The Macabees
23-11-2006, 04:02
Sledgehammer II Anti-Shipping Cruise Missile
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/Macabees/Hardware/Sledgehammer2.png
[IMPORTANT: Image is not to scale, and image is to be taken for what it is; a guide.]
Specifications:
Dimensions
Length: 11.7m Maximum Diameter: 1.4m Wingspan: 1.7m
Total Mass: 5,122.8kg Payload Mass: 512.28kg
Propulsion Information
Method: Air-turborocket Mean Velocity: Mach 2.3 Terminal Velocity: Mach 5.4
Range: 334nm S-turns: ~4,6,8,10Gs (selectable) Jinking: 5.5Gs
Altitude, Terminal Phase: 5 - 15m Loitering: Variable thrust allows for re-engagement if loss of target
Electronics
Guidance: ARQ-15 Tracking Beacon; ARQ-17 Active-Passive Tracking Radar; terminal stage LRQ-32 LASAR
Autonomy: 'True' Fire-and-forget
Manufacturer's Information
Head: Kriegzimmer Conglomerate
Electronics: Dzamiin Military Computing Technology Warhead: Atmos Inc. Airframe: Titan Research and Development Engine: Lancaster and Blaire
Consumer Information
Cost: (USD) $7.4m
Production Rights: Limited availability; you can produce purchased missiles at home for $6.5m a missile
Sledgehammer I and Otium Aqua
Of all missiles it's possible that it was the Sledgehammer I which managed to be successful against heavy capital ships, including the infamous super dreadnought. Designed during the rise of large capital shipping in Imperial Armies (now known as Greater Dienstad) it was used with great effect against various fleets, including those of Kraven, Stevid and Independent Hitmen. Designed jointly by Guffingford and the Second Empire of the Golden throne the missile had a high quasi-ballistic trajectory, plummeting into the thinner (relative to the ship's armor as a hole) deck armor of enemy ships. It's dense and heavy depleted uranium penetrator was able to push the missile to the deepest bowels of an enemy ship, and a rearward directed blast would then cause major damage to the innards of the ship. Despite its success, this design had inherent qualities which required a fix. Although it would do sever damage to a ship, it failed many times to puncture holes in the ship's hull below the waterline, meaning many times a ship could limp away. Furthermore, it was small and had a short range. Despite this obvious shortcomings it did preform well, defeating a Kravenic fleet in its debut, and then aiding in the tactical victory of Otium Aqua (strategic defeat) in August 2016. It had also been widely exported and had been used in previous battles around the area of Otium Aqua between Stevid and Guffingford.
However, it's widespread use required a new surprise to guarantee an Imperial victory at a new Otium Aqua (February 2017; Second Battle of). This was manifested as the Sledgehammer II, which began production as early as November 2016. Design of the Sledgehammer II actually begun as early as March 2012, although this was in the form of a concept. The actual missile began design a few months prior to the start of the War of Golden Succession and was rushed through the final design stages and then rushed into service by November 2016. The Sledgehammer II turned out to be the perfect replacement. It had superior range, superior efficiency, a superior warhead and was equally as difficult of shooting down or jamming. In fact, it's modular capabilities meant that it not only replaced the Sledgehammer I, but the Shockhound-Avenger, as well! Enough would be produced by February 2017 to see combat at the Second Battle of Otium Aqua with, no doubt, impressive results.
Furthermore, unlike previous anti-shipping missile designs, the Sledgehammer II was entirely indigenous to the Golden Throne's Second Empire. This allowed it to be designed completely around Macabee job expectations and allowed unlimited funding on alternate technologies, many of which would ultimately be used on the mass produced Sledgehammer II design - such as the air-turborocket. Although expensive, the modular warhead design allowed the missile to be used not only against super dreadnoughts, but against standard shipping and other capital ships, as well. The Sledgehammer II would also lead to the development of a successor for the Legionatus II inter-continental cruise missile. It would also bring life back to Kriegzimmer, as it was a brand-new anti-shipping missile and the fact that it would be coupled with the Kahn, given that the Kahn had begun to be sold by Kriegzimmer at around the same time - the Kahn, an inspiration for the Sledgehammer II, was developed by ZMI.
