Weapons of the Colonization Era - Revision history

Shrike at 07:23, 8 June 2010

2010-06-08T07:23:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:23, 8 June 2010
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	With much of the sunk costs in a warship being the electronics and jump drive, the ''MacArthur'' was deliberately built large and capable of multiple missions. While indisputably less efficient than single-role vessels this did mean that the ''MacArthur'' could take advantage of extreme efficiencies of scale to drive unit costs down and furthermore, be easily used for less military missions such as disaster relief, exploration support, etc. Between 2118 and 2149, hundreds of ''MacArthurs'' or national variants were built for national fleets in over a dozen different variations. In addition to the four main 'flights' for the USASF, notable variants included the Japanese ''Mikasa'' and ''Kongo'' subtypes along with the UNASUR ''São Paulo'' model.		With much of the sunk costs in a warship being the electronics and jump drive, the ''MacArthur'' was deliberately built large and capable of multiple missions. While indisputably less efficient than single-role vessels this did mean that the ''MacArthur'' could take advantage of extreme efficiencies of scale to drive unit costs down and furthermore, be easily used for less military missions such as disaster relief, exploration support, etc. Between 2118 and 2149, hundreds of ''MacArthurs'' or national variants were built for national fleets in over a dozen different variations. In addition to the four main 'flights' for the USASF, notable variants included the Japanese ''Mikasa'' and ''Kongo'' subtypes along with the UNASUR ''São Paulo'' model.

	Many ''MacArthurs'' were deployed into the Rim during the 30s and 40s and formed the vanguard of the PACT push into deep Eridanus-Orion space. Some ''MacArthurs'' even made it as far as Garfield-1143, 250 light years from Sol. Forward deployed out of systems such as Erebus, Bolivar and Nibiru their railguns smashed feral drones and pushed the enigmatic, ancient machines out of the Human routes. Often replacing their marine landers with FS-5 ''Avengers'' for space superiority against drones, they uncannily presaged the ZOCU omnicruisers of decades later. Unfortunately the ''MacArthurs'' ~~never had particularly propulsion~~ in ~~either~~ sublight or FTL and while re-engining was an option, plans were drawn being drawn up for an entirely new design better suited for the large distances prevalent in the Expanse and Rim when the Breakdown struck down most FTL travel.		Many ''MacArthurs'' were deployed into the Rim during the 30s and 40s and formed the vanguard of the PACT push into deep Eridanus-Orion space. Some ''MacArthurs'' even made it as far as Garfield-1143, 250 light years from Sol. Forward deployed out of systems such as Erebus, Bolivar and Nibiru their railguns smashed feral drones and pushed the enigmatic, ancient machines out of the Human routes. Often replacing their marine landers with FS-5 ''Avengers'' for space superiority against drones, they uncannily presaged the ZOCU omnicruisers of decades later. Unfortunately the ''MacArthurs'' were fast in neither sublight or FTL and while re-engining was an option, plans were drawn being drawn up for an entirely new design better suited for the large distances prevalent in the Expanse and Rim when the Breakdown struck down most FTL travel.

	In 2151, approximately two-thirds of all ''MacArthurs'' were outside the Erlicher Stellar Catapult System and thus easy recovery. In the span of a week more capital ships were removed from the PACT's active fleet list than the entire ZOCU war - by a factor of five. Perhaps two dozen were sufficiently close that they could limp back to an inhabited system before their jump drives seized up completely. The remainder were far enough away - outside what would come to be known as the Firewall - that they maintained drive integrity. Roughly fifty were abandoned in place or attempted to return Solwards - less than half of these have been accounted for as of 2195. The remainder found new homes in the Rim, their crews inventing new missions to protect the scattered children of Earth - or, rarely, new missions based more on strength of arms than of character.		In 2151, approximately two-thirds of all ''MacArthurs'' were outside the Erlicher Stellar Catapult System and thus easy recovery. In the span of a week more capital ships were removed from the PACT's active fleet list than the entire ZOCU war - by a factor of five. Perhaps two dozen were sufficiently close that they could limp back to an inhabited system before their jump drives seized up completely. The remainder were far enough away - outside what would come to be known as the Firewall - that they maintained drive integrity. Roughly fifty were abandoned in place or attempted to return Solwards - less than half of these have been accounted for as of 2195. The remainder found new homes in the Rim, their crews inventing new missions to protect the scattered children of Earth - or, rarely, new missions based more on strength of arms than of character.

