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DCS Mikasa (Ultimate Edition)
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master arminas
Clan Goliath Scorpion
Star Colonel
Star Colonel


Joined: 07-Mar-2007 16:14
Posts: 718
Location: United States
PostPosted: 22-Apr-2009 15:46    Post subject: DCS Mikasa (Ultimate Edition) Reply to topic Reply with quote

Good afternoon, everyone. Some of you--many of you--have commented upon and provided some feedback on my Draconis ships for the Age of War and early Star League era. Having implemented many of your suggestions and reworked the ships themselves, I give unto you the Ultimate edition of the Mikasa class. The final edition, at least. I hope that you enjoy her as much as I have while working on her. So without any further ado, ladies and gentlemen may I present to you DCS Mikasa and her sisters. Enjoy.

Arminas tar Valantil
Grand Master of the Ebon Rose

Code:
                    AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
                                  VALIDATED

Class/Model/Name:  Mikasa (Battleship)
Tech:              Inner Sphere / 2351
Vessel Type:       WarShip
Rules:             Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set:         AeroTech2

Mass:              1,000,000 tons
K-F Drive System:  (Unknown)
Length:            905 meters
Sail Diameter:     1,206 meters
Power Plant:       Standard
Safe Thrust:       3
Maximum Thrust:    5
Armor Type:        Improved Ferro-aluminum
Armament:         
   58 Medium NPPC
   13 NAC/20
   48 LRM 20
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
At the dawn of the Age of War, House Kurita stood poised to absorb its
neighbors.  Standing in their way, however, was the Terran Hegemony.  By the
first half of the 24th Century, the Terran Hegemony had several dozen
Dreadnought and Monsoon class Battleships in commission--the Draconis Combine
had none.  Unwilling to let the Hegemony outclass it with such a visible
display of power, the Coordinator directed the Draconis Combine Admiralty
(DCA) to build him a fleet which would awe the Terrans into their place.

But problems with the design of the K/F Drive Core--never an easy
task--plagued the project from the very beginning.  At first, determined to
match the size of the Monsoon, the DCA tried to plan for a ship equal in mass.
 They could not produce a stable core, however.  Eventually, the ISF (Internal
Security Force) gained the complete schematics and plans for the Drive Core of
Hegemony Dreadnought class Battleship.  Though lighter by over three hundred
thousand tons than the Monsoon, the DCA was forced to copy the Dreadnought
core exactly.  Kurita engineers were unable to build a core larger than that
of what would become the Mikasa class until 2504, when DCS Musashi was
commissioned into service.

From 2351, when DCS Mikasa was commissioned in great ceremony at New Samarkand
to the dark days of the 2nd Succession War, the Mikasa class would serve the
Coordinator and the Combine with glory and honor.  Eventually, sixteen ships
of this class would be built, but the goal of awing the Terrans into
submission was never accomplished.  Despite the excellent new ships the
Combine was building, its economy simply could not sustain a prolonged naval
arms race with the rich and populous worlds of the Terran Hegemony.

Perhaps because of this, the Combine refused to scrap its older ships.
Instead, these vessels were often refitted and overhauled and restored to
pristine conditions.  The Mikasa class was a prime example of this, serving
the Coordinator for more than five centuries before being destroyed in the 2nd
Succession War, the last surviving Kurita Battleship in service.

==Capabilities:==
The million-ton Mikasa class proved to be one of the most maneuverable
WarShips of its day, capable of generating a maximum thrust of 2.5-g's.  This
gave the new Combine ships an edge over the then standard Dreadnoughts and
Monsoons of the Hegemony, although that advantage was to quickly disappear
with the introduction of the Farragut, Texas, and McKenna over the new few
centuries.  Immense fuel bunkers gave the new ship excellent legs, while
50,000 tons of spare parts and a year's worth of life support, food, and water
for the 900 crew, marines, and passengers allowed the Mikasa class the ability
to conduct long operations with minimal need for resupply.  An additional
53,473 tons of open cargo volume was small when compared to contemporary
Hegemony ships, but more than ample for the DCA, which was used to making do
with less.

Six docking collars allowed the Mikasa class to transport a wide variety of
support vessels-from 'Mech or fighter carriers, to troop transports, to
assault ships, to a variety of cargo vessels and personnel transports.
Thirty-six aerospace fighters and six small craft were also carried, in two
hangers, giving the Mikasa a solid strike force and combat air patrol.  Able
to launch her entire fighter complement in less than four minutes, these
fighters (typically two squadrons of Sabres or Sholagars, two of Shilones, and
two of Slayers) were more than able to provide the Mikasa class with a
'bubble' of protection from enemy aerospace assets.

Nearly 1,600 tons of Improved Ferro-Aluminum armor provided more than ample
protection for the ship from hostile fire.  This heavy armor gave the Mikasa
class a reputation for a rugged ability to sustain damage that would savage
many lesser ships.

