I have researched Magneto-Plasma Drives, and have replaced my old Ion Drives with a new 10HS Engine
Rolls-Royce Tartarus xMPD 160-05-80:
Engine Power: 160 Fuel Use Per Hour: 72 Litres
Fuel Consumption per Engine Power Hour: 0.45 Litres
Engine Size: 10 HS Engine HTK: 5
Thermal Signature: 80 Exp Chance: 10
Cost: 120 Crew: 10
Materials Required: 0x Duranium 120x Gallicite
Military Engine
This gives my ships 5333 km/s when using 33. 3% tonnage for engines. I am using this ratio for Escorts, and Light Cruisers. While I will use 25% engines for anything heavier, giving a speed of 4000 km/s.
I also have some better missiles, although these are still using Ion Drive engines.
ALKI Starburst iAMM
Missile Size: 1 MSP (0.05 HS) Warhead: 1 Armour: 0 Manoeuvre Rating: 35
Speed: 24000 km/s Engine Endurance: 2 minutes Range: 2.3m km
Cost Per Missile: 1.0492
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 840% 3k km/s 280% 5k km/s 168% 10k km/s 84%
ALKI Rampage ivASM
Missile Size: 4 MSP (0.2 HS) Warhead: 9 Armour: 0 Manoeuvre Rating: 21
Speed: 15000 km/s Engine Endurance: 95 minutes Range: 85.8m km
Cost Per Missile: 3.896
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 315% 3k km/s 105% 5k km/s 63% 10k km/s 31.5%
My ASM has a lower chance to hit but a larger range than the earlier missile.
I have had my first engagements with enemy forces since I first posted, in my first skirmish I had an unarmed survey vessel encounter an alien Destroyer analogue (8650 tons). I moved in with one of my escort squadrons (1 DL 2 DD, 3 FF, a tanker, and a collier). However as I had no long range passive sensors I had to use my DLs active sensor. I discovered that my speed was far too slow to catch them (they have a speed of 4855 Km/s), and their ASMs out-ranged my own, while they also had more ASMs than I did AMMs even with the collier (though this might have been because I was manually launching the AMMs) I retreated with heavy damage. In my second and third engagements I had the new missiles, fire controls and sensors so I did better, closing to 30m Km I used 2 colliers and managed to destroy all enemy ships, and took no damage from their ASMs.
Salvaging the destroyed ships I found that they had Internal Confinement Fusion Engines, which was 2, now 1 engine tech above me.
I have designed a Frigate sized Recon vessel with a 50HS Thermal Sensor
Upholder class Recon Frigate 6,000 tons 170 Crew 1396 BP TCS 120 TH 240 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 3-29 Shields 0-0 Sensors 700/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 7 PPV 0
Maint Life 3.33 Years MSP 1018 AFR 41% IFR 0.6% 1YR 139 5YR 2090 Max Repair 700 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 0
Rolls-Royce Tartarus xMPD 160-05-80 (3) Power 160 Fuel Use 45% Signature 80 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 750,000 Litres Range 50.0 billion km (144 days at full power)
United Electronics THDS lSS700 (1) Sensitivity 700 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 700m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
As it is unarmed I plan on using it to find enemy ships and then leaving it with the baggage train (tankers and jump tenders) while my main fighting force closes to engage the enemy. Over a 700m Km chase it falls ~100m Km behind ships using the new engines.
I also have designed a Light Cruiser, a Command Ship (to lead the CLs) a Missile Cruiser, and a Light Carrier.
My thoughts on the Light Cruiser was to design a heavy escort that could assist in large fleet battles. As such it's an 18 000 ton design with 24 AMM launchers and either 8 ASM launchers or 2 Bombers carried in a hanger.
