and alumina casing, allowing the Orca to reach a crush depth of around 4.5km. It also has a double hull, reinforced keel, and a reinforced titanium frame. The vessel has an array of modern damage control systems (NBC, pressure control, many bulkheads, so on, so forth), and additional armor to important systems or facilities throughout the vessel. It's submerged displacement is around 10,500 tons. Crew is 108; 10 Officers, 14 Chief Petty Officers, and 84 Enlisted (Has a high degree of automation).
Propulsion
The boat is powered by a Guenther PB8CS Nuclear Pebblebed Reactor, powering a special hybrid propulsor. The propulsor sheath contains a single 6 bladed propeller. However, it also has a water pumpjet, with MHD assistance. The unique thing about this arrangement is that the propeller can link to the sonar, and match approximate the background flow to a degree, compensating for the 'black hole' created by MHD. The maximum speed for this vessel is about 45 knots, but this is rarely used outside of sea trials. Two 'azipod' miniwaterjets are mounted near the bowplanes for manuvering in ports or making quick evasion manuvers.
Armarment
660mm Torpedo Tubes
The Orca mounts eight forward 660mm torpedo tubes, making it capable of launching all torpedo in the UCSNE arsenal. Smaller torpedo, like the Mk58 MADCAP (Most ADvanced CAPability), are fired in sabots. A normal Orca has eight forward tubes. The tubes are of standard format, but have EM assistance. The vessel can carry up to 64 torpedos, cruise missiles, or 128 mines.
VLS System
The Orca mounts a 24 tube VLS system. Usually, land/sea attack missiles like the long ranged Wolverine or hypersonic Quick Jab are mounted. The VLS uses a cold fire launch system, using gasses and EM assistance to accelerate the missiles out with a minimum of hull damage and a bit more silence. SAMs like the RIM-95D or RIM-112 Super Spearhawk can be launched as well.
ASHUM
A MkX Adaptable High-Speed Undersea Munitions retractable turret is mounted on each side of the hull with a streamlined cover. When torpedoes have been fired, this gun fires 30mm supercavitating kinetic kill rounds.
1000mm Super Torpedo Tubes (SSN-301-331)
Beginning with the SSN-301 DiMercurio, four of the forward torpedo tubes and their reloads were replaced with six 1000mm single shot "Vortex" Super Torpedo. The Vortex is a solid rocket fueled supercavitating torpedo that can be wire guided or use a BGLIDAR array for guidance. Because of the massive rocket blast, a series of vents and EM assistance is added to prevent damage (Test tubes firing the prototype version, Magnum, exploded.) to the firing vessel. The Vortex is designed to give the boat a single shot kill capability, especially against large vessels like carriers and heavy surface combatants. Each Vortex is loaded with 7 tons of high explosive, usually HMX or Thermium Nitrate, though PYW, Octanitrocubane, and nuclear versions are under development.
Sensors, Systems, and Countermeasures
The Orca has a large spherical passive array with a low frequency passive array structure surrounding it. A truncated active array is mounted under it. This, the SBSY-4, has a range of about 65nm. The SBOG-9 Hull Mounted Sonar system also has an 65nm range, and provides extended coverage of the area. A STBX-20 Towed Array provides a 175nm range of detection. The system is reinforced, so it can be dropped into the thermocline to extend the range. L/SQS-15 Naval LIDAR provides silent active search capability. All sonar systems have their own supercomputers designed for pattern recognition and enhancement.
SAN/BPS-8 Surface Search Radar with a 200 mile range is used for the detection of enemy aircraft, and has Taiwanese NPI programming. A SAN/BPS-19 Fire Control and navigation radar is also mounted.
The Orca utilizes the new SCM-1 "SeAthena", as the crews have dubbed it, for defense against torpedo. Powered by a supercomputer, "SeAthena" works like it's aerial counterpart by analyzing incoming signals, and sending out signals to make the user appear to be somewhere else. SCM-1 listens in on a torpedo's ping cycle, and activates several transmitters. The computer calculates what the signal would sound like coming from a different location (usually closer to the torpedo so the thing detonates prematurely), and factors in distortion. It sends the signal at the proper time, based on the torpedo range and bearing.
The boat mounts two Photonic masts instead of periscopes, SAN/BVS-2 model.
A MkXXXIX Combat Intelligence/NAI has been installed on the ship. The MkXXXIX is a multi computer system to ensure it's functioning during combat. With the integration of the SSDS, Fire Control, Sensors, and Damage Control, as well as powerplant, propulsion, manuvering, and things like offensive weapons with authorization.
20 "Loudmoth" noisemakers are mounted for sonar jamming. 8 "Mimic" Advanced decoys can be mounted, 20 knot capable noisemakers that are designed to provide more in depth decoy work. Four 'Minnow' USVs can be used for reconissance, and are controlled via fiberoptic line, and have a rechargeable battery or power cable back to the sub.
