Example Ships - Gravitational Survey

In January 2036, President Vorokov authorised a new program of larger, jump-capable survey ships, starting with the Galileo class Gravitational Survey Ship. Using the US-designed Lockheed JD4000 Jump Drive and European-designed E90 Nuclear Pulse Engines, mounting three survey sensors and carrying extensive stocks of fuel and maintenance supplies, the Galileo was capable of sustained independent operations. The first of an eventual four Galileos was built in the Olympia Shipyard on Sparta and

Galileo class Gravsurvey Ship    4000 tons     388 Crew     672.4 BP      TCS 80  TH 240  EM 0
3000 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 1-22     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/3/0     Damage Control Rating 3     PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 42%    IFR: 0.6%    Maintenance Capacity 315 MSP    Max Repair 100 MSP

Lockheed JD4000 Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 4000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
E90 Nuclear Pulse Engine (6)    Power 40    Efficiency 0.90    Signature 40    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 300,000 Litres    Range 150.0 billion km   (578 days at full power)

Gravitational Survey Sensors (3)   3 Survey Points

The results of a wide-ranging six-month Commonwealth ship design review were published in April 2048. One of the reccomendations of that review was the Magellan class Survey Cruiser.Twice the size of the existing Galileo class Gravsurvey Ship, the Magellan was intended for long-range stealthy operations and was an extremely capable multi-role scout. The thermal emissions of its specialised engines were reduced by fifty percent, making the ship considerably harder to detect on passive sensors. It had the same SGS-3 Area Search Sensor as the Athena class Battlestar, allowing it to detect ships at up to a hundred million kilometres, although it would only use the active sensor when absolutely necessary to avoid giving away its location. The passive sensor suite included the same gravitational sensors as the Galileo plus the latest EM and thermal sensors. The unusual flexibility of the Magellan was provided by its two Mk 5 Guided Missile Launch Systems, which were twice as large as the Commonwealth's normal missile launchers, plus the SGM-4 Long Range Fire Control System. As well as being able to fire all the Commonwealth's normal missiles, the Mk 5 allowed the deployment of several specialised items of ordnance (see below the Magellan's summary).

Magellan class Scout Cruiser    8000 tons     789 Crew     1668 BP      TCS 160  TH 400  EM 0
5000 km/s    JR 3-50     Armour 1-35     Shields 0-0     Sensors 24/24/3/0     DCR 5     PPV 16
Annual Failure Rate: 102%    IFR: 1.4%    Maintenance Capacity 652 MSP    Max Repair 126 MSP
Magazine 376    

Rolls-Royce Merlin-8 Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 8000 tons    Distance 50k km     Squadron Size 3
NPO Energomash Low Emission MPD (10)    Power 80    Efficiency 0.60    Signature 40    Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 550,000 Litres    Range 206.3 billion km   (477 days at full power)

Mk 5 Guided Missile Launch System (2)    Missile Size 8    Rate of Fire 80
SGM-4 Long Range Fire Control (1)     Range 100.8m km    Resolution 80
SR-N-3 Raptor-L Recon Drone (15)  Speed: 3,000 km/s   End: 744.2m    Range: 354m km   WH: 0    Size: 8   
SB-N-1 Geosurvey Buoy (16)  Speed: 0 km/s   End: 180d    Range: 0m km   Size: 8    
SS-N-7 Starfish (16)  Speed: 8,000 km/s   End: 156.2m    Range: 77.4m km   WH: 0    Size: 8  

SGS-3 Area Search Sensor  (1)     GPS 10080     Range 100.8m km    Resolution 80
STP-5 Thermal Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 24     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  24m km
SEP-6 EM Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 24     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  24m km
Gravitational Survey Sensors (3)   3 Survey Points

The SR-N-3 Raptor-L was a normal SR-N-2 Raptor Recon Drone on top of a second stage that increased its range to over three hundred and fifty million kilometres, allowing the Magellan to launch sensor drones from well outside the range at which it was likely to be detected.

