Solomani Confederation (Military)

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Beijing Jump Drive

V. There are a number of advantages to increasing the size of the Beijings from fifty to a hundred kilotonnes.

W. Larger cargo holds to hold more supplies.

X. Also, prisoners of war, assuming the Confederation Navy follows cruiser rules.

Y. They'd also be considered replacements for the Victory class, which follows the sequence of seventy kilotonne heavy cruiser, hundred tonne grand cruiser, and quarter megatonne fast dreadnought.

Z. Also, while hundred kilotonnes is double the size of fifty kilotonnes, it would require only fifty percent more crew.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Prometheus Jump Drive

G. Another parallel would be the Prometheus and Normandy classes.

H. The Prometheus fast dreadnought could be the Bismarck class.

I. The Normandy heavy cruiser could be the Hipper class.

J. Doctrinally, and optimally, probably acting as an extension of a Prometheus.

K. Reconnaissance in force, but within system.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Texas Jump Drive

1. The three hundred and fifteen tonne jump drive precedes the Solomani Confederation.

2. A need for intermediate combatants came up with several solutions.

3. One of which was to take a commercial, off the shelf jump drive, and design starwarships around it.

4. Eight kilotonnes was identified as the minimum volume for a light cruiser.

5. As such, two three hundred and fifteen tonne jump drive modules were used as the basis for a number of intermediate combatants.

6. While the Texas class weren't the first vessels to have them installed, it was the first so specifically built for the Confederation Navy to be motivated by them.

7. Manufactured at technological level twelve, it was energy inefficient, and cost three hundred fifty three and three eighths megastarbux.

8. Two modules have a capacity of eighty two and two thirds hundred tonnes, at a range of three parsecs.

9. With an energy requirement of thirty two hundred and twenty four power points.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Texas Jump Drive

A. Technological level twelve Confederation Navy light cruisers were a compromise, to ensure that they had numbers of intermediate combatants.

B. These were not seriously expected to match (medium) cruisers, but were enough to intimidate most planetary defence forces, and perform long range patrols along their claimed frontiers.

C. This would be closer to what sometimes is categorized as colonial cruisers.

D. Colonial cruisers, if specifically built for the role, would be third class protected cruisers.

E. Do we have protected cruisers, in the order of battle, for any faction?

F. It probably harkens back to previous technological levels.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Texas Jump Drive

G. Jump factor two probably is sufficient for patrolling a subsector.

H. Monojumpular starwarships probably stick to star clusters, like the Sword Worlds.

I. The most efficient way would have been to drop off gunboats, if that's what's called for to negotiate.

J. And build mediumish cruisers for trade protection.

K. Colonial cruisers tend to be too compromised to be effective in either role.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Texas Jump Drive

L. Light cruiser classes were constructed member planetary starports.

M. Eight kilotonne designs turned to be the ideal size for commercial spaceyards.

N. It did give the opportunity try out a rather wide range performance parameters and systems.

O. While the Texas class, itself, became an example of overstuffing, others took a more comprehensive modular approach.

P. The light cruisers being the bridge between the Victories, and the escort ships.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Texas Jump Drive

Q. The Bremen class pocket carrier, at eight kilotonnes plus, also has two Texas jump drive modules installed.

R. The difference, apparently, between an pocket carrier, and an escort one, would be the capability to keep up with the fleet.

S. Probably, also, built to military standards, instead of civilian ones.

T. It could have been implied that large fighter carriers were in commission at the time of their design, but I doubt it.

