The Osman class submersible frigate is a “mothership” style capital ship. With a top speed just over 80kph there are faster vessels but it’s ability to submerge can ensure its survival even against vastly superior surface and aerial threats. The fore turret hold the vessels weapon systems, a pair of Long Tom guns allows the Osman class to engage over the horizon threats while a quartet of LRM20 launchers engage closer threats and fulfil the minimum requirements; Carrion industries would recommend a retrofit to replace half those launchers with torpedo variants as the Osman is more likely to have to fire upon submersibles or on surface vessels while submerged at those ranges. The rear deck is dominated by the helipad to launch and retrieve the ships compliment of VTOL aircraft.
Should the enemy threaten to broach the minimum range of the LRM systems the primary defence mechanism is to submerge and escape with the associated combat vehicles being the primary force to engage the enemy. The Osman mounts the maximum armour for a submersible of its size but it is not sufficient to be relied on for a protracted engagement and the smaller vehicles are much more cost effective for closer range engagements.
The popularity of the Osman class frigate would pave the way to the creation of the 8500T Imagineer Class Light Submersible Cruiser and shares many of the features of the larger vessel but technology would have to catch up first.
With 18 bays for vehicles and generous cargo capacity the Osman can be easily outfitted for numerous mission profiles by altering the payload. Commonly even the aircraft on the Osman would be amphibious allowing them to put down on the surface and be recovered should the helipad be damaged. A common “Warship” configuration might include
Air Wing
2 x Gunship VTOLS
1 x Support VTOL (Lift Hoist & Cargo Bays)
1 x SAR VTOL
Blue Water Superiority Lance
4 x Blue Water Superiority Submersibles
Support Lance
2 x Arrow IV Submersible
2 x Interceptor Hydrofoils
Surface Lance
2 x “sea plane” amphibious conventional fixed wing aircraft
2 x Amphibious Assault Hovers
Mech
1 x Support Industrial Mech such as the Guppy Navy Industrial Mech
Heavy Vehicle
Most commonly this is a protected space for a Heavy support vehicle which is generally some form of cargo carrier but it can be used to deploy any vehicle up to 100T such as a deep exploration submersible, artillery platform, ice breaker, tug or assault lander.
With space for over 50 infantry a full compliment on the Osman pushes 200 but most of these are Bay Personnel and marines, the ship itself can be run with a compliment of a couple of dozen sailors, gunners, cooks and medics.
Name Osman
Displacement 5000T
Cruising Speed 58kph
Engine Type Fusion
Tech Level D throughout
Armour 339 points of BAR7
Chassis Mod Submersible
Fore Turret
2x Long Tom 20T of Ammo
4x LRM20 12T of Ammo
MASH
Field Kitchen
489T Cargo/additional space
4 light vehicle "surface" bay
4 light vehicle "surface" bay
4 light vehicle "submersible" bay
1 heavy vehicle "surface" bay
1 Mech Bay
4 light vehicle air deck
Helipad
