RE: [FT] Sol SDN-X (3rd proposal)

Looking at the pictures, I don't see any obvious fighter bays (unless it
is
the trapezoidal "scoops" on each side (port/starboard) of the main hull.
I
think that the pod under the main hull is just screaming "Wave Gun", but
I
understand the reservations of those who do not use them. But I agree
with
your assessment on the role of the SDN. Perhaps, they would also send a
medium carrier along with the SDN.

The SDN-X is a little more problematic. Extended Range could mean a
number
of things. I had taken it to mean that it was designed to work away from
a
support tail. Also, unless there are -X versions of cruisers and
escorts,
that it would be working on its own (or attached to a multi-national
force).
As an extended range platform, it would need to be more multi-role,
while
still being able to operate on its own. It would probably have a shuttle
bay
or hard points to lock onto (basic hull assumes one shuttle type craft).
It
would probably avoid expendables (missiles, fighters*, mines,
sub-munitions
packs, etc.). Now that I think of it again, I would probably change the
mix
to be a Beam/Torpedo mix. 

Taking into account previous comments here are another set of statistics
for
the UNSC SDN and SDN-X. Again, the size has been dropped somewhat.

Sol (Mod 3) class Superdreadnought
Tech: Human (FB)
Govt: USNC
Mass: 192
Cost: 695
Clas: Superdreadnought (SDN)
Hull: Weak
Strm: None
FTL:  Std.
MD:   2
Armr: 15
Damg: 37; 10/9/9/9
Crew: 10
Sens: Enhanced
Systems
  2 x Screen
  4 x FCS
  1 x ADFC
  6 x PDS
  1 x Class-4 beam (FP,F)
  1 x Class-4 beam (F,FS)
  1 x Pulse Torpedo (FP,F)
  1 x Pulse Torpedo (F,FS)
  4 x Class-3 beam (FP,F,FS)
  3 x Class-2 beam (AP,FP,F)
  3 x Class-2 beam (F,FS,AS)
  1 x Hanger Bay (Mass 2 shuttle)
Notes:


Sol (Mod 3) class Extended Range Superdreadnought
.
Tech: Human (FB)
Govt: USNC
Mass: 261
Cost: 893
Clas: Extended Range Superdreadnought (SDN-X)
Hull: Weak
Strm: None
FTL:  Std.
MD:   4
Armr: 15
Damg: 52; 13/13/13/13
Crew: 14
Sens: Enhanced
Systems
  2 x Screen
  4 x FCS
  1 x ADFC
  6 x PDS
  1 x Class-4 beam (FP,F)
  1 x Class-4 beam (F,FS)
  1 x Pulse Torpedo (FP,F)
  1 x Pulse Torpedo (F,FS)
  4 x Class-3 beam (FP,F,FS)
  3 x Class-2 beam (AP,FP,F)
  3 x Class-2 beam (F,FS,AS)
  8 x Cargo/Passenger Space
  1 x Hanger Bay (Mass 2 Shuttle)
Notes:
  Modification of the Sol SDN. It increases the Main Drive to 4 and
includes
extra space for cargo (or in emergencies, passengers).

* Please, no flames about fighters being expendable. My point is that
they
_CAN_ disappear like popcorn due to PDS and other fighters. There can't
be
that many replacement fighters/pilots onboard. 

-----
Brian Bell
bkb@beol.net
http://members.xoom.com/rlyehable/ft/	
-----

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tony Francis [SMTP:tony@glassghost.com]
> Sent: Monday, October 25, 1999 11:10 AM
> To:	gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
> Subject:	Re: [FT] Sol SDN-X (2nd proposal)
> 
[snip]

> I'd agree with this one. The SDN and especially the SDN-X would be
UNSC
> fleet
> flagships and are likely to have a full complement of fighters,
diplomatic
> shuttles and marines, even if this is at the expense of weapons. Their
> role
> would be different from that of any other nation's SDNs, they're far
more
> likely to be required to undertake new missions at the drop of a hat
and
> would
> need to be multi-purpose. I would guess that they're also likely to be
> required
> to act as the core of a task force with little or no support.
> 
> In fact, here's an idea :
> 
> UNSC taskforces will generally consist of one very large ship (BDN,
SDN,
> SDN-X)
> with a small number of escort sized vessels. The reason ? The
> psychological
> effect of one extremely powerful vessel turning up at a trouble spot
is
> far
> more than that of several medium sized vessels (eg cruisers), even if
the
> net
> firepower is the same. By frightening the locals with the large ship,
the
> UNSC
> hopes to avoid conflict altogether.
> 
[snip]