Neptune Submarine Upgrade

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Neptune Submarine Upgrade

Mass: 100 tons
Movement Type: Submarine
Power Plant: Doorman Naval HyPerOx
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Armor: SeaSlab 15.5
Armament:
     2 ER Medium Laser
     2 SRT 6
     2 LRT 20
Manufacturer: Galtor Naval Yards
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Lynx Shur
Targeting & Tracking System: Sonar Sync Tracker
Introduction Year: 3150
Tech Rating/Availability: F/X-X-X-D
Cost: 5,937,000 C-bills

Overview
A hypothetical upgrade of the aging Neptune Submarine using Clan specification weapons systems

Capabilities
The weapons systems were replaced with Clan versions of the torpedo systems, with additional ammunition supplied, and
replaces the aging Naval Sutel XII Large Laser with a pair of ER Medium Lasers. Also, an extra ton of armor was added,
primarily to the aft section, but also the sides.

Type: Neptune Submarine
Technology Base: Mixed (Advanced)
Movement Type: Submarine
Tonnage: 100
Battle Value: 1,409

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                   10
Engine                        270 ICE                29
Cruising MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks:                   10                     10
Control Equipment:                                  5.0
Lift Equipment:                                    10.0
Power Amplifier:                                    0.5
Armor Factor                  248                  15.5

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   10        78   
     R/L Side              10/10     60/60   
     Rear                    10        50   


Weapons
and Ammo              Location    Tonnage   
2 ER Medium Laser      Front        2.0     
2 LRT 20               Front        10.0   
2 SRT 6                Front        3.0     
SRT 6 Ammo (30)         Body        2.0     
LRT 20 Ammo (18)        Body        3.0   
Had an idea recently, given that ER medium lasers have similar ranges to standard larges. So time to go all out in upgrades. A more austere variant could use Inner Sphere ERMLs and IS torpedoes, and use the space saved to gain extra armor and more ammunition.

[Taron Storm]

Very nice.  Wish they would make an MTL like the MML's, would be wicked under water!

[Daryk]

I was expecting a fusion engine...  8)

[Giovanni Blasini]

I was expecting a fusion engine...  8)

Agreed.  If you're spending enough to go with Clan weapons, throw in a fusion engine.  The 270 standard fusion is common enough and saves you 7.0 tons before factoring in you get the first 10 heat sinks for free.  In this case, that'd free up 17.0 tons.

[Daryk]

That's a LOT of LRT-5s...  ^-^

[idea weenie]

I was expecting a fusion engine...  8)

Just tested the design with various engines and here are the rough changes (MML 0.48.0).  Method was to design the original sub in MML, and only change the engine type in the drop-down list.
- Fission - not allowed, makes the sub 4 tons overweight
- Fuel Cell - 12.5 tons freed up, 8,361,000 C-Bills, 17 slots available
- Fusion (compact) - 6.5 tons freed up, 15,207,000 C-Bills, 18 slots available
- Fusion (standard) - 17.5 tons freed up, 9,807,000 C-Bills, 17 slots available
- Fusion (Light) - 23 tons freed up, 20,607,000 C-Bills, 16 slots available
- Fusion (XL, IS) - 28 tons freed up, 26,007,000 C-Bills, 15 slots available
- Fusion (XL, Clan) - 28 tons freed up, 26,007,000 C-Bills, 16 slots available

Compared to the existing engine:
ICE - 5,937,000 C-Bills, 17 slots available, total of 20.5 tons of weapons/ammo/Amplifiers, 15.5 tons out of 24.5 tons of armor equipped

[Daryk]

I'd say 17.5 extra tons freed up is worth something more than doubling the price of the chassis...  8)

[Maingunnery]

That's a LOT of LRT-5s...  ^-^

Or some space for an Undine Point and some cargo.

[idea weenie]

I'd say 17.5 extra tons freed up is worth something more than doubling the price of the chassis...  8)

The goal was to show the effects of different engines in terms of cost change and freed up tonnage.  It lets you see which engines are worth it, and which engines are not.

Worth it:
- Fuel Cell: 40% increase in cost before other gear, 12.5 tons gained
- Fusion (standard): 65% increase in cost before other gear, 17.5 tons gained

The Fuel Cell might be worth it if you don't have a good fusion industry on-planet, but otherwise the small extra increase gives you near-infinite range, power, and provides a higher boost to available tonnage.


Not worth it:
- Fusion (compact): 150% increase in cost for only 6.5 tons gained
- Fusion (light): 250% increase in cost for 23 tons gained
- Fusion (XL, IS): 340% increase in cost for 28 tons gained
- Fusion (XL, Clan): 340% increase in cost for 28 tons gained

All of these have near-infinite range, but at minimum the cost is 2.5 times as much before the rest of the equipment gets added.  You do get massive increases in combat ability due to the non-compact engines more than doubling the available tonnage for weapons and ammo, but you are more than quadrupling the vehicle's price before the extra weapons/ammo/equipment/armor is added.

[Daryk]

I stand validated!  8)

[Gorgon]

If springing for a fusion engine and Clan weapons, might as well go with Harjel. It's one of the few ways a vehicle can outlast a Mech  8)

[Giovanni Blasini]

Just tested the design with various engines and here are the rough changes (MML 0.48.0).  Method was to design the original sub in MML, and only change the engine type in the drop-down list.
- Fission - not allowed, makes the sub 4 tons overweight

Drop the LL for a light PPC, and you get one additional ton back.  I went for adding two vehicular mine dispensers, which set my final cost at 11,385,000 C-Bills.

[Daryk]

Excellent suggestion when LPPCs become available!  :thumbsup: