I meant to post this yesterday. It is based on the "Special Heavy Carriers" topic in "R00: Proposals for New Classes"

Typical RTN Hunters have both special sensors and a strong force of attrition units. X-tech PF Tenders are often used in this role, including by the Tholians. But unlike some X-tech PF Tenders, the Tholian CWPX does not retain any heavy weapons. This proposal is for a "Heavy RTN Hunter" based on the Neo-Tholian Space Control Ship.

The Tholians apparently have only a limited ability to modify Neo-Tholian rear hulls. But per R7.6 they can replace a destroyed CoM, but with disruptors replacing the web caster until such time as the Tholians develop the capability to produce web casters in this galaxy. I propose that the Tholians build one special CoM that substitutes two special sensors for the web caster and one of the phaser-1s, and combine it with the NSCS rear hull. The ship would have the special sensors to find RTN nodes, the approximate weaponry of a Neo-Tholian Heavy Cruiser but with dreadnought-level power, shields, and durability, a full PF flotilla, and either 8 or 12 fighters. (The NSCS has four of its 12 external hangers attached to the CoM. I don't know whether that arrangement would be compatible with a CoM carrying special sensors. In any case, the fighters are far less important than the excellent Tholian PFs for this mission.)

Not only would the ship be a formidable RTN hunter, it would be strategically very flexible, an important consideration given the small size of the Tholian fleet. It could switch between the RTN Hunter and Space Control Ship roles simply by swapping CoMs, and action which doesn't even require the use of a shipyard.

By Joe Carlson (Jrc) on Friday, June 05, 2020 - 02:06 pm: Edit

Alan,

As an Alternative could the Tholians build RTN Hunter from a heavy DN?

By Alan Trevor (Thyrm) on Friday, June 05, 2020 - 02:48 pm: Edit

Probably, but the Tholians have two significantly different Heavy Dreadnought designs. Do you mean the NHD (Neo-Tholian Heavy Dreadnought) or DHW (Archeo-Tholian Heavy Dreadnought with webcaster refit?

A DHW-based version (replacing two disruptors with special sensors) would have more firepower than my proposed version above, but no PFs or fighters. The DHW has four tractors so you could place mechlinks on those and give it four "casual PFs". Anything beyond that would probably require reducing the firepower. You could add external hanger bays for fighters but the examples of the DNV and DNS (carrier and space control ship based on the "standard" Archeo-Tholian dreadnought) suggest this would probably also require reducing the DHW's integral firepower. Add to this, the NSCS can remain on station while the special sensor CoM is being built back on Tholia. Creating an RTN hunter from the DHW would require pulling the ship back into a shipyard, reducing the already very limited number of Tholian heavy units available for immediate service. All in all, an RTN hunter based on the Archeo-Tholian Heavy dreadnought is probably... possible... but a poor choice.

I could see an NHD-based hunter as a backup quite easily, however. Consider that my proposal above requires building a new CoM with special sensors and then fitting it to a bog-standard Neo-Tholian Space Control Ship rear hull. Now, suppose that NSCS rear hull is damaged in combat. The Tholians transfer the special CoM to the NHD while the NSCS rear hull is being repaired. Thus they can get a (not quite as good, but very far from being wimpy) heavy RTN hunter into service instantly. The ship is less formidable than my proposal above because it lacks the excellent PF flotilla, though it does have two more APR, two more batteries, and two more phaser-1s. But even without attrition units, it has weapons comparable or a bit better than a BCH, combined with the shields and power of a dreadnought. Primarily because of the latter, the ship is a far more formidable package than a standard BCH, while still having special sensors to find the RTN nodes. Then, when repairs are completed on the NSCS rear hull, the special CoM is swapped back to it and the NHD receives its old CoM, returning to the mission of a standard heavy dreadnought. This is why I particularly like this approach for the Tholians. They have few true "heavies" and this provides maximum operational flexibility in using them.

By Joe Carlson (Jrc) on Friday, June 05, 2020 - 06:11 pm: Edit

Alan,

Thanks. While there are alternatives they are either a weaker version and may take more time to convert.