Sarzonia
13-06-2005, 00:56
Propulsion
Designed for speed in order to respond quickly to blockades and sieges of allied ports the Archon was equipped with ten Mk. 33 Hybrid Liquid Metal reactor and was further augmented with the installation of Sprint Coils in order to give the massive vessel a surprising top speed that would be able to leave many smaller vessels in its wake.
The Mark 33 hybrid reactor uses a pebble bed reactor for generation of thermal energy coupled with a liquid metal (LbBi) heat exchanger that carries the thermal energy to the boilers where convection transfers the heat to water to generate steam. After this point the now cool liquid is pumped back into the reactor where it acts as coolant by the same means of convection, and continues this loop indefinitely. The system is extremely safe, reliable, and efficient. Using MHD [magneto-hydro-dynamic] pumps allows the engines to be virtually [if not totally] vibration free and immune to misalignment via impact damage. These reactors by themselves produce a large amount of power but if they were to achieve any notable speed something more would need to be done.
Circling the boilers is a series of heating elements attached to a large capacitor. These ‘Sprint coils’ allows for the superheating of the steam in order to get the maximum amount of pressure from the system [the boilers were overbuilt to withstand such pressure plus 30%] though this does cause the water level in the boilers to drop over time [the excess heat gradually removes moisture making recovery via condensation highly inefficient] so fresh sea water must be added every five hours to avoid damage to the boilers and the sprint coils themselves. The capacitor itself has enough power for five ‘sprints’ and takes approximately 15 hours to build up enough of a charge for a five hour sprint. The concept of the sprint coils was derived from the practice of adding oils fed burners to the reactors of the Russian Kirov class vessels in order to achieve high speed sprints, the sprint coil however is a much lighter weight option and is capable of self replenishment unlike an oil burner.
Each of the ten reactors powers three 300,000 hp turbines generating 200 MW each which fully provides complete power for the vessel plus enough to fully charge a set of reserve batteries, as well as supplement the sprint coils capacitors indefinitely. A further eight 15 MW diesel generators provide emergency power incase of a reactor failure.
The turbines power an electric drive train attached to nine ‘pods’ [four at aft, two amidships, two Fore, and One Bow] these pods act as a combined rudder and propeller unit and are individually steerable increasing the ships maneuverability by a large amount over traditional designs. Unlike most [read almost all] modern vessels the Archons’ propellers are forward facing, cutting directly into undisturbed drink unlike most systems which have to contend with wake induced cavitation and subsequent loss of efficiency. This system originally designed for high speed yachts has been increased to scale with the Archon and mount two counter rotating WDA’s or Williamson Disk Actuators. The WDA’s are probably one of the most revolutionary, and unusual propeller designs available today. Consisting of nine crescent shaped low cavitating blades enclosed within a ring it appears as a solid disk from the front due to the close alignment of each blade. The ring though considered unusual fills a three point purpose; Primarily the ring diverts as much water to the rear that been driven outward axially, A common problem with most propellers that the WDA seeks to compensate which allows it to achieve higher thrust with little loss of efficiency. Secondly the ring removes the end tips of the propellers removing a major cavitation point that previously had forced a loss of efficiency and could damage the propeller itself. Finally the ring supports and reinforces the propeller making it more likely to survive the compression waves of an underwater explosion giving the Archon a reliable, and strong propulsion system. Further the pods extend below the absolute draft of the main hull which combined with the displacement of the vessel above increase the water pressure and density around the screws improving efficiency at both lower and higher revolutions.
Overall the Archon is amazingly efficient for a craft her size, maneuverable with a high acceleration and high top speed she is theoretically capable of making over 1000 nautical miles a day with her sprint coils active and while retaining the ability to quickly, stop and maneuver with little strain. Due to her advanced podded propellers she does not require tug assistance in entering or leaving port, making her a highly versatile craft.
