Marine Nationale
The Marine Nationale is generally considered to be the most powerful Navy in the solar system, although the Japanese believe their carriers would prove decisive if it came to a fight. French naval design philosophy is based on specialised ships. Each class is dedicated to performing one task very well, rather than performing two or more in a sub-optimal way. The French also have a different approach to missile design. The primary French anti-ship missile, the MM50 Exocet, is 25% smaller than its German and Japanese equivalents and 40% smaller than the Commonwealth RGM-1A Sabre. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in numbers. The Austerlitz class Missile Cruiser is armed with sixteen launchers, six more than the German Scharnhorst class and twice as many as the Commonwealth Renown class, and with three missile cruisers in service, the Marine Nationale can launch salvos of forty-eight missiles every thirty seconds. As with all modern French warships, Austerlitz and her sister ships Wagram and Impérial are named after Ships of the Line from the time of Emperor Napoleon I.
Austerlitz class Missile Cruiser 12,000 tons 318 Crew 1759 BP TCS 240 TH 960 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 5-46 Shields 0-0 Sensors 10/18/0/0 Damage Control Rating 5 PPV 48
Maint Life 2.12 Years MSP 458 AFR 230% IFR 3.2% 1YR 136 5YR 2044 Max Repair 144 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 0
Magazine 648
SEMT Pielstick V240 Ion Engine (4) Power 240 Fuel Use 56% Signature 240 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 600,000 Litres Range 16.1 billion km (46 days at full power)
Exocet Missile Launcher (16) Missile Size 3 Rate of Fire 30
ARBR-G95 Missile Fire Control (2) Range 94.6m km Resolution 120
MM50 Exocet Anti-Ship Missile (216) Speed: 25,600 km/s Range: 98.4m km WH: 4 Size: 3 TH: 85/51/25
EMPAR-G95 Active Sensor (1) GPS 17280 Range 94.6m km Resolution 120
TH-10 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km
EM-18 Passive Sensor (1) Sensitivity 18 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 18m km
The Bucentuare class cruiser is armed with ten 15cm lasers plus a prototype 19cm spinal laser, the first spinal laser to be deployed by any Earth-based power. Because of its entirely energy-based armament the Bucentuare has been designed with a top speed of 4800 m/s, making it the fastest warship in service, although still slower than the Japanese fighter craft. Due to the high maximum speed of the class, it's DRBF-G200 Beam Fire Controls are larger than the similar systems of other nations, allowing both maximum tracking range and a tracking speed of 5000 km/s. Two ships are in service; Bucentuare and Conquérant.
Bucentuare class Cruiser 10,000 tons 285 Crew 1520 BP TCS 200 TH 960 EM 0
4800 km/s Armour 6-41 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 46
Maint Life 1.89 Years MSP 380 AFR 200% IFR 2.8% 1YR 137 5YR 2049 Max Repair 120 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 1
SEMT Pielstick V240 Ion Engine (4) Power 240 Fuel Use 56% Signature 240 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 500,000 Litres Range 16.1 billion km (38 days at full power)
15cm C3 Near Ultraviolet Laser (10) Range 180,000km TS: 4800 km/s Power 6-3 RM 3 ROF 10
19cm Spinal Laser (1) Range 192,000km TS: 4800 km/s Power 9-3 RM 3 ROF 15
DRBF-G200 Beam Fire Control (2) Max Range: 192,000 km TS: 5000 km/s
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (8) Total Power Output 36 Armour 0 Exp 5%
EMPAR-G30 Active Sensor (1) GPS 5760 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
The Sceptre class is a pure anti-missile design, equipped with fifteen launchers firing the Aster 100 AMM. While Sceptre and her sister ship Magnifique are often compared to the Japanese Agano class light cruiser, as both classes have the same tonnage, number of launchers and sensor capabilities, the French design has the advantage of 24% greater magazine space.