The main firepower of the Mikasa class was concentrated along her flanks.
Each of the fore-quarters, broadsides, and aft-quarters firing arcs mounted an
identical arrangement of weapons.  A two-gun battery of NAC-20 Naval
Autocannon with 50 shots each formed the single heaviest guns, but these were
not the main batteries of the ship.  That role was given to the two four-gun
batteries of Medium Naval PPCs that formed the heart and soul of the ship.
With a maximum effective range of 900 kilometers, and only slightly less
damaging than the heavy NACs, the quad Naval PPC batteries were perhaps the
single most telling feature of the Mikasa and her sister ships.  An
anti-fighter battery of six LRM-20 launchers with 300 missile salvoes was also
provided to each bay arc.

Both the fore and aft firing arcs mounted a single five-gun battery of Medium
Naval PPCs and a six-launcher battery of LRM-20s.  The naval designers and
engineers had wanted to provide these ships with a point defense battery as
well, but space and fire-control limitations prevented them from doing so.  In
addition, the nose mounted a thirteenth NAC-20, giving slightly more punch to
the forward firing arc of the ship.

Eight ships of this class were outfitted to serve as Flagships, each of which
sacrificed 500 tons of cargo space and one docking collar to mount a Flag
Bridge.  Manned by 14 officers and 36 other ranks--assigned to quarters
normally given to passengers--this bridge could not only coordinate friendly
units, but serve as a secondary bridge in the event the main ships bridge was
rendered unusable.  DCS Fuji, DCS Fuso, DCS Mikasa, DCS Mutso, DCS Nagato, DCS
Sagami, DCS Satsuma, and DCS Settsu were so equipped.

DCS Mikasa was also the Flagship of the entire Combine Fleet, serving as such
until she died in the 2nd Succession War, the last surviving Kurita Battleship
in service.  Despite her age, and her small size, she remained the heart and
soul of the Kurita Fleet until the very last.

==Variants:==
When the Mikasa first entered the Fleet, she was outfitted with 1,594 tons of
standard armor plating.  Beginning in 2590, she and her sister ships were
refitted with Improved Ferro-Aluminum, the overhauls being completed by 2620.
The original Block I version of the Mikasa was not outfitted with the Medium
Naval PPCs shown below, as those weapons were not at the time produced in the
Combine.  Instead, 116 NL-45 Naval Lasers were mounted.  The nose and stern
each featured a ten-gun NL-45 battery, while the fore-quarters, aft-quarters,
and broadsides featured two eight-gun batteries.  Cargo capacity was slightly
lower to allow the installation of sufficient heat sinks.  In addition, the
LRM launchers were not fitted to the original design for anti-fighter work.

In 3067, following the cancellation of the Yamato project, Coordinator
Theodore Kurita asked the DCA to provide a viable alternative that would still
give the Dragon access to a powerful warship.  Six months later, the team
presented him with a detailed proposal for a 'space-control ship' based upon
the ancient Mikasa.  Returning to the original layout of the Mikasa as she
first launched in 2351, the naval architects added the 'dual-purpose'
soft-ware recently developed to the onboard fire control system of the naval
lasers.  Combined with weapon mounts that allowed the lasers to track targets
for greater distances and in shorter periods of time, this upgrade would
provide the Combine with a battleship whose main guns could be set for
'anti-fighter' mode.  Hull armor was to be replaced with almost 1,600 tons of
ferro-carbide (since lamellar ferro-carbide was at that time in extremely
short supply) and the heat sinks were intended to be replaced with double
strength units.

Despite losing mass to the fire control systems, and having to sacrifice the
LRM launchers, this 'Mikasa II' project was approved in early 3068.  However,
delay after delay postponed the keel-laying.  It was 3071 before the first
frames were laid down at the Kure Naval Yards orbiting Luthien.
Unfortunately, the ship was at least six years from completion when the Jihad
erupted and the yards laid to waste.  None of the four ships under
construction survived the nuclear strikes on the naval construction
facilities.

==Notable Vessels & Crews:==
DCS Mikasa
DCS Aki
DCS Asahi
DCS Azuma
DCS Fuji
DCS Fuso
DCS Hatsuse
DCS Iki
DCS Mutso
DCS Nagato
DCS Sagami
DCS Satsuma
DCS Settsu
DCS Shikishima
DCS Yamashiro
DCS Yashima

==Deployment==
Tactically, the Mikasa class Battleships would deploy in Battle Divisions of
two Mikasas and a pair of escorts, typically destroyers.  One of the Mikasa
class ships would be equipped as a flagship, serving as the lead vessel of the
Division.  Four such Divisions would form a Battle Squadron in the DCA.
Unlike most of the Great Houses, but similar to the Hegemony and later SLDF,
House Kurita only seldom deployed its battleships as individuals or even as
divisions.  They were much more likely to deploy a full squadron--or at the
very least a half-squadron--to deal with any situations that may arise.

By the latter half of the 25th Century, the DCA had sixteen Mikasa class ships
and two complete Battle Squadrons under its command.  During the Reunification
Wars, these ships were never seriously challenged by either the Rim Worlds
Republic or the Outworlds Alliance.  Many senior DCA officers cursed the luck
that gave the hardest fought battles to the Star League and Davion forces
instead of them.  Had the Coordinator permitted it, the DCA and DCMS would
have leaped at the chance to fight the Taurians.  Despite the lack of any
major battles, the DCA learned its lessons from the Wars of the 26th Century
though the use of observers in the Taurian Campaign.  They relearned just how
vital logistics were against even a small enemy and just how powerful a
fanatical defense could be.