Complement
With her relatively light armament the Archon contains creature comforts rarely seen on most ships, even if they are Spartan compared to that of a civilian ship. Each enlisted crew member is assigned a five by five by eight foot soundproof capsule with its own door, a mattress runs the length of the floor. The Capsules accommodations provide and a personal computer/TV with fold down desk/keyboard & mouse, a personal mirror, separate climate control for the capsule, an in-wall safe and several drawers for various personal items. These capsules are fitted 6 to a bunk room with tall lockers for storing uniforms and such, as well as an ironing board. Two such bunk rooms share a shower and bathroom and are segregated by sex, and to a much lesser degree rank. Most often, in order to prevent crowding in the shower rooms, one bunk room is on duty while the other is off duty so as to make the environment seem much less crowded than it really is.
Pilots, Low level officers, and Specialists share much more open environment with two men or women sharing a room of similar size (15”x10”x8”) which is quite roomy compared to most vessels, again with two rooms sharing a small shower room between them. Mid-rank officers, and General staff members have a half size room, but it’s a personal room with their own bathroom/shower- a quite enviable privilege on the Archon. This level of accommodation is about equal to a small single bed hotel room and similarly furnished, though not much, it is definitely better than a canvas bunk bed.
Upper level Officers including the Captain, and visiting dignitaries would be granted a full room with attached office, and private shower, a small Conversation area [usually with a small couch, and two chairs] and a locking door. The admirals accommodations are similar with the exception that he has a separate private office of the same size as his room, and controls another two such rooms as offices for his personal staff.
Armament
The heart of any warship is its armament and the Archon [though considered lightly armed compared to some of its contemporaries] is no different.
The centerpiece of its offensive armament lay in two stabilized forward turrets each mounting two Gerlich Principle Probertised High Velocity Electro-Thermal Rifled Cannons. The tapered bore guns have a base diameter of twenty-eight inches and an emergent diameter of some twenty-five inches making the round itself equal to that of a refit Doujin but traveling several times faster. These guns were designed with one purpose to take out other super-dreadnaughts and protect the fleet. Though this may seem a stretch, as armor schemes becoming more advanced every day the four primary guns of the Archon were designed to pierce all existing armor schemes except in the extreme heaviest of applications for years and possibly decades to come. The Anti-dread guns carry a shorter range than their shore bombardment, non tapered bore cousins, but have a much higher velocity, shorter time on target and are unquestioningly one of the most dangerous weapons on the high seas. Their commanding position just front of the observation deck gives them an increased direct fire range due to their height and can fire a four and a half ton armor piercing projectile up to the horizon and beyond with devastating results on the leviathan vessels that circle the worlds oceans.
The power behind these guns comes from two distinct places. First the modified twenty five inch projectile is forced down the barrel with the equivalent force for a twenty eight inch projectile, the lighter weight of the round equates to higher velocity. Second the bore of the gun tapers downward toward the muzzle compressing small copper ’wings’ around the mid and rear of the projectile converting them to a conformal driving bands as it reaches the muzzle forcing almost all of the expansion gasses behind the round [instead of around the round] garnering as much energy and efficiency as possible before slinging it down range at speeds unimaginable for a round of its size. As the Wings are forced down and the round progresses down the muzzle the rifling gradually disappear until the last section of the barrel becomes smoothbored. When the projectile travels through this section, its wings turned driving bands get flattened against the shell body, giving the projectile a smoother emergent shape and thus improving its aerodynamics.
Below the B & C turrets and to the rear of the super structure are two turrets as well as two turrets flanking C turret which each mount three and two long barrel twenty-five inch Electro-Thermal Cannons respectively whose primary role is long range bombardment, of either shore or naval targets. Both main guns can be elevated up to twenty-five and thirty-five degrees respectively and can rotate up to two hundred and eighty degrees due to the swept back design of the super structure. While they have an excellent rate of fire for their size, these cannons do still have a limited rate of fire and are too large and unwieldy to be effectively used against aircraft.