U. The aerospace group was probably between twenty to forty smallcraft.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Texas Jump Drive

V. Multiplying the number of Texas jump drive modules would allow greater volume capacity.

W. Nine modules would allow thirty seven and one fifth kilotonnes at three parsecs.

X. Comparatively with one Victory module at forty one thousand, nine and one third hundred tonnes.

Y. Five Texas jump drive modules would have a capacity of twenty and two thirds kilotonnes.

Z. Which would be about right for the Servant class fleet tender.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Texas Jump Drive

1. As a new age of technology dawned, the Confederation Navy embraced size inflation.

2. The technological level thirteen Yarmouth class light cruiser doubled in size.

3. Four Texas jump drive modules gave a capacity of sixteen thousand five and a third hundred tonnes.

4. The de Gaulle pocket carrier was an attempt to improve on the Bremens.

5. Three Texas jump drive modules gave them a capacity of twelve and two fifths kilotonnes.

6. Many commercial vessels sub five kilotonnes installed single modules, allowing them a capacity of forty one and a third hundred kilotonnes at three parsecs.

6. The Hussar class light troop carrier was equipped thusly.

7. But built to military standards, since it tended to be used in an assault role, with facilities for two companies of Marines.

8. The inability to keep up with fleet units tended to limit deployment to zones where the Confederation forces managed to maintain local aerospace superiority.

9. Also, proved to be somewhat of a liability in the command and control role.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Madrid Jump Drive

1. The Texas jump module proved inadequate, as the Confederation Navy increased the range of their primary line of battle.

2. Like the larger thirty one and a half hectotonnes jump drive, a technological level variant wasn't developed.

3. The Confederation Navy recognized a continuing need for a starwarship of five kilotonne plus volume, that could keep up with fleet units.

4. The Madrid class light cruisers were designed to fill that slot.

5. The were found to be rather ideal as destroyer leaders, and were assigned as such even for flotillas with only three parsec range.

6. The three hundred fifteen tonne jump drive modules were an advanced technological level fourteen variant, with a factor one size reduction.

7. Three Madrid jump drives have a capacity of a ten and a third kilotonnes, at a range of four parsecs.

8. Five hundred nineteen and three quarters megastarbux per module.

9. And thirteen hundred seventy eight power points.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Dingir Jump Drive

1. The Beijings needed a hunting pack of dingoes.

2. Two three hundred fifteen tonne modules have a capacity of forty nine and three fifths hectatonnes at five parsecs.

3. This is a bit short of five kilotonnes.

4. But since, canonically, the Dingirs proved to be a failed design, probably doesn't matter.

5. We can make it a feature of most Solomani designed and manufactured jump drives, they're cheaper at the expense of being energy inefficient.

6. In this case, a Dingir module would cost three hundred fifty four and three eighths megastarbux.

7. Obviously, technological level fourteen, budgetted.

8. By itself, twenty four and four fifths hectotonnes capacity at five parsec range.

9. So the question might be, what's the best tonnage for a pentaparsec starwarship?

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Dingir Jump Drive

A. Just because your jump drive potential is listed at a specific tonnage, doesn't mean your primary hull actually need to fill that volume.

B. Post bellum, three Dingir jump drive modules would be installed on a fifty nine hectatonne (or plus) hull.

C. Super destroyer category, which would allow command and control, and long range sensor suite.

D. Strategic communications, I would guess, since the size would allow protection and rapid transference of really important people.

E. And their staff and entourage.

F. Possibly, a company of Confederation Marines.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Dingir Jump Drive

G. The Dingir jump drive is in an odd position.

H. You need five kilotonne plus hulls to fully exploit those advantages granted by that, and we're a couple of tonnes short of that.

I. You could set up a hybrid configuration of differing sized jump modules, and I've never actually been a fan of that, and it's something I've been avoiding for the large combatant discussion.

J. Nine modules would get you a capacity of twenty two thousand, three hundred and twenty tonnes.

K. That would seem to me too much and too little, for a non spinal mounted starwarship with these associated roles and missions.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Dingir Jump Drive

L. One module gets you twenty four and four fifths hectatonnes capacity.

M. Coincidentally, sort of the upper limit of the Adventure class tonnage.

N. Probably could cause all sorts of mischief in the rear areas, if stealthed.

O. Conceivably, could be categorized as a light destroyer, if there would be a point to that, and that type of starwarship.