Those lessons were absorbed by the DCA and came full circle when the
Succession Wars erupted into full fury after the Exodus of the SLDF.  Because
of those lessons, the DCA and DCMS drove into the heart of the Federated Suns
and very nearly destroyed one of their most bitter foes.  Only the incident at
Kentares IV prevented the House of Kurita from taking its rightful place as
the leader of the Inner Sphere.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name:  Mikasa (Battleship)
Mass:              1,000,000 tons

Equipment:                                                            Mass 
Power Plant, Drive & Control:                                      180,000.00
Thrust:  Safe Thrust: 3
      Maximum Thrust: 5
Kearny-Fuchida Hyperdrive:  Compact (Integrity = 20)               452,500.00
Jump Sail (Detachable): (Integrity = 5)                                 80.00
Structural Integrity: 80                                            80,000.00
Total Heat Sinks:    8,898 Single                                    8,253.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps:                                                  14,688.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters:              2,500.00
Fire Control Computers:                                                   .00
Food & Water:  (360 days supply)                                     1,620.00
Armor Type:  Improved Ferro-aluminum  (1,007 total armor pts)        1,598.00
                           Capital Scale Armor Pts
   Location:                            L / R
   Fore:                                168
   Fore-Left/Right:                  168/168
   Aft-Left/Right:                   168/168
   Aft:                                 167

Cargo:
   Bay 1:  Fighters (24) with 3 doors                                3,600.00
           Small Craft (4)                                             800.00
   Bay 2:  Fighters (12) with 3 doors                                1,800.00
           Small Craft (2)                                             400.00
   Bay 3:  Cargo (1) with 2 doors                                   50,891.00

DropShip Capacity:  6 Docking Hardpoints                             6,000.00
Grav Decks #1 - 2:  (105-meter diameter)                               200.00
Grav Decks #3 - 4:  (85-meter diameter)                                100.00
Escape Pods:  150 (7 tons each)                                      1,050.00

Crew and Passengers:
     56 Officers (56 minimum)                                          560.00
    189 Crew (189 minimum)                                           1,323.00
     79 Gunners (79 minimum)                                           553.00
     40 1st Class Passengers                                           400.00
     80 2nd Class Passengers                                           560.00
    102 Steerage Passengers                                            510.00
    252 Marines                                                      1,260.00
    102 Bay Personnel                                                     .00
Weapons and Equipment      Loc        SRV    MRV    LRV    ERV  Heat    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Medium NPPC              Nose        45     45     45     45  675  9,000.00
1 NAC/20(50 rounds)        Nose        20     20     20     --   60  2,520.00
6 LRM 20(300 rounds)       Nose     7(72)  7(72)  7(72)     --   36    110.00
4 Medium NPPC              FL/R        36     36     36     36 1080 14,400.00
4 Medium NPPC              FL/R        36     36     36     36 1080 14,400.00
2 NAC/20(100 rounds)       FL/R        40     40     40     --  240 10,080.00
6 LRM 20(300 rounds)       FL/R     7(72)  7(72)  7(72)     --   72    220.00
4 Medium NPPC              L/RBS       36     36     36     36 1080 14,400.00
4 Medium NPPC              L/RBS       36     36     36     36 1080 14,400.00
2 NAC/20(100 rounds)       L/RBS       40     40     40     --  240 10,080.00
6 LRM 20(300 rounds)       L/RBS    7(72)  7(72)  7(72)     --   72    220.00
4 Medium NPPC              AL/R        36     36     36     36 1080 14,400.00
4 Medium NPPC              AL/R        36     36     36     36 1080 14,400.00
2 NAC/20(100 rounds)       AL/R        40     40     40     --  240 10,080.00
6 LRM 20(300 rounds)       AL/R     7(72)  7(72)  7(72)     --   72    220.00
5 Medium NPPC              Aft         45     45     45     45  675  9,000.00
6 LRM 20(300 rounds)       Aft      7(72)  7(72)  7(72)     --   36    110.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (5.00%)                                           50,000.00
1 Bay Personnel Quarters                                               714.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                            Heat: 8,898   1,000,000.00
Tons Left:                                                                .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        7,505,235,200 C-Bills
Battle Value:      181,559
Cost per BV:       41,337.72
Weapon Value:      85,693 (Ratio = .47)
Damage Factors:    SRV = 7,696;  MRV = 7,584;  LRV = 5,808;  ERV = 2,233
Maintenance:       Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 672,003
                   (95,607 Structure, 270,250 Life Support, 306,146 Weapons)
                   Support Points (SP) = 374,984  (56% of MPV)
BattleForce2:      Not applicable



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[Last edited by master arminas on 11-Jun-2012 22:08; edited 2 times in total]
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Draconis Combine
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PostPosted: 28-Apr-2009 15:26    Post subject: DCS Mikasa (Ultimate Edition) Reply to topic Reply with quote

Excellent reading and ship. No more is needed to say about this.
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