Shrike at 07:21, 8 June 2010

2010-06-08T07:21:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:21, 8 June 2010
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			==PACT==
	===''MacArthur'' system control ship===		===''MacArthur'' system control ship===
	[[File:Macarthur01.jpg\| thumb\| 3D mockup of the ''MacArthur'' system control ship]]		[[File:Macarthur01.jpg\| thumb\| 3D mockup of the ''MacArthur'' system control ship]]
	Few objects are more a symbol of United States military might than the ''MacArthur'' system control ship - or, more popularly, the ''MacArthur'' battleship. Despite the fact that the USS ''MacArthur'' came out of spacedock years late and billions overbudget, she and her classmates all but defined a generation of warships and fought in every major and most minor engagements down the PACT arm and into the Rim, from the Eridanus campaign to the ZOCU war. Rugged and capable of supporting a full jump Battalion including landing craft they were the ideal warship for an expanding frontier. The spacious four-part retractable spin habitat only enhanced this.		Few objects are more a symbol of United States military might than the ''MacArthur'' system control ship - or, more popularly, the ''MacArthur'' battleship. Despite the fact that the USS ''MacArthur'' came out of spacedock years late and billions overbudget, she and her classmates all but defined a generation of warships and fought in every major and most minor engagements down the PACT arm and into the Rim, from the Eridanus campaign to the ZOCU war. Rugged and capable of supporting a full jump Battalion including landing craft they were the ideal warship for an expanding frontier. The spacious four-part retractable spin habitat only enhanced this.

	With much of the sunk costs in a warship being the electronics and jump drive, the ''MacArthur'' was deliberately built ~~larged~~ and capable of multiple missions. While indisputably less efficient than single-role vessels this did mean that the ''MacArthur'' could take advantage of extreme efficiencies of scale and be easily used for less military missions such as disaster relief, exploration support, etc. Between 2118 and 2149, hundreds of ''MacArthurs'' or national variants were built for national fleets in over a dozen different variations. In addition to the four main 'flights' for the USASF, notable variants included the Japanese ''Mikasa'' and ''Kongo'' subtypes along with the UNASUR ''São Paulo'' model.		With much of the sunk costs in a warship being the electronics and jump drive, the ''MacArthur'' was deliberately built large and capable of multiple missions. While indisputably less efficient than single-role vessels this did mean that the ''MacArthur'' could take advantage of extreme efficiencies of scale to drive unit costs down and furthermore, be easily used for less military missions such as disaster relief, exploration support, etc. Between 2118 and 2149, hundreds of ''MacArthurs'' or national variants were built for national fleets in over a dozen different variations. In addition to the four main 'flights' for the USASF, notable variants included the Japanese ''Mikasa'' and ''Kongo'' subtypes along with the UNASUR ''São Paulo'' model.

