The following material is an adaptation of the starship design from MACROSS VFX 2, a sequel to the original Japanese MACROSS 7 TV series. Please feel free to use, copy, and distribute it as you see fit. All I ask is that you give proper credit to the author and do not claim that it is your own work. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

URAGA CLASS (CV-565)
ESCORT BATTLE CARRIER VARIANT

Original Uraga Class Battle Carrier RPG Stats by DANIEL HENWOOD
Background text by Dave Dietrich w/ aditional text by Mark McAlister
Modified Uraga Class Variant RPG Stats by Mark McAlister
Edited by DANIEL HENWOOD


BACKGROUND

The aircraft carrier has been the dominant symbol of naval power since the Second World War. A carrier could transport fighters armed with torpedoes, bombs, missiles, or nuclear weapons that could sink entire fleets of battleships before they could approach close enough to become a threat. These rules of combat have remained true even in the 21st century where space has become the new naval battlefield. The Variable Fighter (VF) is the most versatile weapon in the UN Spacy's arsenal. However, in order to use VFs to maximum effect a mobile base of operations that can support, re-arm, and repair them during combat is necessary. The Uraga class Battle Carrier is one of the latest spacecraft designs produced to fulfill this role.

The Uraga class is the new stealth carrier class after the Guantanamo Class of Carriers. It has weaponry, armor, and maneuverability comparable to a cruiser. The Guantanamo Class Carriers of the colonization fleet are gradually being phased out and replaced with Uraga Carriers. Several Uraga Carriers can be found in active service within New Macross Class Colonisation Fleets as defensive stations docked to unarmed core ships such as the Riviera and Hollywood. They also form the backbone of the UN Spacy's military forces. They can quickly carry almost 400 VFs along with their pilots, support crews, supplies, and weaponry to anywhere they are needed in Unity Government space and beyond. Unlike their sister ships, the New Macross class Battle Carriers, the Uraga's are not transformable and are thus far less costly to build and operate. On the other hand, Uraga's are not designed for heavy ship-to-ship combat and are more heavily reliant on their fighter squadrons for protection. Like the New Macross carriers, Uraga carriers often act as flagships for UN Spacy task forces. Their advanced sensors and communications gear allows their commanders to coordinate fighter squadrons and ships over large distances in carefully orchestrated attacks. The carriers are also common sights among UN Spacy colonization fleets, but here there role is somewhat different. Uraga carriers are often put in command of large civilian colonization vessels, and the ships are physically mated to the colony vessels where they form the command and control centers for the ships. This arrangement is particularly beneficial as it provides the civilian vessels with a dedicated defense force of VFs, and provides the crew of the carrier with luxuries and entertainment that they normally do not have access to in an all-military fleet. Colony ships designed to mate with Uraga carriers include Riviera resort vessels, Hollywood entertainment vessels, Beginhill training vessels, and Einstien research vessels.

Uraga Carriers were first launched in 2031 and have been part of the UN Spacy's fleet for over 15 years, and there are no plans to retire the design any time in the future. Although not as powerful as the New Macross carriers, they are far more cost effective to produce and operate. 75% of UN Spacy fleets are commanded by Uraga carriers, and ALL currently active colony fleets have 4-8 battle carriers as part of their forces.

This particular type of vessel was the command ship for the 727th Independent VF-X Unit (Raven) 's Alpha Team squadron, a typical example of aspecialist unit being assigned the new larger version of the Uraga Class Carrier.

RPG STATS

Government: New Unity Government (Earth)
Ship Type: Long Distance Variable Fighter Command Carrier


Class: Uraga Class Variant
Manufacturer: ORTEC Company/Three Star Heavy Industries/UN Spacy


Crew: 2,376 total
Command Tower: 89
Main Ship: 1,849
VF Pilots: 378
Troops: 60

Notable Ships of Class:
CV-404 Uraga (launched 2036 as part of the Macross 07 colony fleet, destroyed 2046 by Protodeviln)
CV-406 Brampton (launched 2036 as part of the Macross 07 colony fleet)
CV-412 Aberdeen (launched 2036 as part of the Macross 07 colony fleet)
CV-417 Keflavik (launched 2036 as part of the Macross 07 colony fleet)

MDC BY LOCATION: 

(1) Main Body                                  14,000
(2) Command Tower                               3,000
(2) Sensor Array (behind Command Tower)           500
(3) Foredeck                                   12,000
(3) Flight decks (2)                            3,000 each

(4) Main engines (2)                            3,000 each
(4) Secondary Engines (2)                       1,250 each
(4) Small Guidance thrusters (36)                 200 each

    Main Anti-Warship Missile Launchers (6)       400 each
    Medium Range Missile Launchers (12)           200 each
    Retractable Laser Turrets (24)                300 each

    Small Airlocks/Access Hatches (100)           250 each
    Large Airlocks (20)                           500 each
    Outer Hull (per 40ft area)                    120
    Interior walls (per 20ft)                      20

