Cray
04/10/02 11:10 AM
204.245.128.3
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With its acquisition of the entire planet Lopez (in the Duchy of Andurien) from the former Count of Lopez, GE found itself with new responsibilities in addition to new revenues. Among the responsibilities was providing for the defense of Lopez, which was rather near the Capellan Confederation.
This "responsibility" was actually rather thrilling to GE, or rather its executives. They were having FUN ruling a planet, and now they got to build an army! They'd never really had an army before. A security division made of a lot of rentacops and some elite body guards, yes, but not an ARMY. And taxpayers could be made to pay for it rather than paying for it out of the corporate budget. Well, sort of. Lopez's taxes were now, technically speaking, part of GE's budgets. But taxes could be raised and a tiny adjustment of Lopez's tax rates to the tune of less than a C-bill per subject provided a vast military budget. Muahahahahahahaha...
Through a convoluted decision making process heavily influenced by the desire to make Lopez's economy more profitable for GE, the decision was made to harness Lopez's native light industries for the construction of the militia. In addition to the now-exported GE A-3 Medium Strike Fighter, the GE-Lopez Security Division suggested that watercraft to defend Lopez (a water world) would be a good idea.
In the end, several craft were commissioned. GE had scented profits in equipping Lopez's coast guards (smuggling and water crimes had thrived during the transition of Lopez from the former Count to GE's control), river and lake police units, SAR groups, and the militia with various models of watercraft. This is the story of the SSF-1 Attack Submarine.
As with A-3 Medium Strike Fighter, GE turned to a small but innovative vehicle firm to design the SSF-1. The resulting attack submarine was fast, well armed, and independent: a good militia vehicle. Its weaponry was chosen to rely on the vulnerability of most submerged opponents to flooding while giving it a good range. Its armor was a bit thin but, given its own vulnerability to flooding, there wasn't a lot of point to heavy armor when it would probably sink within 6 hits.
The crew of 3 was provided roomy accomodations suitable for long patrols, plus extensive escape provisions. The designers had originally aimed to make the entire bridge an escape pod, but this was abandoned when it became clear that such a system would've added several tons. Instead, the crews were provided with SCUBA systems to wear during combat and the bridge given a "guaranteed egress hatch," which meant a series of failsafe explosive bolts, manual and powered releases, etc.
The SSF-1 shares the GE 180 fusion power plant with the A-3 Medium Strike Fighter. In fact, it also included the same desalinization and filtration systems to quickly provide reaction mass for nearby A-3s. It is dependable, low maintenance vehicle quite tolerant of Lopez's salt water oceans and large fresh water lakes. Most of the major non-life support systems are outside the pressure hull. Being a small vessel, the systems are easily reached by removing the covering outer hull plates, which are formed into large access panels. Maintenance can thus be easily conducted with conventional marina boat repair facilities found across Lopez.
Typical SSF-1 patrols are 3 days long, limited primarily by food, crew sanity, and crew tolerance of bad hygiene. Despite roomy accomodations compared to, say, a tank, the SSF-1 is not a yacht, houseboat, or large oceangoing vessel. Room is present for 6 man-weeks of provisions, but these are only to be used if Lopez is invaded and the SSF-1s must stay away from base for weeks at a time.
Combat History
The SSF-1 has been used against smuggling boats on Lopez, which has the expected result of turning military-grade weaponry against small power boats. Though sold into the Chaos March, the SSF-1 has yet to see combat there. Theoretical tactics exploit the SSF-1's turret to keep distance between the submarine and its target open while pummeling the target with potent PPC fire. "Pack tactics" involve a lance (or more) of submarines against military targets are recommended.
GE SSF-1 FAST ATTACK SUBMARINE
35 ton submarine
3.5 tons internal structure
10.5 tons GE 180 fusion engine
....Cruise: 6
....Flank: 9
3.5 tons diving equipment
1.75 tons control equipment
.75 tons turret
6 tons ferrofibrous armor
....Front: 20
....Sides: 20
....Aft: 16
....Turret: 20
7 tons PPC (turret)
1 ton SRM 2-Torpedo (front)
1 ton SRM ammo (front)
VARIANTS
The SRM 2-Torpedo launcher is a fairly roomy mount outside the pressure hull, under a large access plate. It is easily replaced with comparably sized weapons. The turret, inaccessible from inside the vehicle, is also easily dismounted and replaced. This has lead to a number of factory-built variants already. The most popular form replaces the PPC with a lighter large laser and pair of SRM 2 launchers, or a single LRM 5 (both Torpedo and standard missile versions are available - the weapons are virtually identical in size and ammo feeds.) A popular model with the Lopez DEA replaces the bow SRM launcher and its ammo have been replaced with Beagle Active Probes and some supplemental armor. There was initially discussion of trading the mass of the bow SRM launcher and its ammo for a "stretched hull" to carry a squad of infantry (possibly jump infantry) and a ton of cargo for guerilla or anti-smuggling operations, but the larger SSF-2 Patrol Submarine and surface patrol vessels received those roles. Putting 7 more people into the SSF-1 was considered inhumane.
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
Disclaimer: Anything stated in this post is unofficial and non-canon unless directly quoted from a published book. Random internet musings of a BattleTech writer are not canon.
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Karagin
01/27/07 01:28 AM
70.123.166.36
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Is this going to get redone via the SV rules?
Karagin
Given time and plenty of paper, a philosopher can prove anything.
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Cray
02/01/07 09:44 PM
68.200.109.191
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Quote:
Is this going to get redone via the SV rules?
Naw, since the 35-ton SV version would suck for two key reasons:
1) Vastly lower armor (max of 15 points vs current 96)
2) Insufficient tonnage. The SV would need 10 tons of heat sinks for the PPC, and it'd have a heavier engine and chassis.
A support vehicle of the same tonnage would be a failure as a combat vessel. A good light duty cargo vessel, maybe, or research submarine, but it'd blow chunks in the SSF-1's role.
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
Disclaimer: Anything stated in this post is unofficial and non-canon unless directly quoted from a published book. Random internet musings of a BattleTech writer are not canon.
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Karagin
02/01/07 09:45 PM
70.123.166.36
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Thanks was wondering.
Karagin
Given time and plenty of paper, a philosopher can prove anything.
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JackGarrity
02/02/07 01:40 AM
71.207.203.207
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GE "We bring good things to light" 
Greetings Mechwarrior.
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