	Many ''MacArthurs'' were deployed into the Rim during the 30s and 40s and formed the vanguard of the PACT push into deep Eridanus-Orion space. Some ''MacArthurs'' even made it as far as Garfield-1143, 250 light years from Sol. Forward deployed out of systems such as Erebus, Bolivar and Nibiru their railguns smashed feral drones and pushed the enigmatic, ancient machines out of the Human routes. Often replacing their marine landers with FS-5 ''Avengers'' for space superiority against drones, they uncannily presaged the ZOCU omnicruisers of decades later. Unfortunately the ''MacArthurs'' never had particularly propulsion in either sublight or FTL and while re-engining was an option, plans were drawn being drawn up for an entirely new design better suited for the large distances prevalent in the Expanse and Rim when the Breakdown struck down most FTL travel.		Many ''MacArthurs'' were deployed into the Rim during the 30s and 40s and formed the vanguard of the PACT push into deep Eridanus-Orion space. Some ''MacArthurs'' even made it as far as Garfield-1143, 250 light years from Sol. Forward deployed out of systems such as Erebus, Bolivar and Nibiru their railguns smashed feral drones and pushed the enigmatic, ancient machines out of the Human routes. Often replacing their marine landers with FS-5 ''Avengers'' for space superiority against drones, they uncannily presaged the ZOCU omnicruisers of decades later. Unfortunately the ''MacArthurs'' never had particularly propulsion in either sublight or FTL and while re-engining was an option, plans were drawn being drawn up for an entirely new design better suited for the large distances prevalent in the Expanse and Rim when the Breakdown struck down most FTL travel.
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	The actions of ''MacArthurs'' during the ZOCU war could (and have) filled books, but the by-then aging battlewagons gave solid performance under both PACT and ZOCU flags, where they clashed above Kanon, above Erebus and Choson and in Rapture. The USASF Block 86 upgrade brought many of their systems up to (near) modern standards, while ZOCU refits were all unique but showed that with mega particle weapons even the old warhorses could still fight and win.		The actions of ''MacArthurs'' during the ZOCU war could (and have) filled books, but the by-then aging battlewagons gave solid performance under both PACT and ZOCU flags, where they clashed above Kanon, above Erebus and Choson and in Rapture. The USASF Block 86 upgrade brought many of their systems up to (near) modern standards, while ZOCU refits were all unique but showed that with mega particle weapons even the old warhorses could still fight and win.

			==Russian==
	===''Kynda'' missile cruiser===		===''Kynda'' missile cruiser===
	In the '30s the Russian offworld holdings were coming under threat not just from feral drones but from encroaching Chinese hegemony. The aging ''Gangut'' system battleships could provide adequate protection against the former and the fast new ''Borodinos'' were the match of anything flying but required Sol-system spaceyards and were limited in numbers anyhow. A ship specifically made to counter the Chinese superiority in numbers was required, one that could also be build with a minimal reliance upon homeworld factories. The resulting ship was the Kynda missile cruiser.		In the '30s the Russian offworld holdings were coming under threat not just from feral drones but from encroaching Chinese hegemony. The aging ''Gangut'' system battleships could provide adequate protection against the former and the fast new ''Borodinos'' were the match of anything flying but required Sol-system spaceyards and were limited in numbers anyhow. A ship specifically made to counter the Chinese superiority in numbers was required, one that could also be build with a minimal reliance upon homeworld factories. The resulting ship was the Kynda missile cruiser.

Shrike at 07:15, 8 June 2010

2010-06-08T07:15:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:15, 8 June 2010
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	===''MacArthur'' system control ship===		===''MacArthur'' system control ship===
	[[File:Macarthur01.jpg\| thumb\| 3D mockup of the ''MacArthur'' system control ship]]		[[File:Macarthur01.jpg\| thumb\| 3D mockup of the ''MacArthur'' system control ship]]
	~~Some~~ of the ~~largest warships of its era~~, the MacArthur ~~Class Battleships were~~ the ~~pride of~~ the ~~Pac-Am Battle Fleet during their day. Unfortunately for the handful~~ of ~~frontier warlords~~ and ~~admirals with delusions~~ of ~~grandeur who have gained access to~~ the ~~sold for scrap survivors of~~ the ~~class~~, ~~their day was in fact a very very long time ago~~. ~~Extremely slow~~ and ~~under armed by modern standards, these ponderous aged giants are outmatched when placed against any modern ship~~ of the ~~line or heavy cruiser~~.		Few objects are more a symbol of United States military might than the ''MacArthur'' system control ship - or, more popularly, the ''MacArthur'' battleship. Despite the fact that the USS ''MacArthur'' came out of spacedock years late and billions overbudget, she and her classmates all but defined a generation of warships and fought in every major and most minor engagements down the PACT arm and into the Rim, from the Eridanus campaign to the ZOCU war. Rugged and capable of supporting a full jump Battalion including landing craft they were the ideal warship for an expanding frontier. The spacious four-part retractable spin habitat only enhanced this.