Supplementing the primary guns are sixteen double turrets of ten inch Quick Firing Dual Purpose (QFDP) guns. These guns, a development of the X-Caliber project are an excellent complimentary naval armament to the main guns of the Archon class. Firing at a rate of seventy-five rounds per minute at angles up to eighty degrees provide close in defense against smaller naval vessels and high altitude enemy fighters or bombers the gun is extremely lethal and renown for its accuracy.
The main guns of the Archon are not its only anti-dreadnaught weapons. Rear of the superstructure lay two rows of 20 super heavy missile tubes in five ’pods’ of four tubes. Though unable to be replenished while under way these missiles carry an amazing punch being [for most intents and purposes] little more than Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles minus [most of the time] their nuclear warhead, and carrying a massive conventional or special purpose warhead instead. A half salvo of these missiles can devastate entire fleets sending carriers, battleships, and even super dreads to the ocean floor or as floating hulks of flame. Their effect against multiple smaller vessels is also notable, but is considered somewhat overkill where a smaller standard anti-shipping missile would do it for cheaper.
Covering standard Anti-Shipping/ Anti-Submarine Missiles are five V30 100 Cell VLS systems capable of holding AShM, ASW, or Long Range Cruise Missiles of varying types and manufacture provided they can fin in a Mk. 41 or equivalent tube system. Supplementing these five hundred tubes are one-hundred and fifty conformal diagonal quad launch tubes at the rear of the superstructure. These quad tubes are protected by an armored hatch and allow for extensive offensive capabilities without openly compromising hull integrity.
Thirty-seven D20 Diagonal launchers are mounted on either side of the hull of the Archon , their hatches flush with the armored skin of the vessel and require much less space than a Mk-41 or MK-49 VLS. Each cell can launch up to 9 missiles simultaneously and the launcher is automatically reloaded. These launchers often act as the ships middle point defense and are normally used to engage incoming air targets and missiles. Each cell carries 3 reloads and takes about 10 seconds per missile to reload. Each cell is protected by an armored hatch that helps maintain its survivability without compromising its offensive capabilities.
[b]Dimensions
Overall
Length: 757 m
Total Width: 230 m
Displacement: 1.875 million tons
Main Hull
Length: 757 m
Beam: 150 m
Draft: 19 m
Outriggers
Length: 300m
Beam: 37.5m
Draft : 5m
Speed: 31 knots (cruising) 38 knots (flank) 43 knots (w/ sprint coils)
Propulsion:
10x Mk. XXXIII Hybrid Reactors (w/sprint coils); 30x 200MW turbines; 8x 15MW back-up diesel generators ; 9x IPS w/ WDA props
Complement: 8,250 [Naval] 200 [Flag] 500 [Air wing] 5,000 [Naval Infantry (Marines)]
Protection: 950-1150mm
Compartmentalization: Shock Isolated Double Bottomed w/ reinforced keel; 112 Transverse, and 8 longitudinal shock isolated bulkheads.
Weapons:
Guns
10x 25” 70 caliber ETC guns in two triple turrets (A & X positions)
4x 28”/25” 75 caliber Gerlich HV-ETC guns in two double turrets (B & C positions)
RPGPM: 4
-Mass of fire per turret per minute (Double/Triple): 36/54 tons
-32x 10” 60 caliber QFDP guns in sixteen double turrets
-Broadside mass: 49.7 tons
Missiles
-5x V30 100 Cell VLS
-40x Super Heavy Anti-Shipping Missile tubes
-74x 9 tube SAM/SAAM Diagonal launch tubes (Hatch Protected)
-150x D20 Quad tube Standard diagonal AShM/ASW/SAM internal launchers (Hatch Protected)
Total Complement: 1,806 missiles
Aircraft: 48 VSTOL Fighters or Fighter/Bombers, 8 Sea Lynx ASW/Executive Transport Helicopters, 2 CH-53E Sea Stallion Helicopters
UAV/UCAV‘s: 12 ‘Broadhead’ UCAV’s, and 5 Seeker UAV’s
Countermeasures:
-28x 35mm triple barrel AHEAD/CIWS
-8x 203mm ASW auto-loading mortars
Price: $220 billion.
