> > Neat idea! > > > > How about a waterborn (possibly submersible for additional stealth and > > storm protection) version of this to make it easier to give more > > world-wide coverage of water rich planets? > > Yes and no. As described, this one is for a world somewhere between Mars > and Luna, or perhaps slightly more atmosphere. Note the life support.
I posted this on a JTAS discussion board: I have thought a bit about the chance of submarines (or submerged System Defense Boats) against orbiting starships. My thoughts are still incomplete, but perhaps you have something to add ... * Meson guns can hit a submerged target just as easily as any other target within range. X-ray lasers will have a substantially reduced range, but a low orbit is not all that far by space combat standards. Traveller missiles are actually Vehicles, so the rules for missile fire in VE don't count. * Radscanners with a halfway decent range can detect subs, but they are not targeting-capable sensors (i.e. they detect the approximate bearing, not exact positions). A submarine with radical emission cloaking might have a signature of -6, and LEO is a speed/range of -30. Take a Heavy Radscanner with a scan rating of 42, and a halfway decent operator, and the approximate position becomes clear ... * As far as targeting goes, ladar seems to be the best bet. Any AESA can function as a ladar, at -2 to scan. Scanning through a body of water gives another -8 (p. VE171) and Starships lists the vacuum ranges (another -6). Since TL10 deceptive jammers function against ladar, the sub might have a signature around -18. On the plus side, the radscanner is a prior contact for +4. But combined with the -30 for range, not even the UHv. AESA has a chance. Things look quite different with TL9 sensors vs. TL9 submarines since jammers are out of the game. * Densitometers are worthless because they scan only one cubic yard per seconds. Odds against successful contact are astronomical. Summarized, a starship will know roughly were subs or SDBs are hiding, and it could hit them if it knew exactly where they are, but it cannot get this kind of exact data. That means a sub or SDB with accurate targeting data from passive surface sensors can engage starships without fear of retaliation ... until the invader drops hunter subs to take the fight to the oceans. At TL10, sonar has a maximum nominal range of 200 miles and hence scan 25. Unfortunately, VXi25 has Extreme Sound Baffling at -24. ... best hope for an accidental ramming. _______________________________________________ GurpsNet-L mailing list <[email protected]> http://mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l
