Republican Shipyards Type 84 No-Dachi Class Corvette



Republican Shipyards Type 84/98 No-Dachi Class Corvette Image
Republican Shipyards Type 84/8 No-Dachi Class Corvette Image

      While the budding new nation had managed to procure thirty-two Blue Sea Corp. Type 78 Kaca·yak High-Speed Patrol Boats (These are small catamaran style armed speedboats, nearly identical to the Iron Heart Armaments Black Eel Torpedo Boat produced in the modern city of Water Point.) and three domestically produced lightly armed cargo ships, locals had spoken of large warships lurking beyond the fog that enshrouds the Misty Isles that would indiscriminately attack vessels encountered anywhere near the perpetual fog bank. Thus Tamiya Nyan concluded that their new nation would require the services of heavier patrol vessels capable of sustaining heavy damage as well as dealing it to an adversary. Having fought at sea before, when he was still in the service of the Empire of Japan, he understood post-apocalyptic naval warfare on a fundamental basis. His time in North America taught him that technology could take practical knowledge and build wondrous creations to effectively use it.

      While he had seen few modern warships from more than a distance, those belonging to the Republic of Japan, he had seen many technological war machines throughout North America. Thus he conferred with the private shipyards at the southern tip of the main island among the Misty Isles and learned of their principles of construction being not so far removed from the vessels he had fought from and against in the service of the Empire, only these were made up of man made metals and weaponry that made most mystical armoring and armaments pale by comparison. Furthermore, already understanding the principles of radio, radar, optics, a basic understanding of sonar and computerized systems gave modern war machines eyes, ears, voices and knowledge that surpassed that of mere men when applied by capable soldiers. Additionally he now understood the differing values and concepts of war from those he learned in his youth in which one would loudly pronounce one's name before an unknown adversary. In a situation where one is given the duty and task to defend land or people, learning the identity, capabilities and intentions of an unknown was an absolute necessity before any sort of engagement. Thus the ideology of stealth, information gathering and strategy were equally familiar to Tamiya Nyan and as a result he saw the limitations to the known constructs capable of being produced using the pre-existing knowledges and technology of the Misty Isles.

      Through travel to Lazlo, Old Bones and the Kingdom of Desert Star to discuss modern warship technology with previously existing consultants and allies Tamiya Nyan learned of various methods to produce a superior heavy patrol vessel from its contemporaries. By the time the research was completed in 80PA he had resolved to sieze the Tla'klok Shipyards as an asset to the sovereign defense of the Misty Isles and quickly implemented new capabilities to the manufacture of superior vessels via the acquisitons of new tooling, foreign consultants and a contract for the import/domestic production of high specification equipment for the Misty Isles which was completed by July of 82PA.

      On August 12th, 83PA the keels were laid down for the first two capital class combat vessels to be produced in the Misty Isles utilizing 20th Century lessons in naval vessel construction, the technology of the Golden Age and the experience of the state-owned Shipyards to begin production of the No-Dachi Class Corvette. Unlike contemporary types produced by the "Central Powers Region", the No-Dachi Class utilizes a rigid frame of Canadium Superalloy, a double layer of geodetic framework on the outer and inner edges of the exterior skeletal structure, also made up of Canadium. The unique design principle was that it possesses a double hull, deck planking and bulkhead construction of a Golden Age developed composite called Cyaerotite. The interior hull, bulkheads and decks, made up of Cyaerotite, were bonded together with a thin layer of Canadium to prevent spalling of the Cyaerotite ceramic composite, potentially injuring crew members. The exterior hull was to be made up of a variant of Cyaerotite devised during the Golden Age for the construction of spacecraft, called Astro-Cyaerotite that incorporated layers of carbon boride and indium into the graphite/carbon-nanofiber layers which created shielding against nuclear radiation, electro-magnetic pulse and microwaves. Along the waterline, a feature adapted from the mid-20th century was a "belt" of additional armor to protect against torpedo attacks. Further features were incorporated for flood controlling in the case of hull breaches in that passageways lined the walls of the inner hull that could be sealed either locally or via bridge control. As a final touch a layer of a rubbery Polyimide, identical to the material flexible portions of some types of body armor, such as "Plastic Man", were bonded to the external surfaces of the vessel.