Designed for speed in order to respond quickly to blockades and sieges of allied ports the Archon was equipped with ten Mk. 33 Hybrid Liquid Metal reactor and was further augmented with the installation of Sprint Coils in order to give the massive vessel a surprising top speed that would be able to leave many smaller vessels in its wake.
The Mark 33 hybrid reactor uses a pebble bed reactor for generation of thermal energy coupled with a liquid metal (LbBi) heat exchanger that carries the thermal energy to the boilers where convection transfers the heat to water to generate steam. After this point the now cool liquid is pumped back into the reactor where it acts as coolant by the same means of convection, and continues this loop indefinitely. The system is extremely safe, reliable, and efficient. Using MHD [magneto-hydro-dynamic] pumps allows the engines to be virtually [if not totally] vibration free and immune to misalignment via impact damage. These reactors by themselves produce a large amount of power but if they were to achieve any notable speed something more would need to be done.
Circling the boilers is a series of heating elements attached to a large capacitor. These ‘Sprint coils’ allows for the superheating of the steam in order to get the maximum amount of pressure from the system [the boilers were overbuilt to withstand such pressure plus 30%] though this does cause the water level in the boilers to drop over time [the excess heat gradually removes moisture making recovery via condensation highly inefficient] so fresh sea water must be added every five hours to avoid damage to the boilers and the sprint coils themselves. The capacitor itself has enough power for five ‘sprints’ and takes approximately 15 hours to build up enough of a charge for a five hour sprint. The concept of the sprint coils was derived from the practice of adding oils fed burners to the reactors of the Russian Kirov class vessels in order to achieve high speed sprints, the sprint coil however is a much lighter weight option and is capable of self replenishment unlike an oil burner.
Each of the ten reactors powers three 300,000 hp turbines generating 200 MW each which fully provides complete power for the vessel plus enough to fully charge a set of reserve batteries, as well as supplement the sprint coils capacitors indefinitely. A further eight 15 MW diesel generators provide emergency power incase of a reactor failure.
The turbines power an electric drive train attached to nine ‘pods’ [four at aft, two amidships, two Fore, and One Bow] these pods act as a combined rudder and propeller unit and are individually steerable increasing the ships maneuverability by a large amount over traditional designs. Unlike most [read almost all] modern vessels the Archons’ propellers are forward facing, cutting directly into undisturbed drink unlike most systems which have to contend with wake induced cavitation and subsequent loss of efficiency. This system originally designed for high speed yachts has been increased to scale with the Archon and mount two counter rotating WDA’s or Williamson Disk Actuators. The WDA’s are probably one of the most revolutionary, and unusual propeller designs available today. Consisting of nine crescent shaped low cavitating blades enclosed within a ring it appears as a solid disk from the front due to the close alignment of each blade. The ring though considered unusual fills a three point purpose; Primarily the ring diverts as much water to the rear that been driven outward axially, A common problem with most propellers that the WDA seeks to compensate which allows it to achieve higher thrust with little loss of efficiency. Secondly the ring removes the end tips of the propellers removing a major cavitation point that previously had forced a loss of efficiency and could damage the propeller itself. Finally the ring supports and reinforces the propeller making it more likely to survive the compression waves of an underwater explosion giving the Archon a reliable, and strong propulsion system. Further the pods extend below the absolute draft of the main hull which combined with the displacement of the vessel above increase the water pressure and density around the screws improving efficiency at both lower and higher revolutions.
Overall the Archon is amazingly efficient for a craft her size, maneuverable with a high acceleration and high top speed she is theoretically capable of making over 1000 nautical miles a day with her sprint coils active and while retaining the ability to quickly, stop and maneuver with little strain. Due to her advanced podded propellers she does not require tug assistance in entering or leaving port, making her a highly versatile craft.
