The Iowa Class

[john blackwell]

I wrote this piece up a few years ago:

   With the fall of the Smoke Jaguar Clan and the success of both Task Force Bulldog and Task Force Serpent, new Clan research projects began turning up.  One such project was for the design and construction of a completely new class of battleship.  The eventual delivery and implementation of this class of warship would spell certain doom for any other warship class unfortunate enough to engage it.
   The Iowa Class Battleship is light compared to its counterparts.  At one and a quarter million tons, it gives up over half its weight again to a McKenna Class Battleship and is only half the mass of the gargantuan Leviathan Class ships of the Clan Ghost Bear.  In fact, only the Nightlord Class Battleship is less massive.
   The designers focused on trying to keep the ship simple.  Design notes found with the plans for the Iowa described frustration with ship layouts that try to accomplish too much at the expense of weapons and skyrocketing costs.  So to keep the costs down and simplify the ship, the planners did away with the lithium-fusion battery and the docking collars.
   At first glance these omissions seem like a step backwards.  Yet the Iowa’s costs are approximately one third to one quarter of other battleships.  The planners figured that for the price of a standard battleship, a Clan could manufacture two or three Iowa’s and still have enough cash remaining to build jumpships to carry the dropships the Iowa can’t.  The Iowa is then free to do one thing: fight.  And it was designed to fight.
   Critics noted that the ship relies too heavily on ballistic weapons, therefore requiring resupply more often than ships which use energy weapons.  Yet the Iowa is supplied with one hunderd twenty rounds of ammunition for each weapon.  It carries so many weapons in its bays that one salvo should cripple or destroy another battleship.  A single volley from an Iowa would scrap anything under half a million tons.  The ship also packs far more armor than any other ship class, even the mighty Mjolnor Class Battleship.
   The designers made sure the ship would not lack for heat sinks.  In fact, an Iowa can fire every weapon in its arsenal simultaneously and still have enough heat sinks available for maneuvering.
   On paper, this design packs over twice the punch of even a McKenna Class Battleship, and for one-fifth of the cost.  The Iowa is a very cost effective means of building a powerful naval fleet.  If even one of these ships gets loose, no single ship-of-the-line will offer much resistance.  The Iowa would become the scourge of the navies, much like the Bismark was during the Terran Second World War of the Twentieth Century.



IOWA (BATTLESHIP)

Tech:  Clan
Intruduced:  no projected date
Mass:  1,250,000 tons
Length:  1,150 meters
Sail Diameter:  1,450 meters
Fuel:  2,900 tons (1450)
Tons/Burn-day:  39.52
Safe Thrust:  3
Maximum Thrust:  5
Sail Integrity:  6
KF Drive Integrity:  29
Heat Sinks:  4,676 (9,352)
Structural Integrity:  110

Armor
   Fore:  605
   Fore-Sides:  605
   Aft-Sides:  605
   Aft:  605

Weapons                  Range Values
Arc   Type      Heat    S    M     L   Ex   Ftr
Nose   ERPPC (4)       60   60   60   60   ---    Y
Nose   ERPPC (4)       60   60   60   60   ---    Y
Nose   NPPC           135    9    9    9    9   ---
Nose   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
Nose   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
Nose   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FR   ERPPC (2)       30   30   30   30   ---    Y
FR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FL   ERPPC (2)       30   30   30   30   ---    Y
FL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
FL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
RBS   ERPPC (2)       30   30   30   30   ---    Y
RBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
RBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
RBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
RBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
RBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
RBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
LBS   ERPPC (2)       30   30   30   30   ---    Y
LBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
LBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
LBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
LBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
LBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
LBS   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
AR   ERPPC (4)       60   60   60   60   ---    Y
AR   ERPPC (4)       60   60   60   60   ---    Y
AR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
AR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
AR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
AR   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
AL   ERPPC (4)       60   60   60   60   ---    Y
AL   ERPPC (4)       60   60   60   60   ---    Y
AL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
AL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
AL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
AL   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
Aft   ERPPC (4)       60   60   60   60   ---    Y
Aft   ERPPC (4)        60   60   60   60   ---    Y
Aft   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
Aft   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
Aft   NAC (20/20/30)   220   70   70   70   ---   ---
Aft   NPPC (Hv)   225   15   15   15   15   ---