Propulsion and terminal phases
The Sledgehammer II uses an air-turborocket engine which allows it higher velocities than a standard turbojet, as well as higher velocities. To increase the amount of fuel carried, and thus range, the engine uses a HAN (hydroxylammonium nitrate) based liquid mono-propellant; using a liquid propellant solves many design challenges posed by using solid propellants in ATR engines, as well as reducing combustion pressures. The majority of the airframe, except parts of the nose, is made out of extremely light material (TiAl). Higher velocities is achieved through the fact that the turbine uses an independent drive, and the airflow is independent of the combustion chamber. Furthermore, static thrust allows for lower velocity take-offs and better fuel economy during ascension, while 'deep throttleability and variable thrust allows for a slight period of loitering; most importantly, if target is lost the missile can re-engage. Important considerations is that ATR technology does not require a separate booster, has a high combustion ratio (>10:1) and works with no deficiency at sea-level - making it superior to both the ducted rocket and the ramjet.
The Sledgehammer II operates at ~1-2 Mach during ascension and then increases to up to Mach 5.4 during the terminal/engagement phase. The terminal phase does not necessarily imply a sea-skimming operation. The Sledgehammer II can be programed to commit itself to 'shaking' maneuvers to avoid tracking and enemy counter-munitions, and it can also be programmed to 'pop-up'. Like the Sledgehammer I it can also dive during the terminal phase to engage the enemy ship around the deck. It's loitering capabilities allow it to level out if it loses target and re-engage and sea-skimming level. It's loitering capabilities also mean that the source does not need to have to know exactly what ship it's engaging and where, as long as the missile is fired at the general vicinity of a fleet area!
Modular Warheads
The principle anti-shipping warhead used is a a dense and heavy dU penetrating 'cap' of considerable depth, with a subsequent high explosive in a shaped compartment to increase depth of penetration and to cause much damage to an engaged ship. The penetrating cap has a 'buffer cap' composed of copper and separated from the 'main penetrator' by a lining of rubber. This is to avoid a 'decapping' of the penetrator if the penetrator hates a spaced plate. Given it's modularity, however, this warhead can be replaced in due time with any amount of warheads with the same basic design shape and mass. This includes a HEN warhead, much like the one used by the Xarc. The modularity of the warhead allows the Sledgehammer II to become a universal anti-shipping missile, and gives it the capability to engage any target.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/Macabees/Hardware/Sledgehammer2.png
[IMPORTANT: Image is not to scale, and image is to be taken for what it is; a guide.]
Specifications:
Dimensions
Length: 11.7m Maximum Diameter: 1.4m Wingspan: 1.7m
Total Mass: 5,122.8kg Payload Mass: 512.28kg
Propulsion Information
Method: Air-turborocket Mean Velocity: Mach 2.3 Terminal Velocity: Mach 5.4
Range: 334nm S-turns: ~4,6,8,10Gs (selectable) Jinking: 5.5Gs
Altitude, Terminal Phase: 5 - 15m Loitering: Variable thrust allows for re-engagement if loss of target
Electronics
Guidance: ARQ-15 Tracking Beacon; ARQ-17 Active-Passive Tracking Radar; terminal stage LRQ-32 LASAR
Autonomy: 'True' Fire-and-forget
Manufacturer's Information
Head: Kriegzimmer Conglomerate
Electronics: Dzamiin Military Computing Technology Warhead: Atmos Inc. Airframe: Titan Research and Development Engine: Lancaster and Blaire
Consumer Information
Cost: (USD) $7.4m
Production Rights: Limited availability; you can produce purchased missiles at home for $6.5m a missile
Sledgehammer I and Otium Aqua
Of all missiles it's possible that it was the Sledgehammer I which managed to be successful against heavy capital ships, including the infamous super dreadnought. Designed during the rise of large capital shipping in Imperial Armies (now known as Greater Dienstad) it was used with great effect against various fleets, including those of Kraven, Stevid and Independent Hitmen. Designed jointly by Guffingford and the Second Empire of the Golden throne the missile had a high quasi-ballistic trajectory, plummeting into the thinner (relative to the ship's armor as a hole) deck armor of enemy ships. It's dense and heavy depleted uranium penetrator was able to push the missile to the deepest bowels of an enemy ship, and a rearward directed blast would then cause major damage to the innards of the ship. Despite its success, this design had inherent qualities which required a fix. Although it would do sever damage to a ship, it failed many times to puncture holes in the ship's hull below the waterline, meaning many times a ship could limp away. Furthermore, it was small and had a short range. Despite this obvious shortcomings it did preform well, defeating a Kravenic fleet in its debut, and then aiding in the tactical victory of Otium Aqua (strategic defeat) in August 2016. It had also been widely exported and had been used in previous battles around the area of Otium Aqua between Stevid and Guffingford.