      The decision to use Cyaerotite Composite was a strategic measure. It improved stealth, speed and cost of repair. It also would spread damage over larger areas rather than remaining locally dependant upon the strength of mega-damage alloys. As armor it was effective in protecting against high energy impact, thwarted all forms of Armor Piercing weaponry so that it would detonate on surface layers of the composite without the ability to direct its damage into the interior of the vessel. The Polyimide Compound on the exterior of all surfaces replaced paint AND reduced the radar as well as sonar return of the vessel. The drawback to the Cyaerotite Composite armor however was that moderate damage inflicted required the use of a special epoxy to be infused into the plate to restore its structural integrity - if not outright replacement. Furthermore, the Polyimide compound was succeptible to damage that could melt or tear away sections of it which was impossible to replace below the waterline while at sea. The real drawback though was its succeptibility to damage from high explosives, concussive damage, high velocity mass impact and sonic vibrational damage - most of which its contemporaries are resistant against. Damage received over time would also prove to create complications in the interior construction of the transversal bulkheads in that it would cause stress damage to their composition. Despite the drawbacks, given that the Tla'klok Shipyards previously only produced single hull vessels with flood control features it was a huge advancement as far as ship construction among the Misty Isles.

      Propulsion was provided by the inclusion of a pair of two high-performance water jets that could operate between low velocity for "silent running" and high velocity that allows the No-Dachi Class to quickly close the distance between it and vessels entering the territorial waters of the Misty Isles and execute maneuvers such as "crash turns" and sudden low velocity turns as a result of the inclusion of vectoring ducts that can allow the vessel to slide its stern sideways even while underway, making it devilishly maneuverable and capable of even executing dodges at a minor penalty (-2 to dodge). The inclusion of anti-sonar concussion grenades as a defensive measure allows this class of vessel to erase its own sonar signature even in the face of active homing torpedoes.

      Armaments have changed dramatically from the completion of the first two vessels of this class and their two subsequent refits in the years since, but the No-Dachi Class began with 2 Royal Armory 200 mm (7.87402 in.) Heavy Gauss Cannons in single turrets of the fore and aft decks equipped with autoloading mechanisms that can allow for up to sixteen rounds per minute to be fired, 4 Automated Royal Armory 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) Anti-Missile/Aircraft/Torpedo Gattling Rail-Guns, 2 Medium-Range Missile Launcher Turrets with a payload of six, with the capability to reload from a magazine below decks via automation, 2 Compressed Air-Launched HE Depth Charge Launchers positioned at the stern also loading from a subdeck magazine, a quartet of pop-out heavy torpedo launchers below the waterline in the bow, an amidships concussion grenade launcher turret to thwart enemy sonar as well as torpedo guidance and a retractable magnesium flash and chaff cannister launcher to thwart incoming missiles guided by infrared, electro-optical or radar guidance systems.

      In terms of sensors the original Type 84 No-Dachi Class Corvette employed a radome that enclosed a High Resolution Aerial Search & Tracking Radar while relying on Short-Range Marine Rotating Radar Antennae and Radome enclosed Intermediate Range Surface Search & Fire Control Radar to keep track of surface vessels. As for sonar, the No-Dachi Class has always been well ahead of its contemporaries in the inclusion of a Sonar Imaging & Sidescan Tracking Electronic Rebound System (SISTERS) in a pronounced "dome" at the fore of its inverted bow in addition to over a hundred Aquaphone System Array, Passive (ASAP) detection panels interspaced around the hull.

