Type
II Rama-Class Destroyer
“The little ship that could.” That’s what many people call
the Rama-Class Ballistic Destroyer. The destroyer was the first ship
specifically designed to combat the Arkhon during the middle of the first war
between the Protectorate and the Empire. It was so successful a design that it
has stayed on active duty for 63 years and is still present in large numbers
throughout the fleet.
The build run on the destroyer ended 15 years before the
current war, But if things get desperate, the Protectorate may begin
constructing the ship again. It is quick to build, relatively cheap, and easy
to upkeep. This is mainly because the ship is no frills and no nonsense. The
early versions did not even have artificial gravity.
During the last war, Arkhon frigates and even capital ships learned
to respect these ships. They are tenacious, with most of their weapon systems
still operable even after the ship itself has been disabled. On more than one
occasion, a Rama’s gun crews were able to keep fighting in space suits even
after the ship was entirely disabled. In fact, during the last battle of the
war, the
The Rama was the first ship class to employ a practical mobile
mass driver. Previously, mass drivers were only used as weapons on planetary
defense platforms, due to their size and power requirements. Technology had
progressed enough by the middle of the first war so that the Rama was able to
employ a scaled down version of the weapon. However, the weapon system needed
its own, small, independent power plant. In the Type IIs, a refit of the
original Rama-Class, upgraded main reactors eliminated the need for the second
reactor. The slug fired by the Rama is 200 lbs. and does not contain an
anti-matter core like the newer Armstrong and Powell class capital ships.
Still, it can cripple enemy frigates and escort ships with ease, and the Arkhons learned early on not to let a Rama point its bow at
them.
In addition to the mass driver, the Ramas have a pair of
heavy pulse lasers, to maintain combat flexibility. They also have a pair of
long-range missile launchers, and eight 120mm electromagnetic rail auto cannons
which they use to protect the larger ships they often escort from fighter
attacks.
The Rama destroyers are named after heroic mythical figures.
Examples include the Rama, Beowulf, Herakles, Heimdall, and Lu Bei.
Model: DDB Type II Rama-Class Ballistic Destroyer
Crew: 14 officers, 220 crewmen.
M.D.C. by Location
120mm auto cannons (8) – 500 each
Long-range missile launchers (2) – 700 each
Heavy pulse lasers (2) – 1,000 each
Mass Driver – 1,500
* Bridge – 2,000
**Engines (2) – 4,500 each
Outer Hull Section (40ft/12.2 m area) – 100
Inner Hull Section (40ft/12.2 m area) – 75
***Main Body – 10,000
*Destroying the bridge of the Rama destroys its primary control
systems. Its auxiliary controls are extremely limited, however, and are only
really capable of getting the vessel back to dry dock for repairs.
**Destroying an engine reduces the ship’s overall speed by
50%. Destroying both immobilizes the vessel and destroys the FTL system.
***Depleting the MDC of the main body disables the vessel,
leaving it a floating wreck with multiple hull breaches. However, the 120mm
auto cannons have independent power systems and can still be operated.
Speed
Max Acceleration/Deceleration Rate: 6G’s per melee round.
FTL Speeds: Cx365 (roughly a light-year per day)
Top Atmospheric Maneuvering Speed: Mach 6 (can achieve
escape velocity on a full engine burn). The Rama is the largest capital ship
capable of making a planetary landing.
Statistical Data
Height: 150 ft
Length: 450 ft
Width: 208.5 ft
Cargo: 1,000 tons
Power Plant: Anti-Matter Reactor
FTL system:
Range: 182 light years (carries 6 months of consumables for
the crew)
Cost: Absolutely not for sale.
Weapons Systems
1.
Mass Driver: The
Destroyer’s primary weapon fires a 200 lb depleted uranium slug through a
high-powered gauss cannon. It is particularly effective against the Arkhon’s armor. It is only restricted by its slow rate of
fire and limited ammunition.
Purpose: Anti-Ship
Mega-Damage: Each round does 3D6x100 M.D.
Range: 1,000 miles (actually
has a range of 3,000 miles, but it is much easier to dodge at those ranges)
Rate of fire: 2 shots per melee round
Payload: 400 rounds
2.
Long-Range Missile
Launchers (2): These launchers fire massive
spreads of missiles at enemy ships, giving the Rama extended striking range.
They are often fired in large spreads against multiple targets, used to shoot
down enemy missiles and are also used to perform planetary bombardments of
hardened installations. One is located on either side of the main hull. The
Ramas carry mainly armor piercing or medium nuclear warheads.
Purpose: Assault
Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
Range: Varies with missile type, generally about 5,000
miles.
Rate of fire: Can fire individually or in volleys of 2, 4, 8
or 12.
Payload: Each launcher has a magazine of 200 missiles.
3.
Heavy Pulse Lasers (2): These
weapons were included in the destroyers design in order for it to maintain
combat flexibility. There are other alien races out there, and if the
Protectorate ever ran afoul of one that had a high resistance to ballistic
weaponry, their fleet would be at an extreme disadvantage. These two weapons
fire pulses of high-powered microwave lasers (technically making them masers).
Purpose: Anti-Ship
Damage: 2D4x100 M.D. each, can be fired individually, or as
a pair, doing 4D4x100 M.D.
Range: 2,000 miles
Rate of fire: Four times per melee each.
Payload: Effectively unlimited.
4.
120mm Double-Barreled Heavy Auto Cannons (8): These heavy auto cannons are used by the destroyers to
create an anti-starfighter defense screen around the cruisers and carriers.
They are specifically geared toward heavy strike craft, bombers, and for massed
broadsides on enemy ships at close range. These cannons are operated by a
firing team of two.
Purpose: Anti-star fighter
Mega-Damage: 4D6X10 M.D. per dual blast.
Range: 10 miles
Rate of fire: Six times per melee round.
Payload: Each cannon has a 2,000 round magazine, allowing
1,000 shots.
Sensors of Note: Most of the sensors of the Rama are geared toward targeting
and fire control. The short-range sensors have a range of 100,000 miles, and
the long-range sensors are basic mass detectors with a range of 5 million
miles. Ramas generally rely on other ships to scan
planets and assess long-range tactical threats. The Rama receives most of its
sensor data from the larger ships and scouts.
