Carriers have never been a common ship class withing the United Worlds Warlock. When large numbers of space fighters are needed, often cargo ships are used to bring the fighters to where they are needed. The Dwarven Iron Ship has a large fighter compliment and could operated much like an escort carrier. Still, the United Worlds Warlock does operate a limited number of carriers. Most of these were converted from Dwarven Iron Ships. In many ways, the ships can be considered dual carriers and cruisers. Only a couple of hundred of these Light Carriers were ever converted from the four thousand Dwarven Iron Ships with about a dozen having been destroyed over the centuries which they have been in service. It is believed that there are only two operated outside of the Warlock Navies. There are some considerations given towards producing a new carrier class to be produced in large numbers. It appears like the design will be derived from the Mandrake class cruiser design.
The Arcadia class light carrier looks virtually identical to the standard Dwarven Iron Ship with riveted metal plates covering the vessel and the large square superstructure. The big change in the addition of large hangers on either side of the hull. This allows and increase in space fighters from forty-eight to one hundred and twenty-six fighters. Normal compliment is ninety-six Shadow Bolt strike fighters, twenty-four Naruni Broadsword or Fire Eater fighters, and six Black Widow II heavy fighters. The heavy fighters are often used for short range scouting although the Rift drive carried on the heavy fighter is considered unreliable by their crews. There is strong consideration being given towards replacing the Naruni fighters with Bushido Industries designs such as the Katana fighter. Power Armor compliment is also vastly increased with two hundred power armors embarked instead of the usual twenty. Because the ships are expected to make marine assaults, the ship carries eight techno-wizard teleporters. Even so, the design does not carry any heavy armor such as tanks or heavy combat robots. Crew is increased with the need to support the additional fighters and troops. As might be expected, these ships are fairly cramped due to additional embarked crew, pilots, and troops.
When converted, there was some consideration given towards removing some of the ships weaponry, especially the Rift Cannon, but it was decided in the end that all weapon system would be retained. This means that these carriers are surprisingly capable of defending themselves against attacking vessels. These ships have been upgraded over the centuries alongside the ships standard sisters. While some Dwarven Iron Ships in private hands have been virtually rebuilt, there appears to be little consideration being given to upgrading these ships much more. It is more likely that the design will simply be replaced by a new carrier design. It is unknown if the surviving light carriers will then be offered to other Navies. Still, some Warlock Navy captains have attempted to get at least the bottle demon launchers modified so they can fire normal mini-missiles as well. These missiles are considered more useful for point defense and lack the danger involved in the bottle demon missiles.
Due to the addition of the hangers, the carrier version is slightly more massive than the standard Dwarven Iron Ship at 180,000 tons. The design is strengthened to support the hangers and can take slightly more damage than an unconverted design. The ship retains the standard magical shields carried on a Dwarven Iron ship. The one weakness these ships have compared to the standard Dwarven Iron ship is that they are considered a bit sluggish and un-maneuverable compared to the ship's standard sisters and the top acceleration is slightly lower as well. Both of these problems are to be expected due to using the same engines and massing fifty percent greater with the hangers.
This starship design uses modified starship speed and ranges. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
Model Type: UW-CV20
Class: Space Cruiser / Light Carrier (techno-wizard)
Crew: 425, including a magic team of 25 techno-wizards (levels
2-6).
Troop Capacity: 60 Marines (Typically 30 stay on board for ship
defense), 175 fighter pilots, 200 Warlock Combat Armor pilots, and can
carry up to 20 passengers in addition.
Vehicles:
Power Armors & Robots:
| 120 | W-1 Warlock Combat Armors | |
| 80 | W-F1 Flying Warlock Combat Armors |
| 96 | WF-F15 Shadow Bolt Strike Ship | |
| 24 | Naruni NE-SF10 Broadsword or FB-49 Fire Eater Fighters | |
| 6 | WF-P60S Black Widow II Heavy Starfighters |
M.D.C. by Location:
| Rift Projector Cannon (One, in front): | 1,500 | |
| Flame Cannons (2, one on each side) | 900 each | |
| Medium Laser Cannon Turrets (4): | 800 each | |
| Bottled Demon Missile Batteries (4): | 600 each | |
| Particle Beam Cannon Turrets (8): | 100 each | |
| [1] Main Bridge: | 10,000 | |
| [1] Auxiliary Bridge: | 10,000 | |
| [2] Main Body: | 35,000 | |
| Hangar Bays (2): | 6,000 each | |
| [3] Magical Armor of Ithan Force Field: | 10,000 |
Notes:
[1] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon
to hit the bridge through the ships armor. This ship also has an auxiliary
bridge. Even if both bridges are taken out, the ship can still be piloted
from engineering but ship is -3 to dodge and all weapon systems will be
at local control. Weapon hits near the bridge that do not penetrate the
ships integrity can injure crew members on or near the bridge.
[2] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the Cruiser out of
commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support
and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating
wreck.
[3] This is not a variable force field, but a magical shield that must
be completely depleted. Once the shield has been knocked down, it will
cost 1000 P.P.E. and require one minute ( 4 melees) of spellcasting to
restore the force field.
Speed:
Driving on the ground: Not Possible
Water Surface: 35 knots (64.8 kph / 40.3 mph)
Underwater: 25 knots (46.3 kph / 28.8 mph)
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship
to travel up to 60 percent of the speed of light. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate
at the rate of 0.7 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 160 mph (257.5 kph),
can enter an atmosphere and can leave but is not designed for atmospheric
flight
Star Drive: Rift Jump Drive; maximum safe jump of 20 light years
every four hours (costs 4,000 P.P.E.).
Maximum Effective Range: Life support will keep crew alive for up to ten years,
as long as the P.P.E. generators are kept in working order.
Statistical Data:
Height: 80 feet (24.4 meters) main body; 160 feet (48.8 meters)
from the bottom of the main body to the top of the bridge.
Width: 120 feet (36.6 meters)
Length: 800 feet (244 meters)
Weight / Mass: 180,000 tons (163,300 metric tons)
Power System: Combination Fusion & Techno-wizardry with
20 year life span. The Carrier also has a P.P.E. generator that produces
6,000 P.P.E. per hour / 25 P.P.E. per melee (Activating the Rifts drive
costs 8,000 P.P.E) and can hold up to 20,000 P.P.E. in storage. This P.P.E.
can be used to power the Rifts Drive or can be used to power spells cast
by the vessel's crew.
Cargo: Cargo Holds can hold up to 5,000 tons of additional material.
If all the ships ammo for was taken out, amount of cargo the ship is able
to carry would increase greatly. Each enlisted crew member has a small
locker for personal items and uniforms. Ships officers have more space
for personal items. Most of the ships spaces are take up by extra ammunition,
armor, troops, weapons, engine, and other equipment.
Market Cost: The Carrier would costs 28 billion credits to construct.
The ship is no longer in production or for sale.
Weapon Systems:
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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
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