However, it's widespread use required a new surprise to guarantee an Imperial victory at a new Otium Aqua (February 2017; Second Battle of). This was manifested as the Sledgehammer II, which began production as early as November 2016. Design of the Sledgehammer II actually begun as early as March 2012, although this was in the form of a concept. The actual missile began design a few months prior to the start of the War of Golden Succession and was rushed through the final design stages and then rushed into service by November 2016. The Sledgehammer II turned out to be the perfect replacement. It had superior range, superior efficiency, a superior warhead and was equally as difficult of shooting down or jamming. In fact, it's modular capabilities meant that it not only replaced the Sledgehammer I, but the Shockhound-Avenger, as well! Enough would be produced by February 2017 to see combat at the Second Battle of Otium Aqua with, no doubt, impressive results.
Furthermore, unlike previous anti-shipping missile designs, the Sledgehammer II was entirely indigenous to the Golden Throne's Second Empire. This allowed it to be designed completely around Macabee job expectations and allowed unlimited funding on alternate technologies, many of which would ultimately be used on the mass produced Sledgehammer II design - such as the air-turborocket. Although expensive, the modular warhead design allowed the missile to be used not only against super dreadnoughts, but against standard shipping and other capital ships, as well. The Sledgehammer II would also lead to the development of a successor for the Legionatus II inter-continental cruise missile. It would also bring life back to Kriegzimmer, as it was a brand-new anti-shipping missile and the fact that it would be coupled with the Kahn, given that the Kahn had begun to be sold by Kriegzimmer at around the same time - the Kahn, an inspiration for the Sledgehammer II, was developed by ZMI.
Propulsion and terminal phases
The Sledgehammer II uses an air-turborocket engine which allows it higher velocities than a standard turbojet, as well as higher velocities. To increase the amount of fuel carried, and thus range, the engine uses a HAN (hydroxylammonium nitrate) based liquid mono-propellant; using a liquid propellant solves many design challenges posed by using solid propellants in ATR engines, as well as reducing combustion pressures. The majority of the airframe, except parts of the nose, is made out of extremely light material (TiAl). Higher velocities is achieved through the fact that the turbine uses an independent drive, and the airflow is independent of the combustion chamber. Furthermore, static thrust allows for lower velocity take-offs and better fuel economy during ascension, while 'deep throttleability and variable thrust allows for a slight period of loitering; most importantly, if target is lost the missile can re-engage. Important considerations is that ATR technology does not require a separate booster, has a high combustion ratio (>10:1) and works with no deficiency at sea-level - making it superior to both the ducted rocket and the ramjet.
The Sledgehammer II operates at ~1-2 Mach during ascension and then increases to up to Mach 5.4 during the terminal/engagement phase. The terminal phase does not necessarily imply a sea-skimming operation. The Sledgehammer II can be programed to commit itself to 'shaking' maneuvers to avoid tracking and enemy counter-munitions, and it can also be programmed to 'pop-up'. Like the Sledgehammer I it can also dive during the terminal phase to engage the enemy ship around the deck. It's loitering capabilities allow it to level out if it loses target and re-engage and sea-skimming level. It's loitering capabilities also mean that the source does not need to have to know exactly what ship it's engaging and where, as long as the missile is fired at the general vicinity of a fleet area!
Modular Warheads
The principle anti-shipping warhead used is a a dense and heavy dU penetrating 'cap' of considerable depth, with a subsequent high explosive in a shaped compartment to increase depth of penetration and to cause much damage to an engaged ship. The penetrating cap has a 'buffer cap' composed of copper and separated from the 'main penetrator' by a lining of rubber. This is to avoid a 'decapping' of the penetrator if the penetrator hates a spaced plate. Given it's modularity, however, this warhead can be replaced in due time with any amount of warheads with the same basic design shape and mass. This includes a HEN warhead, much like the one used by the Xarc. The modularity of the warhead allows the Sledgehammer II to become a universal anti-shipping missile, and gives it the capability to engage any target.