(5) Pin Point Barriers (4)                      5,000 each

NOTES:

  1. Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the Carrier out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
  2. Destroying the command tower 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-11 Thunderbolt. 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 array behind the command tower will have the same effect, but the command staff will not be killed instantly.
  3. Destroying the foredeck or the flight decks will greatly impair the carrier's ability to deploy and recover aircraft. Under normal operations the carrier can launch or recover up to 12 VFs per turn. If the foredeck is destroyed this number drops to 6, and each flight deck destroyed reduces this number by 3. If both the foredeck and the flight decks are destroyed the carrier can only launch or recover one aircraft every other turn.
  4. 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. If in an atmosphere, the ship will crash (destruction of the main engines will render the antigravity system useless due to loss of power).
  5. The Pinpoint Barriers regenerate at a rate of 1,250 MD per second (2,500 MD per melee round). If destroyed, a barrier will completely regenerate within four seconds (2 melee rounds). See the Pinpoint Barrier System entry for details.

SPEEDS:

Speed(sublight): 0.20 speed of light (32,000 miles per second)
Speed(Auxiliary Drives): Mach 3
Space Fold: Range Unlimited (1 light year every 6 minutes)
Planet bound:
Can land if necessary but not designed to maneuver in an atmosphere.
Maximum Range: Unlimited (estimated 30 year life span)

STATISTICAL DATA:

Length: 550 metres (1,815 ft)
Weight:25,000 tons (standard)
Fold System:
ORTEC/Shinnakasu/General Galaxy Advanced Fold System Cluster
Sublight Drive:
ORTEC/Centinel Impulse Drive Cluster
Gravity Control System: Internal
Auxiliary Engine:
Shinnakasu/Shinsei Industries/Agar Nuclear Pulse Rocket Motor Cluster
Radar System: Hyperspace Sensor Pod

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. HEAVY MISSILE LAUNCHERS (4):Uraga Class Escort Carriers are not designed for heavy starship-to-starship combat, instead relying on their fighter wings for protection and attack. However if necessary the carriers are armed with four missile launcher tubes for launching ICBM-like missiles at enemy ships. Resembling torpedo launchers, they are mounted on the front of the ship facing forward. The launchers contain long-range nuclear missiles and are usually used only during assaults and heavy combat.

  2. MEDIUM MISSILE LAUNCHERS (8): In addition to the heavy missile launchers, the escort carriers are armed with eight medium missile launchers which are primarily intended for anti-aircraft defense. Each launcher contains 8 missile tubes allowing volleys of up to 8 missiles to be fired at a single target per launcher. Once depleted, the missile launchers are reloaded by an automated loading system that takes 15 seconds (one melee round) to reload all 8 missiles. Armor-piercing smart missiles are usually used to avoid chances of friendly fighters being shot down by the missiles.

  3. RETRACTABLE LASER TURRETS (18): As a final line of defense the escort carrier is armed with 18 automated laser turrets that retract into the ship's hull when not in use. These short-range lasers are intended primarily for anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense, but can do moderate damage against smaller enemy spacecraft if they get too close. The lasers are located at key points along the spacecraft's hull. At most 4 lasers can be directed against a single target at any time.

  4. PINPOINT BARRIER DEFENSE SYSTEM: Originally developed by researchers onboard the SDF-01 Macross during Space War One, the Pinpoint Barrier System is a standard defense system on board all UN Spacy starships, including the Uraga escort carriers. The system generates four small disc-shaped force fields that can be positioned anywhere along the ship to deflect missiles, energy beams or projectiles. Each pinpoint barrier is about 200 ft (61 m) in length and can absorb up to 5,000 MD in damage, which then regenerates within four seconds (2 melee rounds). The barriers can also be layered on top of each other to generate a field which provides 20,000 MDC and can even deflect heavy particle beams (usually).

    The four barriers are controlled by operators in the command tower of the carrier. These operators are instructed to defend (1) the command tower, bridge, and sensor array, (2) main engines, (3) hangar bays, and (4) weapon systems, in that order. The operators primarily concentrate on defending the ship against larger spacecraft and leave defense against mecha attacking the carrier to the VF pilots.


SYSTEMS OF NOTE:

MECHA COMPLEMENT (STANDARD):

VF-11C Thunderbolt: 216 (18 Squadrons) on active status. An additional 2 squadrons (24 Thunderbolts) are stored in holding bays and can be readied within 2D6 hours. 2-4 VF-11C squadrons (24-48 aircraft) are outfitted with heavy armor for close-range heavy combat when necessary.

VA-3 Invader: 24 (2 Squadrons) on active status.

VF-17 Nightmare: 3 on active status. VF-19A Excalibur: 2 on active status (reserved for Officer ace pilots)

NOTE: The Uraga escort carriers have enough room to hold an additional 2 squadrons (24 fighters) if necessary, though the landing bays would be extremely cramped at that point.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN