T.W. "Hornet" class Ley Line Sloop / Ocean vessel:
The "Hornet" class Ley Line Brig is based off of the third USS Hornet, an eighteen gun sail brig / sloop which fought in the War of 1812 just like the USS Constitution. The USS Hornet was originally a Brig but was rebuilt into a Sloop just before the War of 1812. The USS Hornet was the command of James Lawrence, who gave the Navy their famous motto "don't give up the ship" among a variety of other captains including James Biddle. The sloop had quite a reputation with her exploits including the capture of the Privateer Dolphin, the HMS Peacock, and the HMS Penguin. She attempted to engage the HMS Cornwallis which was a 74 gun ship. The Hornet mistakenly identified the larger vessel as a cargo vessel. However, by throwing overboard boats, guns, and other equipment she managed to build her speed up to escape unharmed. The USS Hornet sank in a gale off Tampico, Mexico on September 29, 1829 with the loss of all hands.
While the "New Ironsides" are wonderful vessels, they are fairly large and require huge crews. It was decided that a smaller ship would be developed. This would have the advantage of requiring a much smaller crew and would also be much quicker to build. Far less in the form of plans could be found for the USS Hornet and as such is less close to the original design. This is likely due to the larger frigate surviving for over two centuries and having been studied by many scholars and military historians. Still each sloop is hand crafted and mimic as closely as possible the original sloop. They are incredible works of art and require around ten months to build with a virtual army of expert craftsman with many techno-wizards also helping with the crafting of the vessels. Demand for these vessels are just as great as for the larger vessels and the builder cannot keep up with demands.
Construction techniques are surprisingly similar to the way which the original sailing sloop was constructed. The designer is a traditionalist wherever possible. In some cases, the wood which the vessel was constructed from are no longer available and substitutions are made. As well, some of the wood used is not cut but is instead created by the magic of Earth Warlocks. When the hull is completed, the ships are launched into the water and are tested to make sure that they are seaworthy. Some techno-wizards create ley line vessels and do not test to see if the ships are actually seaworthy. It is at this point that the true magic work begins on the vessel. Multiple castings of the spell "Ironwood" makes the ship incredibly tough and able to withstand modern combat. While the main purpose is to makes the ship able to survive combat, it also has the added advantage of making the ship impervious to natural rot, worms, and many of the other problems that wooden ships have had since the dawn of sailing vessels. The next step for the techno-wizards is the magic to make the ship a true Ley Line Ship. While not as large as the "New Ironside" frigates, they are still far larger than most Ley Line vessels. They are larger than the "Windjammer" frigates which while called frigates are tiny.
Once the main enchantments are completed, the internal fittings of the sloop and the ship's guns are fitted. Each cannon is forged in a mostly traditionally fashion and while being cast, they are enchanted as TK Thunderball Cannons. This is in a similar fashion to those used on the Windjammer T.W. class frigate although are quite a bit larger and are virtually identical to those carried on the "New Ironsides" class frigates. The ship carries twenty carronades of the thirty-two pound class and two long guns of the twelve pound class. The long guns are mounted in swivel mountings and can be fired either forward as chasers or be added to the sloop's broadside. The original weaponry is supplemented by a pair of T.W. converted Civil War style Gatling Cannons. These help protect the ship from smaller opponents such as power armors. The ship does have a magic energy battery although it is much smaller than the one carried on the "New Ironside" class frigates.
While the sloop does not have the raw firepower of the "New Ironsides", it still has the ability to inflict incredible damage although range is still very limited. It can destroy most patrol boats and modern frigates in a single broadside if it gets close enough. A common tactic is to use invisibility to sneak up to an opponent and then open fire with complete surprise.
The sloop, like the original, requires a large crew although far smaller than the larger techno-wizard frigate. Magical sanitary facilities and water producing have been added so the crew may have decent comforts but the quarters have been kept similar to the original ship because it was felt that the original feel was the best. The officers, specifically the captain, have more comfortable quarters. Standard is 30 marines who often use Mystic Power Armor.
Model Type: "Hornet" Ocean & Sky Ship
Vehicle Type: Ocean & Sky Sail Sloop
Crew: 132 with at least two techno-wizard, two air warlocks,
and two other spell casting types recommended but not absolutely needed.
Troops: 30 (Normal of 10 pilots for Mystic Power Armors, 20
soldiers in body armor)
Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
| 30 | Mystic Power Armors (Possible) |
M.D.C. by location:
| 12 pounder Long Guns (2, 1 each side on swivel mounts): | 100 each | |
| 32 pounder Carronades (18, 9 on each side) | 150 each | |
| TW Gatling Cannons (2, 1 each side): | 100 each | |
| [1] Foremast (Forward Mast): | 200 | |
| [1] Mainmast (Middle Mast): | 275 | |
| [1] Mizzenmast (Rear Mast): | 200 | |
| Sails (15) | 60 each | |
| Rudder: | 300 | |
| [2] Main Body: | 2,000 | |
| [3] Armor of Ithan Force Field (Three Times per Day): | 500 |
Notes:
[1] Destruction of a mast reduces ocean and ley line speed by 1/3 for
each mast lost.
[2] Destroying the main body causes the ship to lose structural integrity,
causing the ship to sink if in the water. There are enough life preservers
and inflatable life boats (one of the few items of technology added) to
accommodate everyone on the ship. The ship does have the Techno-Wizard
addition of impervious to energy. Specifics are listed in Weapon systems.
[3] Each activation lasts for 30 minutes.
Speed:
Ocean Surface: 15 knots or higher depending on the wind (approximately
17.27 miles per hour or 28 km per hour)
Ley Lines: 150 mph (240 kph). Requires the Telekinesis Spell
(double cost at 16 P.P.E.) or 20 I.S.P. to initiative take off and Telekinesis
Spell (double cost at 16 P.P.E.), Levitate Spell (double cost at 10 P.P.E.)
or 20 I.S.P. to land the ship. Otherwise, the ship will float away slowly
(2 mph) at about 100 feet (30.5 meters) off the ground. The ship can only
travel through the air along ley lines and can switch directions at ley
line nexus points.
Height: While Flying, maximum of 1000 feet (305 meters)
and minimum of 200 feet without landing
Maximum Effective Range: Effectively Unlimited. The ship carries two months worth
of supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 106 feet 9 inches (32.5 meters)
Beam: 31 feet 5 inches (9.6 meters)
Draft: 14 feet (4.3 meters)
Displacement: 480 tons
Cargo: 25 tons of nonessential equipment and supplies. Most
of the ships spaces are take up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons,
sails, and other equipment.
Power System: Magic and sails.
Market Cost: 200 million credits, there is a long waiting period
and the cost to get one will often involve many extra costs as well.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
Special Systems:
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Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc.]
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2005, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