SR-N-3 Raptor-L Recon Drone
Missile Size: 8 MSP  (0.4 HS)     Warhead: 0    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 3000 km/s    Endurance: 744 minutes   Range: 134.0m km
Cost Per Missile: 1.4053
Second Stage: SR-N-2 Raptor Recon Drone x1
Second Stage Separation Range: 220,000,000 km
Overall Endurance: 1 day   Overall Range: 360.4m km
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 30%   3k km/s 10%   5k km/s 6%   10k km/s 3%
Materials Required:    0.3x Uridium   0.108x Gallicite   Fuel x9050
Development Cost for Project: 141RP

The SB-N-1 Geosurvey Buoy was an entirely new piece of technology. When deployed in orbit of a planet or other system body, it could gather geological survey data in the same way as geological survey sensors on a ship. Although the sensor on the SB-N-1 had only seven percent of the power of a single ship-mounted geological survey sensor, it could remain in orbit for several months until sufficient data was gathered. If a habitable planet was discovered, the Magellan would able to visit the planet and launch one or more SB-N-1s which could survey for mineral deposits or ruins while the Magellan continued with its gravitational survey. In the past, such surveys had to be put on hold until a geological survey ship was available. In fact the review board had recommended a study to determine if all normal geological survey activity should be left to the private sector. With the Magellans investigating any interesting planets as they were discovered, the civilians could visit the system later and complete the survey. In this scenario, the existing geological survey ships would be sold to the civilian sector. Several officers in the Commonwealth Navy, particularly those serving on survey ships, were appalled at the idea of relinquishing the ability to conduct complete geological surveys of a system but the review board cited the potential savings in fuel, maintenance and administration.

SB-N-1 Geosurvey Buoy
Buoy Size: 8 MSP  (0.4 HS)     
Reactor Endurance: 6 months
Geo Sensor Strength: 0.07    Maximum points: 302.4
Cost Per Buoy: 2.6
Materials Required:    1.2x Boronide   1.4x Uridium
Development Cost for Project: 260RP

In the past, Commonwealth scout ships and survey ships had been unable to defend themselves or even attack targets of opportunity. As the Magellan had two missile launchers, its designers were keen to provide it with a limited offensive capability. One option was simply to arm it with SS-N-4 Shadows or SS-N-5 Scimitars, which could still be fired from the larger launchers. An alternative was a new larger missile, perhaps with a large warhead to compensate for the lack of missiles in each salvo. Several missile designs along those lines were examined and ultimately discarded. Eventually, the designers decided on a radical new approach. The SS-N-7 Starfish had a creditable range of seventy-five million kilometres but was even slower than the Angel anti-ship missile used in the recent war. However, once it closed within two point four million kilometres of its target, the Starfish released four SS-N-6 Scorpion sub-munitions, each with a speed of 22,400 km/s and a strength-4 warhead. With two Mk 5 GMLS, the Magellan would be able to create salvos of eight missiles, giving the point defence of its foes a much more difficult task. The Commonwealth's warship designers were interested in the possibilities of the Starfish, although concerned about the tactical limitations of its slow first stage. Despite that it provided the Magellan with far more striking power than would be expected from a dedicated survey vessel.

SS-N-7 Starfish
Missile Size: 8 MSP  (0.4 HS)     Warhead: 0    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 8000 km/s    Endurance: 156 minutes   Range: 75.0m km
Cost Per Missile: 6.9355
Second Stage: SS-N-6 Scorpion x4
Second Stage Separation Range: 2,400,000 km
Overall Endurance: 3 hours   Overall Range: 77.8m km
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 80%   3k km/s 20%   5k km/s 16%   10k km/s 8%
Materials Required:    4x Tritanium   1.6855x Gallicite   Fuel x5000
Development Cost for Project: 694RP

SS-N-6 Scorpion
Missile Size: 1.25 MSP  (0.0625 HS)     Warhead: 4    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 22400 km/s    Endurance: 2 minutes   Range: 2.9m km
Cost Per Missile: 1.4672
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 224%   3k km/s 70%   5k km/s 44.8%   10k km/s 22.4%
Materials Required:    1x Tritanium   0.2172x Gallicite   Fuel x30
Development Cost for Project: 147RP