I am proposing a variant of the CCH, which is in R5, a heavy command cruiser scout carrier (CCSV). This ship uses the mid-hull of the BCV/CVS also in R5.

Modifications:
The forward bubble is modified as follows: The tractor becomes a PL-S-FP; the EMER box becomes a TRAC ( EMER is moved to the same location as in the CVS/BCV, next to FLAG).

The PL-Ss in each wing are changed PL-Fs, and PL-F boxes are changed to special sensors.

The rear bubble trac is replaced by two mech-links for casual PFs.

The center hull is converted to a configuration like the CVS/BCV.

Operational use:
Gorns don’t seem to have many survey cruisers and I am not sure they would risk these on RTN hunting missions. They could use the HDP and medium cruiser version to track the RTN. The CCSV would have better phaser coverage and has a PL-S and two PL-Fs. The SR, MSR, HDP, and CMP have fewer phasers, only two PL-Fs and less center hull.

The fighter group is 12xG-12D. Operationally the fighters would likely be equiped with mega packs, which add two additional PL-Ds (total of 6). The two casual PFs optimally would be the standard combat version of the Pterodactyl.

The ship would operate as single ship unescorted carrier group. Follow on reinforcements, when attacking RTN nodes, would be whatever ships are available.

The Gorns are cheap. So using a disappointing CCH design to build a specialized RTN hunter makes some sense. I don’t think the Gorns would build/convert either a BCV or DN into an RTN hunter.

By Michael Lui (Michaellui) on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 03:08 pm: Edit

Why not? You said they were cheap. Just yank out the D racks on a BCV and replace them with SS. Then carry 3 casual PFs on the existing tractors after you mech-link them. Instant RTN hunter.

This conversion costs less overall than yours which involves making major changes to the hull itself and extensive shipyard time. And the BCV is a bigger, more survivable hull when going up against Andros. Plus 3 Ss are really nice to envelope and watch the RTN base implode.

By Joseph R Carlson (Jrc) on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 03:27 pm: Edit

Michael,

Would the Gorn government actual fund such a conversion of a BCS? Yes it would be a superior design. The BCH/BCS ships are a rare hull type but the CCH isn't.

The R section (R4.50) for the Romulan Thunderhawk states it was the only BCS with special sensors.

The Gorns have the SCS but most of their other carriers are HDD based. So I wanted to build a carrier on the CC hull, which is closer to the BCS than the HDD/CM ships.

By Michael Lui (Michaellui) on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 04:22 pm: Edit

??????

I didn't say anything about a BCS.

By Joseph R Carlson (Jrc) on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 04:59 pm: Edit

No you didn't. Sorry that I confused you.

The Gorn BCV (R6.49) is a conjectural ship as is the CVS (R6.52). The Gorns completed at least one BCH as a BCS (R6.50). My presumption is the Thunderhawk is the only BCH type ship with special sensors.

I started with the CCH, because it is a real ship, and converted the center hull to the BCV/CVS configuration. The write up on the CVS indicates the Gorns could have built it. I don't known if the heavy cruiser hull can handle both the CVS center hull and the expanded front bubble of the CCH.