	~~Despite their obsolete nature~~, ~~it is unlikely~~ that ~~any~~ of ~~those killed by~~ the ~~heavy~~ railguns of ~~MacArthur Class ships~~ in the ~~frontier conflicts they have seen action~~ in ~~would agree~~ that their ~~dated nature makes them any less lethal~~. ~~Especially when one considers~~ that they ~~are mostly used against civilian targets and the other equally ancient craft~~ of the Rim~~. It is estimated that~~ more than ~~two hundred~~ of MacArthurs ~~or foreign equivalents from almost two dozen different sources~~ still ~~prowl the Rim~~.		With much of the sunk costs in a warship being the electronics and jump drive, the ''MacArthur'' was deliberately built larged and capable of multiple missions. While indisputably less efficient than single-role vessels this did mean that the ''MacArthur'' could take advantage of extreme efficiencies of scale and be easily used for less military missions such as disaster relief, exploration support, etc. Between 2118 and 2149, hundreds of ''MacArthurs'' or national variants were built for national fleets in over a dozen different variations. In addition to the four main 'flights' for the USASF, notable variants included the Japanese ''Mikasa'' and ''Kongo'' subtypes along with the UNASUR ''São Paulo'' model.

			Many ''MacArthurs'' were deployed into the Rim during the 30s and 40s and formed the vanguard of the PACT push into deep Eridanus-Orion space. Some ''MacArthurs'' even made it as far as Garfield-1143, 250 light years from Sol. Forward deployed out of systems such as Erebus, Bolivar and Nibiru their railguns smashed feral drones and pushed the enigmatic, ancient machines out of the Human routes. Often replacing their marine landers with FS-5 ''Avengers'' for space superiority against drones, they uncannily presaged the ZOCU omnicruisers of decades later. Unfortunately the ''MacArthurs'' never had particularly propulsion in either sublight or FTL and while re-engining was an option, plans were drawn being drawn up for an entirely new design better suited for the large distances prevalent in the Expanse and Rim when the Breakdown struck down most FTL travel.

			In 2151, approximately two-thirds of all ''MacArthurs'' were outside the Erlicher Stellar Catapult System and thus easy recovery. In the span of a week more capital ships were removed from the PACT's active fleet list than the entire ZOCU war - by a factor of five. Perhaps two dozen were sufficiently close that they could limp back to an inhabited system before their jump drives seized up completely. The remainder were far enough away - outside what would come to be known as the Firewall - that they maintained drive integrity. Roughly fifty were abandoned in place or attempted to return Solwards - less than half of these have been accounted for as of 2195. The remainder found new homes in the Rim, their crews inventing new missions to protect the scattered children of Earth - or, rarely, new missions based more on strength of arms than of character.

			The actions of ''MacArthurs'' during the ZOCU war could (and have) filled books, but the by-then aging battlewagons gave solid performance under both PACT and ZOCU flags, where they clashed above Kanon, above Erebus and Choson and in Rapture. The USASF Block 86 upgrade brought many of their systems up to (near) modern standards, while ZOCU refits were all unique but showed that with mega particle weapons even the old warhorses could still fight and win.

	===''Kynda'' missile cruiser===		===''Kynda'' missile cruiser===

Shrike: /* MacArthur system control ship */

2010-06-07T07:52:58Z

MacArthur system control ship

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:52, 7 June 2010
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	===''MacArthur'' system control ship===		===''MacArthur'' system control ship===
	[[File:Macarthur01.jpg\| thumb\| 3D mockup of the ''MacArthur'' system control ship]]		[[File:Macarthur01.jpg\| thumb\| 3D mockup of the ''MacArthur'' system control ship]]
			Some of the largest warships of its era, the MacArthur Class Battleships were the pride of the Pac-Am Battle Fleet during their day. Unfortunately for the handful of frontier warlords and admirals with delusions of grandeur who have gained access to the sold for scrap survivors of the class, their day was in fact a very very long time ago. Extremely slow and under armed by modern standards, these ponderous aged giants are outmatched when placed against any modern ship of the line or heavy cruiser.