zx-Broadsword mod1 class Light Cruiser 18,000 tons 512 Crew 3334 BP TCS 360 TH 960 EM 0
5333 km/s Armour 5-61 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 49 PPV 70.88
Maint Life 3.03 Years MSP 1042 AFR 288% IFR 4% 1YR 170 5YR 2556 Max Repair 120 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 1
Magazine 704
Rolls-Royce Tartarus xMPD 160-05-80 (12) Power 160 Fuel Use 45% Signature 80 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,700,000 Litres Range 37.8 billion km (81 days at full power)
Single 100mm 45-3 MCT TS12 (4x1) Range 45,000km TS: 12000 km/s Power 3-3 RM 4.5 ROF 5 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
ATK Phalanx CIWS-160 (1x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Ultra Electronics GFC iiiRT80-12K (1) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 12000 km/s 88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
Rolls-Royce iGCFRT PO4.5 (1) Total Power Output 4.5 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Rolls-Royce iiGCFRT PO9 (1) Total Power Output 9 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Arlok Industries iMM RR3 (24) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
Arlok Industries ivML RR4 (8) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 30
BAE MFC iRR11-1 (4) Range 11.8m km Resolution 1
BAE MFC iRR117-100 (1) Range 117.6m km Resolution 100
ALKI Rampage ivASM CTH63 (80) Speed: 15,000 km/s End: 95.3m Range: 85.8m km WH: 9 Size: 4 TH: 105 / 63 / 31
ALKI Starburst iAMM CTH84 (384) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 1.6m Range: 2.3m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 280 / 168 / 84
BAE ASS ivSS112 RR15-1 (1) GPS 112 Range 15.7m km Resolution 1
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
zx-Broadsword mod2 class Light Cruiser 18,000 tons 445 Crew 3235 BP TCS 360 TH 960 EM 0
5333 km/s Armour 5-61 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 41 PPV 38.88
Maint Life 3.44 Years MSP 1236 AFR 235% IFR 3.3% 1YR 160 5YR 2393 Max Repair 120 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Flight Crew Berths 20
Hangar Deck Capacity 1000 tons Magazine 960
Rolls-Royce Tartarus xMPD 160-05-80 (12) Power 160 Fuel Use 45% Signature 80 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,700,000 Litres Range 37.8 billion km (81 days at full power)
Single 100mm 45-3 MCT TS12 (4x1) Range 45,000km TS: 12000 km/s Power 3-3 RM 4.5 ROF 5 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
ATK Phalanx CIWS-160 (1x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Ultra Electronics GFC iiiRT80-12K (1) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 12000 km/s 88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
Rolls-Royce iiGCFRT PO9 (1) Total Power Output 9 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Rolls-Royce iGCFRT PO4.5 (1) Total Power Output 4.5 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Arlok Industries iMM RR3 (24) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
BAE MFC iRR11-1 (4) Range 11.8m km Resolution 1
ALKI Rampage ivASM CTH63 (80) Speed: 15,000 km/s End: 95.3m Range: 85.8m km WH: 9 Size: 4 TH: 105 / 63 / 31
ALKI Starburst iAMM CTH84 (640) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 1.6m Range: 2.3m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 280 / 168 / 84
BAE ASS ivSS112 RR15-1 (1) GPS 112 Range 15.7m km Resolution 1
Strike Group
2x SC-04 Marauder Bomber Speed: 8000 km/s Size: 10
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
I am leaning towards the mod2 as while it doesn't have the sustained offensive fire of the mod1 it is cheaper and carries almost double the amount of AMMs.
The Command Ship is also 18 000 tons and uses a similar concept to the Resolution DL.
zx-Hood class Command Ship 18,000 tons 513 Crew 3269.5 BP TCS 360 TH 960 EM 0
5333 km/s JR 4-50 Armour 5-61 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 53 PPV 30.32
Maint Life 3.54 Years MSP 1561 AFR 188% IFR 2.6% 1YR 191 5YR 2867 Max Repair 286 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 0
Rolls-Royce Aesir MJD xlvMSS18K-4 Max Ship Size 18000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 4
Rolls-Royce Tartarus xMPD 160-05-80 (12) Power 160 Fuel Use 45% Signature 80 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 1,700,000 Litres Range 37.8 billion km (81 days at full power)
BAE 150mm C3UVL (2) Range 240,000km TS: 5333 km/s Power 6-3 RM 4 ROF 10 6 6 6 6 4 4 3 3 2 2
Single 100mm 45-3 MCT TS12 (6x1) Range 45,000km TS: 12000 km/s Power 3-3 RM 4.5 ROF 5 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
ATK Phalanx CIWS-160 (4x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Ultra Electronics GFC iiiRT80-12K (1) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 12000 km/s 88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
Ultra Electronics GFC iiiRT240-4K (1) Max Range: 240,000 km TS: 4000 km/s 96 92 88 83 79 75 71 67 62 58
Rolls-Royce iiGCFRT PO9 (3) Total Power Output 27 Armour 0 Exp 5%
BAE ASS ivSS112 RR156-100 (1) GPS 11200 Range 156.8m km Resolution 100
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
I am not sure whether to remove some of the guns and put in a res20 sensor or not however. Currently any enemy Strike Craft would be detected at 15m Km by my res1 sensors on the CLs.