Cargo:  30,000 tons
   Bay 1:  Cargo   1 door
   Bay 2:  Empty
   Bay 3:  Empty
Dropship Capacity:  0
Grav Decks:  3 (all 85 meter diameter)
Escape Pods:  0
Life Boats:  34

Crew:  367

Armament:
   76 NAC/20s
   38 NAC/30s
     1 Medium NPPC
     1 Heavy NPPC
   40 ER PPCs
   9,120 rounds NAC/20 ammunition (1,860 tons)
   4,560 rounds NAC/30 ammunition (1,860 tons)

Notes:  Not equiped with a lithium-fusion battery system.  Armor is Lamellor Ferro-Carbide.
Naval autocannons are arranged in batteries of 1 NAC-30 & 2 NAC-20


Crew: 51 officers
           255 enlisted
           124 gunners

estimated cost: 5,527,223,000
estimated battle value: 526,227

[sillybrit]

setting aside design choices, such as the lack of collars, there's a few problems:

1. Entering your design into HMA, I'm coming up with it being about 60000t overweight
2. The maximum total armor you can have is 3091 points, but you've assigned a total of 3630 points.
3. You've got too few officers. A 1250000t WarShip requires a minimum of 295 non-gunner personnel, added to which are your 124 gunners (you only need 123, but sticking with 124), giving 419 total. Of those 419, one sixth (round up) should be officers, so you need at least 70 officers, with the remaining 225 non-gunner personnel rated as crew. (HMA incorrectly calculates crew/officer requirements, but the above is according to Strategic Operations page 150)

Code: [Select]

                    AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
                                  OVERWEIGHT

Class/Model/Name:  New WarShip
Tech:              Clan / 3067
Vessel Type:       WarShip
Rules:             Level 3, Standard design
Rules Set:         AeroTech2

Mass:              1,250,000 tons
K-F Drive System:  (Unknown)
Length:            1,040 meters
Sail Diameter:     1,295 meters
Power Plant:       Standard
Safe Thrust:       3
Maximum Thrust:    5
Armor Type:        Lamellor Ferro-carbide
Armament:         
   40 ER PPC
    1 Medium NPPC
   76 NAC/20
   38 NAC/30
    1 Heavy NPPC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name:  New WarShip
Mass:              1,250,000 tons

Equipment:                                                            Mass 
Power Plant, Drive & Control:                                      225,000.00
Thrust:  Safe Thrust: 3
      Maximum Thrust: 5
Kearny-Fuchida Hyperdrive:  Compact (Integrity = 25)               565,625.00
Jump Sail: (Integrity = 6)                                              92.00
Structural Integrity: 110                                          137,500.00
Total Heat Sinks:    4,676 Double                                    3,961.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps:                                                   2,958.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters:              3,125.00
Fire Control Computers:                                                   .00
Armor Type:  Lamellor Ferro-carbide  (3,630 total armor pts)         3,240.00
                           Capital Scale Armor Pts
   Location:                            L / R
   Fore:                                605
   Fore-Left/Right:                  605/605
   Aft-Left/Right:                   605/605
   Aft:                                 605

Cargo:
   Bay 1:  Cargo (1) with 1 door                                    30,000.00

Grav Decks #1 - 3:  (85-meter diameter)                                150.00
Life Boats:  34 (7 tons each)                                          238.00

