ADCN-26 Yosemite class Ammunition / Stores Vessels:
By the later half of the Twenty First Century, all new vessels being constructed by the United States Navy used nuclear power and all older vessels the Navy planned to retain for any length of time were being converted to use fusion reactors as well. Due to this, there was no longer any need for supply vessels which provided fuel. Even most aircraft used fusion based systems. The Navy still needed vessels to carry ammunition and various other supplies including food to support combat units.
It was decided that a whole new class of vessel would be built instead of trying to convert an older class. The designation of the class was ADCN for Auxiliary, Dry Cargo, Nuclear. One of the requirements for the new vessels was that the ships had a top speed in excess of thirty knots so that they could keep up with most battle groups. A second requirement was that the vessels would have the ability to carry more stores than previous classes. The third feature of the vessel is that it would integrate as many stealth features as possible. Various other features were important as well including the fact the vessel would have weapons for self defense but they were less important than the main features. Unlike previous Navy dry stores vessels, it was expected that these ships may get caught in combat zones and these ships were designed around that concept. Twenty of these vessels were produced before the coming of the Rifts. Several are known to have been destroyed when the Rifts came. Some of these were in ports known to have been destroyed while others are with battle groups that simply disappeared. Many of the other vessels were scattered in out of the way locations and very likely might have survived. Just before the coming of the Rifts, there were plans to build eight more supply ships of similar construction although they would have been about 50 feet longer to incorporate a Mk 59 VLS in the bow.
The Yosemite class is really just huge cargo vessels with special replenishment systems to enable them to resupply other vessels while at sea. The ship has the ability to carry 10,000 tons of ammunition along with 15,000 tons of other non-refrigerated cargo and 2,500 tons of refrigerated cargo. Even non-refrigerated cargo compartments are climate controlled. This is to prevent stores from spoiling or ammunition from degrading. The ships can handle all types of ordnance up to cruise missile sized but cannot reload anything larger than a medium range missile into vertical launch missile systems while underway. The United States Navy, and most navies for that matter, have always had problems loading the launchers while underway. The ship does have a heavy crane which allows the vessel to load missile cells while in port although both vessels must be tied up together. All long range missiles and cruise missiles are loading into vertical launch missile systems while the vessels are tied together either at anchor or alongside a pier.
Like the vessels they were designed to support, the Yosemite class use fusion reactors for main power. These engines produced incredible amounts of power and allowed the vessels to reach a top speed of 32 knots at full power. While not quite as fast as the latest generation of naval vessels, they were considered extremely fast for support auxiliaries. The ships were designed with variable pitch propellers for greater maneuverability and so that the vessels can change speed faster than would otherwise be possible. The hulls and superstructure were constructed from high strength alloys and composites but were constructed to civilian standards to reduce costs. Even so, any vessels that survived the coming of the rifts may still be intact if sealed. The superstructure and hull were designed to reduce the vessel's radar cross signature although it was far less efficient than that of most combat vessels at the same time. The cargo carrying equipment is designed from radar invisible materials but they are still one of the main items that reduces the vessel's stealth.
The ship was designed with four RAM missile launchers but these were replaced by four combination rail gun and short range missile launchers during construction. This gives the vessel the ability to protect itself from missiles leaking through the defenses of escort vessels. There was some consideration of mounting a system to launch medium range missiles but this was discarded due to cost and that it would cut into the ships cargo carrying capabilities. The ship does carry a reasonably capable air search radar system using a single array radar system. This same system is carried on the Cape Lobos Amphibious Vessel and the Hazard class Coast Guard vessel and is similar to systems carried on several British vessels. The ship carries towed decoys to protect against torpedoes and chaff launchers to attempt to deceive missiles.
Due to the fact that these ships are expected to get caught in combat areas and that the ships are armed, the vessels of the class were crewed by Naval Personnel instead of Merchant Marines. Also due to the fact that the ships might be called on to carry nuclear weapons, there was space set aside for carrying a compliment of marines. The policy of surface vessels not carrying nuclear warheads had been rescinded and the vessels had to equipped for the possibility. In addition, the vessel is designed with a hanger for a cargo aircraft. These are used to carry cargo to vessels the ship is supporting. Usually two Kingfisher VTOL aircraft are carried although originally nuclear converted Osprey VSTOL were used.
Model Type: ADCN-26 Yosemite Class Dry Cargo Vessel
Vehicle Type: Ocean, Auxiliary (Stores / Ammunition Vessel)
Crew: 186 (16 officers, 14 chief petty officers, 156 enlisted
[Has a high degree of automation])
Troops: 8 Kingfisher Crew members, 12 Power Armor Pilots (Flight
capable Semper Fi Power Armors), and up to 20 troops for protection of
special cargo.
Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
Power Armors:
| 8 | Semper Fi Power Armors (Has Flight Packs / Sometimes replaced by PA-04A SAMAS) |
| 2 | EV-84A General Cargo / Search and Rescue |
M.D.C. by location:
| Hanger (Aft): | 500 | |
| [1] Rear Flight Deck | 500 | |
| [2] Main Bridge / Superstructure: | 750 | |
| [3] SPX-1A Active Phased Array Radar System: | 200 | |
| Cargo / Ammo Gantries (10, 5 on each side) | 100 each | |
| Cargo / Missile Crane (1, center) | 400 | |
| Mk 44 Combination Anti-Missile Defense System (4, Sides): | 200 each | |
| Chaff Launchers (4, Superstructure): | 10 each | |
| [4] Main Body: | 4,800 |
Notes:
[1] If the flight deck is destroyed, no aircraft can be launched or
land.
[2] If Bridge / Superstructure is destroyed, the ship can still be
piloted from engineering but with a -15% to piloting rolls. Communication
and sensor equipment are not concentrated on the bridge to reduce the effectiveness
of bridge hits.
[3] Destroying the Phase Array radar panel will destroy the ship's
main fire control systems but the vessel has backup systems with a shorter
range (Equal to robot vehicle sensors)
[4] Destroying the main body causes the ship to lose structural integrity,
causing the ship to sink. There are enough life preservers and inflatable
life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship.
Speed:
Surface: 36.8 mph (32 knots/ 59.3 kph)
Maximum Effective Range: Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every
20 years and requires maintenance as well). Ship normally carries years
months of supplies on board (Most goes to other vessels it is resupplying)
Statistical Data:
Length: 755 feet (230.1 meters)
Draft: 36 feet (11.0 meters) fully loaded
Width: 105 feet (32 meters)
Displacement: 22,100 tons empty and 52,500 tons fully loaded
Cargo: 10,000 tons of ammunition, 15,000 tons of non refrigerated
dry stores, 2,500 tons of refrigerated dry stores.
Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and
uniforms. Ships officers have more space for personal items.
Power System: 4 Fusion Reactors, average life span is 20 years
Market Cost: Not for Sale but costs around 350 million credits
to construct. If found and sold on the black market would probably cost
1 to 2 billion credits.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
Special Systems:
The ship has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following
special features:
[Golden Age Weaponsmiths and Triax are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc.]
Image drawn and copyrighted by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune). & Mischa (E-Mail Mischa). Click on line drawing for a better view.
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2002 & 2003, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
