UCS Kavanaugh class Corvette

Post by **Graham Kennedy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:36 pm

The Kavanaugh class is a modern Coalition corvette. The class is designed for a variety of missions, mostly operating in low threat areas; border or near border patrol, anti smuggling operations, escort duties, territorial maintanence, etc.

The Kavanaughs are 619.5 m long, 76 metres across the beam and 189 m high. The ships have a patrol cruise speed of 30 kc, with a maximum dash speed of 40 kc for short periods. Whilst slower than most military vessels they are fast compared to most civilian ships.

The Kavanaugh's are fitted with a single twin Mark 3 turret and a pair of Mark 1 turrets. They carry a single torpedo tube with a capacity of nine torpedoes. Whilst this would leave them badly outgunned by even a Frigate, the Mark 3 is comfortably beyond anything a civilian vessel operating near to the Coalition would normally have.

The ships are fitted with a low level Reinhardt shield system; they are not armoured.

The Kavanaughs were designed with minimal boat deck facilities. Although there is a boat deck at the stern of the ship, there are very limited support and maintanence facilities. The ships are fitted with two Mule class transports, but while other craft can land on the ships if needed, they are not equipped to operate them. Since their entry into service this has been seen as a significant shortfall in the design, and there is a proposal for an upgraded Kavanagh class with an extended stern section.

Post by **Mikey** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:38 am

Did the bit about the inadequate embarked-craft facilities inspire the design/drawing, or vice verse?

Post by **Graham Kennedy** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:19 pm

Mikey wrote:Did the bit about the inadequate embarked-craft facilities inspire the design/drawing, or vice verse?

About half and half actually. It was originally a somewhat longer and more capable design, with three of the larger turrets and four Mark 2s rather than the two Mark 1s. But I really wanted to trim it back to the absolute basics in this design; minimal weaponry, minimal capability. So I cut it back a lot.

The idea of lacking a boat deck is stolen from - er, inspired by - the US Arleigh Burke destroyers. The first batch of those didn't have much in the way of helicopter facilities, but later ships were stretched a little to accommodate them.

Post by **Graham Kennedy** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:22 pm

Modified slightly; narrowed the aft hull by a few decks and redid the hull shading.

Post by **Mikey** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:44 am

I like the revision - gives it a sleeker look, as well as reinforcing the idea that since this wasn't to be a front-line warship, as little was spent on it as possible.

MetalHead · Post by **MetalHead** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:31 pm

Definitly not a warship then. I'd say more for policing duties, if that. Not heavily armed enough to take on larger ships, and lacking enough weapons to manage an attack by a moderate group of fighters. In other words, well designed for its purpose.

Post by **Graham Kennedy** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:24 am

It's basically a step up from a Coastguard cutter. In real world terms AMP cannon are equivalent to 25 mm calibre per mark - that is to say, the Mark 1 is what they would use where we would use a 25 mm cannon; the Mark 3 is a 75 mm. So it's rather heavier than a cutter would be, but nowhere near even a Frigate.

MetalHead · Post by **MetalHead** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:03 am

GrahamKennedy wrote:It's basically a step up from a Coastguard cutter. In real world terms AMP cannon are equivalent to 25 mm calibre per mark - that is to say, the Mark 1 is what they would use where we would use a 25 mm cannon; the Mark 3 is a 75 mm. So it's rather heavier than a cutter would be, but nowhere near even a Frigate.

Forgive my ignorance but while I can see how the mark 1/2 would be useful against fighters, maybe some heavier fighters/bombers, but thats an er, akward, size of weapon for a vessel of its class. What would that weapon be used for?

Must say though, I love your designs, and its really fun reading up about them. It would be cool if you did some specs for some of the ships the way DITL has them - ie armament, defensive abilities, etc etc etc. You've done this in some of the notes though, I suppose. Really cool, keep it up. Maybe design some land vehicles?

Post by **Graham Kennedy** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:42 pm

MetalHead wrote:Forgive my ignorance but while I can see how the mark 1/2 would be useful against fighters, maybe some heavier fighters/bombers, but thats an er, akward, size of weapon for a vessel of its class. What would that weapon be used for?

The kinds of opponents this thing would face are smugglers, terrorists, mercenaries on occasion, pirates, etc. Those would typically be armed with nothing bigger than a Mark 1 or 2; the idea of putting a Mark 3 turret on the Kavanaugh is that it will have a pretty decisive advantage.

Must say though, I love your designs, and its really fun reading up about them. It would be cool if you did some specs for some of the ships the way DITL has them - ie armament, defensive abilities, etc etc etc. You've done this in some of the notes though, I suppose. Really cool, keep it up. Maybe design some land vehicles?

I have full specs for many of the designs I've posted here, but they are in a format not easily postable on a forum.

Post by **Captain Seafort** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:56 pm

GrahamKennedy wrote:I have full specs for many of the designs I've posted here, but they are in a format not easily postable on a forum.

Given the sheer volume of stuff you've clearly put together, and depending on the cost/bandwidth issues involved, it might be worth considering an entire website dedicated to the "Coalition-verse". Certainly the quality of the designs you've already posted deserve such dissemination.

Post by **Mikey** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:59 pm

I agree. I've already expressed my appreciation for the cohesiveness of your designs in regards to history, technology, and design philosophy; but I think seeing all those things together, along with all the ancillary stuff (vehicles, etc.,) would really do that point more justice.

Post by **Graham Kennedy** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:34 pm

Captain Seafort wrote:
GrahamKennedy wrote:I have full specs for many of the designs I've posted here, but they are in a format not easily postable on a forum.
Given the sheer volume of stuff you've clearly put together, and depending on the cost/bandwidth issues involved, it might be worth considering an entire website dedicated to the "Coalition-verse". Certainly the quality of the designs you've already posted deserve such dissemination.

There is one, lol

But it's private right now. There are maybe four people in the world who have seen it.

Post by **Graham Kennedy** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:41 am

Added a rift generator so the ship can get into midspace.

Post by **Mikey** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:07 pm

Meh... technicalities.

Post by **Graham Kennedy** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:24 pm

lol, it's getting the detail right that's the fun of the thing