From: x90vanderkol@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.mecha
Subject: Re: BIG Naval Ships... Why not!?
Date: 26 Dec 92 14:28:45 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

In article <Bzuxro.F9u@newsflash.concordia.ca>, kgnome@cs.concordia.ca (MATIS stephane) writes:
> Does anyone have any good arguments as to why it is impossible to design
> a modern day (or even WWII vintage) naval vessel.  I mean something big
> enough to scare the bejebbers out of an Overlord-class dropship.
> 16-inch naval guns and all (hmmm.... lots of NACs, Arrow IVs, Naval
> Energy Guns, Naval Missiles and all that).  I think reducing the range
> of the direct fire weapons in the same way that aerotech weapons are
> reduced into battletech terms would make the naval guns acceptable as
> REAL cannons.  A bunch of Anti-Missile-Systems could simulate Phalanx
> like defence guns.  Arrow IV would be SSMs and SAMs.  The big naval
> missiles would be cruise missiles and ICBMs.  Flight decks could be
> added to make carriers (assign tonnage for aircraft/aerospace craft).
> Vessels this big could replace dropships for carrying large bulky things
> around so long as no rush exists.  A 10,000 ton mech carrying ocean
> vessel is definately plausible for lugging mech's between continents in
> peacetime (dropships being so rare and all... needed at the fronts you
> know).  These vessels would be comparable in size to space based
> warships but would cost far less.  Then again, who's going to use their
> own battleship to do a Turtle Bay manuever on their own planet?  These
> vessels would obviously be planet bound but they would make effective
> weapon's platforms.  And imagine how nervous a successful invader would
> feel knowing that somewhere out in the oceans of his newly conquered
> world are hiding a dozen or so Typhoon-class submarine equivalents.  An
> invading commander would not have the time or resources to conduct an
> effective search for them and a force like that would be capable of
> pulling off a devastating surprise attack (as would real submarines).
> And a Nimitz like carrier with 100 convential fighters would provide a
> very strong air support for a defender (I wouldn't bring my Union-class
> drop ship anywhere near it!).
> 
> I don't think large naval craft would be very common since most planets
> are controled by a single government (no on-planet rivalries to spur the
> creation of navies) but they would make nice trump cards to make an
> invader's life ever so much more interesting. ;)
> 
> Suggestions?  Ideas?
> 
> Gene Marcil
> 
> I'm a man with a mission.
> I just wish I knew what it was.
> 

	This is a cool idea, you can take it along the lines of system defense
boats (ala Traveler). Not only to mention that you would have a completely
mobile base. Think about it, when radiers hit the planet teh will have to find
you carrier, and then deal with it. Typhoon size subs carring a lance or two?
Naval vessles can go up to 300 tons. That would be large enough to carry a
large amount of supplies that are hidden until you need them.
	With all this talk about Naval ship has peaked my interest, when is
BATTLESPACE comming out? Will it also have design rules for dropships and
Combat Jumpships? 


John VanDerKolk

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