      On December 10th, 84PA at 0700 hours, the 5th ship of the Misty Isles' Fleet, and first of her class, was christened the Ryujin and exited West Bay for a shake down cruise that would take her West and then North to a small port town called Avery while never exiting the mists enshrouding the Misty Isles as the start of her trial run. On December 24th, 84PA the 6th vessel of the Misty Isles' Fleet, the Gunakadeit, joined its sister ship in its shake-down cruise. During one such training maneuver, on February 12th, 85PA, the Ryujin observed Haida boats entering one of the known entry points through the veil of mist. After confirming the tribal markings, garments and structural features of their boats a vessel of the No-Dachi Class engaged in combat for the first time. She employing her forward medium-range missile launcher and both of its 200 mm heavy gauss cannon turrets by turning to port; All eight boats and their crew were eliminated in less than 15 seconds.

      After minor modifications, on April 21st, 85PA both vessels were deemed operational and made their first forrays beyond the mists, largely patroling the Northern and Western Coastal regions of the Misty Isles due to the heightened number of Haida Raids on remote settlements and small communities. Amidst their first fully operational 30 day patrol, on May 1st, 85PA a floatplane reported to each vessel, that the Misty Isles were henceforth to be referred to as the Republic of the Misty Isles, were given the Republic's Naval Standard and the crew members were sworn in as members of the Republic's Navy. In addition to this auspicious day, during their patrols they engaged in investigating foreign vessels within 46.6 mi. (75 km.) of the Mists surrounding the nation, watching over civilian watercraft, slaying large sea monsters and making the occasional assault on Haida Raiding Parties. Although specifically requested to assist during the June 12th, 85PA Blackshark Incident both the Ryujin and Gunakadeit were too far North and West to respond to the request.

      While the Blackshark Incident did not directly relate to the No-Dachi Class Corvette it served as a major point to the Republican Council that the Republic of the Misty Isles would require more of them and other, even more capable, combat vessels in the future. Meanwhile the rapid formation of aerial patrol squadrons, deploying Republican Industries Type 84 Sakura aircraft configured for patrol and light attack, were assembled and employed in twelve hour shifts to patrol the waters surrounding the Mists of the Republic. This measure was put into place to improve reaction times to infringement on territorial waters, grant preemptive strike capabilities and to detour would-be assailants. On December 20th, 85PA the third No-Dachi Class Corvette was launched from the Republican Shipyards as the Poseidon, the 7th ship in the RMI Navy. On January 2nd, 86PA the fourth No-Dachi Class Corvette joined her sisters as the Kormath, the 8th ship in the RMI Navy. By January 14th, the Poseidon embarked on her first shake-down cruise, with her sister Kormath planned to join in late February.

      Six days before the Poseidon was to return to port, February 7th, 86PA, a pair of patrol aircraft spotted a shadow of a submerged vessel skirting the Blackwater Strait on a Northbound course and confirmed the presence of a submerged vessel via aerial dropped sonar buoys. The size and shape of the shadow did not correspond with the sonar signature of the vessel but the Magnetic-Anomaly Detector drogue detected a prominent electro-magnetic signature of two to four powerful electro-magnetic turbines driving the vessel. With the Poseidon being only a few minutes from their projected path following the border of the mists, interception was a real option. The primary concern was the shape of the shadow, roughly that of an exaggeratedly thick trident, denoting a class of vessel never directly encountered by the RMI Navy but had gleaned considerable information about from freighter crews from foreign nations, as Red Trident-Class Assault Submersibles, belonging to a hostile species of aquatic D-Bees called the Naut'Yll. After consideration, the commanding officer in charge of the Poseidon, Captain Natarl Regulus gave orders for their vessel to go into silent running mode and to place itself near the path of the vessel after exiting the mists via the Pacific-Major Ley Line, North and West of their then current position. Meanwhile she corresponded with Captain Tas'sik Verlok of the Gunakadeit to approach at flank speed from the vincinity of the waters off of North Port, beyond the mists and called for the Naval Aerial Patrol Squadron at North Port to provide a sonar buoy screen and air support via air-launched short-range torpedoes near the projected interception point.