Crew and Passengers:
     70 Officers (73 minimum)                                          700.00
    225 Crew (225 minimum)                                           1,575.00
    124 Gunners (123 minimum)                                          868.00
Weapons and Equipment      Loc        SRV    MRV    LRV    ERV  Heat    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 ER PPC                   Nose     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --   60     24.00
4 ER PPC                   Nose     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --   60     24.00
1 Medium NPPC              Nose         9      9      9      9  135  1,800.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       Nose        70     70     70     --  120  5,096.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          100  3,596.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       Nose        70     70     70     --  120  5,096.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          100  3,596.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       Nose        70     70     70     --  120  5,096.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          100  3,596.00
2 ER PPC                   FL/R     3(30)  3(30)  3(30)     --   60     24.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       FL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       FL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       FL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       FL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       FL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       FL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 ER PPC                   L/RBS    3(30)  3(30)  3(30)     --   60     24.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       L/RBS       70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       L/RBS       70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       L/RBS       70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       L/RBS       70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       L/RBS       70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       L/RBS       70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
4 ER PPC                   AL/R     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --  120     48.00
4 ER PPC                   AL/R     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --  120     48.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       AL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       AL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       AL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       AL/R        70     70     70     --  240 10,192.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          200  7,192.00
4 ER PPC                   Aft      6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --   60     24.00
4 ER PPC                   Aft      6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --   60     24.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       Aft         70     70     70     --  120  5,096.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          100  3,596.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       Aft         70     70     70     --  120  5,096.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          100  3,596.00
2 NAC/20(240 rounds)       Aft         70     70     70     --  120  5,096.00
  1 NAC/30(120 rounds)                                          100  3,596.00
1 Heavy NPPC               Aft         15     15     15     15  225  3,000.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                            Heat: 9,320   1,310,368.00
Tons Left:                                                         -60,368.00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        5,390,199,200 C-Bills
Battle Value:      466,082
Cost per BV:       11,564.92
Weapon Value:      255,144 (Ratio = .55)
Damage Factors:    SRV = 25,153;  MRV = 25,037;  LRV = 19,551;  ERV = 7,458
Maintenance:       Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 1,107,677
                   (146,585 Structure, 302,512 Life Support, 658,580 Weapons)
                   Support Points (SP) = 479,762  (43% of MPV)
BattleForce2:      Not applicable


[john blackwell]

HMA?  I have no idea what that is.  In order to attempt any aerospece design, I needed to build my own XL spreadsheet to crunch the numbers / formulas based on the rules outlines in Aerotech 2.  It took several (several several) hours to wrap my head around the rules and write all the applicable formulas.  Apparently I didn't get it right . . . nuts . . . back to opening up the page and going over each line for bad formulas.  One more item added to my list of things to do.

Oh well,
JB

[Davion_Boy_74]

Very nice design, I do not use Aerospace units much - But I know what I like, when I see it  [rockon]  [drool].

HMA is Heavy Metal Aero design software btw.

Dave.

[tekteam26]

You should have at least six DropShip docking collars and some organic fighter support though. It helps having some 'little friends' of your own without having to rely on another WarShip or JumpShip to bring them along.

[john blackwell]

The theory behind the fleet is that several ships each fufill a specified role instead of one ship being the jack-of-all-trades.  In thinking about our current naval ships, there are ships to transport aircraft, others to launch assaults.  I figured inexpensive ships each with a different role would operate as a fleet.  For the same price as one large ship, several inexpensive ships can bring far more armor, firepower, and equipment to a planet and overwhelm planetary defenses.

Just my theory,
JB

[HobbesHurlbut]

The theory behind the fleet is that several ships each fufill a specified role instead of one ship being the jack-of-all-trades.  In thinking about our current naval ships, there are ships to transport aircraft, others to launch assaults.  I figured inexpensive ships each with a different role would operate as a fleet.  For the same price as one large ship, several inexpensive ships can bring far more armor, firepower, and equipment to a planet and overwhelm planetary defenses.

Just my theory,
JB

In reality, having dropship collars mean you do not need dedicated JumpShips which cannot withstand the rigors of combat as the WarShips does. That's the thinking behind the SDLF navy and they're fleet orientated.