[[TASCOM]] Extended Duration Patrol Vessel - Combat Type: Patrol / Interdiction Model: Cruiser See also: [[Tannhauer]] ## Design The standard human combat vessel design dates back to before the [[Ceaseless Fray]]. Any models built during the war were subsequently scrapped and forgotten during the [[Reconfiguration]]. Most are laid out around their [[Fusion Reactor|fusion reactors]] and [[Fuel Cask|fuel casks]]. Both of which are near the vessel's center of gravity. If a [[Hub Drive]] is equipped, it is positioned between the reactor and the fuel casks and requires banks of capacitors to initiate [[Transit|transits]]. Hub Drives and [[Railgun|railguns]] are mutually exclusive. They both use tremendous amounts of power and require mission specific configurations. To the rear of the reactor are two massive high-temperature radiators connected via heat exchangers. They wrap around (excluding the facing sides between them), and help cool, the engine's hydrogen recombination chambers. The engine nozzles protrude from the rear of the radiators. On either side of the engineering section are two large wing-like structures, which contain secondary [[Missile|missile]] bays, low-temperature radiator arrays, and the primary [[Laser Emitter|laser emitters]]. The forward section of the vessel contains additional missile bays, cargo holds, lander docks, and the primary habitation area. [[Mass Driver|Mass Drivers]] are optional. Mounted on two canard-like structures, with their magazines stored in the vessel's hull. If these weapons are not installed, additional cargo or landers can be carried. At the very front is the command module. This includes life support, damage control, maintenance, crew quarters, galley, recreation, airlocks and the bridge bunker. Two large 7m reflector scopes are mounted dorsally and ventrally on either side of the bridge. These scopes can be viewed either electronically or with an analog view port. The vessel's computer systems, avionics and communication systems wrap around the bridge. ## Mission TASCOM patrol vessels are tasked with 90 day tours around various trouble spots in [[Human Space]]. Their duties can include anything from observation to interdiction. While conflicts are rare, they do occasionally occur and the EDPV-C is more than capable of defending itself against makeshift civilian attack craft. They also carry enough ordinance to make limited strikes against surface facilities. Attacks of this type need to be carefully measured to avoid violating the [[Orbital Strike Treaty]]. ###### Weapon Systems In an attack role, the EDPV-C is a capable vessel. Its four laser emitters can cover almost any angle around the ship. These alone are often enough to disable smaller opponents. They can also do significant damage to sensitive components on similarly sized vessels. Its complement of missiles would rarely be used. Aside from the difficulty of getting a warhead close enough to another combat vessel to do significant damage, most conflicts in space are not intended to outright destroy the opposing force. The warheads are a mix of explosive and directed frontal-cone fragmentation. The mass drivers are intended for use against large, slow-moving targets. Such as [[Orbital Defense Platform|Orbital Defense Platforms]] or other vessels with limited maneuvering capability. Their velocity can be adjusted to vary the damage they inflict and, depending on the mission, may carry a larger number of smaller slugs. They can also be used for planetary strikes if needed. ## Specifications ###### Crew Size Standard patrol configuration: 7 (Accommodations for up to 14 are possible within the existing crew cabins) - Captain - Navigator - Communications - Weapons - Engineering - Damage Control / Maintenance - Lander Pilot >[!note] >The lander pilot can also double as the vessel pilot, but maneuvering is usually handled by the navigator. Two cargo bays (above the landers) can be used as temporary barracks. Each can billet 12 marines and their [[Power Armor|power armor]], for a total of 24. The EDPV wasn’t designed as a troop carrier, so the space is limited. Other cruiser model configurations can accommodate an entire brigade size element. ###### Physical Dimensions Length: 300m Width: 280m (Neck 35m) Dry Mass: ~6400t Fuel Casks: 2240t each (6 total at 13,400t) ###### Ordinance 4 - 3MW, 4m variable-reflector [[Laser Emitter|laser emitters]] 4 - [[L-PADS]] 12 - [[PACS]] with 4t of ammunition each (56t total) 160 - [[Missile|Missiles]] at 8t each (2560t total) 2 - [[Mass Driver|Mass Drivers]] with 168 slugs at 8835kg each (1484t total) Overall Mass: 24,000t (10,550t without Fuel Casks) If the [[Railgun|railgun]] is installed, it removes ~450t of equipment from the Hub drive (module and capacitors) and replaces it with a 70t weapon system. The ammunition weight is negligible. Mission parameters will dictate alternate configurations. >[!warning] Note >As much as I want this and other spacecraft to be as realistic as possible. I am quite hung up on this overall design I (partially) came up with in the 90s. Yes, this is a cross between the ship from *Starflight* and a *Klingon Bird Of Prey* (no more elephant in the room). >- The mass of this vessel, even with MH fuel, doesn’t really jive with the rocket equation for an extended duration mission profile. >- 7 crew on a ship the size of an aircraft carrier is probably silly. But it works better for narrative purposes and leans heavily on its *Starflight* inspiration. >- I might have gotten a little excited about the weights of everything, but as I was messing with math, I needed to know. So here you go. ## Diagram >[!note] >There are additional areas above and below this diagram, but they are mainly access corridors, power/utility conduits, life support machinery, coolant piping and structural components. They are not part of the normal operation of the spacecraft. > >*I failed to think about the vertical vs. horizontal layout while I was redesigning this. It kinda makes sense for the Hub Drive equipped ships, because they "hang" in low orbit, so the horizontal floor, would be the floor. If they were vertical, they would have to hang nose-outward (and have a very different center of gravity). It's also arguable that they have variable geometry rooms. In the end, I messed up (in theory), and the whole thing is based on the Intrepid/Bird Of Prey anyway (and they were originally transatmospheric) Regardless, rule of cool overrules in this case.* ![[TASCOM EDPV Layout.jpg]] Closer to my intent, but not quite (I'll relearn 3D modelling eventually). ![[EDPV-C.jpeg]] (placeholder image based on Bryce 2 render) ![[TASCOM ship (placeholder).jpeg]]