      With the sonar buoys in place and monitoring the sea via passive sonar, the Poseidon silently maneuvering nearby, the eight patrol/light attack aircraft monitoring from 10,000 ft. (3,048 m.) and the Gunakadeit churning the sea at flank speed only a few miles to the North - Lt. Regulus made her move. She sounded the attention claxon, to warn the submersible that it was in sovereign territory, a universal signal to surface and be recognized, just as the sonar buoys were put into active sonar mode giving a far more clear image of the vessel below. A peaceful resolution to the situation was dismissed immediately as several of the sonar buoys were attacked by the Red Trident-Class Assault Submarine below. Lt. Regulus howled on her bridge and ordered the vessel to attack. Eight marines went over the side of the vessel in Kamiken multi-role/multi-environment powered armor and a volley of four heavy torpedoes were fired at the Red Trident using the convergent signals of the remaining sonar buoys and the reported projected course. The Naut'Yll responded by firing a volley of torpedoes of their own at the Poseidon but these were easily spoofed by the accoustic grenades fired in their path, which in turn caused them to detonate. An energy blast struck the lower port hull of the vessel then - damaging the exterior plating but not breaching the internal plating. The patrol squadron attacked with a large sequence of short-range torpedo volleys, severely damaging the submersible, while Lt. Regulus ordered the vessel to go active, fire another volley of torpedoes and then position her depth charge launchers towards their foe. Just as those four torpedoes tore into the enemy vessel a rude surprise appeared - a second Red Trident in the shadow of the other appeared above the thermal layer and attacked the Poseidon with a volley of torpedoes and another energy blast. The energy blast tore into the external plating again but failed to breach the inner hull, while the torpedoes tore into the band of armor at the side of the vessel but failed to breach the outer hull - on the starboard side of the vessel. The Poseidon executed a crash turn, while her marines were picking off Naut'Yll attempting to escape from the first Red Trident-Class that was coming apart and sinking to the bottom - powerlessly. With her keel now barely over the bow of the new Red Trident that had appeared, a volley of 10 depth charges were launched from her stern, as she quickly passed over the enemy vessel. Many of them struck but how badly it was damaged was unconfirmed - because just then four heavy torpedoes slammed into the port side of the enemy vessel; Launched from a distance by the Gunakadeit. With the Poseidon executing another crash turn and firing her accoustic grenades to break up her own sonar signature again, the patrol/light attack aircraft coming around for another attack run, marine power armor units now picking away at weapon systems on the remaining enemy vessel and the Gunakadeit only three thousand yards (2.74 km.) away, the Naut'Yll quickly turned south, and choosing to live to fight another day dove beneath the thermal layer once more. The patrol aircraft continued to track the enemy vessel via magnetic anomaly detection drogues until it was 150 miles (241.4 km.) south of the Blackwater Strait, apparently limping home on only one electro-magnetic turbine and jettisoning unnecessary equipment.

      Not a single citizen's life was lost in a fairly significant encounter with arguably the most hostile aquatic species in the seas of RIFTS Earth. The Red Trident-Class Assault Submarine was declared the first capital class warship sunk by the RMI Navy and the first time a No-Dachi Class Corvette had fought against a capital class vessel. Since that encounter in 86PA, NO Naut'Yll vessels have been seen to approach the Misty Isles. Once the Haida raids and skirmishes turned to outright warfare, the class once again proved itself to be veritable fortresses at sea during the Haida Gwaii War between December 18th, 89PA and April 11th, 92PA - until the Makah managed to broker a peace accord between the severely depleted Haida people and the increasingly skilled and equipped Republic.

      In all, six Republican Shipyards Type 84 Corvettes were built between 84-88PA, including the RMIN 5 Ryujin, RMIN 6 Gunakadeit, RMIN 7 Poseidon, RMIN 8 Kormath, RMIN 13 Triton and RMIN 14 Khnum. All six underwent refits between 98-99PA with the removal of the aft gun turret, aft depth charge launchers and aft medium-range missile launcher turret and magazines for each. A Vertical Launch Medium-Range Missile and Medium-Range Anti-Submersible Missile Launch Battery, within the forward aft quarterdeck was installed and the far aft quarterdeck was reinforced and marked to serve as a hover-chopper landing pad. Additionally the automated six-barrel rail-guns were replaced with Republican Industries 30.02 mm (1.18 in.) Rapid Fire Medium Gauss Cannons set to explode on impact or via proximity under automated control.The final weapon modification was the refit of the foredeck gun turret with a Republican Industries Type 99 200.02 mm (7.8748 in.) Heavy Gauss Cannon, in addition to modifications to the magazine and auto-loader.

