Federation Battlestar

[Deepcrush]

Well, we're building it to take on an enemy fleet by its self. And I don't know about you guys. But I fully plan on building more then one!

[Nickswitz]

I think this could certainly take on a large fleet, and even take on several on after the other. Especially with it's fighter squadrons. Now, what are the fighters going to be, I think this was touched on before, just don't remember where it was.

[Deepcrush]

I think this could certainly take on a large fleet, and even take on several on after the other.

The problem is that no matter how tough we make her. Sooner or later she'll go down. So I don't know if she'll take on several fleets. I can't even promise she'll survive one fleet depending on the size of the fleet.

Especially with it's fighter squadrons. Now, what are the fighters going to be, I think this was touched on before, just don't remember where it was.

Well, the fighters will have to be able for atmo, able to carry 6 QTs, able to use warp if only minimal, shields and pulse phasers for defense. I doubt armor will be needed, or at least in no heavy amounts.

[Reliant121]

The point of mine is this thing might as well be as powerful as a starbase, with a few engines bolted to the back (and with the inherently more aero-warpamatic bullsh*t about being streamlined, meaning it will actually work). Coupled with the support group of ships I assume the battlestar would be coupled with, this will be one hell of a force to be reckoned with.

[Deepcrush]

Well to be honest I had no real intention of putting this ship with others. Sure, it could work as part of a fleet but I had other plans in mind. This class of ship would, IMO, operate outside of the main fleets unless absolutely needed. Bringing fresh troops and supplies to the front lines. Providing support for ground combat so that we'd need far fewer troops to complete the same tasks as our enemy. Attacking behind enemy lines, such as supply bases and shipyards. Forcing the enemy to keep large detachments of ships in the rear guard or simply lose the above. This ship is the equal of two dozen Negh'var or Sov class ships in firepower. She's unmatched by anything around minus the Dominion Dreadnaught and a Borg Cube. The benefit being that all of the ships mentioned above are highly outclassed by the Battlestar in long range fire.

Now I'm not saying that she wouldn't be in fleet actions. I'm just saying that this class shouldn't be attached to a fleet full time. Rather linking up to a fleet when needed then breaking back off on its own afterwards.

[shran]

Wouldn't this ship result in a huge up scaling of size and strength? This takes ship combat to a whole new level. Take the 1906 Dreadnought. Instead of a single ship to be the champion of all it incensed an arms race on its own. All previous ships were made obsolete. Won't this happen to Starfleet should this be built?

[Deepcrush]

Wouldn't this ship result in a huge up scaling of size and strength?

Possible, but not likely. Most races will not have the resources to match SF's numbers and build a ship of this size. Also, as we have seen with DS9. No matter how powerful a station or ship, enough smaller ships will over power them at some point.

This takes ship combat to a whole new level.

No, the Dominion and Borg and Voth already build ships larger then this.

Take the 1906 Dreadnought. Instead of a single ship to be the champion of all it incensed an arms race on its own. All previous ships were made obsolete. Won't this happen to Starfleet should this be built?

This ship is a warship and warship only. The exploration arm of SF will continue to need ships both large and small for their missions. Also, as I stated above, for every large ship there will be ten little ones. The problem with having one big ship is it can only be in a single place at one time. Smaller ships in the Monitor/Destroyer/Cruiser/Battlecruiser brackets will still be needed.

[Nickswitz]

As deep got me interested in this, I may pop in once in a while and may throw up some designs that I put together sooner or later.

I actually want to design the fighters, should I make up a new thread for the fighters specifically? Deep and I discussed in detail what we would like to do for them, but since it would be a team effort I figure that everyone should have some input.

[Deepcrush]

Do it here if you want, easier to keep track of.

[Nickswitz]

Ok, well what Deep and I basically came up with was something about the size of a runabout, with micro photon torps and phaser pulses, as well as being equipped with 6 quantum torpedoes with dual launch bays for them. The Quantums would be on something similar to a gun clip. As in it would be reloaded, the reloading would be handled by the ship, not personal, it would mean more things that could go wrong but it also means it will be much quicker for reload, I was thinking of having about 30 reload slots in the launch bays of the Battlestar. The "clips" would be stored in one of two ways.

#1 is to have dual bays for reloading, one would be for taking the "clips" out, one would be putting them in, and when the unload bay was done with them they would be transfered to the reload bay.

#2 is to have them as the same bay with two sections. It would unload the clip and slide it into the unload partition, then a loaded one would be placed into the shuttle. While that was happening the unload bay would prep the unloaded "clip" (load it with the QTs), and then it would be placed into the reload bay and it would continue.

The shuttle as I mentioned before would have some secondary weapons for basic avoidance of being demolished in battle. They would all be one person shuttles with one warp "thruster" I'll call it, it would allow for something like warp 2 or so, enough to high tail it out of there, as well as having high speed impulse engines. It would have no real guidance system for the QTs. They would be slingload, making them take up much less space on the shuttle, allowing them to be full sized torps caring the full yield.

Now these are some more ideas I had.

The QTs would be armed from the ship, not on the shuttle. I don't know exactly how the arming system works, but I expect it has to take up space, therefore that will take up less space.

If anyone has any other input I will work up some design specs on this to see how everyone likes it.

Also Deep, is this about the consensus we came to?

[Deepcrush]

the reloading would be handled by the ship, not personal, it would mean more things that could go wrong but it also means it will be much quicker for reload, I was thinking of having about 30 reload slots in the launch bays of the Battlestar.

All minus this are about right. I wouldn't automate the reloading. As you said that would mean greater risk of something failing. I trust personnel more then I trust Trek safety systems. Two forklifts per fighter would work just fine. That way way one unloads then moves out of the way while the second replaces the needed ammunition.

[Nickswitz]

The problem with not automating it is that it would be much much slower. However knowing the Trek safety standards I wouldn't want it, but also knowing that I need speed with this in order to get them in and out in a few seconds each I would say that it should be automated.

Also, I was thinking of having a catapult like device for quick deployment, again more technology, but I was thinking basically the same type of device that is on an aircraft carrier, except more advanced. Except that this may be a very moot device seeing as the acceleration for these shuttles would be immensely high.

[Deepcrush]

The problem with not automating it is that it would be much much slower. However knowing the Trek safety standards I wouldn't want it, but also knowing that I need speed with this in order to get them in and out in a few seconds each I would say that it should be automated.

Thats not really true. A good lift driver will run a stock as fast as a machine will. Because its still a machine doing the job, just with a person helping it along.

Also, I was thinking of having a catapult like device for quick deployment, again more technology, but I was thinking basically the same type of device that is on an aircraft carrier, except more advanced. Except that this may be a very moot device seeing as the acceleration for these shuttles would be immensely high.

I think we agreed before you joined us that we would keep the launch tubes for the fighters.

[Graham Kennedy]

Jesus, I'd hate to see the bill for this monster.

Well you could always use cheap materials and cut some corners to save costs... what could go wrong with that?

[Deepcrush]

Jesus, I'd hate to see the bill for this monster.

Well you could always use cheap materials and cut some corners to save costs... what could go wrong with that?

Lucky for us and this being the UFP. Cost won't be such a big deal. Its time that will be the problem.