P. Energy inefficiency would give off an inordinately sized jump flash, if the point was remaining under the radar.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Dingir Jump Drive

Q. We do have the two kilotonne Kormoran class of commerce raiders.

R. I guess we could have a late war development of the twenty four hectatonne Dingo class.

S. I'm hesitant, because it's not canon, at least in Fighting Ships.

T. I doubt there would be an issue post bellum, since undoubtedly the Confederation would like to keep track of how the Imperium is respecting the armistice.

U. And if they kept this production line going, you'd need to install them in something.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Dingir Jump Drive

V. I suppose we could drop Dingir modules from three hundred fifteen to a hundred and five tonnes.

W. There doesn't seem a need for a pentaparsec starwarship between ten and twenty five kilotonnes.

X. And even then, that could be covered by a Beijing jump drive.

Y. It would also explain why the Confederation Navy really never bothered with starwarships between ten to fifty kilotonnes.

Z. Optimum being exactly fifty kilotonnes, and then jumps to a hundred (plus).

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Dingir Jump Drive

1. There's an inherent inefficiency if we shift the Dingir jump drives one stage downwards.

2. Five tonne overhead being a constant.

3. Tripling the number of jump modules required, means fifteen tonnes of overhead, instead of just five.

4. On the other hand, associated calculations become easier.

5. Default hundred five tonne jump drive module has a capacity of four parsec kilotonnes.

6. Divided by five, that's eight hundred tonnes at pentaparsec range.

7. Seven times eight hundred would give you a capacity of fifty six hectatonnes.

8. Which would make the Dingir class a more effective predator.

9. And probably easier to set up a production line for a smaller jump drive meant for a limited number of vessels.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Striker Jump Drive

1. Conforming more to the Imperium norm of three kilotonnes for destroyer classes.

2. For a three parsec range, you'd need a two hundred and thirty tonne jump drive.

3. Since the Striker started out as a technological level eleven design, you'd need six parsec kilotonnes, for a two parsec range.

4. For three parsecs, you'd need nine parsec tonnes.

5. The technological level thirteen Tau Ceti class seems to be the successor to the Striker, and needs twelve parsec kilotonnes for a four parsec range.

6. Outside of the Dingirs, there doesn't appear to be much effort made to produce more technological level fourteen destroyers, or other escort classes.

7. Probably low priority, with major ship systems being reserved for the triumvirate of Promethii, Normandies, and Beijings.

8. The escort ship classes could be stuffed full of engineering, smaller modules easier to maintain and build.

9. Nine default thirty five jump drive modules would have a capacity of ten and four fifths parsec tonnes.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Courier Jump Drive

1. Skipping along, I'm pretty sure that there would be at least two other shipbuilding programmes at technological level fourteen, that the Confederation Navy would push antebellum.

2. One would be fightercraft, which being jump drive less, doesn't concern us.

3. The second would a two hundred tonne pentaparsec fleet courier.

4. No idea what the programme name would be, so we'll just refer to it as the Courier.

5. This would have a thirty five tonne jump drive module installed.

6. Nine of which would have a total capacity of twenty one and three fifths hectatonnes, at a range of five parsecs.

7. That would be enough for a two kilotonnish pentaparsec commerce raider.

8. That's forty tonnes of extra overhead.

9. On the other hand, a production line for thirty five tonne jump modules requires a lot less resources, than one for a larger sized module, not counting the overhead tonnage.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Engineering and the Courier Jump Drive

A. Removing these components costs 0.5 times the cost of the original system, while removing them and then installing new ones costs 1.5 times the cost of the new system.

B. If damage is so great that you have to replace a jump drive module, at one go, you can just add fifty percent to the new component.

C. Having multiple modules, means that you only have to replace the ones that have been written off.

D. It should also speed up refit time, since a smaller component is faster to construct, or at least, remove and install.

E. You could also create redundancy, by adding more modules than starwarship design has specified.

F. This would allow one or more modules to be damaged, and maintaining performance, without requiring them to be replaced or repaired.