      The development of the Republican Industries Type 97 Medium-Range Anti-Submersible Missile was a feat in studying the concept of the pre-cataclysm ASROC and reproducing it using modern technology. The new anti-submersible weapon would be pre-programmed before launch and then once in the vicinity of the programmed coordinates it would jettison a cargo of a parachute dropped Short-Range Sonar Guided Torpedo before splashing down harmlessly well beyond its dropped payload. The vertical launch Medium-Range Missiles, also capable of cycling into and firing from the same launch tubes as the RI Type 97 Medium-Range Anti-Submersible Missiles, initially are guided via the on-board sensors of the No-Dachi Class Corvette and then are guided by either shipboard laser targeting or via integral radar/electro-optical sensors.

      The most significant change between the original Type 84 and the Type 84/98 No-Dachi Class Corvette however lay with its sensors. The sensor tower is replaced with an all new type capped with a Long-Range Active Phased Radar Array & Long Range Optics "Octogon" in place of the old High Resolution Aerial Search & Tracking Radar Radome. This new systems package works for both Aerial & Surface Tracking Radar over long distances in addition to offering long-range optics over a 360 degree radius.

      These measures served to lighten the No-Dachi Class Corvette by nearly 500 tons, increased speed slightly and enhanced the ASW capabilities significantly with a moderate reduction of surface combat capabilities. It also improved the class's ability to remain on station for lengthened durations thanks to the added capacity to accommodate a cargo laden Hover-Chopper. In this configuration the No-Dachi Class all but eliminated dangerous sea monsters from the waters surrounding the Misty Isles. This configuration also saw heavy combat against the four capital class fleet submersibles of Water Point Preserve during the opening stages of the Freighter War of March 104PA, two of which were destroyed with all hands aboard perishing and the other two received major damage before surrendering. The Triton and Khnum received heavy damage as a result of the battle as where the Poseidon and Kormath suffered only minor damage.

      In 108-110PA the type received an extensive refit including a revised superstructure, replacement of the single retractable magnesium flash flare and chaff cannister launcher with one on either side of the reconfigured superstructure, replacement of the accoustic sonar grenade launcher turret with a pair reconfigured retractable batteries that can fire a variety of defensive grenade types to the port or starboard side of the vessel, a revolutionary new sensor system called "Disco", which includes hundreds of powerful range finding/targeting lasers on a telescopic mount which provides an accurate view of any object that would obstruct a laser beam within 40 mi. (64.37 km.) and provide for devastatingly accurate ranged attacks, an electro-magnetic anomaly detection system with a range of 25 mi. (40.23 km.) that can detect the signature of any object concealed by the spell of Invisibility Simple or Superior, a forward aft quarterdeck hangar with modular pods for the Republican Industries Type 98 Tombo Hover-Chopper stored below accessible via a new elevator, the inclusion of a pair of turreted Republican Industries Type 88 120.02 mm (4.725 in.) Heavy Gauss Cannon on either side of the hangar, the removal of the bow medium-range missile launcher turret and the inclusion of a Vertical Mount Missile Launch System capable of accommodating either the new Republican Industries/L & N Electronics Type 9 Suzume (Sparrow) Intermediate Range Air to Surface/Surface to Air Missile OR the revolutionary new Republican Industries/L & N Electronics Type 10 Kamo (Duck) Intermediate Range Anti-Submersible Supercavitating Missile. The RI/LN Type 9 Suzume IRAS/SAM uses similar warheads to those deployed by the Coalition States, with three options for guidance - electro-optical, radar and laser. The RI/LN Type 10 Kamo IRASSCM is laser guided via sonar link until the point of impact with the surface of the water at which time it will follow its programmed course using rocket propulsion and a jet of Carbon Dioxide from just ahead of the warhead. For directional changes this missile can extend its fins and conduct minor course corrections to strike the target - provided that its target is still in its preprogrammed designated target location. Unlike its predecessor that could travel long distances and then dispense a short-range torpedo against a target the RI/LN Type 10 Kamo flies almost directly over its target and dives into the water traveling at speeds approaching 400 mph (643.7 kmph.) and is typically outfitted with a High Explosive or Armor Piercing warhead of identical yield to it's Suzume cousin. The only drawback to the second stage of the Type 10 Kamo is that once it splashes down it cannot change course due to its supercavitation preventing the use of optics and the air bubble surrounding the projectile.