My Cruiser design has only offensive weapons, it relies on the CLs to provide point defence.
zx-Trafalgar class Cruiser 30,000 tons 854 Crew 5037 BP TCS 600 TH 1200 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 7-86 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 51 PPV 160
Maint Life 2.12 Years MSP 1154 AFR 654% IFR 9.1% 1YR 343 5YR 5145 Max Repair 120 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Spare Berths 2
Magazine 1924 Cryogenic Berths 200
Rolls-Royce Tartarus xMPD 160-05-80 (15) Power 160 Fuel Use 45% Signature 80 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 2,400,000 Litres Range 32.0 billion km (92 days at full power)
ATK Phalanx CIWS-160 (2x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Arlok Industries ivML RR4 (40) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 30
BAE MFC iRR117-100 (5) Range 117.6m km Resolution 100
ALKI Rampage ivASM CTH63 (480) Speed: 15,000 km/s End: 95.3m Range: 85.8m km WH: 9 Size: 4 TH: 105 / 63 / 31
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Lastly the Light Carrier design.
zx-Ark Royal class Light Carrier 35,250 tons 577 Crew 5254 BP TCS 705 TH 1680 EM 0
4765 km/s Armour 4-95 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 16 PPV 0
Maint Life 1.76 Years MSP 1490 AFR 621% IFR 8.6% 1YR 589 5YR 8838 Max Repair 120 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Flight Crew Berths 1
Hangar Deck Capacity 12000 tons Magazine 1260
Rolls-Royce Tartarus xMPD 160-05-80 (21) Power 160 Fuel Use 45% Signature 80 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 3,100,000 Litres Range 35.2 billion km (85 days at full power)
ATK Phalanx CIWS-160 (4x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
ALKI Rampage ivASM CTH63 (315) Speed: 15,000 km/s End: 95.3m Range: 85.8m km WH: 9 Size: 4 TH: 105 / 63 / 31
Strike Group
20x SC-04 Marauder Bomber Speed: 8000 km/s Size: 10
4x SC-05 Shark Early Warning Craft Speed: 8000 km/s Size: 10
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
I am planning on bringing it up to 42 000 tons, including a 121HS Jump Drive Squadron Size 4 Jump Drive. I may increase it to a SS6 JD if I manage to design a viable Assault Cruiser which would be armed with guns and 1 or 2 Marine Companies for ship boarding. Would such a design work? Obviously it would have to be heavily armoured and fast enough to close on an enemy before they are destroyed by missiles. Also I have barely 2 full reloads stored on the ship, adding any more bloats the design badly. How can I improve this?
The Light Carrier has 4 Squadrons of 5 Bombers and 1 Scout Craft.
SC-04 Marauder class Bomber 500 tons 9 Crew 144.6 BP TCS 10 TH 40 EM 0
8000 km/s Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 4.8
Maint Life 7.62 Years MSP 36 AFR 10% IFR 0.1% 1YR 1 5YR 16 Max Repair 60 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Spare Berths 1
Magazine 32
Rolls Royce Merlin Mk.II iiMPD 80-05-40 (1) Power 80 Fuel Use 484.22% Signature 40 Exp 25%
Fuel Capacity 55,000 Litres Range 4.1 billion km (5 days at full power)
Arlok Industries ivBL RR4 (8) Missile Size 4 Hangar Reload 30 minutes MF Reload 5 hours
BAE MFC iRR117-100 (1) Range 117.6m km Resolution 100
ALKI Rampage ivASM CTH63 (8) Speed: 15,000 km/s End: 95.3m Range: 85.8m km WH: 9 Size: 4 TH: 105 / 63 / 31
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes
SC-05 Shark class Early Warning Craft 500 tons 16 Crew 216 BP TCS 10 TH 40 EM 0
8000 km/s Armour 3-5 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 0
Maint Life 8.04 Years MSP 81 AFR 6% IFR 0.1% 1YR 2 5YR 33 Max Repair 112 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Spare Berths 1
Rolls Royce Merlin Mk.II iiMPD 80-05-40 (1) Power 80 Fuel Use 484.22% Signature 40 Exp 25%
Fuel Capacity 75,000 Litres Range 5.6 billion km (8 days at full power)
BAE ASS ivSS112 RR156-100 (1) GPS 11200 Range 156.8m km Resolution 100
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes
My fleets would be arranged as such: 1 or 2 Light Cruiser Squadrons consisting of 1 CLC and 3 CL, these would escort a Light Carrier Group of either 1 CVL, 3 CG, and 2 C, or 1 CVL and 3 CG. While I would also have 2 or 3 Upholder class Recon Frigates at +/- 45 degrees. This way I could scout and control an entire system quite easily, probably, depending on what I encounter anyways.
Thoughts?
ddblackhawk
P. S. I am currently slowly researching Stealth Technology, would it be a good idea to decrease the size of the passive on the Recon Frigate and put in a stealth module once it is researched?