Copyright © 1997, 2001 by Terry Kuchta. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
I designed this class back in 1992, and my understanding of the game
has changed a bit since then, so it may be a bit flawed, but...
Designed by Quarry Machine Works ( QMW) of Canada, the Rimbel-class is a small, initial survey vessel that is relatively inexpensive, yet technologically, is highly advanced. Vessels may be purchased outright or financed with QMW claiming a percentage of any finds ( this helps to off-set production and R&D costs).
The vessels is comprised of several sections, which will be detailed
below. Power is provided by a new commercial MHD turbine having an
output of 5 MW, and seven days of fuel for it. Thrusters have been
fitted for atmospheric flight and reaction mass has been allocated for one
round trip at a gravity of 0.33 G ( landing on higher G worlds can be done
by using part of the 7 day MHD fuel supply).
Thruster fuel needed for various gravities:
Reaction Reaction
+ MHD Days + MHD Days
Borrowed Max G Borrowed Max G
0.00 0.33 2.00 1.32
0.25 0.44 2.25 1.47
0.50 0.55 2.50 1.62
0.75 0.67 2.75 1.77
1.00 0.79 3.00 1.94
1.25 0.92 3.25 2.11
1.50 1.05 3.50 2.29
1.75 1.18
One week of fuel can be broken down by the solar powered fuel processing plants in 16.66* days. Given the lengthy nature of surveying, this gives the Rimbel time to find a fuel source and then crack it while completing the system survey.
The stutterwarp drive is of the latest commercial technology, and can achieve the 7.7 lightyear distance limit in just under three days. When the laser is used, the power available to the drive decreases from 5 to 4 MW.
The Rimbel has an extensive sensor suite, including a deep system scanner, gravitational scanner, survey sensors, and a passive sensor array with redundant antennae capable of detection out to ten light seconds.
The offensive capability of the Rimbel-class is modest; consisting of a single UTES jack turret laser and a German LHH-637 submunition dispenser, with both interlocked to an older military issue targetting computer. Due to crew limitations ( only one fire control workstation), only one target can be engaged by either ( or both - if the arcs work out) the laser and submunition dispenser.
Defense is centered on presenting a small target, both physically and electronically. To that effect, the hull is constructed of advanced composite materials with some armoring and advanced hull masking to reduce the radiated signature.
The crew consists of a full bridge crew, a TAC of two ( sensors, and fire control), three engineering personnel, and one scientist. Accommodations for one passenger are provided. Spin habitats are not provided, but crew accommodations are expansive. Two hundred days worth of life support is provided for the crew.
Cargo capacity is limited to only 10 cubic meters, but this was deemed sufficient for an initial survey vessel.
There are currently ten Rimbel-class vessels in existence; including two purchased by the Canadian government, one operated by the Life Foundation, and seven others privately owned smaller businesses.
Streamlining: as spaceplane
Sensor Package: Navigational radar, deep system scanner,
gravitational scanner, advanced life and advanced cartographic survey sensors,
passive sensors.
Crew: 18 - 10 bridge, 3 engineering, 2 TAC, 1 scientific, 1 medical, 1 passenger
Performance Characteristics
Warp Efficiency: normal - 2.668 ( 2.644 loaded), combat - 2.477
( 2.454 loaded); Power Plant: 5 MW MHD Turbine with thruster; Fuel:
500 tons ( 7 days worth), plus 58.8 tons of reaction mass ( one round trip at 0.33G
-- higher G's require borrowing some of 7 daay MHD fuel supply); Range: 7.7;
Mass: 1088 tons ( 1118 tons loaded); Cargo Capacity: 10 m3;
Comfort: 0; Total Life Support: 18 for 200 days; Solar Arrays:
1000 m2, 16.66* days to crack 500 tons fuel; Emergency Power: 120 hours;
Ordnance: four 2x4 LHH-637 submunitions; Price: Lv27,493,000
{ * Note: Fuel production time uses GDW's magical production rates. - KevinC }
Ship Status Sheet Characteristics
Move: 5; Screens: None; Radiated Signature: 1
( 4); Radial Reflected: 4; Lateral Reflected: 5; Targetting
Computer: +1; Radial Profile: -2; Lateral Profile: -1;
Armor: 1; Hull Hits: 5/10/20; Power Plant Hits: 4/16;
Weapons: x1+1 jack turret UTES laser [ bow, port & starboard
bow quarter arcs - arcs ( 8,1,2)], LHH-637 submunition dispenser; Active
Sensors: None; Passive Sensors: 10 with redundant antennae;
Critical Hit Locations: computer, life support, drive, continuous;
TAC Hit Locations: passive operator, fire control; Bridge Hit
Locations: captain, navigator, communications, engineer, computer;
Damage Control: one party of 1; Comfort: +0; Ordnance:
four 2x4 LHH-637 submunitions
If you enjoyed this ship, go check out Terry's Foxx Industries ( a 2300 AD megacorporation) website, which has nearly a dozen more varied designs by him.