The following material is an adaptation of a starship design from the Japanese TV series MACROSS. Please feel free to use, copy, and distribute it as you see fit. All I ask is that you give proper credit to me and do not claim that it is your own work. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

GLADIATOR CLASS SPACE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT TRANSPORT

RPG Stats by Kamikazi GM (Retired) 
Layout Style Adapted from DAVE DEITRICH([email protected])
Background info provided by COMBAT FLEETS OF THE WORLD 86/87 and THE USMC 13th MEU HOMEPAGE

BACKGROUND

After Space War 1, the New Unity government began establishing colonies both nearby and far abroad to ensure that mankind would not become extinct by the fall of Earth. As human colonies spread among the stars, the UN Spacy went along to provide security and defense against rouge Zentraedi and Meltrandi fleets, Anti-UN Rebels, and any other unknown threats. The most visible elements of the UN Spacy were the variable fighters and massive fleets of warships. Huge Destroids were also famous for their massive size and destructive capabilities. But is was the simple ground troops that provided the day-to-day security and protection for all the colonies. As the UN Spacy rebuilt its shattered fleet, they required a variety of ships for many roles. One of these missions was the transport of UN Spacy Marines from planet to planet, star system to star system. Dubbed the Gladiator class, a total of fourteen ships were planned. Because of budgetary reasons, only six of these were completed. 

The design of the Gladiator class was based on both the refitted ARMD platforms and the the Daedalus II class assault cruiser. The layout of the primary and secondary engines and their associated engine rooms is identical to those classes of ships. The ships are of similar size to the Daedalus II class and are nearly 600 meters long. All this room would allow the Gladiator class to carry a substantial airwing of variable fighters and support craft; however, the ship was designed as a troop transport. The transport does carry a few squadrons for planetary assault and defense, but it's primary purpose is to carry and support 1800 marines and their equipment. 

In the early 2020's, the Marines had stretched out beyond what the six Gladiators could handle. The Spacy, not wanting to invest money creating an entirely new class of ships or build additional Gladiators, opted to refit 5 of the older ARMD platforms for Amphibious Assault use. In 2025, the first 5 ships, the Tarawa, Saipan, Belleau Wood, Nassau, and Peleliu, were commissioned from the old ARMDs 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8. The upgrades included the addition of several cargo areas, reinforced hull, and fold drive system. These 11 ships served well as effective peacekeepers for various colonies, until 2030 when a slew of new technology was introduced to the UN. The IFV, VF-11, and Mobile Infantry were all adopted as part of the Marines and required new systems to be installed into the LSTSs. Rather than refit the Gladiators, the UN Spacy decided to rebuilt the first five Tarawa class Amphibious Assault Platforms (LPA) and run a new second generation of LPAs. The Gladiator class was retired as the newer LPAs were commissioned. 

As the amphibious fleet grew, the UN Spacy realized that an effective command and control system was needed to coordinate all of the fleet's movements and objectives. The Gladiator class found a new lease on life and were converted to Amphibious Command ships beginning in 2033. Two of the class were destroyed during the retaking of Eden in 2048. The UNS Avenger accompanied the Megaroad 08 colony fleet in 2017 to help provide defense for the fleet after the lose of the Megaroad 01. The remaining ships of the class continue to serve as command ships for the UN Spacy Marines along side of the Mount Mitchell Amphibious Command Carriers (LCC)

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: Amphibious Assault Transport
Government: United Nations Government
Manufacturer: OTEC & UN Spacy
Crew:
Amphibious Assault Transport - 2580
Officers: 86
Crew: 694
Marines: 1800
Pilots: 140
Infantry: 1300
Other Personnel: 360
Amphibious Command Ship - 2080
Officers: 86
Crew: 694
Marines: 1300
Pilots: 140
Command Personnel: 830
Other Personnel: 330

Ships of Class:

MDC BY LOCATION: 

