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Nile-class Space Light Veritech Carrier (SCVL)

Class History:

• 766 Total built by Kawasaki Naval Yard (2052-2070)
• 14 Destroyed Transient War 2057
• 3 Destroyed Varauta War 2064
• 693 Destroyed 4^th Robotech War 2063-2068
• 2 Missing
• 6 Scrapped
• 48 In Service 2070

Ship's complement:

• Ships' crew (1500 men)
• Space Naval air group (1300 men)
• Space Marine unit (1100 men)
• Life support limits are for a full combat complement and about 9,800 supernumeraries (10,000 men total).

Note: The given numbers are approximations; the exact number varied somewhat due to operational realities and different ships.

Dimensions:

• Length: 1500 meters overall
• Height: 280 meters overall
• Width: 560 meters overall
• Fuel Mass: 500,000 metric tons
• Operational mass (typical): 12,500,000 metric tons

Propulsion systems:

• Main power system(1): RRD Mk11 anti-matter Reflex furnace. The powerplant of the Nile-class vessel can deliver up to 400 Terawatts of power, and can operate for two hours at maximum power before overheat initiates autoshutdown.
• Maneuvering thrusters (20): Overtechnology MRT-06 Fusion-Plasma Reaction Thrusters with steerable nozzles on the bow(4), stern (2), sides(6 each), and ventral hull(2).
• Reaction-mass thrusters (4): Rolls Royce MRE-17 Fusion-Plasma Reaction Thrusters with anti-matter energizer in the rear of the main hull side by side.
• Anti-gravity system (1): 34 Europa Drive Behemoth anti-gravity pods.
• Sublight drive (4): Shizuma Drive GDD-9 local monopolar-induced gravitic space-time distortion drive.
• Space fold (1): RRD Mk18d spacefold. This system is conformal to the vessels surface. The problem with the vast majority of the previous generation of fold systems was that the fold bubble weakened the state of the structure to the extent that they needed a refit after only five years of service. As such the RDF mandated the use of conformal systems similar to the old Zentraedi systems which also allows for much higher speeds and a safe limit of approx. 5 kiloparsecs. 
• Planetary capabilities: The Nile-class has atmospheric capabilities through its reaction thrusters and anti-gravity system. However, the ship cannot land on solid ground due to the design of the hull without serious damage.  The ship would float in an ocean, and this is the preferred method of landing.

Endurance and mobility limits:

• The dry stores endurance is three months maximum; after that, the Nile needs to restock. Water stores are recycled almost totally, and many crews add small hydroponic plants to unused spaces, providing the crew with a smattering of fresh fruits, but this is insufficient to provide for the crew indefinitely.
• The mecha consumables supplies (mainly missiles) are fairly extensive; the Nile is able to sustain continuous combat operations for over fifteen days. The missile magazines for the torpedo launchers are typically empty after five major space battles.
• The reflex furnace can function for about 30 years at normal usage levels before an energizer rebuild is necessary.
• At full power, the main propulsion systems can produce up to 400 Giganewtons of thrust at a minimal reaction mass efficiency profile, or as little as 7.8 Giganewtons of thrust at a maximum efficiency setting. At lower power levels, these thrusts are commensurately smaller.
• At full power, the Nile-class can achieve a maximum delta-v of 422 kps at the cruising acceleration of 0.1 gees, a maximum delta-v of 84.4 kps at the battle acceleration of 1.3G, and a delta-v of at most 22.8 kps at the flank acceleration of 3.3G. At lower power levels, these ranges are commensurately smaller.
• Sublight drive acceleration is 1100 g, but the vessel's maneuverability is reduced to such a degree that only minor course corrections are possible. Typical cruising speed is .27c.
• The Mk18d fold systems are not designed to be used for folds of distances greater than approximately 5 kiloparsecs, for safety reasons. If longer voyages are required, the ships must conduct multiple fold jumps.
• The maximum sustained atmospheric speed is limited to subsonic values. During a re-entry, the Nile-class must reduce its speed to subsonic velocities well in the stratosphere, or risk destabilization by its own supersonic shock wave in the lower atmosphere. The maximum hover time on the anti-gravity systems is limited only by maintenance requirements.

Weapon systems:

• Lockheed SLBM launchers (6): The missiles are specialized Lockheed SLBM-11 Archer (Space Launched Ballistic Missiles) with anti-matter warheads in the 5 MT range. The delta-v capacity of the missiles is 351.6 kps, and the magazine can store 8 missiles per launcher. These launchers are all mounted on the bow of the ship.
• Bofors PL-7 point defense turrets (28): Mounted on the bow (6), near the bridge (4), Ventral hull(10), and beside the engines (8).  These standard RDF weapons can fire 53 MJ of particle energy four times per second at a range of up to 20 km. 
• Raytheon Mk 267 surface to air missile launchers (12): A missile launcher mounted in a twelve tube pop-up turret, firing anti-mecha/missile missiles, though the projectiles can guide on point-blank enemy ships. When the missiles are released they are already on their intercept vectors, or very close to them. Each turret has a reload time of 6 seconds and a magazine with a 300 round capacity. These turrets are mounted behind armor plating and pop up when firing and are mounted on the main hull(10) and in front of the bridge (2).

Air group and mecha complement:

(Circa 2055)

Space Naval Air Group

• 150 VF-11 Thunderbolt Veritech fighter
• 75 VF-17 Nightmare Veritech fighter
• 6 EC-12 Eagle Airborne early warning and control aircraft
• 8 SC-45 Hawk Personnel and cargo shuttle
• 6 VC-25 Samson Heavy VSTOL cargo transport
• 8 VC-27 Hercules Light VSTOL cargo transport

Space Marine Unit

• 15 VF-17 Nightmare Veritech Fighter
• 3 RGM-78 Gundam Platoon leader mobile suit
• 42 RGM-79 GM Mobile suit
• 200 VR-071 Protector Veritech cyclone
• 200 VR-077 Firefly Veritech cyclone
• 200 VR-074 Gorilla Veritech cyclone

(Circa 2063)

Space Naval Air Group

• 150 VF-19 Excalibur Veritech fighter
• 30 VF-17 Nightmare Veritech fighter
• 90 VA-14 Falcon Veritech bomber
• 15 VAB-5 Pirate Veritech heavy bomber
• 6 EC-15 Lynx Airborne early warning and control aircraft
• 8 SC-52 Vulture Personnel and cargo shuttles
• 6 VC-37 Perseus Heavy VSTOL cargo transport
• 8 VC-39 Ajax Light VSTOL cargo transport

Space Marine Unit

• 15 VF-17 Nightmare Veritech fighter
• 15 VA-14 Falcon Veritech bomber
• 3 MSZ-010 Double Zeta Gundam Platoon leader mobile suit
• 18 RGM-91 Refined Zeta Gundam Mobile suit
• 24 RGM-89 Jegan Mobile suit
• 300 VR-071 Protector Veritech cyclone
• 300 VR-077 Firefly Veritech cyclone
• 300 VR-074 Gorilla Veritech cyclone

Note: The given numbers are approximations; the exact number and type of mecha varied somewhat due to operational realities and different ships.

Electronics Systems:

• Hughes DSP-5 pinpoint barrier defense system(1): Uses four movable disks of force field, conformal to the ship's surface, to repel light torpedo attacks, or particle beam fire.

Design notes:

History:

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

Content by Jeffrey R. Spillner
Copyright © 1998-2002 Jeffrey R. Spillner

Page Last Updated on January 21, 2002 @ 14:00 GMT