RE: Convoy Escort Carriers (ACVE)

Raptor ACVE

Hull Mass 60
Hull Integrity 2 (weak) 3/3/3/3 (Converted Merchant)
Main Drive 4
FTL Standard
FCS 1
Beam 1, 6 arc
PDS 1
Armor none
3 Fighter Bays.

NPV 211 + fighter costs.

As an escort this ACVE would remain separate from the convoy.

Three fighter groups is the minimum needed to provide 24 hour escort
(Crew
rest dictates no more than 8 hours flight time per day with at least 10
hours off between 8 hour sorties - waived during actual combat but
during
escort the fighter accident rate goes way up when the crews do not get
adequate rest).

I would have the ready fighters located with the convoy and the carrier
somewhere else but close enough to launch the other 2 groups to provide
support.

Minimum protection (Basically none <G>) for the ACVE itself.  Argument
can
be made for keeping the ACVE with the merchants.  If it is under attack
at
least they can be somewhat of a missile soak.

Minimalist design.  If you need this level of escort you need to make as
many as you can.

Bob Makowsky

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
[mailto:owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU]On Behalf Of Glenn M Wilson
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2002 10:01 PM
To: Stargrunt-Fullthrust@yahoogroups.com; gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Subject: Convoy Escort Carriers (ACVE)

Thinking outside the box, what if a small power had a small carrier
designed for escorting Convoy formations (during periods of raids and
pirate activity, for high value cargo, VIP escort, other odd jobs.)  For
the purposes of my question i am going to assume something with a hull
integrity of 2 (a converted merchantman design perhaps) since it's not
going to be going toe to toe with the pirates/raiders but using it's
fighters and, possibly some of the traditional Convoy Escorts (Frigate,
Corvettes and 'light' escorts) to defend the convoy.

Assumptions:

Cargo ships have drive 2.
The Carrier has drive 4 (fast enough to move around the convoy if
necessary.)
The other "Escorts" have drive 4 to 6 and number from 2 to 4 with 2
being
the most common except in times of active war.
The "ACVE" has no less then 2 and no more then 4 fighter groups.
The ACVE has very few self defense weapons (PDS, Beam 1, nothing bigger
then 2 mass each.)
Size should not exceed 90 and preferably would be not less then 60.

What size would you suggest would be optimum for this role?  What would
your design look like in design terms?

What fighter types would be your mix if the ship carried three fighter
groups?  Four? Two?

What if the raiders occasionally but not always had a small 'soap
bubble'
type carrier with 1 to 2 fighter groups - how would you change the mix
on
your ACVE?

Gracias,
Glenn/Triphibious@juno.com
This is my Science Fiction Alter Ego E-mail address.
Historical - Warbeads@juno.com
Fantasy and 6mm - dwarf_warrior@juno.com

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