(1) Main Body                                                    12,000
(2) Main Engines (2)                                              2,000 each
(2) Auxiliary Engines (6)  					  1,000 each
(3) Bridge                                                        1,000
(3) Communications & Sensor Antennae (6)                            400 each
    Vectoring Thrusters (12) 					    150 each
    Guided Converging Beam Cannons (4)                              300 each
    Missile Launchers (6)    			                    250 each
    Point Defense Laser (30)                                        100 each 
    Airlocks/Access Hatches (40)                                    200 each
    Armored outer hull (per 40ft area)                              300
    Interior walls (per 20ft area)                                   20

NOTES:

  1. Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the transport out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The carrier will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
  2. Depleting the MDC of the main engines will force the ship to rely on its secondary engines. Depleting the MDC of the main engines AND secondary engines will leave the ship adrift in space.
  3. Destroying the bridge will instantly kill the command staff and deprive the ship of all forms of long range communications, radar and targeting. The range and targeting capabilities of the secondary systems are equal to that of a VF-1 Valkyrie. The ship can still operate, but is at -3 on initiative, -3 to strike, and number of attacks per melee of the weapon systems are reduced by half. Destroying the main sensory arrays will have the same effect, but the command staff will not be killed.

SPEEDS:

Speed (Sublight): 0.20 speed of light (37,200 miles per second)
Speed (Auxiliary Drives): Mach 2.0
Speed (Space Fold): Range Unlimited (1 light year every 6 minutes)
Space bound:
Can land and take off if necessary but not designed to maneuver in an atmosphere for extended periods of time.
Maximum Range: Unlimited (estimated life span unknown)

STATISTICAL DATA:

Length: 593 m
Width: 234.77m (maximum cross section)
Weight: 212,000 tons
Fold System: OTEC/Shinnakasu/General Galaxy Fold Cluster
Sublight Drive:
Shinsei Industries/Agar Heat Pile System
Gravity Control System: Overtechnology Advanced Gravity Control System
Main Engine: OTEC/General Galaxy Heat Pile System
Auxiliary Engine:
UN Spacy Rocket Motor Cluster x2, retro rockets x6, numerous vernier engines
Sensor System: Overtechnology Advanced Tracking Cluster
 

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

    1. FORWARD BEAM CANNONS (4): The two projections on either side of the Gladiator's bridge house a pair of beam cannons. Fixed towards the ship's forward fire arc, the weapons are meant for long-ranged combat only, in where they can deliver a devastating punch to any target. They are primarily used for orbital support of Marines on the ground.

      • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault

      • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-warship

      • RANGE: 100 miles (160 km).

      • DAMAGE: 2D6x100 M.D. or 4D6x100 M.D. if all four cannons fire simultaneously at a single target.

      • RATE OF FIRE: Each beam cannon may fire up to five times per melee.

      • PAYLOAD: Unlimited

       

    2. MISSILE LAUNCHERS (6): Six missile launchers are positioned on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the Gladiator, behind armored hatches. The launchers can use a variety of medium-ranged missiles that can track and lock onto both small and large targets with ease. Each launcher has a 360 degree arc of fire in the direction they are mounted, and can fire massive volleys of missiles.

      • PRIMARY PURPOSE:Anti-mecha

      • MISSILE TYPE: Any UN Spacy Medium-ranged missile may be used, EXCEPT the new High maneuverability medium-ranged missiles.

      • RANGE: Typically 80 miles (108 km)

      • DAMAGE:Typically 2D6x10 M.D..

      • RATE OF FIRE:Each missile launcher may fire volleys of 1 to 8 missiles, twice per melee

      • PAYLOAD: Effectively Unlimited

       

    3. POINT DEFENSE LASERS (30): Defensive laser cannons are mounted in a ring around the ship's horizontal center axis (equator). Each laser is auto-tracking, and can lock onto individual targets. While nowhere near powerful enough to destroy larger capital ships, the small lasers can lay down a wall of supporting fire around the Gladiator to fend off mecha and small fighter craft.

      • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Ship Defense

      • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha

      • RANGE: 6 miles (9.6 km) in an atmosphere. Double in space.

      • DAMAGE: 1D6x10 M.D.

      • RATE OF FIRE: Each laser cannon may fire up to two times per melee

      • PAYLOAD: Unlimited

SYSTEMS OF NOTE:

MECHA COMPLEMENT (Amphibious Assault Transport): 

MECHA COMPLEMENT (Amphibious Command Ship)

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