Vortex Super Torpedo
Today, modern weapons compete with modern weapons designed to kill them. Anti shipping missiles are matched with advanced interceptor missiles and rapid firing CIWS guns. The UCSNE decided that with so much radar and IR sensors lighting up the sky, a highly effective killing blow would come from the sea. Thus was designed the SeaSLAM, a 21 inch supercav torpedo to complement the Mk58 MADCAP. However, tests have shown that systems like the praire/masker, ASHUM guns, and other anti torpedo weapons were requiring more and more torpedoes to make a kill. It was then that a relatively unknown scientist from General Electromagnetics proposed something unusual. The Air Force worked to make the 30,000 and 80,000 pound 'Superbombs', so why not a supertorpedo to match? Thus began project MAGNUM. A team of engineers designed a torpedo about half the size of a Trident II D5 missile. MAGNUM had a 10,000 pound (5 ton) warhead, and a solid rocket motor propelling it to over 400 knots. However, the problem was that the extreme force of the 100cm wide weapon cracked the tube. Thus, a large gas vent system had to be installed on the tubes, and speed reduced. However, the weapon was lengthed a bit, and given an ultastrong fiberoptic cable link. The warhead was also expanded to 7 tons. Thus, the Vortex was born. So far, 30 Orca SSNs have been outfitted with this system, trading 4 torpedo tubes and reloads for six massive Vortex Super Torpedo. The Vortex can be fired at 300 knots, and has rudimentary (Shkval II level) guidance.
The Vortex is primarily an anti shipping weapon, designed to deliver the power of 28 Harpoons to one target. The missile is very effective against battleships and carriers, and the blast radius will also damage other vessels in close formations. The Vortex, when used against a sub, guarantees that if you hit, you kill, and is useful in defensive operations, or as a retaliation weapon. Due to it's supercavitating noise level, a MHD pumpjet powered version, codenamed 'Tempest' is under development.
Mk58 MADCAP
The Mk58 MADCAP (Most ADvanced CAPability) torpedo is the standard torpedo of the UCSNE submarine fleet. The MADCAP is a heavyweight, 21 inch torpedo. Powered by a pumpjet propulsor with MHD assistance, the MADCAP is capable of speeds of up to 75 knots, but this is usually not used to take advantage of the possible 40nm range. It has wire guidance capability, along with Passive/Active SONAR and BGLIDAR. The MADCAP usually carries a 700 pound Thermium Nitrate warhead, although other warheads types exist, such as Plasma Yield Devices. The Mk98 is the nuclear version of the MADCAP.
http://img50.exs.cx/img50/6982/orcatitle.png
Design
The SSN-53 Orca uses a fairly conventional design from the looks of it, the exception being a teardrop style hull used by the upcoming American Virginia Class and newer Russian submarines. The submarine has a Seawolf style tail and dampening cover for the propulsor. Two bowplanes are mounted on the hull. The skin of the Orca is made out of fiber composites and polymers for sound dampening. This is over a thick hull of carbon ceramics and alumina casing, allowing the Orca to reach a crush depth of around 4.5km. It also has a double hull, reinforced keel, and a reinforced titanium frame. The vessel has an array of modern damage control systems (NBC, pressure control, many bulkheads, so on, so forth), and additional armor to important systems or facilities throughout the vessel. It's submerged displacement is around 10,500 tons. Crew is 108; 10 Officers, 14 Chief Petty Officers, and 84 Enlisted (Has a high degree of automation).
Propulsion
The boat is powered by a Guenther PB8CS Nuclear Pebblebed Reactor, powering a special hybrid propulsor. The propulsor sheath contains a single 6 bladed propeller. However, it also has a water pumpjet, with MHD assistance. The unique thing about this arrangement is that the propeller can link to the sonar, and match approximate the background flow to a degree, compensating for the 'black hole' created by MHD. The maximum speed for this vessel is about 45 knots, but this is rarely used outside of sea trials. Two 'azipod' miniwaterjets are mounted near the bowplanes for manuvering in ports or making quick evasion manuvers.
Armarment
660mm Torpedo Tubes
The Orca mounts eight forward 660mm torpedo tubes, making it capable of launching all torpedo in the UCSNE arsenal. Smaller torpedo, like the Mk58 MADCAP (Most ADvanced CAPability), are fired in sabots. A normal Orca has eight forward tubes. The tubes are of standard format, but have EM assistance. The vessel can carry up to 64 torpedos, cruise missiles, or 128 mines.
VLS System
The Orca mounts a 24 tube VLS system. Usually, land/sea attack missiles like the long ranged Wolverine or hypersonic Quick Jab are mounted. The VLS uses a cold fire launch system, using gasses and EM assistance to accelerate the missiles out with a minimum of hull damage and a bit more silence. SAMs like the RIM-95D or RIM-112 Super Spearhawk can be launched as well.
ASHUM
A MkX Adaptable High-Speed Undersea Munitions retractable turret is mounted on each side of the hull with a streamlined cover. When torpedoes have been fired, this gun fires 30mm supercavitating kinetic kill rounds.