			Despite their obsolete nature, it is unlikely that any of those killed by the heavy railguns of MacArthur Class ships in the frontier conflicts they have seen action in would agree that their dated nature makes them any less lethal. Especially when one considers that they are mostly used against civilian targets and the other equally ancient craft of the Rim. It is estimated that more than two hundred of MacArthurs or foreign equivalents from almost two dozen different sources still prowl the Rim.

	===''Kynda'' missile cruiser===		===''Kynda'' missile cruiser===

Shrike: Created page with '===''MacArthur'' system control ship=== 3D mockup of the ''MacArthur'' system control ship ===''Kynda'' missile cruiser=== In the '30s the Russi…'

2010-06-07T07:50:52Z

Created page with '===''MacArthur'' system control ship=== thumb| 3D mockup of the ''MacArthur'' system control ship ===''Kynda'' missile cruiser=== In the '30s the Russi…'

New page

===''MacArthur'' system control ship===
[[File:Macarthur01.jpg| thumb| 3D mockup of the ''MacArthur'' system control ship]]

===''Kynda'' missile cruiser===
In the '30s the Russian offworld holdings were coming under threat not just from feral drones but from encroaching Chinese hegemony. The aging ''Gangut'' system battleships could provide adequate protection against the former and the fast new ''Borodinos'' were the match of anything flying but required Sol-system spaceyards and were limited in numbers anyhow. A ship specifically made to counter the Chinese superiority in numbers was required, one that could also be build with a minimal reliance upon homeworld factories. The resulting ship was the Kynda missile cruiser.

With a 'main battery' of long-range missiles, the Kynda was somewhat unusual in eschewing any substantial gun armament but as a consequence was (on paper) extremely effective in its designed role of unleashing a crippling alpha strike of ordnance. A newly developed scattering field bubble provided surprising resilience against return fire both before and after the ''Kynda'' launched its missiles, though the shield needed to be dropped in order to unleash its deadly payload.

These traits which made it such an effective threat in the '40s saw it sidelined during the 50s, once the Breakdown struck. A war against China became much less likely and defense against resurgent drones became a priority. Ill-suited for this role the Kyndas saw little service. The development and adoption of leapmissiles gave them a new lease on life, but unfortunately they lacked the powerful sensors required for precise targeting and consequently they were forced to be paired with a modern sensor craft. Nonetheless, these half-century old cruisers have once again returned to the center stage.

===''Borodino''' battleship===
The Borodino Class Battle Cruiser was designed as a replacement to the aging ''Gangut'' system battleships, taking advantage of two decades of technological progress. Faster and better-armed than the ''Ganguts'', the ''Borodinos'' were also far more future-proofed, with excess power generation sufficing for the future installation of the shield systems under development at the time. Unlike the ''MacArthurs'' and ''Drakes'' that were its contemporaries however, the ''Borodinos'' had little in the way of support craft or facilities. With a relatively small number of worlds to manage Russia had little need for ubiquitous marine landing forces. The ''Borodinos'' were all about space control.

Despite their apparent advantages, the ''Borodinos'' proved troublesome in service. Their powerful fusion drives were seen as cranky and unlike their equivalent in European and Pacific service, they had no provision for spin gravity. However when they worked, they worked well. Their 28cm railcannons and missile batteries provided excellent firepower and the addition of a scattering field bubble in the '40s gave them defenses to match.

Unsurprisingly the ''Borodinos'' had mixed success during the Breakdown. They gave stellar performance during the Novy Rostina campaign against feral hybrids and in the Port Alexi suppression against the Black Banner exhuman front but at the same time they were the white elephants of the Russian fleet, unpopular with their crews for long deployments. Substantive refits in the 80s and 90s augmented their missile armament with the now-familiar cylindridal external bins. The Duma has not officially funded a replacement, though voices are getting louder that the entire Russian fleet needs a top-to-bottom refresh.