      As where the Type 84/98 No-Dachi Class Corvette was lightened significantly by her refit and enjoyed a higher maximum speed as a result the refit that led to the Type 84/8 No-Dachi Class Corvette made the vessel heavier than ever and thus reduced her maximum speed - with the benefit of added accuracy, more deadly submarine warfare capabilities as well as enhancing her surface combat capabilities by a significant margin between new sensor systems and the addition of the middle aft quarterdeck turrets.

      Athough the No-Dachi Class has served the Republic of the Misty Isles diligently for nearly 30 years the reliance on torpedoes, depth charges and later missiles to combat submarine threats has been a severe limitation for the type throughout her career. The type is slated to begin phase-out by 114PA and end its career entirely in 118PA, with the current design of a submersible patrol corvette currently under evaluation for the designation Odachi-Class. It is quite likely that a few of the retired No-Dachi Class Corvettes will receive new reactor cores and see the removal of some systems before sale to one of the Republic's allies such as Water Point, Ft. Monty or New Hope. It is very likely that the Triton and Khnum will be scrapped due to residual weakness detected in their structure as a result of damage suffered to frames and the transversal bulkheads during the Freighter War. Thankfully for the Republic of the Misty Isles, the inherant weakness of having Cyaerotite bulkheads was learned before the construction of other capital class vessels.

      * These targets are difficult to hit requiring a successful aimed strike at a penalty of -3.

      ** These targets are especially difficult to hit, due to their small size, requiring a successful aimed strike at a penalty of -5.

      *** The destruction of one of the Ventral Electromagnetic Turbines reduces the speed by 75%. Destruction of these, a thrust vectoring nozzle or rudder eliminates the vessel's capability to dodge and makes maneuvering difficult for even an experienced Helmsman resulting in a -25% piloting roll per location destroyed.

      **** Depleting the M.D.C. of the Main Body will destroy the structural integrity of the vessel, causing it to sink. Up to six hull breaches below the waterline at port, starboard, bow or stern sectors will result in localized flooding. Due to flood control measures, provided the hull breaches do not exceed six breaches over more than 3 of 6 sections of the hull either fore or aft, the vessel can remain afloat but traveling through the lower decks may become difficult. If the number 5 compartment is breached through its armor belt, outer hull, inner hull and passageway hall - one of the two Ventral Electromagnetic Turbines will shut down. If the number 4 compartment is breached, in the same capacity, one of the two primary reactors will execute an emergency shut down while power is channeled from the opposite side to the still functioning turbine in the number 5 compartment. Hull breaches below the waterline, in the number 2 compartment, near the bow/pop out heavy torpedo launchers will knock out the active sonar array and MAY (01-25% chance) cause secondary explosions among the torpedo magazine, inflicting 3D6 M.D. per torpedo in storage. The Heavy Gauss Cannon munitions stored in their respective magazines are both armed electronically and are initially fired by a solid propellant that is triggered during the HGC firing sequence. The Suzume & Kamo missiles use a similar electronically ignited propellant. Thus secondary explosions from these magazines are extremely unlikely - but are possible if the damage is inflicted by an Ion, Plasma or Lightning attack. (Note that the power armor operatives assigned to the No-Dachi Class Corvettes are trained as Military Armorers and to affix emergency patches under combat conditions.)