Complement
With her relatively light armament the Archon contains creature comforts rarely seen on most ships, even if they are Spartan compared to that of a civilian ship. Each enlisted crew member is assigned a five by five by eight foot soundproof capsule with its own door, a mattress runs the length of the floor. The Capsules accommodations provide and a personal computer/TV with fold down desk/keyboard & mouse, a personal mirror, separate climate control for the capsule, an in-wall safe and several drawers for various personal items. These capsules are fitted 6 to a bunk room with tall lockers for storing uniforms and such, as well as an ironing board. Two such bunk rooms share a shower and bathroom and are segregated by sex, and to a much lesser degree rank. Most often, in order to prevent crowding in the shower rooms, one bunk room is on duty while the other is off duty so as to make the environment seem much less crowded than it really is.
Pilots, Low level officers, and Specialists share much more open environment with two men or women sharing a room of similar size (15”x10”x8”) which is quite roomy compared to most vessels, again with two rooms sharing a small shower room between them. Mid-rank officers, and General staff members have a half size room, but it’s a personal room with their own bathroom/shower- a quite enviable privilege on the Archon. This level of accommodation is about equal to a small single bed hotel room and similarly furnished, though not much, it is definitely better than a canvas bunk bed.
Upper level Officers including the Captain, and visiting dignitaries would be granted a full room with attached office, and private shower, a small Conversation area [usually with a small couch, and two chairs] and a locking door. The admirals accommodations are similar with the exception that he has a separate private office of the same size as his room, and controls another two such rooms as offices for his personal staff.
Armament
The heart of any warship is its armament and the Archon [though considered lightly armed compared to some of its contemporaries] is no different.
The centerpiece of its offensive armament lay in two stabilized forward turrets each mounting two Gerlich Principle Probertised High Velocity Electro-Thermal Rifled Cannons. The tapered bore guns have a base diameter of twenty-eight inches and an emergent diameter of some twenty-five inches making the round itself equal to that of a refit Doujin but traveling several times faster. These guns were designed with one purpose to take out other super-dreadnaughts and protect the fleet. Though this may seem a stretch, as armor schemes becoming more advanced every day the four primary guns of the Archon were designed to pierce all existing armor schemes except in the extreme heaviest of applications for years and possibly decades to come. The Anti-dread guns carry a shorter range than their shore bombardment, non tapered bore cousins, but have a much higher velocity, shorter time on target and are unquestioningly one of the most dangerous weapons on the high seas. Their commanding position just front of the observation deck gives them an increased direct fire range due to their height and can fire a four and a half ton armor piercing projectile up to the horizon and beyond with devastating results on the leviathan vessels that circle the worlds oceans.
The power behind these guns comes from two distinct places. First the modified twenty five inch projectile is forced down the barrel with the equivalent force for a twenty eight inch projectile, the lighter weight of the round equates to higher velocity. Second the bore of the gun tapers downward toward the muzzle compressing small copper ’wings’ around the mid and rear of the projectile converting them to a conformal driving bands as it reaches the muzzle forcing almost all of the expansion gasses behind the round [instead of around the round] garnering as much energy and efficiency as possible before slinging it down range at speeds unimaginable for a round of its size. As the Wings are forced down and the round progresses down the muzzle the rifling gradually disappear until the last section of the barrel becomes smoothbored. When the projectile travels through this section, its wings turned driving bands get flattened against the shell body, giving the projectile a smoother emergent shape and thus improving its aerodynamics.
Below the B & C turrets and to the rear of the super structure are two turrets as well as two turrets flanking C turret which each mount three and two long barrel twenty-five inch Electro-Thermal Cannons respectively whose primary role is long range bombardment, of either shore or naval targets. Both main guns can be elevated up to twenty-five and thirty-five degrees respectively and can rotate up to two hundred and eighty degrees due to the swept back design of the super structure. While they have an excellent rate of fire for their size, these cannons do still have a limited rate of fire and are too large and unwieldy to be effectively used against aircraft.