1000mm Super Torpedo Tubes (SSN-301-331)
Beginning with the SSN-301 DiMercurio, four of the forward torpedo tubes and their reloads were replaced with six 1000mm single shot "Vortex" Super Torpedo. The Vortex is a solid rocket fueled supercavitating torpedo that can be wire guided or use a BGLIDAR array for guidance. Because of the massive rocket blast, a series of vents and EM assistance is added to prevent damage (Test tubes firing the prototype version, Magnum, exploded.) to the firing vessel. The Vortex is designed to give the boat a single shot kill capability, especially against large vessels like carriers and heavy surface combatants. Each Vortex is loaded with 7 tons of high explosive, usually HMX or Thermium Nitrate, though PYW, Octanitrocubane, and nuclear versions are under development.
Sensors, Systems, and Countermeasures
The Orca has a large spherical passive array with a low frequency passive array structure surrounding it. A truncated active array is mounted under it. This, the SBSY-4, has a range of about 65nm. The SBOG-9 Hull Mounted Sonar system also has an 65nm range, and provides extended coverage of the area. A STBX-20 Towed Array provides a 175nm range of detection. The system is reinforced, so it can be dropped into the thermocline to extend the range. L/SQS-15 Naval LIDAR provides silent active search capability. All sonar systems have their own supercomputers designed for pattern recognition and enhancement.
SAN/BPS-8 Surface Search Radar with a 200 mile range is used for the detection of enemy aircraft, and has Taiwanese NPI programming. A SAN/BPS-19 Fire Control and navigation radar is also mounted.
The Orca utilizes the new SCM-1 "SeAthena", as the crews have dubbed it, for defense against torpedo. Powered by a supercomputer, "SeAthena" works like it's aerial counterpart by analyzing incoming signals, and sending out signals to make the user appear to be somewhere else. SCM-1 listens in on a torpedo's ping cycle, and activates several transmitters. The computer calculates what the signal would sound like coming from a different location (usually closer to the torpedo so the thing detonates prematurely), and factors in distortion. It sends the signal at the proper time, based on the torpedo range and bearing.
The boat mounts two Photonic masts instead of periscopes, SAN/BVS-2 model.
A MkXXXIX Combat Intelligence/NAI has been installed on the ship. The MkXXXIX is a multi computer system to ensure it's functioning during combat. With the integration of the SSDS, Fire Control, Sensors, and Damage Control, as well as powerplant, propulsion, manuvering, and things like offensive weapons with authorization.
20 "Loudmoth" noisemakers are mounted for sonar jamming. 8 "Mimic" Advanced decoys can be mounted, 20 knot capable noisemakers that are designed to provide more in depth decoy work. Four 'Minnow' USVs can be used for reconissance, and are controlled via fiberoptic line, and have a rechargeable battery or power cable back to the sub.
Vortex Super Torpedo
Today, modern weapons compete with modern weapons designed to kill them. Anti shipping missiles are matched with advanced interceptor missiles and rapid firing CIWS guns. The UCSNE decided that with so much radar and IR sensors lighting up the sky, a highly effective killing blow would come from the sea. Thus was designed the SeaSLAM, a 21 inch supercav torpedo to complement the Mk58 MADCAP. However, tests have shown that systems like the praire/masker, ASHUM guns, and other anti torpedo weapons were requiring more and more torpedoes to make a kill. It was then that a relatively unknown scientist from General Electromagnetics proposed something unusual. The Air Force worked to make the 30,000 and 80,000 pound 'Superbombs', so why not a supertorpedo to match? Thus began project MAGNUM. A team of engineers designed a torpedo about half the size of a Trident II D5 missile. MAGNUM had a 10,000 pound (5 ton) warhead, and a solid rocket motor propelling it to over 400 knots. However, the problem was that the extreme force of the 100cm wide weapon cracked the tube. Thus, a large gas vent system had to be installed on the tubes, and speed reduced. However, the weapon was lengthed a bit, and given an ultastrong fiberoptic cable link. The warhead was also expanded to 7 tons. Thus, the Vortex was born. So far, 30 Orca SSNs have been outfitted with this system, trading 4 torpedo tubes and reloads for six massive Vortex Super Torpedo. The Vortex can be fired at 300 knots, and has rudimentary (Shkval II level) guidance.
The Vortex is primarily an anti shipping weapon, designed to deliver the power of 28 Harpoons to one target. The missile is very effective against battleships and carriers, and the blast radius will also damage other vessels in close formations. The Vortex, when used against a sub, guarantees that if you hit, you kill, and is useful in defensive operations, or as a retaliation weapon. Due to it's supercavitating noise level, a MHD pumpjet powered version, codenamed 'Tempest' is under development.
Mk58 MADCAP
The Mk58 MADCAP (Most ADvanced CAPability) torpedo is the standard torpedo of the UCSNE submarine fleet. The MADCAP is a heavyweight, 21 inch torpedo. Powered by a pumpjet propulsor with MHD assistance, the MADCAP is capable of speeds of up to 75 knots, but this is usually not used to take advantage of the possible 40nm range. It has wire guidance capability, along with Passive/Active SONAR and BGLIDAR. The MADCAP usually carries a 700 pound Thermium Nitrate warhead, although other warheads types exist, such as Plasma Yield Devices. The Mk98 is the nuclear version of the MADCAP.