Sceptre class Destroyer Escort 7,500 tons 177 Crew 1215 BP TCS 150 TH 600 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 4-34 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 15
Maint Life 2.38 Years MSP 304 AFR 150% IFR 2.1% 1YR 73 5YR 1102 Max Repair 144 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 2
Magazine 515
SEMT Pielstick V120 Ion Engine (5) Power 120 Fuel Use 63% Signature 120 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 400,000 Litres Range 15.2 billion km (44 days at full power)
SYLVER A100 Missile Launcher (15) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
ARBR-G10 Missile Fire Control (3) Range 8.6m km Resolution 1
Aster 100 Anti-Missile Missile (515) Speed: 32,200 km/s Range: 4.1m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 128/77/38
EMPAR-G10 Active Sensor (1) GPS 144 Range 8.6m km MCR 941k km Resolution 1
EMPAR-G30 Active Sensor (1) GPS 5760 Range 31.5m km Resolution 120
The Achille class is equipped with four twin laser turrets and provides point-bank missile defence for the Marine Nationale. Continuing French-Japanese rivalry for the position of the pre-eminent fleet in the solar system inevitably results in comparisons being made between the Achille and the Sendai class light cruiser, which has a different armament but very much the same role. The Sendai produces superior anti-missile firepower from its gauss cannon turrets but would be outgunned in a straight fight between the two designs. Three units are in service; Achille, Courageux and Suffren.
Achille class Destroyer Escort 6,000 tons 164 Crew 939 BP TCS 120 TH 480 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 4-29 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 33.12
Maint Life 2.58 Years MSP 293 AFR 96% IFR 1.3% 1YR 62 5YR 924 Max Repair 120 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 1
SEMT Pielstick V240 Ion Engine (2) Power 240 Fuel Use 56% Signature 240 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 260,000 Litres Range 13.9 billion km (40 days at full power)
Twin 10cm Laser Turret (4x2) Range 48,000km TS: 16000 km/s Power 6-6 RM 3 ROF 5
DRBF-G50 Beam Fire Control (2) Max Range: 48,000 km TS: 16000 km/s
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (6) Total Power Output 27 Armour 0 Exp 5%
EMPAR-G25 Active Sensor (1) GPS 4320 Range 23.7m km Resolution 120
EMPAR-G2 Active Sensor (1) GPS 32 Range 1.9m km MCR 209k km Resolution 1
The Neptune class is by far the most capable survey cruiser in service. Its array of geological survey sensors is twice the size of any rival class and its expansive accommodations and large engineering deck enable it to operate away from home for up to six years. In keeping with the French doctrine of specialization, Neptune and her sister ship Orion are unarmed.
Neptune class Survey Cruiser 6,000 tons 145 Crew 1149 BP TCS 120 TH 360 EM 0
3000 km/s Armour 1-29 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/18/0/6 Damage Control Rating 8 PPV 0
Maint Life 7.9 Years MSP 958 AFR 36% IFR 0.5% 1YR 27 5YR 408 Max Repair 135 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 72 months Spare Berths 0
SEMT Pielstick V360E Ion Engine (1) Power 360 Fuel Use 20.46% Signature 360 Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 1,000,000 Litres Range 146.6 billion km (565 days at full power)
EMPAR-G25 Active Sensor (1) GPS 4320 Range 23.7m km Resolution 120
EM-18 Passive Sensor (1) Sensitivity 18 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 18m km
Geological Survey Sensors (6) 6 Survey Points Per Hour
The two Polyphème class ships are the largest freighters in service with any Earth-based power and have twice the carrying capacity of their contemporaries.
Polyphème class Freighter 72,000 tons 260 Crew 1039 BP TCS 1440 TH 2400 EM 0
1666 km/s Armour 1-154 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
MSP 9 Max Repair 75 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Spare Berths 0
Cargo 50000 Cargo Handling Multiplier 20
Commercial Ion Drive (8) Power 300 Fuel Use 6.19% Signature 300 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 350,000 Litres Range 14.1 billion km (98 days at full power)
The Régulus is a standard colony ship, comparable to those of other nations. Only one is in service.
Régulus class Colony Ship 31,600 tons 260 Crew 1304 BP TCS 632 TH 1800 EM 0
2848 km/s Armour 1-89 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
MSP 26 Max Repair 75 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Spare Berths 0
Cryogenic Berths 60000 Cargo Handling Multiplier 20
Commercial Ion Drive (6) Power 300 Fuel Use 6.19% Signature 300 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 23.0 billion km (93 days at full power)