Federation SHV: Heavy Strike Scout carrier.

I have been working for a couple of on an SSD and mini of a new type of carrier. This ship is I think similar in idea to Mike Raper’s Balson class DNC. In some sense both are a type of “super heavy cruiser”. So an alternate meaning of SHV would be Super Heavy Strike carrier.

Background:
In CL#25 division control ships were published. The Fed DCS has a YIS of 178.

(R2.61) DNG says these ships entered service Y175; both as new construction and conversions of older DN and DN+ ships.

The SHV uses a DCS saucer and a modified DNG rear hull. This ship also has a dorsal turret like on the BCG/BCF/BCJ, which has two photon torpedoes (taken from the plans for the New Jersey class).

Saucer:
Impulse power is increased to six. I added a six warp frigate engine. The rest of the saucer is the same as a DCS. The saucer then has 2xPH-1s LS/RS and two special sensors; 8xLab, 2xeach: Bridge, Flag, Tran, BTTY, and drones (G racks); 12 hull boxes; 12xF-18 fighter ready racks (boxes).

Rear Hull:
The ship has 10 shuttle boxes; six mech-links for F-111s; 3xAWR, 1xTRAN, 1xPROB, 4xHull, AUX (2 boxes); 2xPH-1-360 and 2xPH-G-360.

Fighter Group:
12xF-18, 6xF-111, and 6xA-10. The six A-10s are in the rear hull with four shuttles. I added to launch tubes to the rear hull so the single bay can launch three shuttles or launch two and recover one. The launch tubes can only be used by the A-10s not F-18s or shuttles.

The ship has a movement cost of 1.25 and a turn mode of D. Shields: #1 40; Shields #2 and #6 32; Shields #3, #4, and #5 26. BPV is 200/170. I added limited Aegis, which controls the drones, ADDs, and PH-Gs. Power: warp-36; impulse-6; battery-2; AWR-3.

The YIS could be as early as 180. I propose the ship be named Shenandoah, which (as I understand) means “beautiful daughter of the stars” (intended to be similar to the names for BCV/BCS class: Shangri-La, Atlantis, and Lemuria). The SHV design was a competing design to the BCV/BCS. Only was built. The USS Shenandoah served on the Romulan front. The proposed escorts are “R” versions of the NAC and DWA.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, October 17, 2006 - 08:25 pm: Edit

Joe, I would think the selection of A-10 attack shuttles would complicate the energy allocation of the ship significantly... (assumes arming photons).

would you consider alternative flight groups?
possibly a two squadron F-18 group (24xF-18's)?!?

By Joseph R Carlson (Jrc) on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 01:47 am: Edit

Jeff,

The energy allocation is only an issue at WS-I. At WS-III the 6 A-10s can be fully armed. Launch the F-111s and then use the six tractors to tow the A-10s into a strike position. The 12 F-18s can provide protection while recovering the F-111s.

The CVD has 24 F-18s. I wanted to make something different.

The F-111s provide a more flexible attack platform. The A-10s provide the crunch power.

Both the F-111s and F-18s can be sent on independent strikes. If you add a FBV with six F-18s (which makes a CVEG) then the task group has 6 A-10 amd 6 F-18s for fleet defense. This CVEG has 42 fighters factors (F-111 are 12; F-18s are 24; A-10s are 6). Add mega-packs to the F-111s and A-10s the attack ability becomes more flexible and lethal.

This is my thinking about the fighter group.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 04:02 pm: Edit

Joe,

I was thinking the energy cost of reloading the A-10's on subsequent turns...not the initial strike.

As far as selection of specific fighters for the fighter group...what about a squadron (or half squadron) of F-16's (the 'C' model maybe?!?) or mega fighter packs for the F-18's? or what about a half squadron of F-14D's?

Side note: I think you might want to check the math on the CVEG fighter factors... IIRC the A-10's are 7 fighter factors... not 6. (see rule 302.352.)

By Joseph R Carlson (Jrc) on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 10:58 pm: Edit

Jeff,

Mike West proposed it. There is a write-up on the proposal in CL# 19. "Federation A-10s are literally wrapped around their torpedo tubes; the F-18 doesn't have anywhere in the airframe that a weapon of this size could be installed."

This gets back to the reason I suggested the fighter group I did; the six A-10s provide the final strike after the drone waves created by the F-111s and F-18s impact. This limits the number of photons for balance purposes. Generally only one fighter squadron on a carrier is equiped with mega-pack, with the F-111 being the first cjoice (my opinion).

The A-20s are best left for deployment on the SCS and any future variants.

By Joseph R Carlson (Jrc) on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 10:18 pm: Edit

Changed Proposal: Heavy Area Control Ship (AHV).

John Trauger was very kind to post the SSD for me. Here is the link: http://www.vorlonagent.com/sfb/x1/joecarlson/FED%20AHV_XP_v3.GIF

The ship uses a modified DCS saucer. The rear hull is patterned after a DNL rear hull rather than a DNG. The rear hull is larger than the rear hulls used for the CA, CVS/CVB, or CVL. It is between a BCV and CVS at 36 boxes. I think the BCV rear hull is larger (guess based on box count of 42; DVL is 43; CVS is 26).

I changed the fighter group to A-20Fs and F-18Cs. The ship has 40 warp, 4 AWR and 6 impulse; 4 battery. The extra power should allow the ship to actual function as an area control ship and defend it self. I added limited aegis to control the three PH-3s and 4 G-racks for this purpose. Other ships for comparison are: ACS, CSV, NVA (NVH with A-20s), or a CAV (CVH with A-20s; only in F&E at present).

Suggested background: The proposed named for this ship is the USS Shenandoah, which is inline with the BCV/BCS ships. The YIS is probably close to Y183. The Shenandoah was built for the Klingon front and was intended to accompany the BCJ New Jersey in the assault on the Klinshai defenses. The Shenandoah was later used with some success finding and destroying Andromedan RTN nodes.

Proposed escort group: Three FBE (see CL# 31). The XP refit is optional and reflects what I think would be likely.

Comments are welcome, even if you don’t like the ship.