Supplementing the primary guns are sixteen double turrets of ten inch Quick Firing Dual Purpose (QFDP) guns. These guns, a development of the X-Caliber project are an excellent complimentary naval armament to the main guns of the Archon class. Firing at a rate of seventy-five rounds per minute at angles up to eighty degrees provide close in defense against smaller naval vessels and high altitude enemy fighters or bombers the gun is extremely lethal and renown for its accuracy.
The main guns of the Archon are not its only anti-dreadnaught weapons. Rear of the superstructure lay two rows of 20 super heavy missile tubes in five ’pods’ of four tubes. Though unable to be replenished while under way these missiles carry an amazing punch being [for most intents and purposes] little more than Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles minus [most of the time] their nuclear warhead, and carrying a massive conventional or special purpose warhead instead. A half salvo of these missiles can devastate entire fleets sending carriers, battleships, and even super dreads to the ocean floor or as floating hulks of flame. Their effect against multiple smaller vessels is also notable, but is considered somewhat overkill where a smaller standard anti-shipping missile would do it for cheaper.
Covering standard Anti-Shipping/ Anti-Submarine Missiles are five V30 100 Cell VLS systems capable of holding AShM, ASW, or Long Range Cruise Missiles of varying types and manufacture provided they can fin in a Mk. 41 or equivalent tube system. Supplementing these five hundred tubes are one-hundred and fifty conformal diagonal quad launch tubes at the rear of the superstructure. These quad tubes are protected by an armored hatch and allow for extensive offensive capabilities without openly compromising hull integrity.
Thirty-seven D20 Diagonal launchers are mounted on either side of the hull of the Archon , their hatches flush with the armored skin of the vessel and require much less space than a Mk-41 or MK-49 VLS. Each cell can launch up to 9 missiles simultaneously and the launcher is automatically reloaded. These launchers often act as the ships middle point defense and are normally used to engage incoming air targets and missiles. Each cell carries 3 reloads and takes about 10 seconds per missile to reload. Each cell is protected by an armored hatch that helps maintain its survivability without compromising its offensive capabilities.
[b]Dimensions
Overall
Length: 757 m
Total Width: 230 m
Displacement: 1.875 million tons
Main Hull
Length: 757 m
Beam: 150 m
Draft: 19 m
Outriggers
Length: 300m
Beam: 37.5m
Draft : 5m
Speed: 31 knots (cruising) 38 knots (flank) 43 knots (w/ sprint coils)
Propulsion:
10x Mk. XXXIII Hybrid Reactors (w/sprint coils); 30x 200MW turbines; 8x 15MW back-up diesel generators ; 9x IPS w/ WDA props
Complement: 8,250 [Naval] 200 [Flag] 500 [Air wing] 5,000 [Naval Infantry (Marines)]
Protection: 950-1150mm
Compartmentalization: Shock Isolated Double Bottomed w/ reinforced keel; 112 Transverse, and 8 longitudinal shock isolated bulkheads.
Weapons:
Guns
10x 25” 70 caliber ETC guns in two triple turrets (A & X positions)
4x 28”/25” 75 caliber Gerlich HV-ETC guns in two double turrets (B & C positions)
RPGPM: 4
-Mass of fire per turret per minute (Double/Triple): 36/54 tons
-32x 10” 60 caliber QFDP guns in sixteen double turrets
-Broadside mass: 49.7 tons
Missiles
-5x V30 100 Cell VLS
-40x Super Heavy Anti-Shipping Missile tubes
-74x 9 tube SAM/SAAM Diagonal launch tubes (Hatch Protected)
-150x D20 Quad tube Standard diagonal AShM/ASW/SAM internal launchers (Hatch Protected)
Total Complement: 1,806 missiles
Aircraft: 48 VSTOL Fighters or Fighter/Bombers, 8 Sea Lynx ASW/Executive Transport Helicopters, 2 CH-53E Sea Stallion Helicopters
UAV/UCAV‘s: 12 ‘Broadhead’ UCAV’s, and 5 Seeker UAV’s
Countermeasures:
-28x 35mm triple barrel AHEAD/CIWS
-8x 203mm ASW auto-loading mortars
Price: $220 billion.