UCS Longfellow class Torpedo Ram
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UCS Longfellow class Torpedo Ram
The Longfellow class are something of an oddity. The design brief was for a ship which was essentially a point defence vessel with some interstellar capability. In this respect the ship falls somewhere between an insystem defence craft and a true interstellar warship.
In combat, the Longfellow is essentially a system defence craft. It would patrol the area around a star, either at sublight speeds out to 50 AU or so, or at FTL speeds out to around 10 - 20,000 AU. It's role would be to try and get in close to an attacking force and use the two external torpedo launchers to try and get hits in on frigates, destroyers, or support craft.
Although technically capable of interstellar flight, at 5 kc the Longfellow lacks speed. It is fitted with only the most rudimentary habitation facilities; most missions last less than a day, and it would be hard pressed to support a crew for more than a couple of days. At maximum speed the fuel gives the ship an endurance of no more than three days, though in theory this can be extended at low speeds.
The Longfellow was intended as part of Project Arvind, an effort to extend and reinforce system defence fleets by replacing the usual sublight ships with short range FTL models. Many observers considered Arvind to be a vital part of the modernisation of the Coalition's military, but it was subject to a good deal of political infighting. By convention the Coalition Navy was equipped with FTL ships, while the system defences were comprised of STL ships. The Longfellow was seen as a threat to this status quo, and the Navy fought it tooth and nail.
Although the Navy was not ultimately able to cancel the Longfellow, the numbers were slashed back again and again during development. In the event only 200 units were produced before the end of the run; ironically the final reason given for halting production was rapidly rising costs - largely caused by having to spread the development cost among fewer and fewer hulls!
In service the Longfellow has proved to be a highly valuable addition to system defences in those systems which received it. It has mostly served in the Turgran Imperium.
In combat, the Longfellow is essentially a system defence craft. It would patrol the area around a star, either at sublight speeds out to 50 AU or so, or at FTL speeds out to around 10 - 20,000 AU. It's role would be to try and get in close to an attacking force and use the two external torpedo launchers to try and get hits in on frigates, destroyers, or support craft.
Although technically capable of interstellar flight, at 5 kc the Longfellow lacks speed. It is fitted with only the most rudimentary habitation facilities; most missions last less than a day, and it would be hard pressed to support a crew for more than a couple of days. At maximum speed the fuel gives the ship an endurance of no more than three days, though in theory this can be extended at low speeds.
The Longfellow was intended as part of Project Arvind, an effort to extend and reinforce system defence fleets by replacing the usual sublight ships with short range FTL models. Many observers considered Arvind to be a vital part of the modernisation of the Coalition's military, but it was subject to a good deal of political infighting. By convention the Coalition Navy was equipped with FTL ships, while the system defences were comprised of STL ships. The Longfellow was seen as a threat to this status quo, and the Navy fought it tooth and nail.
Although the Navy was not ultimately able to cancel the Longfellow, the numbers were slashed back again and again during development. In the event only 200 units were produced before the end of the run; ironically the final reason given for halting production was rapidly rising costs - largely caused by having to spread the development cost among fewer and fewer hulls!
In service the Longfellow has proved to be a highly valuable addition to system defences in those systems which received it. It has mostly served in the Turgran Imperium.
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- Graham Kennedy
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The only complaint/suggestion I would give is add some hull textures.
Otherwise, wonderfull design. If the ST creators had put in as much thought as you have, there would be far less problems (ie defient and BOP size issues).
Otherwise, wonderfull design. If the ST creators had put in as much thought as you have, there would be far less problems (ie defient and BOP size issues).
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This is an odd one for me, GK. I'm used to seeing your designs pack as much as is feasible into a given spaceframe, but this (following your backstory, of course) seems to have had corners cut, and ended up with "just enough" ability to be effective. I am a bit confused by this bit:
Does this mean that the vessel is only launched when an incoming threat is perceived?most missions last less than a day, and it would be hard pressed to support a crew for more than a couple of days. At maximum speed the fuel gives the ship an endurance of no more than three days, though in theory this can be extended at low speeds.
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I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
- Graham Kennedy
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The idea of these ships is that they are basically never more than a few hours from base. A long mission would be to fly out for a few hours, patrol for six hours or so, then fly back. They won't just sit in dock all the time, but they don't conduct long range patrols lasting days or weeks, either.
Hull textures aren't really something I can easily do. I draw these ships by hand; they aren't rendered models or anything.
Hull textures aren't really something I can easily do. I draw these ships by hand; they aren't rendered models or anything.
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- Graham Kennedy
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Yes. You're talking maybe kitchens and a mess area, toilets. No wash facilities, no bedrooms, very little in the way of food stocks.Mikey wrote:OK. So the only accomodations they would need would be to house the crew while away from base only, yes?
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hmmm. An interesting idea but once the torpedoes are expended this ship becomes pretty useless in battle, and with slow speeds it looks like your idea of getting in close to do damage is a dangerous one. She flies in as close as she can, dupes two torpedoes into the mix. Then what? One AMP cannon, about mark 2/3 i'd guess, and thats it? A sitting duck for fighters and anything in a bit heavier weight class, and not enough engine power to get out of the way quickly enough.
I do like the idea of such a "small" ship (for your universe, haha) carrying a large warhead payload, but two torps?? dosn't seem enough...
I do like the idea of such a "small" ship (for your universe, haha) carrying a large warhead payload, but two torps?? dosn't seem enough...
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- Graham Kennedy
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The original idea of these was that you wouldn't face a few... you'd face a hundred, a thousand, because they are so small and cheap. Except they ended up being small but not cheap, and not numerous. It's essentially a failed design in that respect.
The inspiration for these is this, by the way : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_class_hydrofoil
The inspiration for these is this, by the way : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_class_hydrofoil
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Lol, I see. I didn't latch on to that, but thanks for clearing it up. So im guessing that these gradually would be being phased out of service to be replaced by...heavy bombers and fighter escorts?GrahamKennedy wrote:The original idea of these was that you wouldn't face a few... you'd face a hundred, a thousand, because they are so small and cheap. Except they ended up being small but not cheap, and not numerous. It's essentially a failed design in that respect.
The inspiration for these is this, by the way : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_class_hydrofoil
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- Graham Kennedy
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I've toyed with bomber types for my universe, but I am not sure I like the concept. A lot of systems would have fighter units based in them for local defence.
The Coalition's system defences have tended to be pretty poor, historically. Their military philosophy emphasises taking a fight to the enemy - fight on his territory, not your own, when at all possible.
The Coalition's system defences have tended to be pretty poor, historically. Their military philosophy emphasises taking a fight to the enemy - fight on his territory, not your own, when at all possible.
Give a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a day. SET a man on fire, and you will keep him warm for the rest of his life...